Army West Point Athletics
Lonely End Earns Recognition For Football and Lacrosse
September 04, 2009 | General
Editor's Note: This is the sixth in a series of stories profiling the Kenna Hall of Army Sports inductees, Class of 2009. GoARMYsports.com will take a look at these outstanding athletes and their accomplishments, leading into the induction on Sept. 11.
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Bill Carpenter might best be remembered as the “Lonely End,” in coach Earl “Red” Blaik’s innovative offensive formation and his stellar football statistics.
What sometimes gets overlooked because of his football accomplishments was his success in lacrosse.
Next week, his career in both football and lacrosse will be celebrated when Carpenter is inducted into the Army Sports Hall of Fame.
Carpenter is one of eight who will be honored this year in the sixth class. The Class of 2009 also includes Ralph Chesnauskas (football, hockey and baseball), Tracy Hanlon (track and field and women’s basketball), Mike Krzyzewski (men’s basketball player and coach), Ray Murphy (Athletic Director and football, basketball and lacrosse player), Nicki Robbins (softball), Jack Rust (lacrosse) and Thomas Truxtun (lacrosse and men’s soccer).
The eight honorees will officially be inducted into the Army Sports Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 11. A special afternoon plaque unveiling ceremony will be held in the Kenna Hall of Army Sports inside Kimsey Center, with the formal black-tie banquet presented by Lockheed Martin set for Eisenhower Hall later that evening. The group will also be recognized during Army’s football game against Duke the next day at Michie Stadium with a special photograph and autograph session planned in Black Knights Alley prior to the contest.
The Army Sports Hall of Fame is a subset of the Kenna Hall of Army Sports, a comprehensive museum displaying Army’s rich and proud intercollegiate athletic program. It is located on the third floor of the Kimsey Athletic Center, Army’s massive football training facility.
Carpenter, a member of the Class of 1960, was a first team All-American as a senior and graduated as the Academy record holder with 65 career receptions, surpassing the previous total of fellow Hall of Famer Glenn Davis by 20 catches.
The first player to surpass 1,000 yards receiving in a season, Carpenter served as team captain as a senior and racked up a then season-best 591 yards. In 1982, he was inducted into the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, was awarded the Distinguished American of the Year by the Walter Camp Football Foundation two years later and was presented with the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award in 1985.
The first lacrosse game Carpenter ever saw, he was in the starting lineup for coach James “Ace” Adams at Mount Washington College. His athletic ability helped him overcome his lack of game knowledge. By the time the season was over, Carpenter earned first team All-American honors in lacrosse as well and was named the Schmeisser Memorial Cup winner as the nation’s top defenseman.
Carpenter’s military career was just as impressive. He attained the rank of Lieutenant General before his retirement and was presented with the Distinguished Service Cross.
Catch Us Up On What You Have Been Doing Since Graduating: “I spent 32 years in the Army and they were all good posts.”
Reaction When Received Letter You Were Chosen: “It came as a surprise It is certainly a great honor though.”
Favorite Athletic Memory: “Playing for Col. (Red) Blaik is probably as good as it gets. I remember very fondly having the opportunity to play for Col. Blaik. And being an All-American in lacrosse when the first game I saw was a game I played in.”
Favorite West Point Memory: “One of the things that sticks out and I am very proud of is the fact that I was able to play football and be a member of the Corps of Cadets. Not many teams stood reveille at 5:45 on a Saturday morning, then went to practice at 8 a.m. We went to class until 10 when we were allowed to leave for football for a 1 p.m. game. There probably wasn’t another team in the country who was going through what we were.”
Who Had The Biggest Influence On Your Athletic Career: “Probably my high school coaches. I was very fortunate in high school to be able to play three different sports. You can learn an awful lot on the athletic field and we did by playing sports.”
Tickets for the event are available to the public and can be purchased by calling Army's External Operations Office at 845-938-2322. Proceeds will be directed to a fund that supports the daily care, maintenance and growth of the Kenna Hall of Army Sports and Army Sports Hall of Fame.
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Bill Carpenter might best be remembered as the “Lonely End,” in coach Earl “Red” Blaik’s innovative offensive formation and his stellar football statistics.
What sometimes gets overlooked because of his football accomplishments was his success in lacrosse.
Next week, his career in both football and lacrosse will be celebrated when Carpenter is inducted into the Army Sports Hall of Fame.
Carpenter is one of eight who will be honored this year in the sixth class. The Class of 2009 also includes Ralph Chesnauskas (football, hockey and baseball), Tracy Hanlon (track and field and women’s basketball), Mike Krzyzewski (men’s basketball player and coach), Ray Murphy (Athletic Director and football, basketball and lacrosse player), Nicki Robbins (softball), Jack Rust (lacrosse) and Thomas Truxtun (lacrosse and men’s soccer).
The eight honorees will officially be inducted into the Army Sports Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 11. A special afternoon plaque unveiling ceremony will be held in the Kenna Hall of Army Sports inside Kimsey Center, with the formal black-tie banquet presented by Lockheed Martin set for Eisenhower Hall later that evening. The group will also be recognized during Army’s football game against Duke the next day at Michie Stadium with a special photograph and autograph session planned in Black Knights Alley prior to the contest.
The Army Sports Hall of Fame is a subset of the Kenna Hall of Army Sports, a comprehensive museum displaying Army’s rich and proud intercollegiate athletic program. It is located on the third floor of the Kimsey Athletic Center, Army’s massive football training facility.
Carpenter, a member of the Class of 1960, was a first team All-American as a senior and graduated as the Academy record holder with 65 career receptions, surpassing the previous total of fellow Hall of Famer Glenn Davis by 20 catches.
The first player to surpass 1,000 yards receiving in a season, Carpenter served as team captain as a senior and racked up a then season-best 591 yards. In 1982, he was inducted into the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, was awarded the Distinguished American of the Year by the Walter Camp Football Foundation two years later and was presented with the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award in 1985.
The first lacrosse game Carpenter ever saw, he was in the starting lineup for coach James “Ace” Adams at Mount Washington College. His athletic ability helped him overcome his lack of game knowledge. By the time the season was over, Carpenter earned first team All-American honors in lacrosse as well and was named the Schmeisser Memorial Cup winner as the nation’s top defenseman.
Carpenter’s military career was just as impressive. He attained the rank of Lieutenant General before his retirement and was presented with the Distinguished Service Cross.
Catch Us Up On What You Have Been Doing Since Graduating: “I spent 32 years in the Army and they were all good posts.”
Reaction When Received Letter You Were Chosen: “It came as a surprise It is certainly a great honor though.”
Favorite Athletic Memory: “Playing for Col. (Red) Blaik is probably as good as it gets. I remember very fondly having the opportunity to play for Col. Blaik. And being an All-American in lacrosse when the first game I saw was a game I played in.”
Favorite West Point Memory: “One of the things that sticks out and I am very proud of is the fact that I was able to play football and be a member of the Corps of Cadets. Not many teams stood reveille at 5:45 on a Saturday morning, then went to practice at 8 a.m. We went to class until 10 when we were allowed to leave for football for a 1 p.m. game. There probably wasn’t another team in the country who was going through what we were.”
Who Had The Biggest Influence On Your Athletic Career: “Probably my high school coaches. I was very fortunate in high school to be able to play three different sports. You can learn an awful lot on the athletic field and we did by playing sports.”
Tickets for the event are available to the public and can be purchased by calling Army's External Operations Office at 845-938-2322. Proceeds will be directed to a fund that supports the daily care, maintenance and growth of the Kenna Hall of Army Sports and Army Sports Hall of Fame.
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