Hall of Fame
Phil Harlow '73 – Class of 1989
Star Quality…
The world of sport revolves around its heroes. They assume larger-than-life qualities, seeming to advance beyond the capacity of muscle and sinew to a realm of physical splendor that can only be imagined.
The spectator on the edge of a seat, poised to jump up and cheer heroic deeds, expects the incredible. When such expectations become reality, the athlete becomes more than human; a luminary that transcends our imperfections. A star.
The temptation is clear. And the history of the sport is laden with pathetic figures who failed to perceive the brevity of such glory; who did not recognize their prowess was confined by the lines that mark the boundary between their sport and the life they must lead.
…The swift figure whips around taller opponents, glides effortlessly to the side of the key. Impossibly, he jumps up and back in one motion, releasing the ball at a point where his body seems suspended in air…
Phil Harlow was a star before he came to Le Moyne College. A high school career capped by a number one ranking for Bishop Ludden and selection to the All-State Team fixed his status, and brought cadres of eager college recruiters to his door. He was destined to shine on the college hardwood, but Phil Harlow was determined not to submit to the temptation. He resolved to remain within himself, to keep a perspective that left his personality and character intact.
…The ball arcs up as opponents leave their feet to deflect it. Amazingly, the shooter’s body, once poised in air at an absurd angle, gently meets the floor. Balanced, his form merges into the background as eyes focus on the hoop…
This resolution led to a career as an industrial relations major at Le Moyne, along with a four-year reign as leading scorer on dolphin basketball teams.
Considered by many the finest ever to wear the Green and Gold, Phil set new standards for career points scored, points in a single game, and single season and career scoring averages.
After graduation he turned his ample talents to personnel administration and, with his wife, Ruby, raising Philip, Tishka and Sabrina.
…The ball’s high trajectory eludes defender’ reach. As it settles softly into the net the shooter has already blended back into the fabric of the game. This is determined to be part of a greater whole. The temptation, in this man, will remain unsatisfied.
Christian businessman, husband, father. Community leader. Prolific scorer, definitive star on the basketball court. Fitting reasons for accolades to Phil Harlow
Still our esteem recognizes another dimension that can serve as a guide to Dolphin athletes. A quality that demands out attention, even as its essence shuns recognition.
Phil Harlow was – and is – a star who refuses to make more of himself than what he is; who takes pride in accomplishment but recognizes that honor lies in things greater than field goals or the latest professional triumph.
A beacon to the quality of stars held dear in the Le Moyne tradition of athletics, it is fitting that
Phillip Harlow ’73 inducted into the
Le Moyne College Athletic Hall of Fame.
April 28, 1989
