Three alumni honored with Roanoke College Medal

Three Roanoke College alumni received the College’s highest honor on Friday, April 22. Franklin “Frankie” Allen ’71, Sarah “Sally” Southard ’77 and Bob Rotanz ’78 each were presented with the Roanoke College Medal at the Society of 1842 Luncheon during Alumni Weekend, this year celebrating the College’s 180th anniversary. 

The Roanoke College Medal recognizes outstanding alumni who demonstrate characteristics of responsible leadership, intellectual integrity and good citizenship through their professional accomplishments, and service to their community and alma mater. 

Frankie RC Medalist 4-22 Final.mp4 from Red Velocity on Vimeo.

Frankie Allen in 1967 became the first Black American student-athlete to attend Roanoke College. Considered one of the most prolific college basketball players in Virginia intercollegiate basketball history, Allen achieved many “firsts” as a member of the Maroons men’s basketball team, including first individual named to the AP Virginia All-State team all four years, and first basketball player in Roanoke College history to have his jersey retired.  

After graduating from Roanoke, Allen coached at Albemarle High School, winning, in three years, two district championships and achieving Central Virginia Coach of the Year honors. He went on to coach at Virginia Tech as assistant men’s basketball coach and later as head coach. A stint as head coach at Tennessee State University followed, during which time he led TSU to two consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.  

In 2000, Allen joined Howard University as head men’s basketball coach, guiding the team to the school’s first winning season in 16 years. Currently, he is head basketball coach at University of Maryland Eastern-Shore. 

Allen is a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, and the Black Coaches Association. In 1976, he was inducted into the Roanoke College Athletic Hall of Fame. 

SALLY RC MEDALIST FINAL APR 21.mp4 from Red Velocity on Vimeo.

Sally Southard had a 38-year career as a pediatric nurse with Carilion Clinic before retiring in December 2018. She worked as a pediatric nurse practitioner at Carilion Children’s Pulmonary and Allergy Clinic for 24 years. While there, she precepted many pediatric nurse practitioner students from Radford University, the University of Virginia, Old Dominion University, and the University of South Alabama. 

Southard served as chair of the Virginia Asthma Coalition Asthma Action Plan committee, endorsed by the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Education. This plan has been endorsed by the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Education, and implemented in school divisions and medical practices across the Commonwealth. 

 In 2019, Southard received the Living and Giving Award for her many years of service to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In 2012, she received the Charles Brown Award from Roanoke College, given to a Salem citizen to acknowledge their contributions to the city. 

Rotanz final april 21 2022.mp4 from Red Velocity on Vimeo.

Bob Rotanz, a veritable Salem icon, is a former Roanoke College lacrosse player and owner of Mac and Bob’s restaurant in downtown Salem.  

A native of Long Island, New York, Rotanz came to Salem by way of Roanoke College, where he excelled on the lacrosse field. Rotanz scored the winning goal to help the men’s lacrosse team win the 1978 national championship and was named the national Lacrosse Player of the Year. In 1988, he was inducted into the Roanoke College Athletic Hall of Fame. His jersey number has been retired.  

Rotanz, who has served on numerous community boards, is known for his generosity. He supplies food for scores of local events, schools and causes, and for more than 25 years, has organized a golf tournament to support families with children who have Down syndrome. 

Rotanz also helped bring the game of lacrosse to public schools in Southwest Virginia by coaching the first teams at Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke and at Salem High School, and founding the Southwest Virginia Lacrosse Association. 

In 2009, Rotanz was named Citizen of the Year by the Salem Rotary Club. In 2013, he received the Charles Brown Award from Roanoke College, in recognition of his contributions to the city of Salem.