2007 Hampden-Sydney College Hall of Fame Inductees

Hampden-Sydney College and the Athletics Hall of Fame inducts its 20^th class on Saturday, November 3, 2007, at 11 am in Kirby Fieldhouse. Included in the Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2007 are former basketball and football greats and a Hampden-Sydney athletics fixture.

Tracy Powers '74, Football, 1970-73
Tracy Powers was a member of Hampden-Sydney 1974 senior class that posted a 34-8 overall record, won four consecutive Mason-Dixon Championships (1970, ‘71, ‘72, and ‘73), and appeared in two straight Knute Rockne Bowls. Noted for his powerful running style and good speed, Powers is only one of six Tigers to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season, while his 2,495 career yards place him sixth in the Hampden-Sydney record books. Powers rushed for a then-record 216 yards against Randolph-Macon his freshman season. That mark is now tied for second all-time for single game totals. His 56 carries against Macon is still a Hampden-Sydney record.  In 1973, Powers was selected to the first team All-Mason-Dixon and All-Virginia Small College teams, in addition to his team Most Valuable Player and honorable mention All-America recognitions. Despite suffering injuries during the 1971 and 1972 seasons, Powers totaled 2,495 yards on 617 carries for a 4.0 yards-per-carry average.

Dale Marks '78, Football, 1974-77
Dale Marks lettered for the Tiger football team for four seasons from 1974-1977. Described as both a great runner and accurate passer, Marks was influential in leading the Tigers to an ODAC Championship in 1977 and a berth into the Division III playoffs. Marks garnered first team All-ODAC honors in 1977 from his quarterback position, and held the old Hampden-Sydney single-game passing record for yards with 344 against Albany State in that same year. During the 1977 season, He threw for 1,410 yards and was voted the team’s Most Improved Player. For his career, Marks rushed for 331 yards and five touchdowns and completed 136-of-277 passes for 1,961 yards and 18 scores.

SPECIAL CITATION
 

John Luster Brinkley '59
Professor John Brinkley graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in 1959 and returned to the College in 1967. Since his return, Brinkley has taught in the Classics Department with teaching interests in Greek, Latin, Classical Mythology, and Rhetoric. As the College’s Historian, Brinkley completed On This Hill: A Narrative History of Hampden-Sydney College from 1774-1994.  Brinkley is a fixture at Hampden-Sydney football, lacrosse, and baseball games, and during Tiger football games, he has a permanent spot at the 15 yard-line adjacent to the Gammon end-zone.  During Macon Week, Brinkley serves as the annual speaker at the BEAT MACON BONFIRE and in the spring, Brinkley can be found behind home plate, cheering on the Tiger baseball team.  He constantly receives the honor of throwing out the first pitch to start Tiger baseball seasons.

Steve Snyder '65, Basketball
Known as “Pa” to his teammates, Steve Snyder was a three-year letterman for the Hampden-Sydney basketball program. Snyder was regarded for his diligent work ethic, and Coach Bill Pegram described Snyder by stating, “The thing you could say about Steve was that he gave 125% of himself.” During his senior season, he was selected as a co-captain, averaged 13.3 points-per-game, and was awarded the sportsmanship award. Snyder also scored a career-high 33 points against Roanoke College. Immediately after graduation, Snyder received a commission in the Marines; he had been promoted to second lieutenant and was a platoon leader at the time of his death, in action, on August 26, 1966. Snyder was the only alumnus to give his life in Vietnam and received the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism as Lieutenant Snyder volunteered to attempt to relieve a trapped platoon. Phillip L. Hickman, a member of Snyder’s platoon, stated, “there has never been a more courageous platoon leader or better human being!”

Hampden-Sydney Athletics Hall of Fame

The Hampden-Sydney Athletic Hall of Fame was created in 1988 and is designed to honor men who have made outstanding contributions to Hampden-Sydney athletics and have helped bring recognition, honor, excellence and distinction to the College and its intercollegiate athletics program. Members are selected annually by the Hall of Fame Committee from nominations submitted by alumni and friends of the College.