Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/955638
f you are a Penn State wrestling or football fan and haven't heard the name Ridge Riley, you haven't been paying attention to the team awards given out in his honor. Since 1976, the annual Ridge Riley Award has been bestowed at the conclu- sion of each football season to a senior for "sportsmanship, scholarship, leadership and friendship." In the early 1980s, Penn State began presenting another Ridge Riley Award to the "outstanding wrestler" of each home dual meet. Longtime football fans also know that the well-read weekly alumni Football Letter, now written by John Black, was ini- tially authored by Ridge from 1938 until his death after the 1975 season. Ridge also was the writer of the most definitive history of Penn State football and the ath- letic department from 1881-75, "The Road to Number One." His book was a major source and guide for me while I was working on the Penn State Football Encyclopedia that was published in 1998, and I have continu- ally gone back to it for pertinent infor- mation, including for this column. Beyond Penn State sports, the Alumni Association has an award named for Ridge, and the Belisario College of Communications has an en- dowed $1,750 sportswriting scholarship honoring him. Then there is Ridge Riley's Bridge, which leads from the front entrance of the Hintz Alumni Center toward Old REMEMBERING 'MR. PENN STATE' In his unmistakable style, Ridge Riley chronicled the Nittany Lions' ascent I HISTORY MAKERS Penn State staffers and coaches gather for a photo in the early 1950s. Left to right: Mickey Bergstein, Ike Gilbert, Ridge Riley (seated), Charlie Spei- del, Nick Thiel, Glenn Hawthorne and Walt Hosterman. Photo courtesy of the Pattee and Paterno Library Archives