John Brinkley, professor of classics emeritus at Hampden-Sydney College (H-SC), died Sept. 14, 2012, at the age of 75.
In 1959, Brinkley graduated from H-SC summa cum laude and as class valedictorian. He became the college’s first Rhodes scholar and studied at Oxford from 1959 to 1962. He earned a master’s degree in linguistics from Princeton in 1965 and then taught in its classics department. In 1967 he returned to H-SC and taught Greek, Latin, classical mythology, and rhetoric.
At H-SC, Brinkley also served for many years as clerk of the faculty and college historian. In 1994, he published On This Hill: A Narrative History of Hampden-Sydney College, 1774-1994. After 37 years, Brinkley became emeritus. He had become a fixture on campus — carrying cigar and cane, sitting on the sidelines at all home football games or behind home plate at all home baseball games, and as resident scholar and historian in his office.
Brinkley received many awards for his dedication to the college, its students, and its alumni. In 2007, he was inducted into its Athletic Hall of Fame.
He is survived by a sister-in-law and two nephews.
Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.