Robert Key
High School Honors
3-year Football Letterman, 1st team All-PIL, senior; 2nd team, junior; team captain both years. 3-year Basketball Letterman, 1st team All-PIL, senior; 2nd team, junior; captain; Metro/State All-Star. 4-year Baseball Letterman, 1st team All-PIL, senior pitcher/shortstop; 2nd team, junior; team captain. Male Student-Athlete of the year 1984.
Post-High School Career
Lower Columbia CC, 2-year all-league basketball both years; 2nd team all-league baseball second year. Western Oregon University, 2-year all-league basketball both years; 2nd team all-league baseball, senior. Team captain in basketball at LC and baseball at WOU.Basketball Coach: JV at Cleveland 14 years; Varsity at Roosevelt 8 years; Varsity at Hudson's Bay 2 years; Currently Varsity at Grant (coach of year 3 times, Paul McCall Award recipient).Football Coach: JV at Roosevelt; Asst. at Portland Christian; Frosh at Hudson's Bay. Currently JV at Grant. Baseball Coach: Varsity, Roosevelt 4 years, Portland Christian 3 years; JV at Cleveland 5 years Currently Frosh Coach at Grant.
Commentary
I am truly blessed to be recognized amongst a group talented athletes and coaches.
My high school years at Marshall had a huge impact on my success as a student athlete. My favorite quote from football coach Darrell Everett was "Losers never win and winners never quit." Besides Everett, my hero's from those important years were coaches Bill Smethurst, Ed LeBaron, Monty Rurey, Terry Johnson and Don Emery. Don Emery was like a father figure to my brother Jeff and me. He taught me the importance of life, leadership and academics.
Another favorite saying I have repeated over the years is the Self Enhancement Inc. quote "Sports without an education is a long shot" - I am thankful to have had an education and have enjoyed working with youth in our community for the past 25 plus years.
My childhood best friend Andre George and I never got to play on the same teams but it is a great feeling for us both to be honored this same year going into the PIL Hall of Fame.
Greatest Inspirations - My mother Mae and Brother Jeff.
Greatest Beliefs - Treat others how you want to be treated. It's not what you say, it's how you say it.
Greatest HS athletic accomplishment: Making All City 1st team in football, basketball and baseball my senior year. I also enjoyed winning the league title in basketball my sophomore year and playing at the Memorial Coliseum.
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