ConTinuing The TradiTionWomen’s sporT Clubs and inTramurals ∙ Coed inTramurals

F e a t u r e a r t i c l e s

Vol. 8, No. 2 Spring 2009

Your connection to ut intramurals

Letter

Visit our Web site and let us know “where you are” or drop by Gregory Gym the next time you’re in Austin.

From the DirectorDear Friends:

With this 16th edition of Inside RecSports, we continue to celebrate our rich and unique history. For over 90 years, tens of thousands of men and women like you have played an integral role in making RecSports one of the most popular and multi-faceted programs on campus.Thank you for sharing your memories with us, for taking time to read this newsletter and for helping us reconnect with past generations of Longhorns.

This past fall we enjoyed welcoming many of you to campus during Family Weekend and at the RecSports Open House. Moreover, we had the privilege of hosting luncheons for the alumni of several organizations which had been very active in intramural sports during their college days. These alumni met with RecSports Leadership Team Chair Joe Bill Watkins who updated them on opportunities to contribute to the Division of Recreational Sports through the University’s Capital Campaign. Find out more inside about the ways friends of RecSports are getting involved with the Division and how you, too, can be a part of these exciting initiatives.

As we look to the future, we remain cognizant of the importance of the past. In the spring 2008 issue of this newsletter, the Men’s Intramural Program was featured. We explored how this tradition-rich program contributed to the creation of the Division of Recreational Sports and

examined how Intramurals continues to be the most popular structured program among today’s students. In this issue we trace the history of Women’s Sport Clubs and Intramurals, and explore the influence of these two programs in the evolution of RecSports. In addition, we highlight the phenomenon of “coed intramurals,” where men and women compete together. We hope you will enjoy this historical review of the Intramural Program and come to understand why it remains the cornerstone of Recreational Sports.

Finally, I want to thank all of you whose invaluable contri-butions have helped make this newsletter a success. Please continue to stay in touch and, when possible, visit us on campus. We wish you all the best in 2009 and beyond.

With warmest regards,

Thomas W. DisonAssociate Vice President and Director

Thank you for sharing

your memories with us,

for taking time to read

this newsletter and for

helping us reconnect

with past generations

of Longhorns.CoVer PhotoS:

Clockwise from upper left:2008 coed basketball 1982 coed inner tube water polo1950 mixed golf champion: Virginia Vansickle 2008 coed volleyball 1953 mixed doubles tennis champions: Mary Margaret Schmitz, Stanley Day WarburtonCenter:1953 coed volleyball Baptist Student Union: Carole Newberry, Mary Colley, William McGehee, James Cheek. Delta Delta Delta: richard Williamson, Ann rosborough, Judith ehman

Spotlight

(1) Intramural SportsIntramural volleyball has been part of the men’s and women’s Intramural Program since the 1920s. Coed volleyball became part of the women’s program in the late 1940s. Today, some 200 teams play men’s, women’s or coed volleyball in divisions based on skill level. Some of the most competitive volleyball can be found in the top coed division seen here during a finals match.

(2) Fitness/Wellness Program Students and RecSports members who engage the services of a RecSports Certified Personal Trainer usually train in a weight room at Gregory Gym or the Recreational Sports Center. Since the start of the fall 2008 semester, these clients also have the option to train in the new Personal Training Studio at the Recreational Sports Center. This new studio features greater privacy and comfort, as well as new sport-specific and functional strength training equipment and agility training options.

(3) Instructional ProgramPrivate swim instruction and group swim classes are excellent ways for adults to learn new skills or to improve existing ones. Another popular choice for the more accomplished swimmer is the Coached Swim class. This class involves a supervised swim workout specifically designed for those who have developed the skills necessary to swim for fitness. Instructors provide a workout to increase endurance and assist with improving stroke mechanics.

(4) Sport ClubsThe Texas Longhorn Baseball Club (LBC) is a student-run organization and one of 45 Sport Clubs sponsored by RecSports. Its members pay dues and raise funds to offset travel and baseball costs such as equipment, uniforms and umpire fees. The LBC plays competitive baseball in the National Club Baseball Association’s (NCBA) Gulf Coast Conference comprised of a South Division (UT, Sam Houston State University, Texas A&M University, Tulane University and Rice University) and a North Division (Texas Christian University, the University of North Texas, Southern Methodist University and Texas Tech University). The club opened its season in February against Rice University; its ultimate goal is to reach the NCBA World Series scheduled for May 22–28 in Fort Myers, Fla.

