Hampden Sydney College - Kaleidoscope Yearbook (Hampden Sydney, VA)

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CHARLES ARTHUR BERNIER

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Dedication Qfifa IN RECOGNITION OF HIS UNSELFISH AND DEVOTED SERVICE TO HIS ALMA MATER, OF HIS SPLENDID PERSONALITY FOR THE TRAINING OF MEN, AND OF HIS HIGH IDEALS OF FAIRNESS AND CLEAN PLAY, WE PROUDLY DEDICATE THIS THIRTY-FOURTH ISSUE OF THE KALEIDOSCOPE 'ro Charles Arthur Bernier

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I-IAMPDEN-SYDNEY KALEIDOSCOPE Charles Arthur Bernier Q HARI ES A BERNIER was born in Laconia, New Hampshire, in fn l890 He received his early education in his native town and continued E113-,rn A D ig i-.9 ' i i this at Pennington Prep. School, where he gave a splendid account of hr? ,L . . . , -HUM ' l become his life's endeavor. R SM himself in his work especially in that part of it which was afterwards to This diminutive young athlete journeyed South in l908 and entered Hampden- Sydney. Right then started between the young man from the far North and the second oldest college in the South a mutual feeling of devotion that has increased throughout the succeeding years. During his college career, Yank, as he was affectionately known, did his work faithfully and here again, as in prep. school, he specialized in the outdoor life. His work on the gridiron and diamond was felt not only at Hampden-Sydney but also through the entire state. He earned letters in three branches of sport and was captain of football, basket ball, and baseball in his second year. In the fall of I9I0 he left his Alma Mater to go to V. P. I. Here he established a brilliant record while participating in four sports and further embellished his reputation as one of the outstanding athletes of the South. Two years afterwards he took up the reins as coach at his first love and, then, for five years Tiger teams cut a swath through all opposition under his direction. As an evidence of the respect which he had earned as a man and as a coach V. P. I. offered him the position of head coach and Yank, seeking greater experience and having much the same feeling for V. P. l. that he had for Hampden-Sydney, accepted, and for three years led that institution to a goodly share of victories and a higher conception ot athletic life. His work at V. P. I. brought him further recognition from the University of Alabama which offered him the position of coach and athletic director. He lifted that institution's athletics to hitherto unsuspected heights and was responsible for the placing of the name of Alabama in a position of dominance. Six years had passed since he left Hampden-Sydney. The tide had flowed out from Death Valley, leaving only the memory of past glories. The Garnet and the Gray, undipped yet, nevertheless, were trailed in defeat too often and morale was low. It was the crisis, and Hampden-Sydney turned to the one man who could rebuild the system. Charlie Bernier came back. He turned his back on financial advancement and material success and stepped down from a big university to a small college, because of his abiding love and interest in the college which in his younger days he felt had meant much to him. Forward and ever upward athletics have moved since he returned in 1923. His success has been amazing. He has turned out teams that have once more become known and respected throughout the South Atlantic division. Yesterday the dusk settled upon the athletic fields of Hampden-Sydney. To-day the sun shines down resplendently. More than this has Coach Bernier done. He has given himself entirely to the life of the college. There is no way of estimating his contributions to his college and the men under him for the best. His constant cry is, Be a good sport. He has given more than victories: he has given his labor in sending out men-real men-into the world. -JAMES P. SELVACE