Hall of Fame
Dr. George H. Roadman was Cal U’s fourth president, serving from 1968-77.
Roadman, who was hired as a social studies professor in 1946, worked at his alma mater for 31 years. He also taught political science and economics before serving as the dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs from 1957-68.
Roadman became acting president in November 1968, following the death of Dr. Michael Duda, president emeritus and a 2010 Hall of Fame inductee.
In 1969, Gov. Richard P. Shafer announced Roadman as the University’s new president.
During his tenure at California, Roadman encouraged changes in education that would match a changing society.
“Colleges such as California will have to carve out new roles in a society which we must first understand and then help shape,” he said in his inaugural address as President.
Roadman guided the campus through challenging financial times.
It was a time where athletics was viewed differently than it is today according to Emeritus President Dr. John Pierce Watkins ’53, who followed Roadman and served as President until May 1992.
“The attitude and feeling towards athletics at every college and university in the country is exaggerated now but that was not the case back then,” Watkins said. “Within that era budgets were small and a president had to work very carefully to sustain an athletic program. The whole atmosphere that surrounds athletics now just wasn’t the case back then.”
During his presidency, Adamson Stadium was built; so were the Pollock Building and Azorsky, Keystone, Morgan and Gallagher halls.
An avid sports enthusiast, Roadman’s presidency saw considerable athletic success.
Along with the facility upgrades, the men’s basketball team won the program’s first of eight PSAC titles in 1970, and the men’s tennis team won consecutive conference crowns in 1971-72.
Watkins added that there were no scholarship programs then and all of the varsity coaches were faculty members. Head coaches received a six-hour class reduction while assistants got just three-hour reductions.
“We were always competitive and won our share of championships,” said Watkins, a 2000 Cal U Hall of Fame inductee. “A president really had to be smart, balanced and careful in managing the staffing and financing of athletic programs and he (Roadman) was good at that. That’s what it took back then to be successful at what you were trying to do. You had to be very careful.”
Under Roadman’s leadership, women’s sports came under the direction of the Athletic Department.
A total of 63 student-athletes or coaches from the Roadman era are members of the Cal U Athletic Hall of Fame.
“I am certain that if you polled those athletes they would overwhelmingly support his Hall of Fame induction,” said George W. Roadman ’68. “My dad is probably best remembered as a constant fixture at practices and games, both home and away and for all sports. If you were either a Vulcan athlete, coach or fan, you knew Doc Roadman.”
One Hall of Fame member from the Roadman era who is an overwhelming supporter is basketball star and 2009 inductee Pat Hobart ’68.
“Doc Roadman was my man,” said the ever-enthusiastic Hobart. “He was a mentor who truly cared and someone that was always there for me. His encouragement helped make a man out of me and I will never forget that.”
In recognition of Roadman’s contribution to the Cal U community and to Vulcan athletics, the College Farm sports and recreation complex on the south campus was named the George H. Roadman Recreational Park on Alumni Day 1986.
He was also a fine athlete in his own right. He played for years on the faculty basketball team. Dr. Roadman was the team’s second-leading scorer behind 2003 Hall of Fame inductee Jim Kennedy ’53 in a victory over the Brownsville High School faculty.
The Brownsville team was led by 1996 Cal U Hall of Fame inductee Dick Majernik ’55. He recalled Roadman as always being deeply involved with Cal U as a dedicated educator and strong supporter of athletics.
“He loved talking sports with the Vulcan student-athletes on and off the field of play,” Majenrik said. “The athletic department had his fatherly support to aid the athletes in all circumstances. The coaches could always count on Doc Roadman to solve problems.”
Dr. Roadman becomes the third president to receive the university’s highest athletic honor and Watkins believes he and his presidential predecessors guided Vulcan athletics through a demanding time.
“We were serious about it, we enjoyed it and when all was said and done kids that played picked up their diplomas at the end of their four years,” Watkins said. “I’m certainly not saying there are not many serious student-athletes today but back then if you were an athlete you were a student at the college period.”
Originally from Merrittstown, Pa., Roadman was a 1937 graduate of Redstone High School.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in education at California in 1941 and his master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Pittsburgh.
Before returning to the California campus, Roadman earned four Battle Stars and a Bronze Star during four years as a field artillery captain in the European Theater of Operations in World War II.
After retirement he and his wife of 63 years, the former Betty Jean Roberts, settled in Virginia Beach, Va.
Roadman served many years as an adjunct professor at Tidewater Community College and Old Dominion University. In addition to his career in academia he participated in many civic and philanthropic endeavors.
Roadman died July 26, 2006, at the age of 85. He is survived by his wife, three children — George W. ’68, John ’74 and Emmilou ’71 — seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
“Our family is very proud and honored for this honor,” said George W. Roadman. “This would have meant a great deal to him and this is very special for all of us.”
updated 10/10/12