(5) Outdoor Recreation ProgramIn early fall the Outdoor Recreation Program hosted two groups of UT students on separate weekend sea kayaking trips to Goose Island State Park. This state park, located north of Rockport in Aransas County, is surrounded by the St. Charles and Aransas Bays and features an abundance of recreational activities including camping, bird-watching and sea kayaking. The groups paddled across St. Charles Bay out to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and lunched at the “Big Tree,” the largest coastal live oak tree in the state of Texas. Participants received basic instruction on sea kayaking paddling techniques, self-rescue and route planning.

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Looking Back

Women’s sport Clubs & Intramurals Coed Intramurals

Anna Hiss came to The University of Texas in 1918 as an instructor in physical training for women. Under her leadership a women’s sports program was organized. The program was based on a club system, emphasizing excellence in individual sports. Her arrival came two years after Berry Whitaker had been hired to start a men’s intramural program at a time when only two other such programs existed in the country. With their respective programs, these two visionary leaders established the groundwork for what today is known as the Division of Recreational Sports. In this feature article readers will learn how the women’s sport club and intramural programs contributed to the formation of RecSports and how coed intramural competition (men and women competing together on the fields and courts) evolved.

Sport Clubs for WomenThe club system started with the Turtle Club in 1919 and added the Racquet Club in 1920 and eight other clubs including Tee (golf ), Canter (riding), Archery, Touché (fencing), Poona (badminton), Strike & Spare (bowling), Tumble and Triggerette (rif lery). Tryouts determined membership in each club and the women earned points through participation. High point winners were rewarded with a letter sweater or blanket. By 1928 the point system had been eliminated and club sports were organized under the University of Texas Sports Association. This association was the forerunner of today’s Sport Club Program.

Women’s IntramuralsIn 1933 a formal women’s intramural program was formed around sororities, dorms and independent groups. Competition among these groups is well documented on the Wall of Fame in Gregory Gym with champions from 1933 to 1974 displayed. Beginning with the 1974–75 academic year, men’s and women’s intramurals combined forces in Gregory Gym and began operating as one unit. Today, the women’s division offers competition in all major sports for sororities and independent groups.

Coed Intramurals Begins (1928)In the spring of 1928 the first All-University intramural mixed doubles tennis tournament was played. These competitions were limited to members of fraternities and sororities and most partici-pants were male varsity tennis players and female Racquet Club members. When the eligibility rules no longer required fraternity and sorority membership and “elite” varsity athletes were barred, more students became involved and mixed doubles tennis f lourished into the late 1950s.

Coed Intramurals (1947–57)In 1947 the coed intramural program expanded beyond mixed doubles tennis to include tournaments in table tennis, badminton, volleyball, softball and golf. Sororities and organizations such as the Baptist Student Union and Newman Club fielded coed teams, or men and women were assigned as partners to form coed teams. One of the earliest mixed doubles table tennis champions was Joe Gerhardt ’47, a Wall of Fame member for table tennis, handball, tennis and soccer on the men’s side. Lacking a partner, Joe asked his date, Shirley Marwell, who was a very good jitterbug dancer, if she played. “A little,” she replied, “but my roommate plays a lot.” Joe’s response was “I want you.” Joe says that with good footwork and “a little practice at blocking the ball and then moving out of the way so I could put it away,” he and Shirley won the tournament. Among the many men and women playing coed intramurals into the 1950s, Meta (Mogford) Talley, a two-time coed badminton winner, recalls, “I was paired with a student from India where badminton or ‘Poona’ originated. He was an excellent player and we won the tournament.” Meta later partnered with Jerry Buchmeyer for another coed badminton victory. Coed intramural competition ended in 1957 when Anna Hiss retired and remained inactive until the mid-1970s.

Coed Program is Reborn (1974)In 1974 a new assistant director was hired and charged with starting a formal coed intramural program. Tom Dison, newly graduated from the University of California, Davis, spent his first year organizing a coed intramural program with teams playing football, volleyball, softball, tennis, table tennis, racquetball and badminton. In the second year, 16 sports were played, and rules and regulations were adopted to better administer the program. One unique sport that Tom introduced was inner tube water polo. Of note: Tom is completing his 35th year with UT this spring and serves as the director of Recreational Sports.

