Bridgewater College

VIDEO: CARLYLE WHITELOW HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY

Carlyle Whitelow was a pioneer in athletics not only at Bridgewater College, but in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Carlyle lettered two years in football, basketball and track at Bridgewater and was the first black athlete to participate in intercollegiate athletics at the college. He was also the first black athlete in the state to play at a school that was not a predominantly black college.

After receiving his degree in physical education, Carlyle embarked on a long and distinguished career in education. He taught in the Staunton Public School System for 10 years before returning to his alma mater in 1969. For the next 28 years, Carlyle taught in the Physical Education Department and coached football, basketball and tennis. He also worked with the Education Department and supervised student teachers. In 1975, Carlyle was named Faculty Member of the Year at Bridgewater College. In 1979, he was named ODAC men's tennis coach of the year. He coached the college's first-ever ODAC men's tennis player of the year and coached Bridgewater's first player to participate in the NCAA men's tennis tournament.

Carlyle retired in 1997, but his service to the Bridgewater community continues. He has been named the Bridgewater Ruritan Club's Citizen of the Year and is a member of several civic and church organizations. For his many years of dedicated service to Bridgewater College and the Bridgewater community, Carlyle Whitelow is certainly deserving of inclusion into the Athletic Hall of Fame.