The Statesmen Athletic Association (SAA) and the Hobart Athletics Department will present Roger Kitzman '61 with the William J. Napier '57 Memorial Award. The award will be presented in conjunction with the 1960 Team of Distinction ceremonies on Saturday, Oct. 23.

Kitzman, of Santa Fe, N.M., will be honored for his generosity, leadership, and teamwork. He was the lead donor for the Tom Poole '61 Soccer Team Room and a generous supporter of the Bob Ford '54 Basketball Team Room. His sustained interest in his alma mater and unwavering support of the SAA is recognized by Hobart athletes and coaches who join the SAA in applauding his selection for the award.

“To have a great space like the Tom Poole Team Room, to prepare for games and practices is a huge benefit to the team,” senior captain Justin Dotzman said. “We're very fortunate and thankful to have generous alumni like Mr. Kitzman.”

As a student at Hobart, Kitzman was a member of the 1960 Hobart soccer team. The team boasted a winning percentage of .812 that stood as the highest in Hobart soccer history for 32 years. The Statesmen opened their season on a six-match unbeaten streak including five wins and a tie. Those six games saw Hobart outscore its opponents by a margin of 30-6, including a 9-0 win over Le Moyne to start the season and a 7-1 victory over Clarkson.

In their final two games of the season they faced a tough Cortland squad that defeated them by a score of 3-1. The Statesmen were quick to bounce back though, and four days later they defeated Hamilton 4-2. Against the Continentals, Kitzman registered a goal and two assists. Hobart finished the season at 6-1-1.

Since 1973, the SAA periodically recognizes those whose commitment to Hobart College Athletics and the Statesmen Athletic Association has been deemed to be outstanding. Originally named the “Statesmen Award,” this presentation was renamed in 1993 to honor the late Bill Napier who was serving on the SAA Board of Directors at the time of his unexpected death. The Napier Memorial Award acknowledges the dedication and service that Bill rendered to his college.

Recent recipients of the Napier Memorial Award include Poole; Jeremy Foley '74, Director of Athletics at the University of Florida; Mike Green, president of Collegiate Consultants on Drugs and Alcohol; Hank Holden '63, and Charlie Boswell '50, past president of the SAA.

There will be an awards ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 23 at approximately 2:45 p.m., right before the start of the Hobart-St. Lawrence soccer game. Kitzman will be presented with the award and the 1960 Hobart Soccer Team will be honored as a Team of Distinction.