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1st Rounder [616]
TigerPulse: 90%
Posts: 924
Joined: 11/18/01
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Ever heard of Aubrey Rion?
Jul 8, 2015, 2:59 AM
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He was the Clemson quarterback on the 1939 team that won the Cotton Bowl.
Only a few years later, he gave his life in service to others when he died during the Battle of the Bulge.
I was reading about him and the Scroll of Honor last night. I think at contentious times like these it's important to remember that there are a lot of great people in our school's heritage. Our heritage encompasses a lot, much more than Tillman. I'm sure everyone agrees on that point.
Aubrey Rion, in fact, represents our heritage much much better than Tillman. Think about it. As one person he embodies our love of football, our service to others, and our history as a military school. Plus he made the ultimate sacrifice to help free Europe. There is a lot there that is us, who we are.
I think it is great to find and honor people we can ALL agree are worthy of our tribute. If we want to be "All In", then we need to pitchfork the name Tillman. There is no way everyone will ever be "All In" about Tillman. Might as well choose the heritage we give to future Clemson students. We have that power. Why not use it?
By the way, I love Old Main as the name for what is now Tillman. Old Main is what it was called originally. It has grace and reflects the building's iconic place on campus. Seems perfect to me. But I am open to Rion Hall or other names too. Honoring someone from our past can be a cool, fun thing to get behind.
My 2 cents.
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Trainer [44]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 11/20/04
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Re: Ever heard of Aubrey Rion?
Jul 8, 2015, 8:16 AM
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Yes. My father, Class of '41, was friends with Aubrey and ironically I had his sister as a high school English teacher in Chicago 25 years later. I do believe his name was spelled Ryan. Aubrey Ryan.
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Letterman [260]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 143
Joined: 8/11/00
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Re: Ever heard of Aubrey Rion?
Jul 8, 2015, 11:28 AM
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No, Rion is correct. His grandfather or great-grandfather was the lawyer who handled Thomas Green Clemson's will, FWIW.
He beat Furman in '38 with a hook-and-ladder play late in the 4ht quarter to insure three years without a conference loss, then led us to victory in the '40 Cotton bowl after a one loss '39 season, before serving and being killed by German sniper during the Battle of the Bulge.
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All-In [30836]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 6/22/03
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What if you find out Aubrey Rion was
Jul 8, 2015, 9:16 AM
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A racist. . Which was common for the south in that era.
Not saying he was, but if he was does that mean his name should be taken off the scroll of honor? Do we try to erase any memory of him? Will his contributions and sacrifice no longer have any merit?
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Oculus Spirit [93672]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 12/25/09
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Everybody has flaws.
Jul 8, 2015, 7:23 PM
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Dig into someone life, especially politicians, and you'll find something there that taints their legacy.Not to suggest that Rion was anything close to as faulted as was anyone from the South in Tillman's day.
Heck, even the politicians who opposed Ben didn't oppose slavery.
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Orange Blooded [3257]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 7167
Joined: 7/27/99
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It is Tillman now and forever. He began the chicken curse.
Jul 8, 2015, 8:07 PM
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He can't be all bad.
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