Robert Rompre
Encyclopedia
Robert Edward "Bob" Rompre (April 11, 1929 – September 13, 2010) was an American ice hockey
player who won a silver medal with the United States men's national ice hockey team at the 1952 Winter Olympics
in Oslo
, Norway
.
He was born on April 11, 1929, in International Falls, Minnesota
to Elmer and Martha Rompre. He had been offered an athletic scholarship by Colorado College
but was drafted by the United States Marine Corps
. He would have served in the Korean War
, though the Marines allowed him to play hockey when he made the 1952 U.S. Olympic team.
In a game played outdoors under steady snowfall on February 18, 1952, Rompre scored four goals in an 8–2 American victory over the Finnish team, scoring three goals in the second period and another goal in the third period. Two of the goals Rompre scored were tallied in a ten-second span in the second period. After completing his military service he was offered the opportunity to play for the New York Rangers
, but turned down the opportunity to play in the National Hockey League
in order to finish college. He played minor league hockey with the Oakland Knaves and Los Angeles Cardinals of the Pacific Coast Hockey League
during the 1952–53 season before returning to Colorado College, from which he graduated in 1956.
He settled in Waupun, Wisconsin
, where he played for the Fond du Lac Bears. He led the team to two state championship's and led the team in goals scored. After his playing career ended he coached the team until 1975, after which the team retired his number 8 jersey. He served as a scout for the U.S. men's national ice hockey team and helped establish hockey halls of fame in both Minnesota
and Wisconsin
, and was later inducted into both. He was recognized by the United States Hockey Association
with its William Thayer Tutt award for his service to the sport.
Rompre died at age 81 on September 13, 2010, at his son's home in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
. He was survived by a daughter, two sons, 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player who won a silver medal with the United States men's national ice hockey team at the 1952 Winter Olympics
1952 Winter Olympics
The 1952 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VI Olympic Winter Games, took place in Oslo, Norway, from 14 to 25 February 1952. Discussions about Oslo hosting the Winter Olympic Games began as early as 1935; the city wanted to host the 1948 Games, but World War II made that impossible...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
He was born on April 11, 1929, in International Falls, Minnesota
International Falls, Minnesota
International Falls is a city in and the county seat of Koochiching County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 6,424 at the 2010 census....
to Elmer and Martha Rompre. He had been offered an athletic scholarship by Colorado College
Colorado College
The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell...
but was drafted by the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. He would have served in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, though the Marines allowed him to play hockey when he made the 1952 U.S. Olympic team.
In a game played outdoors under steady snowfall on February 18, 1952, Rompre scored four goals in an 8–2 American victory over the Finnish team, scoring three goals in the second period and another goal in the third period. Two of the goals Rompre scored were tallied in a ten-second span in the second period. After completing his military service he was offered the opportunity to play for the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
, but turned down the opportunity to play in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
in order to finish college. He played minor league hockey with the Oakland Knaves and Los Angeles Cardinals of the Pacific Coast Hockey League
Pacific Coast Hockey League
The Pacific Coast Hockey League was an ice hockey minor league with teams in the western United States and western Canada that existed in several incarnations: from 1928 to 1931, from 1936 to 1941, and from 1944 to 1952.-PCHL 1928-1931:...
during the 1952–53 season before returning to Colorado College, from which he graduated in 1956.
He settled in Waupun, Wisconsin
Waupun, Wisconsin
Waupun is a city in Dodge and Fond du Lac Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 10,718 at the 2000 census. In Fond du Lac County, there is also the Town of Waupun which abuts the city of Waupun....
, where he played for the Fond du Lac Bears. He led the team to two state championship's and led the team in goals scored. After his playing career ended he coached the team until 1975, after which the team retired his number 8 jersey. He served as a scout for the U.S. men's national ice hockey team and helped establish hockey halls of fame in both Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
and Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, and was later inducted into both. He was recognized by the United States Hockey Association
USA Hockey
USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has...
with its William Thayer Tutt award for his service to the sport.
Rompre died at age 81 on September 13, 2010, at his son's home in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
Sun Prairie is a city in Dane County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. A suburb of Madison it is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area. The 2010 US Census estimates the city's population to be 29,364. It is the sixth-fastest growing city in Wisconsin, and the fastest-growing among cities...
. He was survived by a daughter, two sons, 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.