Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Hobart Hall of Fame: Class of 2018

Seven Statesmen were inducted into the Hobart College Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2018. They join a distinguished group of Hobart athletes, coaches, administrators and friends who enhance the proud and rich tradition of Hobart athletics.

Stockton Buck '66, P'98 is regarded as one of the best all-time lacrosse midfielders at Hobart. As team captain of the 1966 Laurie Cox Division champions, Buck earned All-America honors and received the Judge Kane Award as the team's MVP. He is a retired FBI agent.

Leonard "Len" DeFrancesco '56 was a four-year letter winner in basketball and baseball, serving the Hobart nine as captain in 1955 and 1956 and captaining the 1955- 56 basketball Statesmen. He was voted the Hobart Athlete of the Year in 1955-56, earning the first "Babe" Kraus Award. He is a retired public school teacher.

Jeremy Foley '74 earned varsity letters in football and lacrosse as a Statesman. He recently retired from a distinguished career as an athletic administrator at the University of Florida, and is regarded as one of the best NCAA Division I athletic directors. Foley has been a major donor to the continued development of athletic facilities at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

Delivan "Augie" Gates '56, P'87 earned four varsity letters in football and lettered three years as a lacrosse defenseman. He was among the small band of loyal Hobart alumni who founded the Statesmen Athletic Association (SAA) in 1970. Over his lifetime, he was a faithful and generous supporter of the SAA and especially of Hobart football. He was the owner of Broome Bituminous Products in Vestal, N.Y. Gates passed away on Oct. 21, 2017.

William "Bill" Palmer '94 earned All-America honors in both football and lacrosse. As a senior, he served as a team captain for both sports. Palmer still holds the Hobart football record for career interceptions (23) and is tied for most interceptions in a season (9). Palmer was also a three-year lacrosse letterman, playing on the 1993 NCAA Division III championship team. He is a principal at IMA Corporate Interiors, LLC.

Kent Smack '97 was a four-year varsity rower, serving as team captain during his senior year. As a Hobart student-athlete, he founded the Committee on Reviving Hobart Tradition. Following graduation, he earned a spot on the 2001 U.S. National Rowing Team and was named to the 2004 U.S. Olympic team that competed in Athens. He is the managing director and president of ESM Software Group.

Jeffrey "Jeff" Tambroni '92 was an All-American attackman in lacrosse, and played on three NCAA Division III Championship teams. He continues to rank in the top 20 in career goals, assists and points. The Most Outstanding Player of the 1990 NCAA tournament, Tambroni earned the 1992 Bill Stiles '43 Memorial Award for leadership and character and was also selected team MVP. He is currently the head lacrosse coach at Penn State University.