Hobart and William Smith Colleges Athletics

A history and political science major, Walt Harrison earned four letters in varsity football and is one of Hobart’s all-time great running backs. He earned All-American honors for the 1955 and 1956 seasons. Harrison set the Hobart rushing record for yards for a career (2,071). With Harrison carrying the ball, the Statesmen ran up an impressive win-loss record of 26-3-1 over the seasons of 1953, 54, 55 and 56. This stretch included the undefeated season (8-0) in 1954, Hobart’s first since 1915.

Harrison captained the 1956 team and led them to a 7-1 record. As a junior, Walt received the Alumni Award as the team’s Most Valuable Player, while leading the Statesmen to a 6-1-1 record.

Upon graduation, Harrison entered the insurance business, but soon went on to a career in teaching. Walt devoted most of his career to the students of Public School 21 in Brooklyn, N.Y. During those years, he also directed a highly regarded community youth program and a drug prevention program for young adults. Harrison retired from teaching in 2000 and now works for the U.S. Postal Service.

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