Photo of Robert Key

Robert KeyRobert Key

Photo of Robert Key
School: Marshall Graduation Year: 1984

Year Inducted: 2015

Sports Played: Football, Basketball, Baseball

Featured Member of the Month ~ November 2024

High School Honors: 3-year Football Letterman, 1st team All-PIL, senior; 2nd team, junior; team captain both years. 3-year Basketball Letterman, 1st team All-PIL, senior; 2nd team, junior; captain; Metro/State All-Star. 4-year Baseball Letterman, 1st team All-PIL, senior pitcher/shortstop; 2nd team, junior; team captain. Male Student-Athlete of the year 1984.

Post High School Career: Lower Columbia CC, 2-year all-league basketball both years; 2nd team all-league baseball second year. Western Oregon University, 2-year all-league basketball both years; 2nd team all-league baseball, senior. Team captain in basketball at LC and baseball at WOU.
Basketball Coach: JV at Cleveland 14 years; Varsity at Roosevelt 8 years; Varsity at Hudson’s Bay 2 years; Currently Varsity at Grant (coach of year 3 times, Paul McCall Award recipient).
Football Coach: JV at Roosevelt; Asst. at Portland Christian; Frosh at Hudson’s Bay. Currently JV at Grant. Baseball Coach: Varsity, Roosevelt 4 years, Portland Christian 3 years; JV at Cleveland 5 years
Currently Frosh Coach at Grant.

Commentary:

I am truly blessed to be recognized amongst a group talented athletes and coaches.

My high school years at Marshall had a huge impact on my success as a student athlete. My favorite quote from football coach Darrell Everett was “Losers never win and winners never quit.” Besides Everett, my hero’s from those important years were coaches Bill Smethurst, Ed LeBaron, Monty Rurey, Terry Johnson and Don Emery. Don Emery was like a father figure to my brother Jeff and me. He taught me the importance of life, leadership and academics.

Another favorite saying I have repeated over the years is the Self Enhancement Inc. quote “Sports without an education is a long shot” – I am thankful to have had an education and have enjoyed working with youth in our community for the past 25 plus years.

My childhood best friend Andre George and I never got to play on the same teams but it is a great feeling for us both to be honored this same year going into the PIL Hall of Fame.

Greatest Inspirations – My mother Mae and Brother Jeff.

Greatest Beliefs – Treat others how you want to be treated. It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.

Greatest HS athletic accomplishment: Making All City 1st team in football, basketball and baseball my senior year. I also enjoyed winning the league title in basketball my sophomore year and playing at the Memorial Coliseum.

More Inductees from this School:

Photo of Mark Peterson

Mark PetersonMark Peterson

Marshall ~ 1977 ~ Four-time Football letter winner; Two-time First Team All-PIL. Three-time Wrestling letter winner; Two-time PIL Champion. Letter winner in Track and Field.

Belinda Noquez

Belinda NoguezBelinda Noguez

Marshall ~ 1983 ~ 4 Soccer letters. 1st Team All-PIL as Junior and Senior, State Tournament as Senior. 4 Basketball letters. State Champion as Sophomore and Junior. 3 Softball letters. State Playoff Team.