You may not know Richard “Tippy” Golphin when you see him at our Honors Weekend, but we can point him out.  He is the guy at the front table spinning records as our official DJ.

Look closely and you might recognize him as the one-time Tampa Bay Buccaneers mascot, Captain Fear. Beneath the costume is a DJ, cheerleader, national champion, All-American, Super Bowl champion, Stanley Cup champion, Arena Bowl champion, trainer, teacher, and coach. We think he should be in the ‘Time Management’ Hall of Fame.

Tippy is a native of Virginia. He played football, wrestled, pole vaulted in track and played baseball. He attended and wrestled for James Madison University, but a nagging injury required surgery, which he declined, so he used his athleticism to become a member of the JMU Cheer Squad. He was on the 1986-87 National Championship squad and honored as an All-American.

He moved to Florida after graduation and continued a cheerleading and fitness business he started in Virginia. He secured spots on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a Pewter Pirate, and Energy Teams for the Tampa Bay Lightning and Tampa Bay Storm. Tippy was on the field in San Diego for the Buccaneers first Super Bowl championship, the Storm’s fifth Arena Bowl Championship, and on the ice for the Lightning’s first Stanley Cup Championship.

Tippy realized another dream. After years of mentoring and coaching youth in various sports, he became the head wrestling coach at Southeast High School in Bradenton, Florida. He was blessed to take two athletes to the state tournament, and one finished sixth. He followed this by taking a year off after his second hip replacement surgery. Tippy is currently teaching at Palmetto High School in Palmetto, Florida, and focusing on rehab.

Richard “Tippy” Golphin might be available to DJ your next event, autograph a Captain Fear picture, or commentate the “Tippy Tumbles the Field” video (https://youtu.be/CUXH8KZGOwo).

We invite you to join us August 23 and 24 for the 25th anniversary NWHOF Florida induction and while you are there say hi to Captain Fear.