Richard R. Polen

POLEN Richard R. Polen, age 62 of Athens, former alumni director at both West Virginia University and Ohio University, died Tuesday evening, Nov. 25, 2008 at Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus. He is survived by one daughter, Alison Renee Polen of Morris Plains, NJ; two sisters, Marianne Reday of Yardley, Pa. and Sue Miller of Monessen, Pa.; nephews, Mark (Vanessa) Taylor and Ronald (Cindy) Taylor; nieces, Pam (Garroid) Bright, Lisa (Matt) Watson and Shelly (Nick) Petrosk; several cousins, several grandnieces and grandnephews and many special friends. He was born on June 18, 1946 at Charleroi, Pa. A native of Belle Vernon, Pa., he was the son of the late J. Franklin and Martha Rupert Polen. A 1964 graduate of Rostraver (Pa.) High School, he earned a bachelor of science in journalism in 1968 from West Virginia University, and later a master of science in journalism from Ohio University in 2001. A former sports reporter for the Valley Independent in Monessen, Pa., and the Pittsburgh (Pa.) Press, Polen began his professional career in sports information at WVU in 1968 and eventually became Sports Information Director for his beloved Mountaineers. He joined the staff of the WVU Alumni Association as Editor of Alumni Publications in 1975 and later became Executive Director of the Alumni Association in 1982. In 1988, he was named Director of Alumni Relations at Ohio University and Executive Director of the University's Alumni Association, a post he held for six years before becoming Assistant Vice President of OU's Division of Communications and Marketing. Following a highly successful career in higher education administration, he took early retirement in 2000 before becoming a sales associate at Baron Men's Shop in Athens where he worked until the store closed in 2008. Known for his vast 45-RPM record collection, Polen loved the doo-wop sound of the 1950s. He enjoyed traveling, especially to Las Vegas. An avid follower of the Mountaineer athletic teams, he attended several football bowl games and NCAA basketball tournaments. He followed the Pittsburgh Steelers with a passion and sometimes the Pirates. He also was an eBay power seller. He was a past member of the Morgantown Touchdown Club where he served a term as president; the Green and White Club Board of Directors, the Athens Rotary, the Athens County Convention and Visitor's Bureau Board of Directors, the United Appeal for Athens County Board of Directors, Kappa Tau Alpha national journalism honorary, and Mountain, WVU's ranking honorary. He won numerous awards for his publications at WVU and was named OU's Outstanding Student Advisor in 1994. A memorial service will be held Saturday 1 p.m. in JAGERS & SONS FUNERAL HOME, Athens with Rev. Robert Pollock officiating. Family and friends may gather starting at 12 Noon on Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions should be made to the Mountaineer Athletic Club (sports information internship). P.O. Box 877. West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505. A note of condolence may be sent to the family or sign the online register book at www.jagersfuneralhome.com. Sign the online guestbook at www.dispatch.com/obituaries