Philip Hilton Soule, who for nearly 40 years was a member of the Bowdoin coaching staff, died on January 15, 2006, as a result of a fall while visiting friends in Sutton, Vermont.
Born in Bangor on May 7, 1941, he prepared for college at Deering High School in Portland and the Northfield Academy in Massachusetts, and graduated from the University of Maine at Orono in 1964. After teaching English and coaching a number of sports at Fryeburg Academy, he joined the Bowdoin coaching staff in 1967 and remained at the College until he retired in 2004. In addition to coaching the football offensive line and defensive line for many years, he was, at various times, the head coach in wrestling, baseball, and squash. He also served as an assistant coach in track and lacrosse. In 2004, he was inducted into Bowdoin’s Athletic Hall of Honor, along with his father, William H. Soule ’36 and his three Bowdoin brothers, Paul ’66, Morton ’68, and James ’77. He was a national champion canoe racer and also enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a volunteer with the American Cancer Society “Relay for Life” in the spring. He was married in 1994 to Maureen Smith, who survives him, along with his parents, William H. Soule ’36 and June Good Soule of Woolwich; a daughter, Kristen Sturtevant of Gorham; three sons, Travis Soule of New Gloucester, William Soule of South Portland, and Morton Soule of Portland; three brothers, Paul W. Soule ’66 of Cumberland, Morton G. Soule ’68 of Portland, and James A. Soule ’77 of South Portland; and ten grandchildren.