SPORTS HALL of FAME ATHLETE
Carl Roof '81

A child of the "get outdoors and play" generation, Carl did exactly that. Unorganized sports at the Roof family home, with hours and hours of whiffle ball, hoops from the home- made rim hung on the garage, and the rubber ball pitching routine, all for fun, but also in preparation for the days of "organized sports".

Sidney Center was full of life in those days - Jeff Hathaway, Dan Green, Shawn Patrick and others played all sports and always worked their own ground rules to match the limited number of players. Additionally, the SC boys joined forces as their own Pee Wee and Little League baseball teams; often older brothers Bert and Lynn were his coaches. And at the elementary school the annual Maroon and White basketball game, pitted combined teams of 4th and 5th graders against one another in the magnificent Sidney Center gymnasium.

Middle school sports started out with football, basketball and track, with many new friends to share the experience. Hoops quickly became the focus and the Courts a common venue where Mike Catrine, Barry Coy, Scott Dewey, Mike Hamilton, Scott & Steve Rosa and Keith & Kevin Theobald clashed for some epic battles. Carl's mom & dad and sister Joan helped with the 16-mile round trip taxi service. By high school, Carl concentrated on basketball, under coaches Jack Jones and Bill Munro, and baseball with coaches Doug Fessenden & Tom Hager.

As a sophomore, Carl had attained not only varsity basketball status, but the nickname "CJ". And it was CJ whose instant spark off the bench helped the Warriors to their historic 25-1 run to the New York State Championship. A tireless athlete, Carl ran teams ragged as often he'd get a rebound, outlet pass to Jeri Mirabito or Steve Catrine and somehow get a return pass in time to finish the play he started. The seniors that season often speak of how it was "CJ" who was the piece of the puzzle they needed to go from the Final Four in 1977-78 to the title the following season.

Team wise, the two following seasons were successes though not quite to that level. Individually, Carl was named Sus West 1st Team All-League (junior) and MVP (senior), as well as Sidney Christmas tournament MVP (both years). In the '80-81 season, Carl was also named area MVP and Sportsman of the Year by WCHN radio; Also, he was selected to the All-State (small school) 6th team. Both seasons, CJ averaged a double-double, with a consistent 16 points and 12 rebounds per game.

On the diamond, Carl was a 3-year varsity starter at shortstop and typically batted clean-up for Coach Fessenden. His most productive offensive season was his sophomore year when he batted .360 with several homeruns and led the team in stolen bases. He was voted 2nd team Sus West shortstop. Carl batted .350 as a junior and .325 as a senior. He also held the career record for most stolen bases upon graduation.

In college, after some prodding Carl played parts of his sophomore and junior years on the Varsity basketball team. But education came first (upper level chemistry courses). He continued to play recreational basketball and softball for many years after college.

After graduating from Ithaca College (BA Chemistry, '85) and from Syracuse University College of Law (JD, 1992), Carl joined Procter & Gamble in 1992 as an Intellectual Property attorney. Since 2000, Carl has been Director & Associate General Counsel for P&G.

Carl, wife Suzette, son Josh (23) and daughter Taylor (20) live in Milford, OH, a suburb of Cincinnati. Carl thanks this wonderful family for the amazing after-Sidney life they've provided.

And tonight they're all here to welcome Carl Roof into the Sidney Alumni Sports Hall of Fame!