Fred D. Selfe

Class of 1969 / Inducted 1980 / Football

Fred Dean Selfe was a native of Castlewood, Virginia, and a member of the Emory & Henry College class of 1969. Inducted into the Emory & Henry Sports Hall of Fame in 1980, he was a four-year starter on the offensive line for the Wasps and a two-time All-Virginia selection.

As a player for Coach Casto Ramsey, Selfe set himself apart as a member of the Emory & Henry offensive line. The 1968 team averaged 542.3 yards of total offense per game, which at the time was a national record. Selfe earned All-America honors for that season in which the Wasps posted a 9-1 record.

Selfe was one of the most beloved players and coaches in school history. His tireless efforts for more than 30 years as a player, coach and athletic director have left an ever-lasting mark at the College.

Selfe will be forever remembered for his slogan, “Trust in your teammates; trust in yourself,” and for the Fred Selfe Rock, a large piece of granite brought from Castlewood and placed on the east end of the stadium. The rock is a memorial to the man considered as “a rock” to those who knew him.

Emory & Henry’s stadium was designated as Fred Selfe Athletic Stadium in 2008 as a part of the “Prelude to Performance” campaign when extensive upgrades were made to the facility including a new scoreboard, lights, press box and the installation of artificial turf.

Born on August 7, 1946, Fred Dean Selfe passed away on January 24, 2003 at the age of 56.