Hobart Hall of Fame

The Class of 1987

William H. Dobbin, Sr. '40

William H. Dobbin, Sr. '40, a lacrosse and basketball standout while a student at Hobart, made great contributions to the game of lacrosse after his playing career ended. Captain of both the lacrosse and basketball teams as a senior, he was named a lacrosse All-American in 1940 and starred in the 1940 North-South Game. With fellow Hall of Fame members Dick Ferris '40, and Herbert Fitch '42, they formed the strongest inside attack trio the game had seen, averaging 17.5 goals per game from 1938-40. Dobbin went on to become chairman of the North-South Games of 1956 and 1972, both of which were played in Geneva. He was named the USILA Man of the Year in 1956 and elected to the Lacrosse Hall of Fame, which he had served as a director of for three years, in 1973. He was a lacrosse official for 20 years, spending 10 years as chief referee of the Central New York Lacrosse Association. The trophy for Outstanding Offensive Player of the Hobart lacrosse team is named in his honor.

Herbert T. Fitch '42

Herbert T. Fitch '42 was a three-year letterwinner in three sports, playing football, basketball, and lacrosse, and it was lacrosse in which he made the biggest name for himself. A 1979 inductee into the Lacrosse Hall of Fame, he was named an All-American in both 1941 and 1942 and played in the North-South Game both years. With fellow Hobart Hall of Famers Dick Ferris '40, and William Dobbin '40, they formed the strongest scoring inside attack trio to date, averaging 17.5 goals per game from 1938-40. Fitch, also a leading player on Hobart's basketball teams, capped an outstanding collegiate career by being named the Collegiate Attackman of the Year in 1940. He later was selected as a first-team player for Laurie Cox's all-time All-America team. Fitch officiated high school and college lacrosse for 20 years and helped form the lacrosse team at Penn Yan Academy.

Fred King '37

Fred King '37 was a three-year letterwinner in football and lacrosse at Hobart and also participated in track and boxing. A native of Howarth, N.J., he was an Associated Press All-American selection in football for the 1936 season and the only unanimous choice on the University of Rochester's All-Opponent team. Averaging 123 yards per game, he scored 31 points against Buffalo to finish second in the Eastern College Football scoring race, while leading Hobart to Upstate New York Outstanding Minor League Team recognition that season. A top pick for the 1937 Eastern College all-star team which challenged the New York Giants, he went on to play professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Danbury Trojans. In track, he broke school records in the 220-yard and 440-yard dashes and finished second in the shot put at the 1937 championships. He also was the 1936 heavyweight boxing champion at Hobart.

Richard Kowalski '76

Richard Kowalski '76 was the second player in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 or more yards in each of four consecutive seasons. His career total of 4,632 yards, and NCAA Division III record until 1985, still stands as the Hobart record, along with his career marks for most points (308), most carries (907), and most yards in total offense (4,760). The Most Valuable Player on the football team for three straight seasons, he won the Vincent Welch Trophy for scholarship and leadership in 1973, the Murray Bartlett Trophy for sportsmanship in 1975, and the Statesmen Trophy in 1976. He served as captain of the football team as a senior, and his jersey number (44) was retired in 1976.

William C. Stiles '43

William C. Stiles '43 served as Hobart athletic director for 15 years, from 1963 until his death in 1979. The Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference's James Lynah Award, the highest honor awarded to an ECAC athletic director, was awarded to him posthumously in 1983. Instrumental on many committees of the NCAA, he helped devise the tiebreaker that still is used in the NCAA Division II and Division III football playoffs and was involved in negotiating for cable television broadcasting of college football. He also was chairman of the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Rules Committee. As a student, Stiles was a three-year letterwinner in both football and lacrosse and was co-captain of the 1942 football team. A captain in the U.S. Marine Corps, he was twice awarded the Purple Heart and also was honored with the Silver Star. The William C. Stiles Award is given annually to a college senior who demonstrates outstanding leadership and determination.