Bernard N. Rockovich

Category
1998
About This Inductee

Bernard is a graduate of West Hazleton High School.With graduation came World War II, where Bernie served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945. After the war, Bernie attended and graduated from Stroudsburg University, where he majored in health and physical education. He was an outstanding football player in high school and college, where he was named to the All-State Team. He also played baseball in college. Bernie is a member of the Hall of Fame at Stroudsburg University. Bernie went on to earn his Master’s Degree from Bucknell University. From 1948 to 1953, Bernie was employed as a teacher and coach of football, basketball, and baseball at Dallas and Westmoreland High Schools. From 1953 to 1963 he was appointed United States Athletic Director for the U.S. Armed Forces in Europe. In 1964, Bernie was named Principal of the White Haven State School and Hospital. Also in 1964, he was selected as an American expert in the field of sports and leisure, and gave a presentation at the University of Colone, Germany, for the International Council of Sports and Physical Education. He represented the state of Pennsylvania in Washington at the National Conference and Workshop on Physical Fitness conducted by the President’s Council on Youth Fitness. Under the direction of Supervisor of Health and Physical Ed, new courses of study and development guided administrators and health and phys ed teachers in physical fitness throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Bernie is a member of the PA Interagency Planning Committee on Health, Executive Committee Member of PA Health and Physical Ed and Recreation Association. He is also a member of the PA State Dept. of Public Instruction on Teacher Education and Certification Committee. Bernie conducts workshops throughout the state on physical fitness. Bernie was also Mayor of West Hazleton for 12 years. He was also appointed by the U.S. State Dept. to help prepare an international post-Olympic boxing tournament in Kenya. Bernie was named to the Greater YMCA Hall of Fame, and has also served as a Director for the Lions Club, American Red Cross, and the Arthritis Foundation. Bernie is married to the former Antonia Snyders, and they have four children, Joann, Paula, Bernard and Mark, all college graduates.