Magazine

When Ron Hunter arrived on campus in 1966, the Goat Trophy was already a well-worn symbol of rivalry and pride. Each year, the winner of the Ole-Carl(eton) football game would “get their goat,” while the losing team reluctantly handed it over. For Hunter, an all-conference player, and his 1969 Midwest Conference championship team, the goat became more than a prize — it was a marker of grit, camaraderie, and three undefeated seasons against Carleton College. To celebrate that feat, Coach Tom Porter ’51 commissioned personal miniature Goat Trophies to be awarded to each of his senior players.

“The winning scores are written on the back of the trophies, ranging from a 3–0 squeaker to a 62–38 scoring frenzy,” Hunter says. “The mini trophy was a great and much-appreciated gesture on the part of Coach Porter, and I’ve held on to it and my 58-year-old letter jacket all these years.”

This summer, at his 55th reunion, Hunter brought both mementos back to campus. The decision sparked laughter, curiosity, and admiration from some classmates.

“I figured one of the few places anyone would understand and appreciate that old trophy would be at an event on the Hill, and the classmates I reconnected with ranged from some I had seen just a few months ago to one football teammate I hadn’t seen in 55 years,” he says. “It all reinforced my long-held belief that Oles are indeed a special set of people.”

Hunter still keeps in touch with many of his teammates, and the lessons he learned on the Hill remain deeply woven into his life: teamwork, discipline, and balance. His student experience has gone on to inform his ongoing contributions to St. Olaf, which include serving on the Alumni Board and the Board of Regents from 2005 to 2017 and establishing an endowed scholarship to support current students.

“I come from a big family, and my single-dad parent told me he could not help me with ‘that expensive private school,’” Hunter says. “Because of money, I felt I probably missed 20 percent of the learning opportunities at the college. So, I’ve done what I can over the years to help family, friends, and Oles deal with financing their education.”

That commitment can be seen in his creation of an endowed scholarship at St. Olaf that supports Oles who are members of the Cultural Union for Black Expression (CUBE).

“The value of my liberal arts education was tremendous — it enabled me to adjust and learn, think critically, and envision a future,” Hunter says. “I also made fantastic lifelong friends due in large part to the college’s residential setting and a great football team. CUBE can enhance that experience and help develop students who are going to help us keep getting better down the road. For me, CUBE’s mission and helping students access a college education are important.”

Just as the Goat Trophy remains a legacy of past victories on the field, Hunter’s endowed scholarship will stand as a testament to future Ole’s personal triumphs — together reflecting how tradition and generosity continue to shape St. Olaf’s story.