Bobby Ross started his football career—as a player and coach—at one of the community’s own universities, VMI

Bobby Ross’ football career came full circle when he and his wife, Alice, moved back to Lexington, Va., in 2001. Their return was more than 40 years after Bobby Ross played for the football team at the Virginia Military Institute, which is located in Lexington, and about 35 years after he had started his coaching career, leading the Keydets.

In the years after he left VMI as a coach, the couple had traveled the nation, as Bobby Ross moved from college football coaching to the pros. His storied career includes a trip to the Super Bowl with the San Diego Chargers, a playoff visit with the Detroit Lions and a national championship win with Georgia Tech, among other noteworthy accomplishments.

They lived in big cities and smaller southern towns, places all around the United States, but when it came time to retire and choose their new home, they had only a few locations on their list. Charleston, S.C., Annapolis, Md., Williamsburg, Va., Richmond, Va., and Lexington, Va., were it, and while each city had its appeal, the small college town of Lexington was the favorite.

Not only had Lexington been ranked as one of the best places to retire in the nation, but also the couple had a long history there. They dated all four years that Bobby Ross attended VMI, and they were married just a few days after he graduated in 1959. They also met some of their lifelong friends in Lexington, including Long & Foster Real Estate Founder P. Wesley (Wes) Foster, Jr. Foster and Bobby Ross became fast friends on the football field and in the classroom (both were English majors), and their relationship has spanned the years ever since.

It was those memories—of their courtship, of their friendships, of their history—that brought them back to Lexington. That and the area’s proximity to three colleges—VMI, Washington and Lee University and Southern Virginia University—as well as its numerous entertainment options, from hiking trails to college sporting events, and its family-friendly culture.

Now, though, the couple is moving to Richmond to be closer to family, and their house on the private Forest Hill View in Lexington is on the market for a lucky buyer.

Listed for $575,000 by Charity P. Cox of Long & Foster and Paula Weiss-Martin of Lexington Real Estate Connection, the five-bedroom, three-and-one-half bathroom home features nearly 3,500 square feet of living space. The house sits on almost 4 acres of land along with pristine views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It offers one-level living with a full master suite on the first floor, complete with large closets and a full bathroom. The home’s upstairs includes an additional master suite and three more bedrooms, providing ample space for empty nesters and families alike.

In fact, the abundance of living and storage space combined with the easy one-level living appealed greatly to Alice and Bobby Ross, whose children and 18 grandchildren often visit. In addition, the home is well suited for entertaining. From the reunion of Bobby Ross’ VMI football team to numerous family get-togethers, the couple entertained upwards of 75 people at a time in their home—all quite comfortably, they both shared. And with the gorgeous views from the backyard, as well as the custom Koi pond the couple installed, relaxing outside is near perfection.

You can see photographs of the home on Long & Foster’s website, where you can also read about living in Lexington. For more information on the property, contact Cox at Charity.Cox@LongandFoster.com or 540-294-5682 or Weiss-Martin at 540-460-1019.