Henry Asbill, Sr Passes at Age 98

July 22, 2005

Henry W. Asbill, SR, 98 and believed to be the oldest living former Clemson football letterman, passed away on July 19 in Columbia. Funeral services will be held Friday at noon at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Columbia.

Asbill played on the Clemson football, basketball and swimming teams and was president of the Clemson Senior Class in 1929. He was best known for his abilities on the gridiron where he played under former Tiger mentor Josh Cody.

Asbill lettered in 1927-28-29, one of the most successful runs in Clemson history, as the Tigers had a combined record of 21-9-1 during that time. He was a line mate of O.K. Pressley, Clemson’s first All-American in 1927 and 1928. The Tigers shut out their first six opponents during that 1928 season. In Asbill’s three years as a letterman, Clemson was 3-0 against South Carolina and outscored the Gamecocks 73-14 in those contests.

Asbill received his civil engineering degree from Clemson in 1929. He went on to work for the Exxon Corporation on Greenville for 41 years.