Robert Leslie Hines, Jr.

Robert Leslie Hines, Jr. was born on August 7, 1929 in Branch Hill, Clermont County, Ohio. He was the son of Robert Leslie Hines, Sr. and Ruth Myrtle Johnson. Robert “Bob” came to Goshen as a 7th grader and graduated from Goshen High School with the Class of 1947. He was active in basketball and especially loved singing in the Glee Club and school musical productions. He sang with his sister, Barbara. One of their favorite songs was “The Old Lamp Lighter,” which could be heard in the hall as they joyfully sang. Bob would ride his horse to school in the evenings for basketball practice. He would tie his horse up to the shrubs just outside the gym. One day, Mr. Hause came to him and said, “Bob, I don’t think you better bring your horse to school anymore.” The horse was eating all the shrubs.

Clubs in high school included: Social Science Club, 1; Glee Club 1,2,3,4; Special Glee Club 3,4; Volleyball 3,4; Class Play 3,4; Class President 4; Vice President 3; Patrol 2,3; Captain 4; and Annual staff 4. 

Many claim that Bob’s greatest contributions were not in the number of organizations or clubs he participated in, but in his example of honesty, integrity, strength, and loyalty. He showed loyalty to his family, classmates, friends, school, community, and country. According to his friend, classmate, and teammate, Earl Woodward, “He was an outstanding and really good team player, but he never tried to be seen above the others.”

Following graduation, he served for four years in the United States Navy. He told his brother he didn’t want to go to college, but as it turned out he did go to college. He graduated in 3 years from Wilmington College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Arts in 1955. In 1957, he graduated from Xavier University with a Master’s degree.   

Bob was an 8th grade teacher at Goshen. He coached basketball and track as well as taught driver’s education. He later became principal of Owensville Elementary school. In 1965, he served as the Director of Education at Great Onyx Job Corps Center in Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. The Job Corp was a government education/work program designed to help boys ages 16 to 21 earn their education while working in the park and other area community projects. Bob served in this program for three years.

Bob and his family moved back to Ohio where Bob returned to public education serving as the High School Principal of East Clinton in Clinton County, Ohio.  In 1970, Bob moved to Ada, Ohio and served as the Principal of Alger Elementary in Hardin County for one year. After that, he was Superintendent of Upper Scioto Valley Schools in Hardin County. Bob remained in that district for 12 years before retiring in 1982. Bob had a total of 27 years in education.

When Bob retired, he built a pigeon house and kept pigeons, particularly tumblers. He also kept honeybees. Bob also kept busy buying and renovating houses to be used as rentals in the college town of Ada, Ohio where he, his wife, and his family lived. Bob and his family loved traveling all around the country in a small motor home.

Robert “Bob” was married to Joyce Gunter Hines, GHS class of 1952. He was the father of three children, Greg, Teresa, and Paula. He had 20 grandchildren. Bob passed away in February of 2000 after a short illness. He was a strong supporter of the Goshen Alumni Association.