Athletic Hall of Fame 2016: Westcott E.S. Moulton ’27

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Wes Moulton ’27 was one of Williston’s first ice hockey superstars.

Westcott E.S. Moulton ’27, one of Williston Academy’s first true ice hockey superstars, was posthumously inducted into the Williston Athletic Hall of Fame during a ceremony at Reunion on May 13.

Moulton, who was often known as Wes, attended Williston Academy for two years.  During that time he played varsity football, ice hockey, and baseball.  He was named captain in his senior year in both football and ice hockey, while earning All New England honors in baseball.

It was in ice hockey that Moulton truly shined. In a total of 11 games over two seasons, Moulton scored 48 goals while the rest of the team scored 29. He made an amazing 15 of 18 goals in his senior year. He was named to Williston’s First Half Century Team (1900-1950).

Following his graduation, Moulton attended Brown University, and was captain of his undefeated freshman team—scoring 14 goals in the span of two games. As a high scoring center on the varsity team, he became Brown’s first ice hockey All-American in 1931, and became known as “Mr. Hockey,” the best collegiate ice hockey player in New England. His favorite trick was to hurdle two defenders and go in alone on the goalie with defensemen converging on him. He had great speed on ice. He moved so easily that it was said his hockey stick appeared attached to his hand.

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Nick Day ’17 spoke to the audience about Moulton’s accomplishments.

Returning to Brown in 1946, Moulton was instrumental in the revival of hockey and coached there until 1952, winning Ivy League titles in 1950 and 1951.  In 1952, Moulton was asked to coach the US Olympic team; however, he turned this opportunity down to keep up with his duties at Brown. By then he had become acting Dean of Students in addition to his job as hockey coach. In 1971, Moulton became a charter member of the Brown Athletic Hall of Fame, and he also has the honor of being the fifth person to be named to the United States National Collegiate Hockey Hall of Fame.

Moulton left Brown in 1961 to return to Williston, where he worked as Director of the Williston Annual Fund, Alumni Secretary, and editor of the Williston Bulletin. Upon his retirement, a major commencement prize was named for him.

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