BOB MONTGOMERY '61,
Outstanding college football lineman, coach, sports commentator
Bob Montgomery, or "Monk," as he is known to his friends, has been involved with organized sports for the past 47 years. He has enjoyed successful careers as an athlete, a coach and a sports commentator.

Bob began his career in athletics as a member of the JV football team his sophomore year at West High School. He then went on to earn varsity letters in football, wrestling and track as a junior and senior. The highlights of his athletic career as a Cowboy include winning a city championship in the discus, having an undefeated regular season as a heavyweight on the wrestling team and earning a scholarship to play football at Findlay College. He ended his high school career by being voted the Outstanding Male Athlete in the class of 1961.

Bob continued his athletic career as a freshman on the 1961 Findlay College Mid-Ohio conference championship football team, and was named the outstanding defensive lineman on that team. He went on to letter four years in football and track, and was, again, named the outstanding defensive lineman in 1964 - his senior year. An outstanding two-way performer, Bob was the only player named first team All-NAIA District 22 on both offense and defense. He also received honorable mention recognition on the NAIA All-America Football Team as a defensive lineman.

The 1964 Findlay College football team was the first Oiler football team to play in the NAIA National Championship playoffs. Unfortunately, Bob suffered a severe knee injury and missed the opportunity to play in the play-offs as well as at the next level. In 1984, he was inducted into the Findlay College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Bob's coaching career spanned 20 years from 1965 through 1984. He coached football, wrestling and track at both the high school and college levels. He also coached golf at the high school level. In 1970 he coached the Findlay College track team to an undefeated regular season, and was named Mid-Ohio Conference Coach of the Year. During his coaching career he also served as sectional and district director for OHSAA golf and wrestling tournaments.

He has covered sports as a color commentator for WFIN for the past 35 years, primarily covering Findlay High School football and basketball games. Bob has also covered OHSAA State Championship tournaments in football, basketball and baseball. He also covered University of Findlay NAIA National Championship football games in Oregon, Washington and Tennessee. In January of 2003 he represented WFIN at the Fiesta Bowl and at the AFC/NFL championship game last season. This past April Bob was inducted into the Hancock County Sports Hall of Fame.

Bob earned a Bachelor's degree from Findlay College in 1966 and a Master's degree from BGSU in 1970. He taught at Findlay High School for 35 years and retired in 2001. Bob and his wife, Sharon, have been married for 35 years and are the proud parents of Melissa (Josh Clark) and Mike (Chrissy Lake) and proud grandparents of one-year old Luke Montgomery.