JEFFERSON STAR WILL SPEAK TO CHRISTIAN GROUP

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 15, 1993                   TAG: 9304150370
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-14   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BOB McLELLAND CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
JEFFERSON STAR WILL SPEAK TO CHRISTIAN GROUP
Ron Marsh, who won all-state honors in basketball and helped lead Jefferson High to the 1970 state 1-A championship, will speak to the Western Virginia chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at its April 22 monthly breakfast. The 7 a.m. breakfast will be at Calvary Baptist Church.
Marsh, who has lived in Texas since his graduation from Jefferson, was a star at Hill County Junior College and at the University of Texas at Arlington. He is now the associate minister at Greater Hope Missionary Baptist Church.
"Ron probably was the best shooter I have ever seen in local basketball," said Dick Kepley, Marsh's coach at Jefferson. "He had tremendous range. There is no telling what kind of scoring records he would have set if they had the three-point rule then.
"But he was more than just a shooter. He played good defense and was a top passer. He was a real team player. He was greatly admired by his teammates and feared by his opponents."
One of Marsh's teammates, Mike Franklin, also a star Jefferson basketball player, says he hasn't seen another local player who could match Marsh in shooting ability or in providing excitement for the fans.
"I always enjoyed playing with Daggie [Marsh's nickname]," said Franklin, a juvenile outreach supervisor for the city of Roanoke and an assistant coach at Patrick Henry High School. "He had a great desire to win, and his attitude rubbed off on the rest of the players."
Marsh was active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes while at Jefferson and attended two national summer conferences.
"I really enjoyed my association with FCA in high school," Marsh said. "I think that was when I first began having a real love for the Lord. I know that since I have been in Texas, I really have been involved in youth work. I have worked with the kids at the YMCA and other sports activities."
Marsh said he also hoped to speak to other church groups while in Roanoke.
Also on the April 22 program, Rick Harman will be recognized for his athletic accomplishments at Patrick Henry High and at Virginia Tech, and for his work as a coach and youth leader after his graduation.
He and his wife, Cathy, have been the fellowship's song leaders for several years.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB