Coach Bob

Coach Bob Savage was one of the greatest coaches in Des Moines High School History. During his stay at East High School, he coached football, baseball and softball. Coach Savage led East to 477 victories in softball, 198 in baseball and 102 in football. He may never have won a state championship,but he did win a bunch of big six conference championships and a number of city championships. He was inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association's Hall in 2001, The Iowa Football Coaches Associations Hall Of Fame in 1969 and was the Des Moines Sunday Register Coach Of The Year for the 1999-00 School Year. In 1951 he led East to an 8-0 record, first unbeaten team in 31 years. The years I went there 1960-61. 1961 was the best year they went into the last game 7-0, and they were playing their rival Roosevelt HIgh School who was 3-4. East was picked to win big. They had out scored everyone all season 240-21. I was at this game and what a game it was. The final score was Roosevelt 14- and East 7. They lost their bid to be undefeated. While I was in Des Moines in July of this year to see my brother Dave, I read in the paper that Coach Bob Savage had passed on at age 86. It was funny he died at the very same hospital that I had been born in. The picture of him in the paper is the same one that was in my 1961 year book. Another memory has passed on, another great person that I knew, so I say farewell coach, farewell. In Memory of my teacher and coach Bob Savage 1921- July 2, 2008 At East High School Des Moines Iowa 1960-61