John Marshall High’s Mel Roach stood out in baseball, football and basketball, played in the major leagues, and then became a notable golfer in the Richmond area.
Roach in The Richmond Times-Dispatch years ago recalled growing up on the fields and courts of Richmond.
“I was there all day, every day,” he said. “I just played and had fun.”
He excelled for four years in football, basketball and baseball at John Marshall. He was all-city and all-state in baseball. He was all-city and all-state in football. He was an all-city player his final year of high school in basketball, when he led the city in scoring.
Some believe Roach was among the finest athletes to ever come out of Richmond.