Bob Eason '40

Football, Basketball, Baseball and Track

While this versatile athlete participated in four sports during his college career, he concentrated on baseball and football in his final three years at Hampden-Sydney and was a three-year letterman in both sports.

As an end in football, he was considered an excellent blocker, defensive player and solid receiver.  He made several big receptions in a 14-0 win over Emory and Henry during the 1938 season.  He as recognized for his "valiant performance" against Virginia in a 1939 contest.  In the 12-0 win over Randolph-Macon in 1939, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Eason was "by far the best defensive player on the field."

He patrolled the outfield during his career on the Tiger baseball squad.  A solid all-around performer who delivered several clutch hits during his career, he drove home two runs in a 6-5 victory over state champion Richmond during the 1938 season, and had three hits in the 1940 victory over Drexel.

Originally from Suffolk, Eason joined the Air Force during World War II and went on to earn the rank of Colonel.  He returned to Virginia and served as an instructor at Woodberry Forest and later as Assistant Headmaster at Blue Ridge School.  No retired, he is currently living near Orange.

Whitey Lipscomb '66

Football

One of the best quarterbacks ever to wear the garnet and grey, Whitey Lipscomb was known for his all-around athletic ability on the field.  He was a standout passer and runner from the quarterback position, an outstanding punt returner, and a versatile defensive back.

A four-year letterman, Lipscomb earned All-Little Eight, All-Mason Dixon and Little All-America honors during his Tiger career.  As a freshman, he made the most of his chances as the backup quarterback, completing 20 of 44 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns.  His biggest highlight of the season was a 75-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Mitchell against Centre College.  As a sophomore in 1963, Lipscomb passed for 749 yards and rushed for 197 yards and five touchdowns to earn All-Little Eight and All-Mason Dixon Conference honors.  As a junior, he battled a leg injury, but still led the Tigers to the Mason Dixon Conference Championship while passing for 822 yards and returning punts for 213 yards and two scores.  As a senior, Lipscomb was a team captain and passed for 1,042 yards as the Tigers posted a 6-3 record.  That year, he was named Small College Player of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Richmond.

He finished his career with 2,887 passing yards, 450 punt return yards, 15 touchdown passes and 17 rushing and return touchdowns.

Phil Rome '68

Football

An outstanding running back for the Tigers, Phil Rome was on his way to one of the finest seasons in Hampden-Sydney history when an injury prematurely ended his career midway through the 1967 season.  Despite missing half of his senior year, he still finished his career with 2,042 rushing yards--a total that still ranks him tenth all-time among Tiger running backs.

An All-Mason Dixon selection as a junior in 1966 when he rushed for 946 yards, Rome gained 638 yards rushing in the first four games of his senior season and most likely would have become the first running back in school history to gain 1,000 yards in a season.  However, his season and career ended with an injury in the fifth game of the season against Western Maryland.  Only a week earlier, Rome had set what was then a school single-game rushing record by gaining 205 yards rushing while also scoring four touchdowns on the ground in a victory over Bridgewater.

Ed Kelley '75

Football

Considered one of the toughest players to ever wear the garnet and grey of Hampden-Sydney, Ed Kelley was a three-time All-Mason Dixon Conference, two-time All-America selection, and a two-time Virginia College Athletic Association  Player of the Year for the Tigers.

As a sophomore, he earned Defensive Player of the Year honors for the Mason Dixon Conference.  He was described as "agile and hostile" from his defensive end position.  As a junior, he earned Kodak All-America honors while being recognized as an NCAA Honorable Mention All-American.  During his senior season, he was the leader of a Tiger defensive unit that allowed opponents only 10.8 points-per-game while posting a 7-2 overall record.  He was named a first team All-American during his senior campaign with the Tigers.  During that 1975 season, he blocked two kicks in a win over Sewanee and led the team with three fumble recoveries for the season and had three sacks in a game against James Madison.

He served as team captain during his junior and senior seasons at H-SC.  A tremendous all-around athlete, Kelley was also a two-year letterman in basketball and scored 30 points in one game against UNC-Wilmington.

SPECIAL CITATION

Claude Milam '49

A standout basketball player at Hampden-Sydney, Claude Milam later served as a coach at the College from 1953 to 1955 and again from 1957 to 1960.  While at H-SC, he served as head basketball coach, he baseball coach, and assistant football coach. 

As basketball coach, he led the Tigers to four winning seasons in five years and an overall record of 71-48.  The Tigers posted a 15-5 record during the 1957-58 season and went 16-10 during the 1958-59 campaign.  As baseball coach, he led the Tigers to a 47-14-1 record between 1958 and 1960, including a 17-4-1 record during the 1959 campaign.

In addition to playing and coaching athletics, Milam and his brother Winston served as one of the state's premier baseball umpiring teams.

Milam left Hampden-Sydney in 1960 to serve as an administrator and principal at York High School.

**All information listed is current as of 1996.