Bio

Patient, poised and cool under fire, are just some of the adjectives used by many who witnessed Bob Burgess’s demeanor on the hardwood, the gridiron and the diamond aka basketball court, football field and baseball diamond.

A fine basketball player, Bob played on a team coached by Henry Smith that tied with Avon Lake for the championship of both the Seaway Conference and Lorain County League. A very accurate shooter, Bob was the player the Middies always wanted on the foul line in the waning seconds of a game. Some of Bob’s feats that help to substantiate his reputation as being tough to rattle, included a game against Ridgeville when he was fouled at the end of a game that was tied at regulation, 39 to 39. Bob sank three foul shots as Midview won 42 to 39. In a big win over Elyria Catholic in his senior year, he scored 23 points. Thirteen of those points came when he made four field goals and five free throws without a miss in the last quarter. Bob’s greatest feat however did not come in a game. During a practice session, Bob sank 100 consecutive free throws. This accomplishment is well documented and is legendary.

A real leader on the football team as the quarterback in his junior and senior years, Bob was a very accurate passer and was always poised. He also played corner back. He was also the captain of the team his senior year.

It was in baseball, however where Bob left his biggest mark on the Middie sports scene. A right handed pitcher, Bob was rated as one of the two best pitchers in the county and was scouted by many major league teams. Bob threw several one-hitters in high school. He went on to Ohio Northern University and was a team co-captain and pitched a no-hitter against Adrian College.

Bob is a pharmacist and lives in Grafton with his wife Diana. They have two adult children, Kevin and Tammi.