Coed Intramurals TodayIn 1974 a total of 44 coed softball teams played intramurals. By 1984, 243 coed teams were playing softball. Today, the coed division attracts hundreds of teams that play by skill level: Class A (competitive), Class B (intermediate) or Class C (recreational). Coed intramurals has established itself as an important part of the tradition that began with Whitaker and Hiss over 90 years ago.

A mixed doubles tennis match plays on the women’s courts (1928).

Anna hiss: Leader of the women’s program from 1918 to 1957.

Women play intramural softball (1967).the Ut women’s flag football champion team, the Filipino Students Association,competes against the texas A&M University champions at Whitaker Fields (2005).

earning 900 points (L-r): Naomi Cocke, Lucille traylor, Mary McKay, harriet Brush, Lloyd Martin, Katherine Brougher and Laura thompson were awarded the Letter Sweater (1922).

Women’s tennis doubles matches (1937).

Berry Whitaker: Founder and director of men’s intramurals from 1916 to 1960.

(r): Joe Gerhardt and his dancing partner Shirley Marwell win table tennis (1947).

Coed teams compete in inner tube water polo in Gregory Gym (1978).

(L-r): Meta (Mogford) talley and Jerry Buchmeyer win badminton (1955).

Coed basketball teams compete in the Gregory Gym Annex (2007).

Development Corner Scholarships

leadershIp team update

For information contact Chris Maguire, development coordinator for recSports, at: cmaguire@austin.utexas.edu or 512- 475-7401.

Leaders of two fraternal organizations which have a celebrated history with RecSports – Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) and Delta tau Delta (Delt) – organized reunions in multiple Texas cities as a way to reconnect and share memories of their intramural days. To honor each fraternity’s accomplishments, both Delt and Fiji leaders of the 1960s are partnering with Recreational Sports to establish endowed scholarships honoring their respective organizations and recognizing deserving student employees of RecSports.

Pi Beta Phi sorority members Ann (Vandivier) Brodnax and Linda (McCalla) Williams, two outstanding intramural athletes, are spearheading an effort to recognize the significance of women in intramurals and sport clubs, and reconnect with the many women who excelled in recreational sports competition while at UT.

The Intramural Wall of Fame is on its way to going digital. Thanks to the gifts from several individuals who cherish the decades of intramural championship pictures found in Gregory Gym, we have been able to begin the process of digitizing these photos, preserving them forever, and making them available for our friends to view and order online.

Future plans may include naming opportunities in Gregory Gym, facility projects, additional endowed scholarships and a recSports excellence Fund.

Dison Endowed ScholarshipIn 2006 the Thomas W. Dison Endowed Scholarship was estab-lished by Leadership Team member René Garza and longtime friend and former RecSports employee Mike Carnes. Their foresight and generosity have set an example for the tremendous impact that awarding scholarship dollars can have on the lives of students and donors alike. With this scholarship, six student employees of RecSports have been recognized so far.

honorIng reCsports student employees

to learn more about recSports scholarships, the excellence Fund endowment and other opportunities, please visit www.utrecsports.org/friends.

The Campaign for Texas, an eight- year effort to raise $3 billion for the University, is in full swing. We are excited to have the opportunity to be an integral part of this effort which allows us to give back to a program that helped shape not only our experiences as students but also our lives. Since the last newsletter, the Leadership Team has begun diligent work on several strategic initiatives and many friends of RecSports have stepped forward to help us achieve our goals. We’ve only just started. I invite you to take advantage of the opportunities to contribute to something that will affect future generations of Longhorns.

Wishing you the best in 2009,

Joe Bill Watkins, Class of 1965, 1968

A Message from Joe Bill WatkinsChair, RecSports Leadership Team

Fijis from the 1960s meet at Gregory Gym Aquatic Complex. (L-r): Jack Collins, Ken Bains, Dean Greenwood, Leo roan, Dan roark, Mark Murdock, tom Van Zandt, Jim McCuistion, Jack holford, Joe Bill Watkins (Delt) and Ken Ford.

