From the sidelines
Marty Gordon
The wives of sports coaches aren’t usually recognized for their contributions to their husband’s teams, but they can be very influential in the lives of both the coach and their players.
In addition, they are typically the one picking up the slack when coaches are busy on the field, diamond or court. That includes running the household and coordinating many activities. Most of the time, it is the wife that does everything the coach doesn’t have the time to do.
Those women are the glue that holds everything together.
Our community lost one of those outstanding people this past week when Joann Lineburg passed away.
She grew up in Marion and graduated from Marion Senior High School in 1956 where she played basketball, was a cheerleader, according to her memorial, and an outstanding student. She attended Radford College to pursue her passion for teaching and was a member of the Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority, graduated in 1960 and earned her Master’s degree in 1972. She began her teaching career at William Byrd High School in 1960 where she met her husband, Norm. A love story developed that brought them to Radford where they never left.
The two married on July 30,1965 and enjoyed 59 years of marriage. Joann taught physical education for 38 years in Roanoke County, Henry County, at Radford University, and Radford City. Joann was a decorated teacher gaining recognition at the local, state, and national level.
Norm coached in six different decades and has coached in more football games (454) than any other coach in Virginia. He recorded two state football titles at Radford, and it was his wife that was there for it all.
Joann was the mother of four boys Robert, Mark, Paul and Wayne. All of the boys played football for their father.
I will never forget the first time I met Mrs. Lineburg. She had a big smile and gave me a hug when she introduced herself. The Radford “power couple” made an impact on me and my life, convincing me to live in the city for five-plus years. I left several times over the next few years, but she was always the same friendly, smiling person every time I saw her. Matter of fact, it was the couple who convinced me I needed to move back to the New River Valley.
I became the play-by-play guy for the Bobcats on the radio and covered them for over 15 years at the newspaper. There was never a time that Norm and his wife were not open to seeing me and greeting me. They always asked about my family and how I was doing.
She made an impact on my life to where it is today.
Lineburg was a wife of a coach and mother to not only her sons, but also every kid that came through the Radford High School football program.
She will be missed and remembered by all of us that had the opportunity to meet her, especially this small town sportswriter.
