Hall of Fame
Teddy Kiddle – Class of 2007
Teddy Kiddle is no stranger to anyone familiar with Le Moyne College Athletics having worked on the Heights for over 30 years. He began his Le Moyne Athletic service in maintenance, and from 1995 - 2007 was "Doc" John Joiner’s right-hand man as the assistant equipment manager. Teddy is a 1970 E.S.M. High School graduate and is the middle child having two brothers and two sisters. His love for sports began at the age of 12 when he became the E.S.M. football ball boy. This was his first job involved with athletics but it would not be his last. At Le Moyne, when it comes to washing, folding and distributing gear to players, nobody does it better than Teddy, but he is better known as Le Moyne’s #1 fan.
Loyalty is one word that describes Teddy’s love for Le Moyne Athletics. When asked who were some of his favorite players to watch, he responded, “All of ‘em!” During basketball games you can easily find Teddy sitting behind the bench giving water to a thirsty player, the chalk board to a coach during a time-out, voicing his opinion to a referee about a call or chasing after the game ball as soon as the final buzzer sounds. Although he has seen many great games at home and listened to many of the road games, he has one special basketball memory that he will always cherish. This event occurred in 1996 after the Dolphins defeated Southern Connecticut State University in the finals of the NECC Tournament at Franklin Pierce College. Teddy made this road trip and after the victory, the team invited him to help them cut down the championship nets. After cutting the nets down all the players helped carry him off the floor in celebration.
During the off-season, Teddy trades in his love for Le Moyne Basketball for the New York Yankees. Each game is important to Teddy and he knows the statistics and personnel as well as manager, Joe Torre. Everyone in the athletic center knows that a conversation about Yankee baseball happens everyday as long as Teddy is in the building. Although he named his dog Jeter, Teddy admits that his favorite all-time Yankee is his childhood hero, Mickey Mantle.
Teddy Kiddle is a fan who truly cares about the Le Moyne Athletic program. The best thing about his life at Le Moyne has nothing to do with championships or star players, it is “being involved with all the players and coaches,” he said. It is nice to know that win or lose, Teddy will always believe in the players who wear the jerseys that he gives to them before every game. For all his hard work, service and loyalty to the Le Moyne College Athletic program, Teddy Kiddle was recognized as the Rev. Vincent B. Ryan, S.J. Dolphin Award Winner in 2007 and is officially inducted to the Le Moyne College Athletic Hall of Fame. September 24, 2011.
