Long-time Hamilton College philosophy professor and former head men's golf coach Bob Simon and his wife Joy received honorary Hamilton athletic department watches at the 2014 Jack B. Riffle Dinner for Senior Varsity Athletes. The awards were presented by Director of Athletics Jon Hind '80 to the Simons for their four decades of devotion to the College's intercollegiate programs.
Bob Simon has taught at Hamilton since 1968 and is in his 14th season as an assistant men's golf coach after a successful head coaching career from 1987 to 2000. His teams captured NESCAC championship titles in 1990 and 1998, and he led the program to its only NCAA Division III championship appearance in 1999. Bob coached five individuals who qualified for the NCAA championship between 1989 and 1996. He also mentored a pair of two-time Golf Coaches Association of America all-academic team selections.
In making the presentation Hind said, "This watch recipient has had a 40-year career at Hamilton, almost all of it in some way tied to our intercollegiate program."
Hind then quoted remarks that were delivered by Dean of Faculty Patrick Reynolds at Class and Charter Day, when Simon was recognized for scholarly achievement throughout his career:
"This person established a significant record in two fields, the philosophy of sport and social and political philosophy more generally. He is the author of three monographs and edited two volumes, and he also has published about 40 articles, some in the most prestigious journals in the discipline. Two more essays will be published next year, and he is working on a revised version of his book Fair Play. Besides being a visiting fellow of numerous national scholarly organizations, he has received the distinguished scholar award from the International Association for the Philosophy of Sport."
"Across our entire athletics department," Hind said, "[Bob Simon] served as our Faculty Athletics Representative to the NCAA for 22 years. By loose definition, as our institutional FAR, his role was to be the bridge connecting the academic side of our institution to the athletic side. I would argue that this individual did the very best, over his long career here at Hamilton College, to fill the gap, thus rendering a bridge unnecessary. Rather than be the bridge, he has worked diligently over his career to make sure we in athletics are grounded in our mission to be co-curricular within our institution. His guidance, opinion, sympathetic ear and fanaticism have been greatly appreciated by me and all my colleagues in the Department of Athletics."
Hind then presented an athletic department watch to Bob's wife, Joy, because "every coach needs a great assistant coach." He called attention to the many trips Joy has made to athletics events, the scrapbooks she keeps for student-athletes and the meals she has hosted at the Simons' home.
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