Former Maryland football coach Roy Lester, a revered high school coach in Montgomery County, passed away Sunday in Rockville of complications caused by the coronavirus. He was 96.
Born in Reedy, West Virginia on October 3, 1923, he was the son of Elva Roy and Sybil Lester. He was a graduate of Spencer High School and went to West Virginia on an athletic scholarship and played football, basketball, baseball and ran track. In the middle of his college years, he was called to serve in the Navy at Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Hawaii.
After graduating from West Virginia with a degree in political science, Roy briefly played for the Philadelphia Eagles’ farm team, the Patterson Panthers, in the American Football League. An injury cut his career short and he began his coaching career in 1950 with a two-year stint at Walton High in West Virginia before moving to Allegany High in Cumberland.
During the early 1950s, he was also a proud member of the Ocean City Beach Patrol. In 1955, the University of Maryland hired Roy as the Freshman football and basketball coach under Tommy Mont and Bud Milliken, respectively.
Before his second time at Maryland, Roy made his mark coaching at Richard Montgomery, where he went 86-10-1 in 10 years with six undefeated seasons in the 1960s. It was there that he coached Baltimore Colts All-Pro linebacker Mike Curtis, who died April 20 at the age of 77.
Roy spent three seasons at Maryland from 1969 to 1971, going 7-25 before being relieved of his duties. During his tenure, 13 of his recruits went on to play in the NFL, most notably Dallas Cowboys star defensive end Randy White.
After leaving Maryland, Mr. Lester returned to the high school ranks at Paint Branch (1972-1978) and then Magruder (1979-1993), leading Paint Branch to the Class B state championship in 1975 and Magruder to the Class B state championship in 1984 and the Class A state title in 1986.
When he retired in 1993, Roy had won 260 games at the high school level.
His son, Tom, described his father as a hands-on coach with a sensational personality that was suited for public speaking.
“My dad was a molder of men. He loved his players — he never cut anybody,” Tom Lester said. “He trusted his players and was almost like a father figure to them. He just inspired people to want to go out and win.”
In 2002, Richard Montgomery named its athletic stadium after Mr. Lester and he was a charter member when the school created an Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. Roy was the first person to be awarded the Key to the City of Rockville.
He was inducted into the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
Roy remained involved with Richard Montgomery football until recent months, attending the team’s annual charity golf tournament last spring. In October, his son said that his father suffered a broken leg that started his slide.
“He had a rough time the last year,”
Roy attended every Richard Montgomery alumni gathering over all these years. He enjoyed seeing his old team including Mike Curtis. Roy most recently attended the RMHS reunion July 12, 2019 at the home of one of his players from 1964. The RMHS alumni are particularly sad at losing their lifelong coach. They had a strong relationship over many years.
Roy will be buried at Rockville Cemetery — less than 2 miles from Richard Montgomery — with only close family members at the ceremony. The family plans to celebrate his life with a gathering at Roy Lester Stadium at a later date.
He was married to the former Sylvia Watson and had four children, Roy Jr (Karen), Chris, Tommy (Debbie), and Amy. He was blessed with 10 grandchildren: Christopher (Bridget), Brittany, Katrina, Tiffany, Matthew, Gabrielle (Aj), Raphaelle, Alessandra, Arianna, and Jessica, and one great-grandchild, Jacob.
Born in Reedy, West Virginia on October 3, 1923, he was the son of Elva Roy and Sybil Lester. He was a graduate of Spencer High School and went to West Virginia on an athletic scholarship and played football, basketball, baseball and ran track. In the middle of his college years, he was called to serve in the Navy at Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Hawaii.
After graduating from West Virginia with a degree in political science, Roy briefly played for the Philadelphia Eagles’ farm team, the Patterson Panthers, in the American Football League. An injury cut his career short and he began his coaching career in 1950 with a two-year stint at Walton High in West Virginia before moving to Allegany High in Cumberland.
During the early 1950s, he was also a proud member of the Ocean City Beach Patrol. In 1955, the University of Maryland hired Roy as the Freshman football and basketball coach under Tommy Mont and Bud Milliken, respectively.
Before his second time at Maryland, Roy made his mark coaching at Richard Montgomery, where he went 86-10-1 in 10 years with six undefeated seasons in the 1960s. It was there that he coached Baltimore Colts All-Pro linebacker Mike Curtis, who died April 20 at the age of 77.
