Robert "Bob" Blythe

Robert Edward Blythe was born on April 12, 1941 in Koppel. He was the son of Thomas and Josephine Blythe. During his younger years, he played youth baseball in Koppel and was part of the Beaver County Champion Midget team with Circle of Achievement Inductees Karl Florie and Tony Esoldo.

From 1956 to 1959, Bob attended Ellwood City High School. There, he played football for legendary coach Chuck Knox, who later became the head football coach for the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks. After high school, he matriculated at Geneva College and graduated in 1963. Bob was an outstanding baseball player in college and was Geneva’s team Captain in his Junior and Senior years.

In 1964, Bob began a 13 month deployment in Vietnam with the First Signal Brigade and 69th Signal battalion. When he discharged in 1967, Bob began his teaching career at Big Beaver Elementary School.

In 1969, he became an assistant football coach at Beaver Falls High School under another legendary coach, Larry Bruno.
In 1977 Bob married the love of his life, Ann Bedekovich. After serving as an assistant football coach for 13 years, Bob was appointed head football coach at Beaver Falls High School. Under his tutelage, the Tigers won the WPIAL Class AA Championship in 1984, defeating Riverside High School and his best friend Karl Florie, 14-13. Coach Blythe finished his career as a Defensive Coordinator under Ron Sciarro at Riverside High School from 1989 to 1993 and as an Offensive Coordinator under Curt Agostinelli at Ellwood City High School from 1998 until 2000.

Robert enjoyed ham radio and drinking coffee at the Corner Tavern. He was loved by all who crossed his path. He also served as Godfather for daughters of our Inductees Karl Florie (Karla) and Tony Esoldo (Roxanne). Sadly, and at a young age of 60 years, Coach Blythe died suddenly from a heart attack in 2002.

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