Renee welcomes standout coach and highly respected educator Sandford T. Roach, the first black principal of an integrated school in Lexington, on the next edition of Connections with Renee Shaw , airing Saturday, Aug. 4 at 3/2 p.m. CT on KET1 and Sunday, Aug. 12 at 11:30/10:30 a.m. CT on KET2.
After graduating from Kentucky State University in 1937, Roach returned to his high school in Danville to teach and coach basketball. His no-nonsense approach to disciplining players earned him great attention; in 1941, he benched his five starting players during a district tournament for violating his curfew rule.
Hired by Dunbar High School in Lexington, Roach taught biology, physiology and anatomy. In 1943, he became head basketball coach and after two decades, finished with an impressive 512-142 record.
His victories off the court include becoming the first black principal of an integrated elementary school in Lexington. He's worked for two Lexington mayors and is a member of the National High School Sports Hall of Fame, the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Kentucky State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Connections with Renee Shaw is a KET production, produced by Renee Shaw and Carolyn Gwinn.