New ScholarshipsIn fall 2008 RecSports proudly established the following new scholarships that honor exemplary student employees who provide outstanding leadership, go above and beyond their responsibilities on a regular basis, and represent the Division of Recreational Sports in a positive and favorable manner at all times.

Sylvie and Gary Crum Endowed Scholarship This student scholarship was established by Leadership Team member Sylvie Crum and husband Gary. Sylvie received her degree from the College of Liberal Arts in 1974 while Gary earned an MBA from UT in 1972.

Division of Recreational Sports Endowed Scholarship Anonymous donors generously established this scholarship which will be awarded to a student employee in 2009 for outstanding leadership and commitment to RecSports.

Kenneth Ford Family Endowed Scholarship This scholarship was established by Leadership Team member Dr. Ken Ford and his family in recognition of the three genera-tions of Fords on the Wall of Fame. Special consideration will be given to those applicants who are considering a future career in any field related to medicine or health care.

2007 (L-r): ryan rupert and Beth Johnson. ryan is a production engineer with BP exploration Alaska, Inc. Beth is working on her master’s degree at the University of Georgia.

2008 (L-r): Carolina Canavati and Chance Young. Carolina will cycle in the texas 4,000 for Cancer this summer. Chance will pursue a master’s degree after his May graduation.

2006 (L-r): rené Garza, Leigh Darilek, Katie Kunkel, Mike Carnes. Leigh is completing her master’s degree at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Katie is working as a nurse in Austin.

Ann (Vandivier) Brodnax ’78, was named outstanding Woman Athlete in 1976. Married for 29 years to husband John, she still does a little CPA work and spends most of her time helping run the family ranch.

John Woodson ’93, housing softball champion in 1989-90, attended the fall 2008 open house and found his photo on the Wall of Fame. John and wife Michelle ’93, live in Frisco, texas, where he works as an information technology consultant.

Linda (McCalla) Williams ’82, intramural champion in football, basketball, softball and table tennis, is married to Mark Williams ’81, Wall of Famer in football, and has three boys – Michael, Kelsey and Justin.

Three Generations of Fords on the Wall of Fame

Kenny Ford ’40, Petroleum Engineering Graduate • Member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and the Texas Cowboys • Intramural Basket-ball Champion 1938 • Distinguished Graduate-College of Engineering in 1998.

Ken “Hoot” Ford ’65, UT Galveston Medical School 1969 • 3-time Intramural Champion • Best All-Around Athlete 1964 • 31 years as an orthopedic surgeon • Medical advisor for the State of Texas • Married to Jaunea for 39 years • Children: Bo, Casey, Aimee and Katie, all UT grads.

Casey Ford ’00, Intramural Football Champion with SAE in 1998 • Married to Abby with 7-month-old son Brady • Works in commercial real estate in Austin for CB Richard Ellis.

Then Now

Fast ForwardWhere Are YOU Now? Lost touch with former intramural teammates or fellow RecSports employees? Want to find out what happened to your old workout buddies? Here’s what some of you are doing now:

Go to www.utrecsports.org/whereareyou to let us know what you’re up to.

Wall Street. After 15 years in Dallas with his own office, he then moved to San Antonio and is now retired to Rockport, Texas. He has a home in New Braunfels, Texas, and enjoys hunting, fishing and playing golf.

1960sLarry Sikes ’59, ’62, was a Kappa

Sig athlete whose Wall of Fame legacy includes six appearances in football, basketball and track. With

a degree in geology, Larry attended UT law school and practiced for 48 years with Andrews & Krum, specializing in tax law. His daughter, Allyson (Bartlett) ’98, is married to Dan Bartlett, a senior staffer under President George W. Bush and a CBS consultant during the last elec-tion. Son Mark played football at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va.

tomme Actkinson ’66, played on three softball teams for Prather Hall and Baptist Student Union (1963–65) finishing second in the All-University playoff each time. During his senior year Tomme managed the APO intramural teams along with Mark Fry ’67, winning the Nelson Puett Improvement Award. After graduation he earned his master’s degree from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio in 1968 then spent four and a half years in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. A Ph.D. in experimental psychology from Texas Christian University followed in 1976. Five years of research and development with the Army led to a 25-year career as a professor of psychology at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas. Now retired in Rockport, Texas, Tomme is a passionate bow hunter and enjoys fishing, gardening and playing bridge.

