George H. Hobson

Hobson was born on May 4, 1908.[1] He attended high school in Greensboro, Alabama, and was captain of his school's football and baseball teams.[2] He played college football for Alabama State as a fullback,[3] and was team captain in 1932.[4] That year, he was named on multiple all-state teams and was given All-America honors by several selectors as an honorable mention.[2] Hobson received degrees from Alabama State and from Northwestern University.[5]

After graduating from Alabama State, Hobson began a coaching career, and served his first few years at several high schools[2] including Lakeside High School.[6] In 1937, he was named coach and science teacher at Decatur Negro High School.[7] He was a key figure in organizing the Alabama and Southwest Georgia Athletic Conference, serving as its president for a time.[2] By the time he began coaching college sports, Hobson had helped his high school teams win a total of four state championships, three of which were in football and the remaining one in track and field.[2]

Hobson was named head football coach for the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in 1942, succeeding Dyke Smith.[2] He had previously been an assistant to the team.[8] It was his tenure at Alabama A&M which Hobson was best known for, going on to serve nearly three decades with the school and later being named athletic director and head of the physical education department.[8] He coached football from 1942 to 1959, compiling a record of 43–83–10,[9] before being succeeded by Louis Crews.[10] As athletic director, Hobson took Alabama A&M from having just football, to having five sports, after reviving baseball, and adding tennis, golf, and basketball.[8] He coached each of these sports during his tenure.[8]

Hobson brought Alabama A&M into the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), and their "well-balanced" program earned them respect from all other conference schools.[8] He helped organize the Magic City Classic, one of the most popular annual black college games between Alabama A&M and Alabama State, and after his career as a coach and athletic director became a prominent figure in the SIAC.[8] Hobson served as the conference's president from 1970 to 1983, and was a member of their Ethics Committee and Physical Education Committee.[8] He was a SIAC parliamentarian, served for a time as the president of the Southern Coaches and Officials Association, and was a member of the NCAA Committee on Committees.[8]

Hobson was inducted into the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988.[11] He was also inducted into the Alabama A&M Athletic Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1992,[12] which he helped create.[13] The Hobson Fieldhouse at Alabama A&M was named in his honor.[9] He died on November 19, 2001, at the age of 93.[1]