Robert Valentine
Bob Valentine was born in Rochester, New York, and at a very young age moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he attended Corpus Christi Elementary School and Westinghouse High School. He was the youngest of three boys raised by George and Margaret Valentine.
At Westinghouse High School, he played varsity basketball and baseball and captained the 1947-48-basketball team that reached the semi-finals in the Pennsylvania State Tournament. He was selected All-City and honorable mention in the state in 1948.
In 1949, he received an Athletic Scholarship to Mt. Union College in Alliance, Ohio. At Mount Union, he lettered in basketball and baseball and led the basketball team in scoring in his junior year and second leading scorer in his senior year. He was honored by being named to All-Ohio Conference and All-Ohio teams in basketball.
Drafted into the Army in 1953 9korean Conflict Years), he served until June of 1955. He returned to Mt. Union in 1955-56 and coached the Mt. Union Freshman Basketball Team and assisted varsity coach George Hunter who later coached at the U.S. Army Academy at West Point.
From 1956-64, he taught and coached six-man football, basketball, and track at Jeromesville High School. His six-man football team claimed the Sate of Ohio Mythical Championship in 1958. During his years of coaching football, the teams had three undefeated seasons and complied a record 25 straight victories. The track teams were County Champs four years and a number of his athletes placed in the State Track Meet. In basketball, the teams won four Ashland County Championship and took Dan Baker’s Northwestern State Champions down to the wire in sectional play. In 1964, Jeromesville and Hayesville consolidated to form Hillsdale High School, and he coached varsity football and track. He resigned from football in 1967 and was appointed cross country coach. His teams won sectional and district crowns and participated twice in the State Cross Country Meet. As head track coach, his teams won the Wayne Championship in 1972 and 1973. In 1973, Hillsdale placed ninth in the State Meet at Columbus, and in 1980, the Falcons were district runner-ups.
Community service has always been important to Bob, as he has served in the Ashland City and Ashland County Boards of Education for over 18 years. Elected to the Ashland County Board of Commissioners in 1988, he will complete his third term in office on January 2, 2001. Church and family have always been his priorities, serving on St. Edward’s Church Council for four two-year terms. He is a member of the church building committee that helps plan for a new school and church. He is a member of the Ashland County Historical Society Board of Directors and Ashland Rotary for 11 years. From 1970 to 1992, he was a summer recreation, director for the City of Ashland and in the early 1970’s, along with Jack Messner, City Parks Director, established girl’s fastpitch softball.
Bob and his wife, LaRue, have been married 46 years and have four children: Valerie Wagner of Perry Township, Bob of Ashland, Cindy Gerwig of Orange Township, and Mike of Ashland. They have 10 grandchildren, two have graduated from the University of Toledo (Josh and Chris) and one from the University of Dayton (Shawna).
Nominator: Valerie Wagner