Roy spent three seasons at Maryland from 1969 to 1971, going 7-25 before being relieved of his duties. During his tenure, 13 of his recruits went on to play in the NFL, most notably Dallas Cowboys star defensive end Randy White.
After leaving Maryland, Mr. Lester returned to the high school ranks at Paint Branch (1972-1978) and then Magruder (1979-1993), leading Paint Branch to the Class B state championship in 1975 and Magruder to the Class B state championship in 1984 and the Class A state title in 1986.
When he retired in 1993, Roy had won 260 games at the high school level.
His son, Tom, described his father as a hands-on coach with a sensational personality that was suited for public speaking.
“My dad was a molder of men. He loved his players — he never cut anybody,” Tom Lester said. “He trusted his players and was almost like a father figure to them. He just inspired people to want to go out and win.”
In 2002, Richard Montgomery named its athletic stadium after Mr. Lester and he was a charter member when the school created an Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. Roy was the first person to be awarded the Key to the City of Rockville.
He was inducted into the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
Roy remained involved with Richard Montgomery football until recent months, attending the team’s annual charity golf tournament last spring. In October, his son said that his father suffered a broken leg that started his slide.
“He had a rough time the last year,”
Roy attended every Richard Montgomery alumni gathering over all these years. He enjoyed seeing his old team including Mike Curtis. Roy most recently attended the RMHS reunion July 12, 2019 at the home of one of his players from 1964. The RMHS alumni are particularly sad at losing their lifelong coach. They had a strong relationship over many years.
Roy will be buried at Rockville Cemetery — less than 2 miles from Richard Montgomery — with only close family members at the ceremony. The family plans to celebrate his life with a gathering at Roy Lester Stadium at a later date.
He was married to the former Sylvia Watson and had four children, Roy Jr (Karen), Chris, Tommy (Debbie), and Amy. He was blessed with 10 grandchildren: Christopher (Bridget), Brittany, Katrina, Tiffany, Matthew, Gabrielle (Aj), Raphaelle, Alessandra, Arianna, and Jessica, and one great-grandchild, Jacob.
Former Maryland football coach Roy Lester, a revered high school coach in Montgomery County, passed away Sunday in Rockville of complications caused by the coronavirus. He was 96.
Born in Reedy, West Virginia on October 3, 1923, he was the son of Elva Roy and Sybil Lester. He was a graduate of Spencer High School and went to West Virginia on an athletic scholarship and played football, basketball, baseball and ran track. In the middle of his college years, he was called to serve in the Navy at Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Hawaii.
After graduating from West Virginia with a degree in political science, Roy briefly played for the Philadelphia Eagles’ farm team, the Patterson Panthers, in the American Football League. An injury cut his career short and he began his coaching career in 1950 with a two-year stint at Walton High in West Virginia before moving to Allegany High in Cumberland.
During the early 1950s, he was also a proud member of the Ocean City Beach Patrol. In 1955, the University of Maryland hired Roy as the Freshman football and basketball coach under Tommy Mont and Bud Milliken, respectively.
Before his second time at Maryland, Roy made his mark coaching at Richard Montgomery, where he went 86-10-1 in 10 years with six undefeated seasons in the 1960s. It was there that he coached Baltimore Colts All-Pro linebacker Mike Curtis, who died April 20 at the age of 77.
Roy spent three seasons at Maryland from 1969 to 1971, going 7-25 before being relieved of his duties. During his tenure, 13 of his recruits went on to play in the NFL, most notably Dallas Cowboys star defensive end Randy White.
After leaving Maryland, Mr. Lester returned to the high school ranks at Paint Branch (1972-1978) and then Magruder (1979-1993), leading Paint Branch to the Class B state championship in 1975 and Magruder to the Class B state championship in 1984 and the Class A state title in 1986.
When he retired in 1993, Roy had won 260 games at the high school level.
His son, Tom, described his father as a hands-on coach with a sensational personality that was suited for public speaking.
“My dad was a molder of men. He loved his players — he never cut anybody,” Tom Lester said. “He trusted his players and was almost like a father figure to them. He just inspired people to want to go out and win.”
In 2002, Richard Montgomery named its athletic stadium after Mr. Lester and he was a charter member when the school created an Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. Roy was the first person to be awarded the Key to the City of Rockville.
