Robert Hershberger
Class of 2016
John Robert Hershberger, known as "Bob" in Bedford, was a quiet unassuming man who gave powerful support to two great teams in Bedford history.
Hershberger, who graduated from Bedford High School in l947, played an important role as a tackle on the undefeated 1945 football team. In 1945 Bedford second-year coach Bruce Fisher took a liking to two young linemen, Hershberger and Gene Hocker, and put them on the first team.
Bob was a two year starter on the wrestling team at 185 pounds, the heaviest weight class.
Hershberger is representative of a number of Bedford wrestlers of that era who did exceptionally well in districts and s. In 1947, Hershberger and John Heacock were co-captains for Bedford, who had six lettermen, including Louis Beemiller and Gene Hocker, who had both reached the state semifinals for 1946. Hocker reached the state semifinals twice. Heacock the state champion in 1945 was a state runner-up in 1944 and 1946.
As a senior Bob won the District 5 Championship at 185 and advanced to the Pa. State Championship. At states, Bob won his first two matches before losing in the finals to Bill George and becoming Bedford’s second state runner-up. George became an over 10-year starter for the Chicago Bears at linebacker.
Bedford's wrestling coach, "Whitey Koontz”|was a graduate of Gettysburg College and directed many of his wrestlers to Gettysburg. One of them was Bob Hershberger. Bob first attended Juniata College and was a starter at tackle as a freshman. He was president of his class.
Bob transferred to Gettysburg where he was a three year starter in football and wrestling. In 1950, Bedford's Clarence "Bud" Diehl was the captain of the team and he and Hershberger filled the last two weights. Against Pittsburgh Diehl and Hershberger both won as Gettysburg defeated Pitt.
The same year, 1950 Hershberger and Diehl both placed 3rd in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Championship. As Gettysburg tied for their 2nd straight MAC championship. Gettysburg did not participate in the NCAA Wrestling Tournament.
In 1951, Hershberger was joined on the team by Bedford wrestlers Jim Spangler and Alan Hershberger. They wrestled the last three weights and all three wrestled well. They won their three straight MAC Championship. Bob was 2nd, Spangler 3rd, and Alan 2nd in the MAC Championship.
After graduation from Gettysburg, Hershberger studied at Gettysburg Seminary and graduated in 1954. He was ordained into the United Lutheran Church and commissioned in the Navy as a chaplain. He won two Bronze Stars for "exceptional professional ability and leadership" in Vietnam. He was in charge of 104 chaplains severing two Marine divisions.
Bob married Alice Carr on August 22, 1953 and they had four sons. Bob died on September 21, 2010 and his burial was at St. Paul Reformed Cemetary in Cessna. His wife Alice lives in the Philadelphia area.
Hershberger, who graduated from Bedford High School in l947, played an important role as a tackle on the undefeated 1945 football team. In 1945 Bedford second-year coach Bruce Fisher took a liking to two young linemen, Hershberger and Gene Hocker, and put them on the first team.
Bob was a two year starter on the wrestling team at 185 pounds, the heaviest weight class.
Hershberger is representative of a number of Bedford wrestlers of that era who did exceptionally well in districts and s. In 1947, Hershberger and John Heacock were co-captains for Bedford, who had six lettermen, including Louis Beemiller and Gene Hocker, who had both reached the state semifinals for 1946. Hocker reached the state semifinals twice. Heacock the state champion in 1945 was a state runner-up in 1944 and 1946.
As a senior Bob won the District 5 Championship at 185 and advanced to the Pa. State Championship. At states, Bob won his first two matches before losing in the finals to Bill George and becoming Bedford’s second state runner-up. George became an over 10-year starter for the Chicago Bears at linebacker.
Bedford's wrestling coach, "Whitey Koontz”|was a graduate of Gettysburg College and directed many of his wrestlers to Gettysburg. One of them was Bob Hershberger. Bob first attended Juniata College and was a starter at tackle as a freshman. He was president of his class.
Bob transferred to Gettysburg where he was a three year starter in football and wrestling. In 1950, Bedford's Clarence "Bud" Diehl was the captain of the team and he and Hershberger filled the last two weights. Against Pittsburgh Diehl and Hershberger both won as Gettysburg defeated Pitt.
The same year, 1950 Hershberger and Diehl both placed 3rd in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Championship. As Gettysburg tied for their 2nd straight MAC championship. Gettysburg did not participate in the NCAA Wrestling Tournament.
In 1951, Hershberger was joined on the team by Bedford wrestlers Jim Spangler and Alan Hershberger. They wrestled the last three weights and all three wrestled well. They won their three straight MAC Championship. Bob was 2nd, Spangler 3rd, and Alan 2nd in the MAC Championship.
After graduation from Gettysburg, Hershberger studied at Gettysburg Seminary and graduated in 1954. He was ordained into the United Lutheran Church and commissioned in the Navy as a chaplain. He won two Bronze Stars for "exceptional professional ability and leadership" in Vietnam. He was in charge of 104 chaplains severing two Marine divisions.
Bob married Alice Carr on August 22, 1953 and they had four sons. Bob died on September 21, 2010 and his burial was at St. Paul Reformed Cemetary in Cessna. His wife Alice lives in the Philadelphia area.
Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County Sports
Hall of Fame
Class of 2016