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John P. Stabile '40 Memorial Trophy

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Awarded annually to a member of a men's team who best exemplifies the Middlebury spirit. Prior to 1989, the award, at times, had been given to a member of a female team as well. The Deborah Parton '76 award, a similar honor, is now reserved for a member of a women's team.

Stabile was a football standout, captaining the 1939 team. He became a Marine after graduating from Middlebury, in January 1941, and came up through the ranks to earn his commission as lieutenant.

He was stationed in Guadalcanal with the 182nd Infantry, Company C. His men were dedicated to him and told the story of his heroism. One of Stabile's men (Barney Ross) lay wounded in a shallow shell hole in full view of Japanese snipers. Stabile did not ask for volunteers, but ran to Ross himself through a curtain of enemy fire. He administered first aid, then started back with Ross on his shoulder. A sniper hit him after only a few steps, and Marines opened covering fire while medical corps men rushed out with a stretcher. Stabile ordered that Ross be moved first, but when they returned, Stabile had died. He was only 25 years old at the time in November of 1942. He was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. The residents of his hometown of Medford, Massachusetts, dedicated a monument in his honor in 1945.

Previous Winners:
2025            Kyle McCausland
2024            Sam Messina
2023            Hogan Beazley
2022            Nate Stewart
2021            Jourdon Delerme-Brown
2020            Owen Powers
2019            Minhaj Rahman
2018            Sebastian Sanchez
2017            Matt Marra
2016            Max Greenwald
2015            Matthew Benedict
2014            Kevin Chu
2013            Mike Morris
2012            Matt Wassell
2011            Harrison Watkins
2010            Andrew Thomson
2009            Chandler Koglmeier
2008            Scott Bartlett
2007            Peter Mellen
2006            Derek Cece
2005            Eric Shanley
2004            Craig Pittman
2003            Steve Hulce
2002            Brian Hamm
2001            Ben Pratt
2000            Mike Baumgardner
1999            Scott Wiercinski
1998            Ryan Goldman
1997            Nick Owsley
1996            Douglas Mandigo
1995            Ryan Sullivan
1994            Chris Butler
1993            David Low, Timothy Craig
1992            Brent Truchon
1991            Donald Jackson IV
1990            Mitch Harper, Andy Krugman
1989            Will Carey
1988            Mike Dubzinski, Sarah O'Herron
1987            Brian Buteau, Anne Marie Dowd
1986            Andy Fellows, Bess Cromwell
1985            Richmond "Chip" Kenyon
1984            Steven Ford, Margaret Goebel
1983            Judy Carlhian, Roy Giarrusso
1982            Robert Ritter, Tara McMenamy
1981            Alice Tower, Doug Dickson
1980            Eric Kemp
1979            Michael O'Hara
1978            John F. Jacobs
1977            Rex C. Martin, James L. Reese
1976            Steven Bouchard
1975            David Pentkowski
1974            Peter W. Mackey
1973            James A. Vandergrift
1972            Joseph T. McNulty
1971            Christopher M. Grejtak
1970            Lee Cartmill
1969            Richard Verge
1968            Stephen Callahan, John Davidson
1967            Jonathan Berger
1966            Frederick Beams
1965            David Giddings
1964            Donald Elmore
1963            Craig Stewart
1962            James Shattuck
1961            Arthur Wilkes
1960            James Wright
1959            Grover Aldrich
1958            George Bostwick, Jr.
1957            Roger Tirone
1956            Thomas Hart
1955            George Limbach
1954            Douglas Binning
1953            Richard Allen
1952            Elbert Rathburn
1951            Wendell Forbes  
1950            R.A. Loveys
1949            D.E. Thompson
1948            Chales Puksta
1947            Arthur Pepin
1946            Roy Kinsey 

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