University of Vermont Athletics

Henry M. "Spud" Farmer 1933 - Baseball, Football

This two-sport star was one of the most respected athletes during the early 30's, starting in football for three seasons and baseball for two. Henry "Spud" Farmer, a 1977 UVM Hall of Fame inductee, was an All-State selectee in football in 1931, playing offensive and defensive guard. In baseball, "Spud" was a starting pitcher.

After graduation in 1933 - and while attending UVM Medical School - he was an assistant football coach and served as the athletic department's team doctor for several years, assisting past UVM Hall of Fame inductee, Dr. Fred Kent. Dr. Farmer opened his general practice in Burlington in 1948 and served on many University and community committees, including the Winooski State Board of Medical Registration, and at one time, served as Burlington's Light Commissioner, as an alderman and as the Street Commissioner, during the period, 1957-68.

Two of his biggest thrills were the presentation of the A.H. Robbins Community Service Award in 1965 to the "Vermont doctor who has been engaged in community service and activity" and the UVM Letter in Life Award in 1967 presented by the Athletic Department to a distinguished scholar-athlete. Dr. Farmer, and coincidentally, fellow 1977 inductee, Don Maley, married Mahoney sisters, Margaret (Mrs. Farmer) and Rita (Mrs. Maley), both life-long residents of Burlington.