Ralph Frederick Willis, football, basketball,
baseball, (’30) Ralph Willis participated in
and performed exceptionally well in three sports (football,
basketball and baseball) at Hampden-Sydney during his four-year
tenure. During his final three years, he was a mainstay of the
Tiger gridiron machine. He was captain of the basketball team as a
senior and started four years for the baseball team. An outstanding
student, his name appeared on the Dean's List a number of times.
His leadership was recognized by his election to O.D.K. Willis is
deceased.
Travis Tysinger, football, baseball,
(’66) A star both as a running back and special
teams performer, Tysinger was one of the standouts of the Tiger
squad during the mid 1960's. He was not only a standout football
player, but excelled in many school activities as well. He was
president of Kappa Alpha fraternity, class president as a sophomore
and junior, a member of the honor council for three years and of
the President's council during his final two years. A four-year
letterman, Travis was selected All-Mason Dixon and all-state as a
junior. He was co-captain his final season. In addition to being a
great runner, Travis kicked and punted for the Tigers. He gained
1,410 yards rushing during his career and as a senior averaged 37.7
yards per punt. In baseball, he was honored as a second-team small
college All-American. Tysinger is the Director of Development and
Planned Giving for Woodberry Forest School in Woodberry Forest,
Virginia.
Geoff Burness, basketball,
(‘73) A solid basketball standout, Burness was,
at 6-9, one of the tallest players in H-SC basketball history. He
scored 1,150 points and grabbed 1,054 rebounds in just three
seasons with the Tigers (having missed his freshman campaign
because of an injury). One of only four players in H-SC history to
record over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his career, he rates
third on the all-time rebounds list and still holds the
Hampden-Sydney school record with 34 rebounds in a game (against
Bridgewater). As a junior, he averaged 18.3 points and 15.7
rebounds per game. As a senior, he served as co-captain and
averaged 16.3 points and 15.8 rebounds per game. Burness is a
Business Modeling Director with Phillips Petroleum in Apex, North
Carolina.
Todd Lampman, baseball,
(‘91) Todd Lampman was a two-time First-Team
All-ODAC performer on the baseball diamond for the Tigers. He still
holds the all-time record for homers (26) and RBI (100) in a
career. Played for the only ODAC Championship team (1989) in Tiger
baseball history and for the only team to advance to the NCAA
Tournament (1991). Was named NCAA Regional All-Tournament team in
1991 after smashing two homers during the three game series. Rates
in the top-five all-time in NCAA history with six-RBI in one
inning. Led Tigers with .427 batting average freshman year and
registered second-best all-time mark with 23-game hitting streak.
As a sophomore hit .320 with seven homers and 23 RBI, and as a
junior drove in 22 runs and hit six homers. Senior year earned
All-ODAC honors at first base and hit .379 with 11 homers, 38 RBI,
42 hits and nine stolen bases. Also earned the Dunnington
Dedication Award for baseball. Lampman is currently the Head
Baseball Coach at Hampden-Sydney. He resides in Farmville with his
wife Mary Beth, son Tyler and daughter Emily.
Special Citation Lewis Drew
(’60) Lewis Drew has been a mainstay on the
Hampden-Sydney campus for the past 30-plus years as an athlete and
an administrator. From 1956 to 1960, he played under head coaches
Weenie Miller and Claude Milam, winning three Mason- Dixon
Conference Championships. In 1959, Drew pitched in the Mason-Dixon
Conference Championship game. After earning his B.A. in economics
in 1960, Drew attended The Johns Hopkins University, where he
received an M.A.T. in history and education. In 1963, he returned
to the Hampden-Sydney campus as Director of Admissions and
Financial Aid, a post he held until 1970. That same year Drew
earned his doctorate from the University of Virginia in counselor
education. From 1970 until his retirement in 2000, Dean Drew served
the College as Dean of Students, a position in which he oversaw the
entire athletics program at the College. Under his guidance, the
Hampden-Sydney Athletics Department prospered, becoming one of the
most respected NCAA Division III athletic institutions in the
nation.
