Roland Queen dead at 59

Roland Queen

Retired Akron sportswriter
leaves legacy of excellence

Roland Queen, who
covered both students
and pros, dead at 59

By Marilyn Miller
Beacon Journal staff writer
Roland Queen loved most everything about sports. It was his passion and immeasurable drive that made him one of Ohio's most-respected sportswriters.

Mr. Queen, a Washington, D.C., native, began his 22-year career with the Akron Beacon Journal in 1977. He retired in 1999, leaving a legacy of excellence that inspired his colleagues.

Mr. Queen, 59, died late Thursday night after a lengthy and courageous battle with bone cancer.

Perhaps no one understood the intricacies of a game quite like Mr. Queen, his friends recalled. He possessed an uncanny knack for simplifying complex game strategies, enabling him to connect with his readers. More importantly, Mr. Queen knew how to connect with people.

``He could befriend anybody. He made friends wherever we went. He had a good heart,'' said his son, David Queen, a police officer in Washington.

``He taught me not to judge people. That if you respect and love people, they will do the same in return,'' said his daughter, Tamara Queen, a senior at Miami University in Oxford. ``He was personable, loving, caring, compassionate and sincere.''

Mr. Queen had a soothing demeanor and an endearing personality that made him a beloved figure long after he left the Beacon Journal. Friends said he was loved by people of all walks of life. Color had no boundaries with him.

``He cared more about other people than he did himself. I literally saw him give the shirt off his back and the last $10 in his pocket to someone in need,'' said golf buddy Mike Simon of Akron. ``He was a good friend. He listened well and always had something encouraging to say.''

Mr. Queen, who studied journalism at Kent State University and was a star basketball player in the U.S. Army, had no boundaries as a writer. His editors trusted him with myriad beats: Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Barons, Cleveland Force, the University of Akron.

``He approached what he did as a calling,'' said former Beacon Journal Sports Editor Tom Giffen. ``He had high standards for himself, whether he was writing about pee-wee football or a pro beat. He didn't know anybody he didn't like. He treated the seventh-grader with the same respect as the pro football player.''

The athletes and coaches admired him, too. He developed a lasting relationship with the likes of former Akron and current University of Cincinnati basketball coach Bobby Huggins.

``Roland was always very fair, and he cared about the people he covered,'' Huggins said.

Most athletes and coaches respected Mr. queen's opinions, in part, because he played the games. He had no greater passion than golf. He toiled at the game, trying to find the perfect swing. He was a grinder, who kept plugging away hole after hole, round after round.

`` `Why do I love this game,' he asked himself repeatedly,'' recalled Ralph Paulk, also a former Beacon Journal sportswriter. ``The answer was simple, really. He loved a challenge. He loved the game. Roland approached golf just as he did life and work.''

``He always strived to be a better golfer, a better person and a better writer,'' Paulk said. ``When I arrived at the Beacon Journal, Roland and (the late Beacon Journal sportswriter) Milan Zban taught me the ropes. Roland could be brutally honest in his critique, but it never overshadowed his compassion for others. He never hesitated to tell those close to him how much he loved them.''

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday following family visitation at 12:30 p.m. at the Rhoden funeral home, 1101 Palmetto Ave.

Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or 800-777-7232 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com

[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, Ohio, Saturday, October 23, 2004, page B7, col. 3]