By Buck Frank
No one in Blair County history has coached more scholastic seasons than Bellwood-Antis High School’s Julie Roseborough.
It would seem only fitting that Roseborough, affectionately known as “Miss R” by countless Blue Devil athletes, will be honored by the Blair County Sports Hall of Fame for her 54 years of service.
Roseborough will be the third recipient of the Hall’s Lifetime Achievement Award when the 2020 banquet is held on Saturday, May 2 at the Blair County Convention Center.
“I was very surprised and honored, to say the least,” Roseborough said. “I think most people coach because what they want to get out of it is working with the kids. They don’t worry about getting accolades. But I’m just honored to be getting this award.”
Roseborough began coaching the Bellwood-Antis girls track program in 1966 and continues to this day. She is still coaching boys and girls cross country after 25 years, and she had coached field hockey for 25 years.
“Julie Roseborough — Miss R — is a legend among Blair County coaches with the longest consecutive head-coaching tenure — an amazing 54 years — in any sport,” Blair Hall president Neil Rudel said. “She is revered by and has impacted thousands of Bellwood-Antis student-athletes all the while being widely respected by her peers and the sports community. It’s the Hall of Fame’s privilege to be able to recognize a true pioneer in Blair County sports with our Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Roseborough was born in Alexandria and graduated from Juniata Valley High School in 1960 and West Chester University in 1964. She’s won 461 track meets while coaching 34 state medalists. She’s also won more than 160 boys and girls cross country meets and earned 123 field hockey victories.
She was inducted into the Huntingdon County Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. She’ll join former Mirror sports editor Jim Lane and strength training champion and weightlifting pioneer Jake Webb as recipients of the Blair’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Her former athletic director and fellow coach at Bellwood-Antis, John Hayes, will be one of five Hall inductees into the Class of 2020.
Other inductees include Eric Malone (watercraft sports), Eddie Miller (basketball), Tawney Nardozza Schmitt (swimming) and the late John Lingenfelter (motorsports).
The 1970 Bishop Guilfoyle boys basketball team will be the team inductee.
“It’s overwhelming,” Roseborough said. “It belongs to a lot of people ä the school district, the community, parents and the kids. It takes a village to coach.”
Orders for tickets are currently being accepted. They cost $85 each or $850 for table of 10 before Jan. 1 and $95 each and $950 for table of 10 afterward. Call Kathy Millward at 312-0151 or email [email protected].
