ADRIAN, Mich. – During every homecoming weekend, Adrian College inducts a new class of Bulldogs into the Hall of Fame. Throughout the week, we will highlight the Class of 2026 and the accomplishments each of them made during their time at Adrian College.
On October 3, 2026, Adrian College will honor Ron Roosevelt, Class of 1984, whose four-year football career helped contribute to one of the most successful stretches in program history.
A native of Dearborn, Michigan, Roosevelt was a four-year starter for the Bulldogs from 1980-83 while also competing in track during his freshman year. Over his four seasons on the gridiron, Adrian compiled an impressive 32-5 record. Roosevelt made an immediate impact as a freshman in 1980, rushing for 386 yards and averaging 8.0 yards per carry. In MIAA play, he averaged a conference-best 9.0 yards per carry while ranking ninth with 194 rushing yards. He also scored 30 points during the season. The Bulldogs captured an MIAA championship during Roosevelt's freshman season. He continued to establish himself in the Adrian backfield and earned Second Team All-MIAA honors at running back in 1981.
Roosevelt was named Adrian's Offensive Back MVP in 1982 before being selected as a team captain ahead of his senior season. As a senior in 1983, Roosevelt earned All-MIAA honors and was named Adrian's MVP. He finished second on the team with 469 rushing yards while averaging a team-best 5.7 yards per carry among players with at least 20 attempts. He also ranked third on the team with 24 points. Roosevelt helped the Bulldogs win another MIAA championship in 1983 and advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Tournament. Both the 1980 and 1983 Adrian football teams have since been inducted into the Adrian College Athletic Hall of Fame.
Away from athletics, Roosevelt studied abroad at the Goethe-Institut in Germany in 1983, where he earned a German as a Second Language certification.
Following his graduation from Adrian in 1984, Roosevelt began a career in the fire service. He served as a lieutenant with the West Bloomfield Fire Department, Director of the Regional Alliance for Firefighter Training, and a Professional Fire Training Supervisor and Fire Academy Instructor at Oakland Community College before retiring. Roosevelt continued his education and professional training after Adrian, earning Firefighter I and II, Basic EMT and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications through Schoolcraft College. Throughout his career, he received multiple fire service and fire instructor awards.
Outside of his professional career, Roosevelt devoted time to coaching youth sports and enjoys woodworking, fishing, camping, hunting and traveling. Roosevelt and his wife, Peggy, have two children, Ron and Anne Roosevelt Gronos.
In addition to the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday night, the Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will be honored on the field before the Homecoming football game on Saturday.