He was inducted into the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
Roy remained involved with Richard Montgomery football until recent months, attending the team’s annual charity golf tournament last spring. In October, his son said that his father suffered a broken leg that started his slide.
“He had a rough time the last year,”
Roy attended every Richard Montgomery alumni gathering over all these years. He enjoyed seeing his old team including Mike Curtis. Roy most recently attended the RMHS reunion July 12, 2019 at the home of one of his players from 1964. The RMHS alumni are particularly sad at losing their lifelong coach. They had a strong relationship over many years.
Roy will be buried at Rockville Cemetery — less than 2 miles from Richard Montgomery — with only close family members at the ceremony. The family plans to celebrate his life with a gathering at Roy Lester Stadium at a later date.
He was married to the former Sylvia Watson and had four children, Roy Jr (Karen), Chris, Tommy (Debbie), and Amy. He was blessed with 10 grandchildren: Christopher (Bridget), Brittany, Katrina, Tiffany, Matthew, Gabrielle (Aj), Raphaelle, Alessandra, Arianna, and Jessica, and one great-grandchild, Jacob.
Born in Reedy, West Virginia on October 3, 1923, he was the son of Elva Roy and Sybil Lester. He was a graduate of Spencer High School and went to West Virginia on an athletic scholarship and played football, basketball, baseball and ran track. In the middle of his college years, he was called to serve in the Navy at Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Hawaii.
After graduating from West Virginia with a degree in political science, Roy briefly played for the Philadelphia Eagles’ farm team, the Patterson Panthers, in the American Football League. An injury cut his career short and he began his coaching career in 1950 with a two-year stint at Walton High in West Virginia before moving to Allegany High in Cumberland.
During the early 1950s, he was also a proud member of the Ocean City Beach Patrol. In 1955, the University of Maryland hired Roy as the Freshman football and basketball coach under Tommy Mont and Bud Milliken, respectively.
Before his second time at Maryland, Roy made his mark coaching at Richard Montgomery, where he went 86-10-1 in 10 years with six undefeated seasons in the 1960s. It was there that he coached Baltimore Colts All-Pro linebacker Mike Curtis, who died April 20 at the age of 77.
Roy spent three seasons at Maryland from 1969 to 1971, going 7-25 before being relieved of his duties. During his tenure, 13 of his recruits went on to play in the NFL, most notably Dallas Cowboys star defensive end Randy White.
After leaving Maryland, Mr. Lester returned to the high school ranks at Paint Branch (1972-1978) and then Magruder (1979-1993), leading Paint Branch to the Class B state championship in 1975 and Magruder to the Class B state championship in 1984 and the Class A state title in 1986.
When he retired in 1993, Roy had won 260 games at the high school level.
His son, Tom, described his father as a hands-on coach with a sensational personality that was suited for public speaking.
“My dad was a molder of men. He loved his players — he never cut anybody,” Tom Lester said. “He trusted his players and was almost like a father figure to them. He just inspired people to want to go out and win.”
In 2002, Richard Montgomery named its athletic stadium after Mr. Lester and he was a charter member when the school created an Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. Roy was the first person to be awarded the Key to the City of Rockville.
He was inducted into the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
Roy remained involved with Richard Montgomery football until recent months, attending the team’s annual charity golf tournament last spring. In October, his son said that his father suffered a broken leg that started his slide.
“He had a rough time the last year,”
Roy attended every Richard Montgomery alumni gathering over all these years. He enjoyed seeing his old team including Mike Curtis. Roy most recently attended the RMHS reunion July 12, 2019 at the home of one of his players from 1964. The RMHS alumni are particularly sad at losing their lifelong coach. They had a strong relationship over many years.
Roy will be buried at Rockville Cemetery — less than 2 miles from Richard Montgomery — with only close family members at the ceremony. The family plans to celebrate his life with a gathering at Roy Lester Stadium at a later date.
He was married to the former Sylvia Watson and had four children, Roy Jr (Karen), Chris, Tommy (Debbie), and Amy. He was blessed with 10 grandchildren: Christopher (Bridget), Brittany, Katrina, Tiffany, Matthew, Gabrielle (Aj), Raphaelle, Alessandra, Arianna, and Jessica, and one great-grandchild, Jacob.
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