Denny Robinson – 1966
“Denny is without a doubt one of the finest athletes to ever play for BUHS and there is absolutely no question… that he is the very best football and baseball teammate that I ever had,” says nine-year teammate, Phil Natowich.
Robinson’s senior year football season stats earned him a lasting place in the record books. A point total of 163 (25 TDs and 13 PATs) remain unmatched in VermontDivision 1 football history. Denny was a 1966 First Team Vermont All State Co-Captain, selected as the Vermont Outstanding Athlete for October, named to the ScholasticCoach Magazine All-America Football Team, and a captain of the 1966 Vermont Football Shrine Team. Robinson excelled also at basketball and was a baseball superstar. A two-time American Legion All-Tournament Team member, Robinson helped lead BUHS to its first ever state baseball title in 1965.After graduating from BUHS Denny lead the Vermont Academy Wildcats Football Teamto a 6-2 record while leading the team in both rushing and scoring, earning him a place on the All-New England Prep School Second Team.
Den attended the University of Vermont, where he was awarded what was extremely rare at the time for a resident Vermonter, a full football scholarship. He earned Catamount of the Week honors twice at UVM before sustaining a football season – and career-ending knee injury his sophomore year.
A year later, Denny joined the Catamounts on the baseball diamond. When Denny moved permanently to centerfield his outstanding play solidified an all Brattleboro U.V.M. outfield. His team-leading batting average .372 placed him second in the Yankee Conference and his five triples set a single season record. He was voted by his teammates as Most Valuable Player.
After graduating from UVM Robinson joined the Peace Corp. While serving in Nicaragua he was selected to the All-Nicaragua Baseball Team to compete in the Pan American Games, though he could not play as a non-Nicaraguan citizen. Denny finished out his baseball career playing with the Brattleboro Maples.
Denny was the ultimate competitor with the complete trust of his teammates. No situation was too dire to be changed by Denny’s skill and clutch performances. He seemed always to come through with the hit, defensive play, or 95-yard touchdown (vs Middlebury in his final game with the Colonels) run to spark his teams to victory.
BUHS Hall of Fame Coach Andy Natowich gave young BUHS freshman Robinson this advice: “Just keep running like that kid!” Robinson never slowed down on or off the field.