Loren Robert “Bob” White, a former Ohio State fullback and member of the school’s athletics hall of fame, passed away on May 7, 2025, at the age of 86, in Venice, Florida.
A respected figure in Buckeye football history, Bob White, is survived by his wife of 67 years, Glenda, and extended family.
Although the intricate details surrounding their relationship is unknown, Bob White married the love of his life, Glenda, on December 7, 1957.
The longtime married couple went on to share a blissful marriage which spanned over six decades; 67 to be precise.
However, information about their kids remains unknown so far as they maintained a lowkey life away from the media.
All-American Honors Recipient Bob White Transitioned To Coaching After His Football Career!
Born on August 22, 1938, in Huntington, West Virginia, and raised in Portsmouth, Ohio, White honed his football skills at Covington Holmes High School in Covington, Kentucky.
Thanks to his skills which he honed at high school, White was recruited by legendary Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes.
Ineligible to play as a freshman due to 1950s NCAA rules, White debuted in 1957, sharing the fullback role with Galen Cisco, who later became a Major League Baseball player and coach.
That season, he was the team’s second-leading rusher with 645 yards on 114 carries, helping Ohio State propel to a Rose Bowl victory over Oregon to a 9-1 record and a national championship.
His performance in a pivotal 1957 win over Iowa, followed by a standout 1958 game against the Hawkeyes, where he racked up 209 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
In 1958, he earned First-Team All-American and All-Big Ten honors, finishing fourth in Heisman Trophy voting.
That season, White racked up 209 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a dominant victory over Iowa. Likewise, he was named the team’s Most Valuable Player three consecutive years.
Over his three seasons from 1957 to 1959, the 6-foot-2 White played a significant part in the Buckeyes’ success, contributing as both a punishing runner and a linebacker in the era of one-platoon football.
Let alone on the field, White was equally impressive off the field. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, he earned Academic All-American honors in 1958, balancing his football career with his academics.
His career rushing total of 1,816 yards still ranks 32nd in Ohio State history, and he scored 13 touchdowns over 26 games.
After college, Bob White was selected in the eighth round of the 1960 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns but played only six games with the AFL champion Houston Oilers that year.
Following his brief professional career, he transitioned to coaching at the high school level.
White’s contributions to Ohio State were recognized with his induction into the Ohio State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987. Whereas, in 2015, Eleven Warriors ranked him as the No. 80 player in the program’s storied history.
His contributions will always be remembered and honored. My thoughts go out to his family, friends, and all who admired his achievements.
Rest Easy, Bob White!
