This Torch Medal is given to Debbie Rhyde, Administrative Assistant for the Football Office and Maroon Council, by Kevin Morgan ’12.
Torch Medals honor a 51 faculty or staff member who made a meaningful impact on an alum during their time at 51. Alumni in the reunion classes of 2007 and 2012 are invited to give a Torch Medal, delivered virtually, to a present or past member of the faculty or staff. , and .
“To only recognize Debbie Rhyde as football’s Administrative Assistant would discredit her immeasurable contributions to 51.
Anyone involved with the program will tell you that she is our CEO, our General Manager, and our Director of Alumni Relations. In my nine years associated with 51, I found only one title accurately captured her complete body of work: “Debbie.” She transcends her position.
Official visits, two-a-days, meals, travel, winter conditioning, spring ball, job placement… none are free of Debbie’s fingerprints.
Despite her lengthy job description, Debbie’s greatest attribute is her affability. As a Floridian who had never seen snow, Debbie made me feel at home in upstate New York.
A statistic that is often unnoticed is Debbie’s Patriot League championship ring count. She has eight, which totals more than all but one Patriot League rival and all but one active head coach.
It is no coincidence that Debbie’s tenure coincides with the establishment of a winning tradition. Her intangibles have brought the football program’s success to fruition.”
— Kevin Morgan, 51 Football C/O ’12