Bill Niver ’67, centerfielder on the 1963 and 1964 softball teams, joined the Navy in 1967 after graduation and “drove aircraft carriers for two years.” Following his discharge, he began a career with the Veterans Administration in Fort Worth where he held various positions, first in the medical environment and then as an administrator in the computer opera-tions division. Bill retired at age 55 and lives in Red Oak, Texas.

eddie Bradford ’65, ’67, former member of both the 1963 and 1964 softball teams, taught math at UT until 1972 while pursuing his doctorate then worked for the State of Texas Water Quality Board until 1978. He later worked as a software engineer around the world with stops in London, Munich and Switzerland where he helped the Swiss federal government install a digital phone system. Now semi-retired in Santa Fe, N.M., Eddie still does some part-time consulting on software projects. Bob Burgess ’67, graduated with a degree in chemical engineering and today works for Lyondell Basell in Houston, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of polymers and

Campus Updates

Over 19,500 new and returning students celebrated the start of the new academic year with RecSports at the 16th annual Party on the Plaza this past fall. Over 200 student organizations tabled in front of Gregory Gym, students tried their luck at the Scholar-ship Shootout and all took part in the fun and games. The all-day event ended with the awarding of two $2,000 scholarships. All proceeds benefited the UT Student Emergency Fund. Party on the Plaza began 17 years ago as the Spirit of Sport All-Nighter. In 1999 the event took a new direction as a welcome-back-to-campus party for the entire University community and as a way to promote RecSports to incoming freshmen.

1940sCharles row ’49, gained the nickname “One Arm” by his Sigma Nu brothers because of his

prowess in most any sport played with one arm such as tennis, badminton, bowling, table tennis and horseshoes. He was a four-time badminton singles champion between 1942 and 1949, with a three-year stint in the Navy thrown in. Charles also won a coed badminton doubles championship with Peggy Vilbig and a tennis doubles championship with Travis Smith in 1948. Charles is retired in Maitland, Fla., after a 36-year career as a corporate communica-tions director with the Florida Gas Transmission Co. Most days he can be found bass fishing – using one arm, of course.

1950sJoe Cagle ’57, was the resident assistant and manager for Simkins dorm that won the Class

A basketball championship and finished second in Class B in 1957. The B team was comprised primarily of African-American students living in Simkins, the first dorm for black men at UT. Joe, now retired from Bell Helicopter in 1998 and living in Bedford, Texas, invites team members to contact him at fitzhig@sbcglobal.net.

Bobby Dewar ’55, former golf team champion with the Dekes in 1954–55, flew for the Navy after

graduation then went to work on

student aCtIvIty Center Under Construction

Preliminary construction began late last summer on a new Student Activity Center (SAC), the first of its kind to be built on The University of Texas campus. The new center will be situated on a site along Speedway Avenue between Gregory Gymnasium and the Bernard and Audre Rapoport Building.

Once completed the SAC will provide much-needed meeting rooms and offices for student groups and organizations, multi-use activity space, lounge areas, food venues and a 500-seat auditorium. It will also feature extensive landscaping and outdoor space for programmed activities.

Student leaders proposed the development of the SAC during the summer of 2005, resulting in a student referendum during the March 2006 student government elections. The referendum passed by a 68 percent affirmative vote in which students agreed to an activities fee to support the construction of the building and its operation once it opens. The Student Activity Center is expected to open in January 2011.

reCsports open house

Party thePlazaOn

the Scholarship Shootout for men and women takes place on Speedway in front of Gregory Gym.

View of the Student Activity Center looking south from the east Mall.

On Saturday, Nov. 8, RecSports hosted an open house prior to the 11 a.m. kickoff of the Baylor game. Visitors to Gregory Gym enjoyed a breakfast buffet and tours of the renovated facility. They also had the opportunity to meet old friends and teammates, and reminisce about those “young athletes” on the Intra-mural Wall of Fame. Guests included alumni from the 1950s to more modern intramural players from the 1970s and 1980s. Those whose photographs were iden-tified on the Wall of Fame received a commemorative T-shirt as a memento.

tom rodman ’52, ’55, wore the sweater he earned as an intramural junior manager for

the Phi Psi fraternity. Mr. Rodman graciously donated the sweater to

RecSports for a historical display.

