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.
