Beatty

Football was Bob Beatty's favorite sport — but by no means was it his only sport.

The 1976 Slippery Rock High School graduate lettered in football, baseball and basketball there, went on to play football and baseball at Clarion University and has coached the Red Lion (Pa.) High School varsity baseball team to 16 consecutive winning seasons.

Such versatility has landed Beatty in the Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame. He will be one of eight inductees at the Hall's annual banquet April 29 at the Butler Days Inn.

"My father (James Beatty) was inducted into the Hall in 1978," Beatty said. "It feels special being able to join him there."

James Beatty was founder of the Prospect Boys and Girls Club. It didn't take his son long to embark upon a successful athletic career of his own.

"I was always around sports, and nobody worked harder at them than I did," the younger Beatty said. "Sports serve as a good foundation for leadership."

Beatty was a two-time all-Tri-County League quarterback and punter in high school. He lettered four years in baseball and became an American Legion all-state outfielder at age 18. He made the American Legion all-West all-star team as a 16-year-old.

"I remember going to the first Legion All-Star Game in Butler as a pitcher," he said. "I got socked around pretty good. They moved me along to the next level of all-stars because I ran the 60-yard dash in 6.8 seconds. I had some speed and they switched me to outfield."

Beatty could play other positions as well. After moving on to Clarion University as a quarterback, he played third base for the Golden Eagles baseball team as a freshman and was a catcher his sophomore season.

But football was his priority. Clarion was 33-8-1 over four years with Beatty at quarterback. That record included two state championships and three PSAC West crowns.

"Bob was a great athlete at Clarion," said Bill Miller, a longtime swimming coach there. "He held all the (quarterback) records there by the time he graduated. As happens so often in sports, he was a great athlete and is even a better person."

Beatty threw for 989 yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman in 1976. He helped Clarion to a 9-0-1 record in 1977, threw for 781 yards in 1978 and redshirted in 1979. He closed his collegiate football career by throwing for 1,733 yards and 13 TDs in 1980.

"There was no spring football when I first went to Clarion," Beatty said. "Playing baseball was no problem. Once they started spring football, I was committed to the baseball team and the (football) coaches let me play.

"I broke my ankle my junior year and committed to football after that."

Beatty graduated from Clarion with a degree in education. He ranked No. 1 in career passing attempts, No. 2 in completions and yards and No. 3 in touchdown passes with the Golden Eagles when his football playing days ended.

His baseball days continued. Beatty played for three teams in the Eagle County League and played seven different positions for the Butler Yankees. Once he relocated to the York, Pa., area, he played baseball for the York Victory AC Club until age 31.

That's when he and his wife, Cindi, began having children. Beatty's son now plays football and baseball in high school, and Beatty served as his junior high football coach. One of Beatty's two daughters is involved in gymnastics.

Beatty took over as Red Lion High School varsity baseball coach in 1989. The team was 5-12 during his first year and has not finished below .500 since.

Beatty teaches 12th-grade English at Red Lion.

"I've had a lot of fun in sports," he said. "And I'm still having it."

• Received nine letters at Slippery Rock High School: four in baseball, three in football, two in basketball• First-team Tri-County League All-Star as quarterback and punter during senior season in 1975• American Legion all-state outfielder at age 18n Led Clarion University football team to three PSAC West championships and two Pennsylvania championships as quarterback• Upon graduation from Clarion, ranked No. 1 on school's all-time list in career passing attempts, No. 2 in completions and yards, No. 3 in touchdown passes• Passed for 1,733 yards, 13 touchdowns during 1980 senior season at Clarion• Current varsity baseball coach at Red Lion (Pa.) High School, has guided team to 16 consecutive winning seasonsThe 41st annual Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame Banquet is at 6:30 p.m. April 29 at the Butler Days Inn. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children, and are available at Moses Jewelers, Bill's Beer Barn, Snack 'N' Pack or by calling ticket chairman Richard Pribis at 724-482-4200.

<I>This is the sixth in a series of eight articles profiling the 2006 inductees into the Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame. </I>