Background
Barbara Ann Roles is the daughter of Carl A. Roles. Her daughter, Shelley Pursley Boatright, was born on June 24, 1961.
Barbara Ann Roles is the daughter of Carl A. Roles. Her daughter, Shelley Pursley Boatright, was born on June 24, 1961.
She chose his middle name to honor her mentor, Deane McMinn, who died in the 1961 plane crash.
After taking silver at the 1960 United States. Championships, Roles was sent to the 1960 Winter Olympics and 1960 World Championships. She retired following that season and started a family. Roles was asked to come out of retirement following the crash of Sabena Flight 548, which killed the entire 1961 United States. figure skating team
Roles returned to competition in an attempt to qualify for the 1964 Winter Olympics, but placed fifth at the national championships and failed to make the team
She took up coaching in 1964. Her pupils have included Lisa-Marie Allen, Wendy Burge, Nicole Bobek, Brian Pockar, Vikki DeVries, Geoffry Varner, and Scott Williams.
She is the 1960 Olympic bronze medalist and the 1962 United States. national champion. Roles won the United States. junior title in 1958. The next year, she won the senior bronze medal and was assigned to her first World Championships, where she placed fifth. She won the bronze medal at both competitions. She complied and won the gold medal at the 1962 United States. Championships, making her the first skater to win United States. national titles on the novice, junior and senior levels. Roles was the only skater to accomplish this until Kimmie Meisner performed the same feat in 2007.
