William Seaton '36

William Seaton had a brilliant career as the quarterback of the Washington and Lee football team during the mid-1930’s.

Seaton arrived at W&L in 1931 as a 135-pound bottle of lightning. His quickness and athleticism were hard to ignore and he was quickly tabbed the starter for the freshman team.

Promoted to the varsity as a sophomore, injuries cleared the way for Seaton to move into the starting lineup that season and he would not relinquish the role until he had led the Generals to one of their best seasons in school history during his senior campaign.

Under Seaton’s direction, W&L posted just a 1-9 record during the 1932 season, but better days were ahead. Seaton guided the Generals to a 4-4-2 overall mark in 1933, including a 7-0 victory over previously unbeaten Kentucky and a 6-0 win over Virginia.

That season served as a catalyst for W&L’s 1934 squad, which went 7-3 overall and won the Southern Conference and State Championships. With Seaton under center, the Generals again defeated Kentucky and also left schools like Maryland, Virginia Tech, Virginia and South Carolina in their wake. Following the season, Seaton was named to the All-State team and he also received Honorable Mention All-America accolades.

Seaton’s contributions extended beyond the football field as he also competed in boxing, track and baseball, and was Vice-President of the Athletic Council.