LAKE WORTH, Fla. — ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä native and former WVU men's basketball captain Bob Camp died Tuesday at his home in West Palm Beach, Florida, surrounded by family. He was 82.
For the past decade, Bob lived with his daughter Chrissy Watson and her family, becoming a daily fixture in their lives. Born Aug. 29, 1942, in Marion, Ohio, he was the son of Scott and Elizabeth Camp, formerly of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, both of whom preceded him in death.
Camp grew up in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä and graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School in 1960 before heading to West Virginia University. A standout athlete, he captained the men's basketball Mountaineers his senior year and, in 1965, became one of just three players in WVU history — alongside Jerry West and Rod Thorn — to lead the Mountaineers in scoring, rebounding and assists in the same season. He also earned a spot on the Southern Conference All-Tournament first team.
In 1964, he married his high school sweetheart, Carol Greenlee. The couple were married 33 years and raised four children.
After graduating, Bob served as parks director for the city of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä and played professional basketball for the Scranton Miners from 1965-67. He later coached at Washington Irving High School in Clarksburg before entering sports broadcasting with WDTV in Weston.
Bob’s career path led him to co-own Camps’ Carpet in Roanoke, Virginia, with his brother Scott, followed by two decades as a wholesale representative in the flooring industry. Later, he shifted to advertising sales for the Chamber of Commerce on the West Coast, continuing remotely after relocating to Florida.
In Florida, Bob returned to his first passion — coaching basketball. For more than 20 years, he guided the youth travel teams of his grandsons Zack, Kyle, Donovan and Ty, logging countless hours in gyms and on the road. In later years, he became an enthusiastic fan for grandson Tate, keeping meticulous “Coach Bob points†statistics and sharing his detailed breakdowns with players and family.
Camp’s mark on South Florida’s youth basketball community endures. Former players often credit him with shaping their character as much as their game, and his reputation as a passionate, knowledgeable coach remains strong.
Bob is survived by his four children, 12 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and his brother and sister. He also leaves behind his longtime companion, Bette Snowden, whom the family fondly called “Coach Bob’s lady friend.â€
A virtual celebration of life will be held on his birthday, Aug. 29, at 12:30 p.m., livestreamed on YouTube. An in-person celebration is planned for the last weekend in September, with details to be announced.