Prather – 1962-63 Softball runner-Up. Front (L-r): ernie Gragg, Bob Burgess, Sam Ward, Gus Lane, tomme Actkinson. Back (L-r): eddie Bradford, richard Cortez, Bill Niver, rob Kohler, Jimmy Pope, Wayne Jones, ron Goldberg, Sam Jetton, tom Cook, Jack Lusk. A core group from this team played for the Baptist Student Union in 1964 and for Prather again in 1965.

chemicals. “The friendships and camaraderie of a bunch of people from different backgrounds coming together was the best part of those intramural teams,” remembers Bob. He and wife Jacqueline raised three children.

ernie Gragg ’65, played on the Prather and Baptist Student Union softball teams before becoming a member of the Recruits, where he won three more championships. Now retired in San Antonio, Ernie remembers the intramural officiating as “very good, fair and profes-sional.” For example, he relates, “while playing touch football, I got a penalty for yelling an obscenity. It was explained to me that such trash talk, if overheard by a governor’s wife or Texas legislator or any Austin civilian, could have many bad PR effects for UT.”

Dr. Sam Ward ’65, ’67, ’85, joined the Air Force in 1967, spending five years as a pilot. While serving in the reserves, he worked for Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. in Austin and completed his doctorate work at UT. He then moved to Colorado Springs, Colo., in 1989 working for the Air

Chris Maguire, recSports development coordinator, and Gordon Appleman ‘59, pose by Appleman’s senior manager sweater.

City Bank – Northwest Hills in Austin from 1984–88. Following a calling to minister to others, Mark gradu-ated from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest with a master of arts in pastoral ministry in 2000. Today, Mark is a licensed profes-sional counselor and, with wife Glenda and two daughters, is a member of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Austin.

1980sFelix Baker

’82, winner of the intramural three-man basketball tournament in 1976–77, now lives

in Houston with his wife, Estelle, son and daughter. Felix is a project lead for United Space Alliance, one of the world’s leading space operation companies.

Mark Carter, former intramural softball champion and intramural official, has been married for 20 years

to Leslie (Packer) ’84, an intramural swimmer. Mark works in the semicon-ductor industry in Austin and has two daughters – Amanda, a sophomore at Austin High School, and Shelby, an eighth-grader.

Frank Doyle ’83,

’86, is the managing partner of the Houston litigation firm Johnson, Spal-ding, Doyle, West

& Trent LLP. He was a member of the two-time law/graduate basketball champions, Playground Dynasty, as well as a Legal Eagle football

Today, she lives mostly in Portland, Ore., working in emergency medi-cine but travels to Austin to work with women’s athletics or at Seton Medical Center.

Debbie Workman ’85, flag foot-ball, basketball and softball cham-pion with the Trainers, worked as an athletic trainer/teacher at Abilene Cooper High School, Pflugerville High School and James Bowie High School in Arlington, Texas. Today, she teaches health science technology and AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) at Bowie High School. She also is an adjunct teacher at Texas Wesleyan Univer-sity in Fort Worth and a registered massage therapist. “Becky and Bailey (Marshall) were great role models. If we ever needed anything, they were there to help,” remembers Deb.

Donna (Brinkman) Foster ‘82,

a member of champion football teams in 1978–79

and 1982–83, lives in Bend, Ore, with her husband, Rusty, and twin

champion. Frank and his wife of 19 years, Allison (Drake) ’87, have three children ages 17, 14 and 12.

todd taylor ’86, former intra-mural supervisor and runner-up in coed softball in 1983, is married

to Jill and has an 11-year old daughter, Hailey. Today, Todd is director of technology for the NBC Universal-owned Telemundo television station in Houston.

Danny Driscoll ’89, a three-year official in football and softball, is on the Wall of Fame for

softball in 1988 and 1989. Danny is married with three children and works for Bristol-Meyers Squibb Co. as a sales representative. Danny and his boys still follow the Horns from home in Yardley, Pa.

