Hollis F. (Hobby) Cobb '56
(Year Awarded--2006)

If you take your grandkids to a Davidson basketball game, and they point up to the ceiling and ask what is hanging from the rafters, you can answer simply “Those are the jerseys the great ones wore.” If they are typical grandkids, they will ask “What do you mean, great ones?” and you can point to the distinguished looking fan in Section 9, Row B, Seat 1, and say “That is a great one.”

Hollis F. (Hobby) Cobb’s No. 21 is one of only a few jerseys hanging in Belk Arena. It is there because of Hobby’s singular impact on the sport at Davidson. When he graduated in 1956, Team-Captain Cobb was Davidson's all-time leading scorer, with 1,409 points and the all-time leading rebounder, with 836 rebounds. During his career he set the school records for points in a game (39), rebounds in a game (19), field goals in a game and career, shooting percentage, and free throws made in a game. Fifty years later, Hobby still remains among the school’s all time leaders in these categories and still holds the record (610) for free throws attempted in a career. He currently places fourth all-time among Davidson rebounders.

As a student, Hobby showed his leadership beyond the court. He was vice-president of the student body, a Lieutenant Colonel in the ROTC, a member of Omicron Delta Kappa leadership fraternity, a member of Scabbard and Blade military fraternity, and an active member, and eventual president, of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. He served on the Athletic Council and was chosen for Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.

A career in sales and marketing took him away from Mecklenburg County for an interlude after graduation, but he returned to his real roots many years ago and has remained present and accounted for ever since.

Hobby remains one of Davidson’s most avid sports fans and if Davidson awarded varsity letters for athletic supporters, Hobby would be a 3-sport letterman every year. He is a regular for football games in Richardson Stadium, baseball games at Wilson Field, and is at most basketball games in Belk Arena.

Hobby is not just a cheerleader for Davidson’s athletic teams. He has served on the Davidson Alumni Association Board, as Class Agent for the Annual Fund, and as a member of the organizing committees for his 40th, 45th, and 50th reunions. He has also volunteered as a fundraiser for the Wildcat Club Fund Drive and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Davidson Athletic Foundation. He was immortalized at Davidson through his 1991 selection to the Davidson College Athletics Hall of Fame.

Because of the quality, consistency, and intensity of your service to and passion for Davidson College, the Davidson College Alumni Association honors you, Hollis F. (Hobby) Cobb, Jr., with the Alumni Service Award on the occasion of the 50th Reunion of the Class of 1956, this 29th day of April, 2006.