E. Roy Lester

E. Roy Lester was inducted into the inaugural College of Applied Human Sciences Hall of Fame in the fall of 2025. He was previously inducted into the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Hall of Fame in 1995.

A native of Spencer, W.Va., Lester was a standout three-sport athlete at WVU, lettering in football, basketball, and baseball. On the gridiron, he played end for the Mountaineers, including on the 1949 Sun Bowl team, finishing his career with 16 receptions, 259 yards, and two touchdowns. He also posted a .339 batting average as an outfielder and appeared in 21 games as a center on the basketball team.

Lester earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in education from WVU, minoring in physical education for both. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles and played briefly for their farm team, the Paterson Panthers, before beginning a coaching career that would span decades and include stops at both the high school and collegiate levels.

He made his mark in Maryland high school football, most notably as head coach at Richard Montgomery High School, where he compiled an 86-10-1 record. He also served as head coach at the University of Maryland for three seasons before returning to high school coaching, leading programs at Paint Branch and Magruder high schools. Lester amassed over 260 high school coaching victories in Montgomery County, celebrating his 200th win in 1989.

His honors include induction into the Maryland Football Hall of Fame, WVU Sports Hall of Fame (2008), the American Football Coaches Association Lifetime Award (1993), and the 1986 Coach of the Year Award. In 2002, the athletic field at Richard Montgomery High School was renamed Roy Lester Stadium in his honor.

Lester passed away in 2020 at the age of 96.