1990seric Willis ’94, a chemical engi-neering graduate and track champion with his housing team,

Deceptively Slow, is currently living in Austin with wife Sandra “Sam” and a pug named Elmo. Eric has held a number of positions with Air Products and Chemicals Inc. over the past 13 years with responsibilities in Europe and Asia. This past fall he completed his fourth IronMan triathlon in Arizona.

daughters. Donna works in the detective division of the Deschutes County Sheriff ’s Office. She enjoys biking, camping and riding a Harley and follows the Longhorns as a member of the Central Oregon Longhorn group.

Kathy Dieringer ’84, earned her master’s degree at Eastern Kentucky University and her doctor of educa-tion at the University of North Texas in Denton. Today, she is the owner/president of D&D Sports Med with three outpatient rehab clinics in the Denton area. An avid golfer, Kathy was inducted into the prestigious Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Associa-tion (SWATA) Hall of Fame in July 2007, only the second female to be so recognized.

Kriss ethridge ’85, played basket-ball from 1982–85 and today teaches high school in Lubbock, Texas. She took up golf 11 years ago and is a competitive amateur golfer who also teaches golf in the Lubbock school district. She says, “I loved playing for Bailey and Becky (Marshall). And it was safe for us to play being around all those trainers!”

Becky (Bludau) Marshall ’73, came to UT from Ranger Junior College and played club basketball at the University prior to the birth of the women’s athletics program. As the first women’s athletic trainer at UT in 1975, she laid the foundation for today’s nationally acclaimed women’s athletic sports medicine program. After retiring from sports medicine in 1985, Becky officiated women’s NCAA basketball in the Big 12 Conference and later served as supervisor of basketball officials for the Big 12, the Sunbelt and the Southland conferences. As an intramural athlete, Becky won championships in racquetball, women’s football, basket-ball and softball, as well as coed basketball. Today, Becky lives in Buda, Texas, remains active as a golfer and offers this advice: “Live every day making choices you know in your heart are right and be all that you have the capability of being.” Becky is a member of the Women’s Athletics Hall of Honor Class of 2008.

Teams of the DecadeForce civil service until he retired back to Austin in 2003.

tom Shelton ’69, ’73, former Acacia intramural athlete and volley-ball champion, attended the

RecSports Open House on Nov. 8 along with his wife, Linda (Ross) ’73, and sons Greg and Brian. “I wanted to show my skeptical sons that I was a decent athlete back in the dark ages,” he said. Tom is retired and living in Houston after working 27 years as a corporate attorney.

1970sCharlie Wilson III ’70, ’74, former intramural manager and athlete for Delta Sigma Pi, won the Whitaker

Leadership Award in 1969–70 and was named the Outstanding Official in 1970–71. Charlie worked as a graduate assistant for men’s intramu-rals during his law school days and today is a single dad with two kids. Julie is a junior at UT and Charlie is a junior in high school. The family lives in Rockwall, Texas, and Charlie is counsel to the law firm of Brun-eman, Lake, Griffin & Westhoff.

Glenn tobleman ’78,

coordinated the men’s teams for the Baptist Student Union, played a

variety of intramural sports, served on the Intramural Sports Council, won the Arno Notwotny Sportsman-ship Award his junior year and the Whitaker Leadership Award his senior year. Today, Glenn is the exec-utive vice-president and managing principal of the Dallas office of Lewis & Ellis, Inc. and works as an actuarial consultant. Married for 30 years to his high school sweetheart, Gail, both are active in their church. Glenn continued to play softball until a few years ago.

Candi Cowden ’75, former badminton singles and doubles cham-pion in 1974–75, as well as the

Best Woman Athlete, taught and coached in college for 10 years after graduation. Today, Candi lives on a family ranch outside Midland, Texas, raising cattle and quarter horses.

Mike hatch ’76, an all-around athlete for Delta Tau Delta, won Class A tennis doubles with

Robert Bledsoe ‘78, as well as Class B basketball in 1971–72. He was runner-up in tennis in 1972–73. Mike, who lives in Austin, has one son attending UT and another starting next fall. He is the owner of Metropolitan Management in Austin.

terry Newman ’71, and his wife, Mary (hibbs) Newman ’81, ’84, attended the fall RecSports Open House on Nov. 8. Terry won volley-ball, softball and basketball cham-pionships as a member of Acacia fraternity and was the Best All-Around Athlete – Fraternity Division in 1970–71. Mary appears on the Wall of Fame winning gymnastics in 1976–77. Today, Terry is retired from the State of Texas while Mary is retired from the Texas Department of Transportation. They make their home in Austin.

