Today in Wheeling History: July 5--Legendary Ohio Valley football coach Bob Roe, who led teams at Warwood High, Wheeling High, and West Liberty State College to numerous championships over a 44-year career, was born (1908).
Robert F. "Bob" Roe was born on July 5, 1908, and was raised in Warwood, West Virginia. He attended Warwood High School in the mid-1920s, where he played as a 175-pound fullback. Roe then went on to attend Bethany College, where he was a four-year varsity football player.
Roe's coaching career began in 1930 as an assistant coach at Warwood High School. In 1931, he became the head coach at Warwood, where he remained until 1941. During his tenure at Warwood, he led the Vikings to three outstanding seasons: 8-1-0 in 1938, 6-1-2 in 1939, and 8-1-1 in 1940. His 1938 and 1939 teams were the first Warwood teams to defeat Wheeling High School.
In 1941, Roe moved to Wheeling High School, where he coached for 24 seasons until 1964. His most memorable year at Wheeling was his final season in 1964, when the Wildcats won nine straight games before losing their final game to Bellaire. During his time at Wheeling, Roe also coached track from 1942 through 1963, leading the 1946 track team to a state championship.
In 1965, at an age when many might consider retirement, Roe took on a new challenge as head coach at West Liberty State College. He coached there for nine seasons, from 1965 to 1973, compiling a record of 50-24-7. His most successful years at West Liberty were 1970 and 1971. In 1970, his team went undefeated with one tie, won the West Virginia Conference title, and reached the NAIA national semifinals, losing to Wofford College in Greenville, South Carolina. In 1971, the team again won the conference title and reached the national semifinals, losing to Livingston College (now University of West Alabama) in Steubenville, Ohio.
Throughout his 44-year coaching career (43 as a head coach), Roe's teams won 232 games, lost 146, and tied 18. His high school coaching record was 182-122-31 over 34 seasons.
Roe's contributions to football extended beyond coaching. He directed the Ohio-West Virginia All-Star Game from 1946 through the early 1960s. He was also a basketball official for 20 years and served as president of the basketball officials' organization three times.
Roe received numerous honors and accolades throughout his career. He was inducted into multiple halls of fame, including:
- West Liberty Hall of Fame (1981)
- West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
- Upper Ohio Valley Dapper Dan Hall of Fame
- Bethany College Athletic Hall of Fame
- City of Wheeling Hall of Fame (1984)
- Ohio Valley Athletic Conference (OVAC) Hall of Fame (2014)
He was named WVIAC "coach of the year" twice and NAIA District 28 "coach of the year" in 1970. Roe also received the Belmont Hills Coaches' Banquet Achievement Award and was recognized for his contributions to track with the Calvin Giffin Award.
Bob Roe passed away in 1984 at the age of 76. His legacy continues to be celebrated, with West Liberty University hosting a "Coach Bob Roe Memorial Game" in September 2021 and establishing an endowed scholarship in his name. Roe resided in Warwood with his wife Esther, to whom he was married for 48 years.
To learn more: (https://shorturl.at/11SNk) (https://shorturl.at/18vXP) (https://shorturl.at/gCnOt) (https://shorturl.at/rXOfY)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wheeling Hall of Fame, West Liberty University Athletics
Robert F. "Bob" Roe was born on July 5, 1908, and was raised in Warwood, West Virginia. He attended Warwood High School in the mid-1920s, where he played as a 175-pound fullback. Roe then went on to attend Bethany College, where he was a four-year varsity football player.
Roe's coaching career began in 1930 as an assistant coach at Warwood High School. In 1931, he became the head coach at Warwood, where he remained until 1941. During his tenure at Warwood, he led the Vikings to three outstanding seasons: 8-1-0 in 1938, 6-1-2 in 1939, and 8-1-1 in 1940. His 1938 and 1939 teams were the first Warwood teams to defeat Wheeling High School.
In 1941, Roe moved to Wheeling High School, where he coached for 24 seasons until 1964. His most memorable year at Wheeling was his final season in 1964, when the Wildcats won nine straight games before losing their final game to Bellaire. During his time at Wheeling, Roe also coached track from 1942 through 1963, leading the 1946 track team to a state championship.
In 1965, at an age when many might consider retirement, Roe took on a new challenge as head coach at West Liberty State College. He coached there for nine seasons, from 1965 to 1973, compiling a record of 50-24-7. His most successful years at West Liberty were 1970 and 1971. In 1970, his team went undefeated with one tie, won the West Virginia Conference title, and reached the NAIA national semifinals, losing to Wofford College in Greenville, South Carolina. In 1971, the team again won the conference title and reached the national semifinals, losing to Livingston College (now University of West Alabama) in Steubenville, Ohio.
Throughout his 44-year coaching career (43 as a head coach), Roe's teams won 232 games, lost 146, and tied 18. His high school coaching record was 182-122-31 over 34 seasons.
Roe's contributions to football extended beyond coaching. He directed the Ohio-West Virginia All-Star Game from 1946 through the early 1960s. He was also a basketball official for 20 years and served as president of the basketball officials' organization three times.
Roe received numerous honors and accolades throughout his career. He was inducted into multiple halls of fame, including:
- West Liberty Hall of Fame (1981)
- West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
- Upper Ohio Valley Dapper Dan Hall of Fame
- Bethany College Athletic Hall of Fame
- City of Wheeling Hall of Fame (1984)
- Ohio Valley Athletic Conference (OVAC) Hall of Fame (2014)
He was named WVIAC "coach of the year" twice and NAIA District 28 "coach of the year" in 1970. Roe also received the Belmont Hills Coaches' Banquet Achievement Award and was recognized for his contributions to track with the Calvin Giffin Award.
Bob Roe passed away in 1984 at the age of 76. His legacy continues to be celebrated, with West Liberty University hosting a "Coach Bob Roe Memorial Game" in September 2021 and establishing an endowed scholarship in his name. Roe resided in Warwood with his wife Esther, to whom he was married for 48 years.
To learn more: (https://shorturl.at/11SNk) (https://shorturl.at/18vXP) (https://shorturl.at/gCnOt) (https://shorturl.at/rXOfY)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wheeling Hall of Fame, West Liberty University Athletics
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