Win One for Coach Rhodes

A Star at 15





American Legion National Champions (1965)

Knights Stadium Reunion with Rollie Fingers as 1964 team honored

Teacher & Baseball Coach at Olympic High School

Game Time Strategy!

Bob Rhodes Stadium

St Louis Cardinals manager, Mike Schildt, played for Coach Rhodes at Olympic

From High School sweethearts to children and grandchildren!

On the baseball field Robert Rhodes became a force to be reckoned with at an early age. As a right handed pitcher with poise, speed and control he became a mainstay in Charlotte on four summer league teams that advanced to the national finals from 1962 to 1965. Imagine winning two national championships along with a national runner-up and a 3rd place finish over four years! Robert followed that with four years on the pitching staff at UNC-Chapel Hill including their ACC Championship team in 1969.

 

Robert then had a long and distinguished career as teacher and baseball coach at Olympic High School in Charlotte. The baseball field there is named in his honor. In addition Robert volunteered with the Steele Creek Athletic Association and led their baseball team to four consecutive state championships! After retiring Robert and his wife Brenda moved to Greenville, N.C. to be closer to their children and grandchildren. In a freak accident while working in his yard, Robert fell backwards bumping his head. The trauma from the fall triggered a brain bleed leading to serious brain surgery that has left him hospitalized in a bed since the injury in September of 2018. Robert has been unable to speak or get up and has been dependent on assistance to help him breathe and stay nourished. To make Robert’s challenge even more daunting he has been through several episodes of pneumonia, congestive heart failure, urinary tract infections and even one case of Stage 4 bed sores. Brenda has helped Robert seek help from several medical centers including most recently the Cleveland Clinic but doctors have concluded there’s nothing further they can do. As a result in the near future Robert will be brought home and Brenda along with some home nursing care will become responsible for his daily care. Needless to say that will require the need for specialized hospital bedding and equipment to keep Robert  breathing and nourished. As you can imagine uncovered medical debt has accumulated and is substantial.

 

We now have a chance to “Win One for Coach Rhodes” and make a difference for Robert’s beloved wife Brenda and the Rhodes family. Our goal is to raise $40,000. Please join us in this GoFundMe campaign to honor our love and affection for Robert, Brenda and the Rhodes family.

 
Addendum:On February 10,2020 Robert’s kidneys began failing and he was accepted into Hospice care and fought bravely until his passing on Sunday evening February 23, 2020 surrounded by his entire family.