Joe Wayne "Tubby" Roberts was born in Albertville, Alabama, on May 28, 1934.
Joe's career as an outstanding lineman at Albertville High School started as a freshman in 1948 for Hall of Fame coach Thomas "Scoop" Howard. He was a starting guard as a sophomore for Hall of Fame Coach Vernon Wells in his first year with the Aggies and made All-County that year. As a junior, he made All-County again and was Honorable Mention on the All-State team. That year Tubby made college recruiting trips every weekend. As a senior, the "much-in-demand" lineman made All-County for the third time, First Team All-State, alongside of 2002 Hall of Fame inductee Milton LeCroy of Guntersville, and was chosen to play in the Alabama High School All-Star game. As a three-year starter for Wells, Joe's teams went 22-7. High school teammate, Dr. Billy Ledbetter, said of Roberts, "Joe was not only a great football player and teammate, but remains a loyal and steadfast friend...He was one of the best high school linemen I have seen."
In writing about the eleven members of the All-time Aggie Football Team, revealed by the Sand Mountain Reporter in 1969, Hall of Fame sportswriter Hal Hayes wrote, "Tubby Roberts...was perhaps the quickest man to ever wear the proud Aggie colors. This ever-hustling, 5-11, 205-pound terror struck with lightning swiftness and a numbing force. After playing as a freshman at the University of Georgia, he transferred to Jacksonville State and became one of the school's very best of all time." This year, Joe Wayne and fellow All-Time Aggie team member Floyd "Jackie" Morgan join seven other members of that fabled eleven-member team to have been inducted into the Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame.
Joe had several opportunities to play in college, and chose the University of Georgia. He was on special teams as a freshman and made the starting lineup on defense by mid-season. He won a varsity letter that year, but dropped out of school for financial reasons. While visiting the Albertville-Guntersville game in 1953, he was approached by Jacksonville State Teacher's College line coach Raymond "Dirty" Wedgeworth, a 2004 Hall of Fame inductee, who offered Joe a scholarship to play for the Gamecocks. Coach Wedgeworth once said, "Tubby Roberts was so tough that anyone who lined up against him had their life in danger." Joe was a three-year starter for the Gamecocks, playing both offensive and defensive tackle and guard, and was elected Co-Captain of the team as a senior.
Head Coach Don Salls said, "Joe was one of my favorite offensive linemen. He was big and strong and would play well at any position he was needed." He went on to say that the 1955 Refrigerator Bowl game against the undefeated Yankee Conference Champion, Rhode Island University, was Joe's best game and "was no doubt the most important win of my 18 years of coaching." The Gamecocks had lost only once that year, but were a one-touchdown underdog to the Rams. Tubby recovered a fumble and played an outstanding game to help lead the team to a 12-10 bowl win. Following graduation, Joe married JSTC Senior Class Beauty Martha Terry on June 9, 1956. Joe coached at Springville High School from 1959-1963, coaching Bucky Wade, who was a three-year starter at Auburn. He retired from coaching in 1963 and began a career in trucking and cattle farming. Martha worked as a public school teacher until her retirement. The couple will celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary on June 9, 2011. He is active in the First Baptist Church of Springville and the Saddle Club.