As the student manager for our hockey team, Bob Webb made us play the game with as much skill, teamwork and fun as we could muster. He prepped at the Blake School hockey powerhouse in Edina, MN, and he knew the game even if his eyesight prevented him from playing. More than that, Bob cared about each of us as a friend. For example, he didn’t hold a grudge when Paul Butler decided to dedicate his time Junior Year to mastering his pre-med studies rather than continuing to star as one of the best defenseman in New England for the Amherst hockey team. No, Spider kept our Doctor-to-be informed how the rest of us were doing without him, how much we missed him and how much we hoped he would rejoin us Senior Year. Spider refused to give up, and Paul Butler rejoined our hockey team Senior Year and earned the award for being our most valuable player.
Bob Webb also refused to give up on me. Stricken by mono in late October of our Senior Year, no doubt from burning the candle at both ends partying too much all summer and fall, Doctor Brown prohibited me from skating on the or practicing on the ice. Until he was sure my “enlarged spleen” didn’t pose any risks to my health (or my similar bad attitude to the health of the team), he put me on the disabled list. This meant the six outstanding Junior and sophomore forwards had a big head start on me even if I decided not to use my illness and recovery as an excuse to continue to party rather than play hockey, but Spider wouldn’t give up on me either. Eventually, he cajoled me back onto the ice after the first few games. Although I had led our team in total points Freshman and Sophomore Years, and finished second Junior Year, Ben McCabe rightly put me on the third line; Coach hoped that my four-year wingman Pete Beuhler would continue to set me up enough I could at least contribute something positive to the team.
When Bob Webb learned the Sophomore center on the first line wouldn’t be returning to the College Second Semester, he called me at home over the Christmas break and told me to get my butt back in gear, to skate for all I was worth and to return in shape to fill the opening. With Bob’s continuing encouragement, I did, highlighted by a 4-goal performance in the first period at our Little Three rival Wesleyan. When I made a fool of myself trying to show off with a fifth after the whistle blew, Bob didn’t just console me, he said, “PB, when you step out of the penalty box, put the puck in the back of the net again to show those Cardinals how we Lord Jeffs look around for more when we are through!”
I didn’t score again that night, but Bob didn’t forget that I led the team in scoring yet another year. When he learned that Coach McKabe had decided Paul Butler deserved most valuable player award, Spider created the “Webb Cup” for the leading scorer, just for me. Of course, it was a hockey “cup” (without the jock strap) he had gold-plated and attached with screws to a wooden stand with my name carved into the metal plaque. When he presented it to me after our last game in the locker room, I was honored to accept, including the hoots and other good-natured ribbing my teammates also gave me.
Here’s the rest of the story. On my resume for my first job interview after Michigan Law School with a Wall Street law firm, I included under honors at the College, you guessed it, “The Webb Cup, 1966.” After all, Bob was a member of Psi U, the Psi U Prize was awarded each year to the First Citizen of the College (won by Jim Dittmar of course), and it looked impressive on paper. Wouldn’t you know it, the partner I first interviewed was an Amherst Grad, a member of Psi U and nearly fell out of his chair laughing when I told him what the Webb Cup really was. I accepted the job offer, but thankfully escaped being an associate actually having to practice law within a week after I passed the New York Bar.
When I shared the rest of this story many years later with Spider (a graduate of Yale Law School and long-time member of Texas’ biggest and most prestigious law firm,) he congratulated me: “Never thought our Cup would play that well on Wall Street, but PB you made the right choice getting out while the getting was good.”
Bob, had worked 19-years as a member of Baker and Botts specializing in energy law before he left to go out on his own: to re-make energy markets, teach generations of law students how to think harder and more independently, and provide wise counsel to solar, wind and biofuel companies. For all his good work and independence, even The Gulf Coast Power Association honored him in 2015 for his lifetime “of significant contributions towards the advancement of competitive energy markets in Texas.”
Spider, thanks for sharing how to live, make a difference and have fun with each of us.
Paul (PB) Dimond