Creighton Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1981
- Class:
- 1939
In 1941, Roman married Martha Rita Healy in West Palm Beach, Florida. In 1944 he joined the ASTP program in dental school at Creighton University, and graduated in 1947. He practiced dentistry at Boys Town for one year, and then moved his family to Creighton, NE in 1948 where he established a dental practice.
In 1952, Roman reported for duty to the Naval Training Center in San Diego, California as Assistant Dental Officer. He also performed duties as assistant basketball coach and coach of the Navy Baseball Team. Roman served during the Korean War, including nine months off the coast of Korea aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kearsarge. Upon his honorable discharge in 1954, he returned to Creighton to resume his dental practice. He served on the Lundberg Memorial Hospital Board of Directors for 17 years, and belonged to the VFW, Chamber of Commerce, and the American Legion, where he was honored in 2004 for 60 years of membership. He helped organize and coached basketball at St. Ludger Academy, and was a member of the Creighton town baseball team for many years.
In 1981, Roman was inducted into the Creighton University Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 1985 he was inducted into the Nebraska Baseball Hall of Fame. Roman retired from his dental practice in 1990.
Roman enjoyed participating in and watching sports. He and his wife Martha, were avid Cornhusker fans, and enjoyed many games at Lincoln over the years. He also loved watching the Creighton Bluejay basketball team and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He had a passion for boating on the river with family and friends, and watching the grandchildren in their various sports and activities. He was affectionately known as Papa Doc to his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Roh died Saturday May 29, 2010 at Creighton Care Centre.
He is survived by his wife, Martha Rita, of Creighton, and daughters Janice and her husband Jack Welch of ONeill, NE, and Duff (Shirley) and her husband Butch (Myron) Christiansen of Columbus, NE, five grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Joe, Englebert, Al, Ed, Frank, Emil, sisters Rose Roh and Gladys Burianek, and great-great-granddaughter Vera Long.
