William Skye
Football, 1953
1992 Letterwinner of Distinction
1992 Letterwinner of Distinction
After graduation from North Plainfield (NJ) High School where he was an All-County football player and track letterwinner, Bill Skye was invited to walk-on the SU freshman football team by Coach Lester Dye. Bill received an athletic scholarship. He went on to become a three year starter on defense under Coach Ben Schwartzwalder. Bill was selected as honorable mention All-East and All-American in 1951, first team All-East in 1952 and second team All-American in 1952. He declined an invitation to play in the 1952 Blue-Gray Game after Syracuse won the Lambert Trophy and an Orange Bowl bid. Bill was drafted by the New York Giants and later traded to the Green Bay Packers.
Bill served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1951 to 1981, moving up through the ranks from private to lieutenant colonel. He successfully completed the U.S. Army Adjutant Generals Officer Advanced Course (1969), Industrial College of the Armed Forces (1975) and The Command and General Staff College (1977). Bill served on active duty at Ft. Benjamin Harrison in the Administration Records and on the faculty for the Adjutant General School. Retiring in 1981 after 30 years, he is a member of the Reserve Officers Association, U.S. Military Retirees Association and American Legion.
Bill returned to SU to coach undefeated 1954-1955 freshman football and wrestling teams while doubling as a trainer under Dr. Edward Swift and head trainer Jules Riechel. From 1955-67 he taught physical education and health and coached football, wrestling and track at Marcellus Central School. Introducing 11-man football to the school in 1955, Bill’s teams won championships in 1956, 1963 and 1965. He was selected Football Coach of the Year in 1956 and 1963 and All-County Coach in 1965. Bill also introduced wrestling at Marcellus, enjoying nine winning seasons, and re-established the track and field program. He is no retired after 18 years as assistant principal of Watertown (NY) High School. In 1965 he was head coach of the Mohawk Valley Falcons of the professional Atlantic Coast League. In 1971 and 1972, Bill served as line coach of the Watertown Red & Black semi-professional football team. Bill has officiated football wrestling at the high school and college levels for 14 years. He has been active I numerous community and charitable association. Bill is a life member of the Varsity Club and is a contributor to the Orange Pack, Ernie Davis Club and Ben Schwartzwalder Field.
