He was known as “Coach Blue” to many, and a hall-of-fame athlete to others.
Longtime local coach Rodney Blue, Senior has passed away at the age of 66. He reportedly had been battling illness until Tuesday, and as a testament to the love players and residents had for him, was the subject of a parade near his home prior to his passing.
Blue was coach for a number of years of the cross country teams at Carl Sandburg College, and was a member of the Galesburg High School Athletic Hall of Fame, setting records during his playing days. He still has the record for the fastest 400 meter relay split time in school history, and had been recognized nationally as a masters runner.
As a college-level coach of three decades, he was a five-time winner of the NJCAA Region Four, Division Two Coach of the Year honor.
His obituary describes Blue as having “a lasting legacy that will long be remembered.”
Funeral Services are scheduled for next Saturday, June 13th, at Watson-Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, where a visitation will be held the day before.
Jay Redfern will have an extended profile of Rodney Blue next week.
