They say you can never go home again. Well, that’s exactly what Bill Rowe did Friday night. The 1957 Marionville High School grad was back at his old stomping grounds Friday night for Homecoming as he was honored with a plaque during halftime of the Comets game against Lincoln.
“It is just a part of you,” said Rowe. “It never leaves you. I guess you could say I’m a Comet, a Bear and a Cardinal. Those are the things that I say I’m made of because of the backgrounds I’ve had with great people to work with and coaches, and my fellow students and the whole bit.”
Rowe was named a Missouri Sports Legend by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame earlier this year. The 1961 Southwest Missouri State University graduate started the Bears baseball program and led them for 19 years before taking over as Director of Athletics in 1982. He served in that role before retiring in 2009. He remains an ambassador for the University to this day.
“You go back to your roots and where you are now and there’s been a lot of great things that have happened in between. I owe a lot of gratitude to a lot of people, but serving the people of this area has been very special to me.”
In addition to his vast accomplishments, Rowe was recognized for donating money to fund the Comets’ new football goal posts. He was also responsible for providing field turf for the Comets’ indoor training facility. The turf came from Plaster Sports Complex, which got new turf two years ago.
“When you get in a position in life when you can help out with some things it’s just an honor for myself and my family to do that. I saw this down here last year and I thought that’s something else we can do and I knew the school didn’t have the money to do it. It just makes you feel good to give back. I don’t care what your realm of life is, it’s just special to do it.”
Also in attendance Friday night was Rowe’s high school coach Al Howser, who is 90 years old.
