Bob Pipkin's exploits on the basketball court are numerous and impressive.

A two-time Section All-Star at Aliquippa, he was even named a pre-season All-American in his senior year in 1963. All-WPIAL and All-State honors were garnered, as well.

Playing for Dodge City Community College, Bob led the team to a 60-4 record during his two seasons there, including a national title. He averaged 19 points and was named a Junior College All-American.

Bob continued to excel at the University of Idaho. He averaged nearly 17 points per game, which was the second best mark in Vandal career scoring average at that time. Named to the All-Big Sky team, Bob was particularly hard on Idaho's fierce rival, Idaho State University. In a two week span, he decimated ISU with a 26 rebound game, followed by a 39-point outburst.

That all-around athletic ability caught the eyes of both the National and Canadian football leagues, who wanted him to try out, but Bob chose to play basketball overseas. Playing for Kirchein Tech in Germany, "Pip" led the team to a division championship, scoring 61 points in the title game.

With that kind of hardwood background, it is easy to see why he was inducted into the Aliquippa Sports Hall of Fame in 1978, as well as tonight's enshrinement.

His success in the classroom has been just as impressive. A self-described disinterested student in his high school days, Bob had nearly 100 college offers, but his weak scholastic standing caused him to go the junior college route. But he learned to use basketball as an escape. He realized that, to stay competitive on the court, he had to be just as competitive in his studies. The result: he has even gone on to earn post-graduate credits. His feel good story now sees him as a motivational speaker stressing education. This, after a long and honored career in the Pittsburgh School System as a principal.

Long an advocate for social change, Bob has received many awards over the years, such as being named to Talk Magazine's 50 Most Influential African Americans in Pittsburgh, YWCA's Racial Justice Award, and Man of the Year by the Sewickley YMCA. In addition, Bob was one of ten speakers from the national PTA organization to be invited to the White House in 2012.

Bob and his wife, Yvonne, his high school sweetheart, are the parents of two masters-educated children, Todd and Kwelin. The Pipkins now reside in Phoenix.