Nomination year: 2020

Nominated by: Daniel Strong

Nomination Category: Contributor

Sport: All Athletics at Hermitage Spring School

Years Participated: 1976-2009

Career Summary:

Bob Proffitt spent 32 and a half years as a dedicated educator, coach, mentor, and friend at Hermitage Springs School.  He performed many different roles over those years, but there were a few things that never differed: his friendly personality, his love for the students, and his passion for sports. 

After attending high school in Tompkinsville, KY, and playing varsity football and baseball, Proffitt began his teaching career in 1976 at Hermitage Springs, where he would leave a lasting impression on countless students.  Proffitt helped mold every individual that walked the hallways through a variety of teaching positions including: 5th grade, Physical Education, Driver’s Education, Special Education, and assistant principal.   

If there was ball of any kind going on at Hermitage Springs, Bob Proffitt was involved. He could have been the head coach of various sports at various times, but his humble nature was usually contented to serve as an assistant, or even as a trusted advisor from out of the public eye.  The only times that he chose to venture into the spotlight was for the kids’ benefit when no one else would lead a team.  He did this for two years as the head coach of high school girls basketball.  He also established the Hermitage Springs baseball team and served as its head coach for several years.

The most impressive and lasting aspect of Proffitt’s efforts were the relationships that he built.  In true coaching fashion, Mr. Bob cared more about the person than the player.  Wins and losses will be forgotten, but not to be forgotten are the life lessons he strove to impart to athletes and fellow coaches.

Nominator comment:

“Bob Proffitt is the epitome of what the “Contributor” category of the Hall of Fame is about: a person who spent over thirty years committed to Clay County and its young men and women in the area of sports.  Currently the CCSHOF has 12 members that are contributors: Joe Carver, Sam Harley Lynn, Bobby Bartlett, Kenneth Overstreet, Carmon Brown, Don Napier, Kevin Donaldson, Cecil “Chin” Anderson, Randall Walker, Jerry Eads, and David Threet.  I firmly believe that Bob Proffitt deserves to be enshrined in the Hall, right along with that list of great names.”