Thanks to the generosity of family and friends, the annual St. Lawrence University Hall of Fame dinner was named the Robert J. Sheldon Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in honor of former St. Lawrence coach and athletic director Bob Sheldon. The first induction to honor Sheldon was held in 2017.Sheldon, known to most at St. Lawrence as "Shel," joined the St. Lawrence athletic staff in 1957. As the men's basketball coach, he won 110 games and led St. Lawrence to its first ICAC championship. He also served as an assistant varsity football coach and as the junior varsity football coach. In 1974, he was named the University's athletic director, a post he held for 17 years.The athletic offerings at St. Lawrence nearly doubled under Sheldon's leadership, growing to 24 teams. During his tenure as athletic director, St. Lawrence teams earned 32 NCAA championship bids, won two teams titles and student-athletes won 28 individual national championships. The St. Lawrence Athletic Hall of Fame's inaugural induction was held in 1979 under Sheldon's leadership.He retired in 1991, was inducted into the St. Lawrence Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993 and stayed in close contact with St. Lawrence long after his retirement. Sheldon and his wife, Jean M'64, who passed away in 2004, had seven children: Sandy Sheldon Drechsel, Christine Sheldon Huntley P'11, Kathy Sheldon McHugh, Debbie Sheldon, Gary Sheldon '83, Bob Sheldon '77 and Susan Sheldon Stratford P'13. Two of his grandchildren – Dillon Huntley '11 and Maclay Stratford '13 – are also Laurentians.