History
The Varsity Club Legacy
Prior to becoming the Block S Club in 2025, Syracuse’s community of former student athletes was called the Syracuse Varsity Club, or the Varsity Club of Syracuse University. The Varsity Club traces its roots back to 1934 when it was created by George Bond, Esq to serve as a social club for former Syracuse letterwinners who participated in their varsity sport in their senior year. The club’s purpose was to “promote the general welfare of Syracuse University, particularly through the encouragement and support for the Syracuse University athletic program”, according to the bylaws of the club.
“The Varsity Club is a vehicle for continued relationships with former teammates and coaches. Our membership in the Varsity Club enables us to stay up-to-date and involved with Syracuse University Athletics. We are all members of the SU team and family”, former Varsity Club President and SU Football manager, Jeffrey Bastable stated. This quote from 2005 still rings true today. The Block S Club will continue to carry the torch to represent all former student athletes and provide a community for athletes long after graduation.
The Varsity Club held many events to provide engagement such as the Letterwinner of Distinction Dinner. The Varsity Club’s highest recognition for former student-athletes is the Letterwinner of Distinction Award, which is the “most prestigious honor a former varsity student-athlete can receive.” Previous winners include Ernie Davis, the first black player to win the Heisman Trophy, who tragically passed of leukemia before he could play in a professional game. As well as Martha Mogish, who was a former women’s basketball player and the first female inductee. Since Title IX was not established until 1972, women were not able to previously apply for the award. Other previous awardees include former Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim, former basketball player Dave Bing, former football player Floyd Little, and sports broadcaster Marty Glickman. Click here to see a full list of previous winners. This Award will continue under the Block S Club. The Varsity Club also provided an official Syracuse athletics monthly magazine called the Orange Exclusive. The Block S Club will not have a magazine, but will engage former athletes through the Block S Club quarterly athletics newsletter.
The main difference between the Block S Club and the Varsity Club is, the Block S Club will have no board of directors or officers leading the club. The Block S Club will be spearheaded by the Associate Director of Development, Former Student Athlete Engagement from the ‘Cuse Athletics Fund. We are forever grateful to the previous board and officers who have held leadership positions that allowed the Varsity Club to support a countless number of athletes.
Syracuse Varsity Club Past Leadership
(This list is in alphabetical order and is not exhaustive)
*in parentheses is the sport played or affiliation to Syracuse Athletics
A. Mark Winter ’73 (basketball)
Andrea C. Marsh
Andrew Spector ’66 (football)
Arnold Burdick '42 (lacrosse)
Bernard LaVine '41 (boxing)
Beth Foederer ’89 (track)
Beth Hart Wells '89 (track)
Brian P. McLane ’69 (honorary)
Charles A. Lapham '41 (lacrosse)
Charles D. Zimmerman ’59 (football)
Clifford Ensley ’70 (football/wrestling/lacrosse)
David Archer ’65 (football)
David Harmon '70 (men's basketball/track)
Dennis F. Kennedy '70 (baseball)
Douglas E. Allis '42 (men's lacrosse)
Earl R. Hall ’91 (lacrosse)
Edward Collier ’57 (boxing)
Emanuel Breland ’57 (basketball)
Eric Chenoweth ’94 (football)
Floyd D. Little ’67 (football)
Gary MacLachlan ’67 (crew)
Gay Pomeroy ’63 (football)
George L. Snyder, Jr '73 (football)
Gregg Doherty ’55 (football)
Harold H. McGrath ’53 (tennis)
J. Clinton Loucks '27 (track/cross country)
Jack Crouthamel
Jacquelyn A. Walker Graff ’04 (lacrosse)
James T. LeMessurier '68 (football)
Jason Gebhardt ’98 (lacrosse)
Jay W. Wason '50 (boxing/cross country)
Jeff Gilbert ’11 (lacrosse)
Jerry Laffer ’62 (skiing)
John C. LaMonte '48 (crew)
John Harmon ’66 (football)
John Lobon ’73 (football)
John Pappas ’68 (lacrosse)
Joseph G. Szombathy ’53 (football)
Joseph Spector '38 (basketball)
Katie Hatch Jerome ’06 (men’s lacrosse)
Kris Beyer ’86 (swimming)
Leland B. Taylor '42 (football)
Leonard J. Campolieta ’72 (football)
Marc G. Terziev '41 (boxing)
Mark Roadarmel ’61 (lacrosse)
Martha Rowe ’82 (basketball)
Mona Beyer Jones '86 (swimming)
Neil E. Brenneman '54 (football)
Norman Weltmann '33 (soccer)
Paul Barkal '57 (gymnastics)
Ray Grimaldi ’63 (gymnastics)
Richard "Dick" Murphy ’67 (football)
Richard J. Beyer '53 (football/wrestling)
Robert Miron ’59 (crew)
Roger H. Praetorius ’73 (football)
Ross J. Prossner '70 (swimming)
Ruth Sadler ’72 (basketball)
Ryan Korby ’06 (track/xc)
S. Jeffrey Bastable ’69 G’73 (football)
Sean Ellis ’09 (swimming)
Stephen "Steve" Nathan ’64 (lacrosse)
Thomas H. Lehr '52 (football/baseball)
Todd Flaherty ’70 (football)
Tom P. Sedgwick '78 (skiing)
Tracy H. Ferguson '31 (baseball)
W. Carroll Coyne ’54 (baseball)
William C. Archbold, Jr ’50 (lacrosse)
William Hicks (football)
William J. Haskins '52 (football/track)
William Skye '53 (football)
