Remembering Bill Rohr

A man of class, character and integrity, Bill Rohr inspired and greatly impacted many people.  A legend in his hometown of Massillon, Bill Rohr graduated from Washington High School in 1936 where he played basketball for Coach Paul Brown on the great 1935-36 Ohio State Championship semi-final team, earning ALL-Ohio First Team honors at guard.  At Ohio Wesleyan he was ALL-Buckeye Conference and graduated in 1940.  Rohr then became an extraordinary Head Basketball Coach at Portsmouth High School, Miami University and he finished his head coaching career in the Big Ten at Northwestern University.  Coach Rohr compiled a 239-146 career coaching record, including 3 NCAA Tournament appearances.  He then went into athletic administration when he became Director of Athletics at Ohio University from 1963-1978 during Ohio's "golden era" of athletics and also served as President of National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.  Rohr understood how to bring out the best in people.  I knew him as Uncle Bill.  I was a better person when he walked in a room.  He believed in others more than they believed in themselves.  He had charisma. A member of 7 halls of fame, Rohr was inducted into The Massillon Tiger Hall of Champions in 1994 along with his mentor and life long friend Paul Brown as a member of the exceptional charter class of Massillon Tiger greats.  While Bill Rohr left us at the young age of 68 in 1986, he had a powerful impact on those who knew him.  As a player, teacher, coach, administrator, or father, husband or friend, Bill Rohr's legacy lives on through those who knew him and through the great Rohr family.   Today would be his 100th Birthday. Uncle Bill would be proud.

"Uncle Bill"