Bob Boyer’s life has always been about winning, both on the field and behind the scenes.

A three-sport letter winner in baseball, basketball and soccer at West Chester State College, then a Division I program, Boyer experienced the ultimate for an athlete when the 1961 soccer team won the national championship, defeating then-powerhouse St. Louis 2-0 in the title game. Almost 50 years later, it’s still a vivid memory for Boyer.

“There are still things that stick out in your mind about the excitement of that game,” he said “For most of the guys that went it was their first airplane trip. I can still see St. Louis had a penalty kick late in the second half that was missed and that just put an extra charge into our entire team and we came back and scored two goals after that. Being a starter on that team was a just a thrill, something that I guess you’ll never forget in your lifetime – a Division I championship that we brought to a small school like West Chester.”

But Boyer’s career in athletics went way beyond college. After earning his degree at West Chester, he went on to earn a Masters at Springfield University, and spent his entire teaching and coaching career at Downingtown High School. He coached baseball from 1963-1969, basketball from 1965-1986, cross country in 1963 and golf in 1966. He eventually became the school’s athletic director and later a vice principal, all while helping build the Whippets into a sports program recognized across the state.

“When I first came there in ’63 we were one of if not the smallest teams in the Ches-Mont,” Boyer said. “Being there for 40 years and seeing where Downingtown is today, I feel very proud to be a part of that success. The number of state champions that Downingtown was able to accomplish, and being part of that as the athletic director and having the outstanding coaches and students – again I feel very proud of being associated with that.”

Boyer’s part in that growth was recognized by the Downingtown School District when it named the gym at Downingtown East High School the Robert A. Boyer Gymnasium.

Already a member of the West Chester University Basketball Hall of Fame and the initial Ches-Mont League Hall of Fame class, Boyer is thrilled to be inducted into the Chester County Hall of Fame.

“I’m very humbled with the entire situation, but very excited that my name was presented and accepted as an inductee into the Hall of Fame,” he said. “Looking at the distinguished members that are already in there, I guess I don’t know how to express myself. I’m happy to be part of that family of inductees, especially this group that’s going in.”