Navy Great George Tracy to be Inducted into National Lacrosse Hall of Fame

June 2, 2008

Navy attack men Sonny Glassner, Dud Hendrick, Bill Oatway,and George Tracy (Ted Wilandt missing)

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - George Tracy, one of just 33 three-time All-Americans in

Navy lacrosse history, has been selected for induction into the National

Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Tracy will join Roberta Brennan (Boston Women's

Lacrosse Association/U.S. National Team), Lynn Craun (James Madison '75),

Pat Dillon (Towson '72), Tom Marechek (Syracuse '92), Chris Sailer

(Harvard '81), Dom Starsia (Brown '74) and Dick Watts (Johns Hopkins '56)

for the induction ceremony on Nov. 8, as the 51st class will be honored at

the Grand Lodge in Hunt Valley, Md.

"I am very grateful that I was able to participate in a Navy lacrosse era

so gifted with exceptional coaches and extraordinary athletes, each of

whom is a member of my personal hall of fame," said Tracy.

A member of the Class of '63, Tracy is the 12th Navy player to be inducted

into the National Hall of Fame and the third in the last three years. He

is one of five Navy players in the National Hall of Fame who played for

legendary head coach Willis Bilderback, who himself was inducted into the

National Hall of Fame in 1973.

Along with playing for Bilderback, came the distinction of playing for the

Naval Academy during the period earmarked the "Decade of Domination" which

saw the Midshipmen win eight consecutive USILA national titles between

1960-67. As one of the premier attackman in the country, Tracy guided the

Midshipmen to championship crowns in 1961, '62 and '63. During those

three years, Navy amassed a 27-4 (.871) record which featured three-year

sweeps over the likes of Johns Hopkins, Virginia, Maryland and Princeton.

Affectionately known as "Trace," Tracy, along with the late Donald

MacLaughlin and Pete "The Shot" Taylor, collaborated as the trio "TMT" to

become one of the most potent scoring arsenals in the country in the early

'60s. Between 1961-63, the trio helped Navy averaged 13.2 goals per game

with the Mids being held to single digits just five times in 31 games.

Tracy produced 64 points over the span of three seasons, scoring 41 goals

including a season-high 18 during his junior campaign.

Christened in 1959, Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium first called itself

home to select Navy lacrosse games in 1961. Tracy and attackman Patrick

FitzPatrick scored two goals apiece to lead the Midshipmen to a 9-7

victory over rival Maryland in Navy's debut on April 29, 1961.

Tracy was elected by his peers to serve as the Navy lacrosse captain in

1963 and later that year scored the winning margin (South - 3 goals) in

the North-South Senior All-Star Game. Additionally, he was the recipient

of the Stuart Oxnard Miller Memorial Lacrosse Cup, which was awarded to

team's most valuable player. He also pioneered televised (WBAL) box

lacrosse in Maryland as a member of The Collegians, the 1962 Maryland Box

Lacrosse Champions.

Following his collegiate career, Tracy played 15 years on the club level

in five different states. He has been inducted into the USNA Athletic and

US Lacrosse Greater Baltimore Chapter halls of fame. Additionally, he was

awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (three stars)

and National Defense Service Medal.