University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame
William Simonds 1960 - Baseball, Football
Impressive both as an outstanding fullback in football and outfielder in baseball, Bill Simonds was all-conference in both sports at Vermont. A 1989 UVM Hall of Fame inductee, Simonds was one of the top running backs in football in the Yankee Conference during the late 50's, finishing second in the conference in scoring in 1958 and third in 1959.
In baseball he was awarded the Charles R. Stroh Trophy in 1958 and 1959, presented annually to the baseball player "who delivers most often in the clutch (RBI leader)." While Bill earned this honor two consecutive seasons, his teammate - and fellow Hall of Famer - Gerry Cassidy won the award in 1960. The two, along with 1976 UVM Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, Charles Isles '60, were three of the top baseball players in New England at the time and were reasons that Ralph Lapointe's teams went 55-32 in that three-year span (1958-60).
"I remember Bill as one of the best athletes during that era. An outstanding fullback in football, he was one of the best running backs in the Yankee Conference and a top scorer," said Denis Lambert, an assistant coach at the time and later the UVM Director of Athletics.
At the 1960 Senior Lettermen's Dinner, Simonds was also presented the Semans Trophy given to the student-athlete who is outstanding in the respect and regard of their fellow students for leadership, loyalty and service to the University and for active participation in athletics. Active in his fraternity, Delta Psi, he earned a B.S. degree in agriculture.
