Robert Lambert

Today, we proudly honor one of those men: offensive tackle, offensive center, and Howard University Hall of Fame inductee, Robert "Fat Daddy" Lambert.

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Robert was born on November 10, 1951, in Richmond, Virginia. His mother, Paige Lambert, was an educator whose love of learning shaped his character. His father, Robert James Lambert, was a United States Marine whose discipline and toughness became part of Robert's DNA.

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He was the perfect blend of both. He valued education as much as excellence. He loved books as much as football. But if you lined up across from him on the field, he also possessed the strength, determination, and fierce competitiveness that could simply overwhelm an opponent.

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Robert's greatest victories didn't happen on the football field. They happened in the lives he changed. After graduating from Howard with degrees in Special Education and Physical Education, he returned home to coach at John Marshall High School in Richmond. Later, at Parkdale High School in Prince George's County, Maryland, he helped coach an offensive line that won a state championship.

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He loved coaching because he loved teaching. He loved teaching because he loved young people, especially the ones who needed someone to believe in them.

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He earned a master's degree and became a certified respiratory therapist. During the day, he coached football and worked with students who needed guidance, discipline, and encouragement. At night, he reported to hospitals, caring for patients whose lives depended on his skill and compassion. Through it all he was a committed husband and father, taking care to instill in his children the love and discipline they would need to succeed.

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Different jobs.

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One purpose.

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Helping people.

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That was Robert Lambert.