Andalusia High School basketball coach Richard Robertson was honored by Alabama State University’s ISTAP (I Support The Athletics Program) Saturday in Montgomery.

Robertson was honored for his time as a former student athlete at ASU, and his accomplishments since leaving the university.

“I’m proud to be honored by anyone,” Robertson said. “I’m proud that they thought enough of what (the honorees) accomplished while we were there.”

Robertson attended ASU from 1962-65, during the Civil Rights era, and he said they played through the “hard times.”

“We had some hard times, and we played,” he said. “We accepted things as they were.”

Robertson was one of eight honorees that received recognition Saturday.

The other honorees are Felton Blackburn, Helen Henderson-Crumpton, Lloyd Ivy, Lester Kincey, Marie Fitzpatrick Reed, Willie Scott and Lester E. Sims.

Robertson graduated from ASU with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, and was hired by Dr. C.C. Baker to coach and teach at Woodson High School, the new black school in the Andalusia School System as an assistant coach under James Hall, where he coached basketball, football, baseball and track.

After five years at Woodson, Robertson was transferred to AHS as the head baseball coach, and the next year he served as a track coach.

In 1975, Robertson was named the head basketball coach, the position he still holds today.