Famous West Virginians….
Bob Zide, who operated Zide’s Sport Shop in Marietta, held the 1983 patent on a type of shock absorbing mount for football helmets that protects wearers from severe shocks and prevents severe deformation of the helmet shell. He was active behind the scenes in helping promote area athletic programs, including the Marietta Bantam Baseball League, and he founded the Mid-Ohio Valley Sports Hall of Fame. Zide lived in Williamstown, W. Va. He died in 2003 at age 68.
Parkersburg FoundationBob Zide Memorial Scholarship
Bob Zide was born in Marietta in 1935. He graduated from Mountain State College, and was a member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce. Bob was the founder and owner of Zide’s Sport Shop, which was established in 1958. It grew to become one of the largest sporting goods team dealers in the country and was the first team dealer in the country to set up a football helmet fitting program.
Bob held a total of eight patents for athletic equipment. He was honored in February of 2003 by the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association for improving the safety of young athletes. He was also responsible for the creation of the Mid-Ohio Valley Sports Hall of Fame, and he worked to promote the enjoyment of athletics, and the safety and performance potential of the athlete.
Bob passed away at the age of 68 in 2003. The Bob Zide Memorial Scholarship was established in his memory, and supports students in the counties of Washington and Noble in Ohio and Wood, Jackson, Pleasants and Ritchie in West Virginia to pursue their higher educational goals.
Bob Zide, who operated Zide’s Sport Shop in Marietta, held the 1983 patent on a type of shock absorbing mount for football helmets that protects wearers from severe shocks and prevents severe deformation of the helmet shell. He was active behind the scenes in helping promote area athletic programs, including the Marietta Bantam Baseball League, and he founded the Mid-Ohio Valley Sports Hall of Fame. Zide lived in Williamstown, W. Va. He died in 2003 at age 68.
Parkersburg FoundationBob Zide Memorial Scholarship
Bob Zide was born in Marietta in 1935. He graduated from Mountain State College, and was a member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce. Bob was the founder and owner of Zide’s Sport Shop, which was established in 1958. It grew to become one of the largest sporting goods team dealers in the country and was the first team dealer in the country to set up a football helmet fitting program.
Bob held a total of eight patents for athletic equipment. He was honored in February of 2003 by the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association for improving the safety of young athletes. He was also responsible for the creation of the Mid-Ohio Valley Sports Hall of Fame, and he worked to promote the enjoyment of athletics, and the safety and performance potential of the athlete.
Bob passed away at the age of 68 in 2003. The Bob Zide Memorial Scholarship was established in his memory, and supports students in the counties of Washington and Noble in Ohio and Wood, Jackson, Pleasants and Ritchie in West Virginia to pursue their higher educational goals.
