Royce N. Flippin

Flippin was an outstanding athlete all through his high school, college and Naval Academy life. He attended Somerset (Ky.) High School from 1916-20. At Centre College in Kentucky, Flippin played varsity football and basketball for two years before transferring to the Naval Academy.

At the Naval Academy, Flippin played four years of football, basketball, and lacrosse. His years of lacrosse at the Academy yielded two undefeated years in 1925 and 1926, with the Naval Academy winning the national championship in 1925. Playing the position of third defense, Flippin had only three goals scored against him in his three years of varsity play, all occurring during his first year. He was chosen captain of Navy's 1926 team and earned first team All-America honors in 1926. On graduation day, Flippin was awarded the Naval Academy Athletic Sword for general excellence in athletics, the highest award the Academy gives to an athlete. Flippin was an ensign in the Navy from 1926 through 1928.

After leaving the Navy in 1928, he coached the Montclair Athletic Club lacrosse team in 1929 and 1930, and the basketball team from 1929-34, winning the club championship in 1934. From 1930 to 1939, Flippin was an active lacrosse official for the Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. Flippin served on the Rules Committee of the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association for several years. After being elected as president of the USILA in 1939 and 1940, he served as one of its directors for many years.

He rejoined the Navy as a commander from 1942 through 1945, serving as assistant to Under Secretary James Forrestal, and commanding the Silver Star in 1944. From 1945 through 1947 he served as Executive Secretary of the Navy Ind. Association.

In the 1960s, Flippin helped coach the Montclair High School team, and helped greatly in the development of high school lacrosse in the state of New Jersey.