The Alfred University Athletics family is saddened to announce the passing of one of its greatest legends, Lester "Les" B. Goble on Dec. 2, 2019. He was 87 years old.
 
Mr. Goble was an Alfred University Hall of Famer, competing in both football and track and field, and was the first Saxon to ever earn a draft selection to the National Football League.
 
Goble was born on July 23, 1932 in Waverly, N.Y., arrived at Alfred in the fall of 1950 after graduating from Waverly (N.Y.) High School, competing on the AU freshman football team under the direction of Alfred University Hall of Fame coach Alex Yunevich. He set a program record on the gridiron with the longest rush from scrimmage, a 92-yard touchdown scamper against the University at Buffalo in 1952. That record still stands some 67 seasons later.
 
He also starred on the track and field team under Hall of Fame Coach James McLane for all four years, setting records in the 100-meter (9.80 seconds) and the 400-meter (49.0 seconds) events. As a senior in 1954, Goble was named Eastern Intercollegiate Low Hurdle Champion.
 
Harold Snyder '55, teammate of Goble on those track and field teams and a longtime friend, recalled those college years.

"He was a solemn man in spite of his great talent," remarked Snyder, who joined Goble in the Hall of Fame in the 1974 class. "I remember playing a pick-up game of touch football with him before we got to college… this guy could catch anyone! We had a ball together, competing and faring well against Cornell and Colgate in those days. One time we were up in Hamilton, Ontario for an event, and when it came time to get ready for the meet, McLane found Les sleeping in his room! He quickly got up, got down to the track and won both the 100-meter and 220 hurdle events."
 
Goble became AU's first student-athlete to get drafted to the National Football League when he was selected with the 146^th pick of the 1954 draft to the Chicago Cardinals. He entered the NFL with a bang, returning a kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown in his NFL debut. He finished his rookie year of 1954 averaging 27.7 yards on 27 kickoff returns with two touchdowns and had 42 yards rushing with one TD. Goble would play in 21 career contests, serving at running back, defensive back, and kick return, all with Chicago in the 1954 and '55 seasons. He tallied 909 yards as a kick returner, tallied three total touchdowns, and recorded an interception.
 
After his NFL career, Goble briefly went into coaching, serving as the head coach of the Syracuse Stormers of the now-defunct United Football League. He was then selected as the charter member of the AU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1973, joining his track and field coach. He then returned to the Susquehanna Valley, owning and operating several gas stations and later Thompson's Tavern in Waverly. In later years he was a private electrical and plumbing contractor until retirement in his late 70's. During his retirement, he loved playing golf as well as spending time with his family. In February of 2011, Goble was honored as one of the Top-25 Male Athletes in the valley area's history by the Morning Times.
 
He is survived by his seven children, his six brothers and sisters, along with a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including AU alumni Sam Goble and Kevin Kline.
 
"Les Goble is a legendary Alfred University football player," added Alfred University Football Head Coach Bob Rankl. "Not only was he one of the greatest Saxons of all time, but he was also a member of the National Football League. Les will be greatly missed by the Alfred University football family."
 
A full obituary and funeral arrangements from the Goble family can be found here.