Testimony from Dick Upshaw about The Principia College Football Program
Principia College Football Program Profoundly Affects Student Athlete
As one of the founders of the Principia College Gridiron Club, Mr. Dick Upshaw recently decided that he should be one of the first to submit his testimony regarding his experience as a part of the Principia College Football Program. His testimony follows.
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Dick Upshaw’s Principia College Football Testimony
I attended Principia College from 1962 to 1966. I had made efforts to attend the University of Southern California as well as the Air Force Academy, but after my mother attended a Summer Session at the College, she was so impressed with what Principia College had to offer that she encouraged me to make application there. I was attending a small high school in southern California and was a 5-sport letterman, including the sports of baseball, basketball, football, track, and cross-country. Sports was a very big part of my life, and I saw the possibilities of including most of them in a college experience at the little village in Elsah, Illinois as well…especially football, which was my very favorite of all sports. It is quite possible that I would not have come to Principia College had not football been available.
As a third generation Christian Scientist, I had relied on my religion to help me address many challenges in my life. As a high school 4-year letterman in both football and baseball, and 2 years each in basketball, track, and cross-country, there were many opportunities to apply Christian Science. Approaching college football experience as I left my home town of Imperial, California, I’d experienced healings of being kicked in the mouth resulting in two split lips and ultimately a root canal surgery, a severely sprained ankle, and also a lower back injury. All were met with only the application of Christian Science treatment. So, my confidence was very firm, ready to encounter whatever the Principia College Football Program had in store for me.
My confidence was well-placed; I lettered all four years in the Principia College Football Program, being a starter three of those years, and all-conference for two. I can testify that I never missed a game, nor a practice, due to any physical injuries. The support and assistance I received from my teammates, coaches, and the great influence that the pre-game testimonial meetings had on me, all provided a major protection to me the entire four years and contributed greatly to my success.
My first roommate at that first football camp in the early fall of 1962 was none other than Paul Hanneson, a senior and starting tailback that year. Paul also happened to be the First Reader of the College Organization on campus, and really started me off right. It turned out that I was his back-up as tailback, while I also played primarily as left defensive half-back.
Dick Upshaw – Graduation
My dorm assignment was Rackham East, where I met Pete Sappenfield, a sophomore at the time, and another fine football player, as well as baseball and basketball. It was Pete who influenced me to join the U.S. Marine Corps officer’s training, where I eventually learned to fly the H-46 Sea Knight transport helicopter, and served my country for thirteen months in Vietnam. The things I learned while playing the tough game of football at Principia made all the difference in the world in protecting me during many dangerous missions over Vietnam – 640 total – in fighting that very dangerous and challenging war.
Dick Upshaw the Marine | Principia College Football
Two other very close buddies I met during my football experiences were Jim Evans, a classmate, and Ron White, two years junior to me. To this day, they are my very closest friends, and one of my sons bears both of their names, Ronald Evans Upshaw. Indeed, the Principia College Football Program extends even into the lives of my sons, and one of them ultimately also attended Principia College and played four years there, lettering in both football and baseball.
I also have a nephew, Joey Milner, who was born as I played football at Principia College, who ultimately attended there and played four years of football in the Principia College Football Program. His daughter, Jordan, is currently a freshman at the college (2008), and is hoping to regenerate the existence of a cheerleading squad. Joey also has two sons playing football in high school, both of whom are hoping to eventually play at Principia College. Their names are Jake and Jet Milner.
My football coaches were very instrumental in giving me courage and direction in my life, most importantly, Coach Jim Crafton who was head coach in the Principia College Football Program during my years of attendance there. Coach Crafton became my “second dad”, a man whom I admired and adored beyond any male human being in my life, second only to my own dad, Joe Upshaw. It’s the Upshaw and Milner names that are inscribed on the wall of the Crafton Athletic Center’s lobby area, to which both families, combined, contributed over $300,000 to help secure Coach Crafton’s name to that fabulous facility.
Does football at Principia College mean much to me? Would I do everything within my power to see it continue and thrive, so that other young men could have the benefits it has provided in my life? I’ll leave that to you to decide.
Gratefully,
Dick Upshaw
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After serving his country successfully in Vietnam, Dick Upshaw returned home and built a life and family with his wife, Ruth. He has been a successful restaurant franchisee in Texas for more than 40 years, has three children and three grand-children. He continues to lead his family and his company based on hard lessons he learned in part from the Principia College Football Program.
Submit Your Own Principia College Football Testimony
Please follow in Dick Upshaw’s footsteps. Tell us what the Principia College Football Program means to you. We invite you to give your testimony here. Please submit your testimony to webmaster AT principia-college-football DOT org, along with any pictures, video, etc. you feel is relevant. Also, please join our mailing list to receive regular updates and newsletters from the Gridiron Club.
Thank you for your support and your prayers!