Mark Monroe ’74, two-time Class A football cham-pion for the Fijis in 1973 and 1974 and a first team

All-Intramural shortstop in 1973, began a 30-year career in commer-cial banking after graduation. He served as president/CEO of First

trainers –1984-85 Women’s Softball Champion. Front (L-r): Paulette Moegle, Jamie Schlueter, Marcy (Word) Clements, Kamie ethridge, Kriss ethridge, Annette Kolodzie, Becky Marshall. Back (L-r): Bailey Marshall, Laura (Neugebauer) Groff, Debbie Workman, Nancy Walling, Laura Mafrige, Andrea Lloyd, Kathy Dieringer.

Coached and guided by Bailey and Becky Marshall, the Trainers played intramural sports from 1978 until 1986. Their success is seen on the Intramural Wall of Fame with an impressive 13 photos in football, basketball and softball. Here are a few of the women who played over the years. Note: This short list does not come close to mentioning all those women and men who were members of these teams.

beCky marshall

the traIners: Women and Coed Champions

Marcy (Word) Clements ’85,

played for the Trainers in three sports and today is an orthopedic surgeon in Broken Arrow, Okla. She and husband Eric have two boys ages 12 and 8. Marcy still jogs, weight trains, practices karate and enjoys scuba diving and golf with Eric. Marcy joined the rival Bombers to win the women’s national flag football cham-pionship in 1985.

Kamie ethridge ’85, former basketball player at UT, was named the Women’s Collegiate Athlete of the Year in 1986. She won gold medals at the World Championships in 1986, at the Pan Am Games in 1987 and at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea. She is currently the associate head women’s basketball coach at Kansas State University. “Although I wasn’t much of a softball player, I enjoyed the team, the friend-ships and the competition,” she says.

Laura (Neugebauer) Groff ’87, former All-American volleyball player at UT says, “I loved playing intramurals as much as I loved playing volleyball in college. It was a great way for me to keep playing

other sports that I missed so much.” Following a brief professional career playing volleyball, Laura began coaching in 1988 and today is the head women’s volleyball coach at UT San Antonio. She’s been married for 11 years and has two children, Jacob (9) and Madison (7).

Nancy Walling ’83, ’86, a UT varsity basketball player from 1978 to 1983, is a 22-year veteran in the Texas high school coaching ranks. She is currently the women’s athletics coordinator and head girls basketball coach at Pflugerville (Texas) High School. “Winning those coveted IM champion T-shirts and getting to play for Bailey Marshall are some of my fondest memories,” she says.

Jamie Schlueter ’80, ’82, was a student trainer, a graduate assistant and then a full-time assistant to Becky Marshall in the women’s athletic training program at UT. In 1985 she opened her own sports medicine and rehab center in Austin before selling it in 1991 to attend medical school at Texas Tech University where, she notes, “I won a coed softball championship!”

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Winner’s Circle! Let us recognize your team with a story and a picture.

Contact Bob Childress at bobc@mail.utexas.edu or call 512-475-7180.

Carlos Sepulveda ’79, a Reagan High School connection, played for the Wombats softball teams and today is the CEO of Inter-state Battery Systems, Inc. in Dallas. He and his wife, Susan Mary (Bridges) ’80, have four sons. Of note: His son, Daniel, won the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s best kicker for Baylor University and later punted for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

John Franklin ’78, of Pf lugerville High School, played for the 1976–77 and 1977–78 softball teams, and continued with the city league competition after graduation. Today, John is the program manager for Celestica Corp. John and his wife, Nancy, have two kids – Taylor and Hunter – and reside in Pf lugerville, Texas.

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The WombaTs Friends Playing Intramurals

Wombats – 1976–77 Softball Champion. Front (L-R): Karl Quebe, Jeff Eastman, Mickey Buratti, Teddy Bond, Bill Holland. Back (L-R): Larry Kirkland, Jim Savage, John Franklin, Carlos Sepulveda, Frank Ibarra, Robert Lauder.

Winner’s Circle

The Wombats were a group of friends, many from Austin Reagan High School, who won Class A football in 1975–76 and Class A softball in 1976–77 and 1977–78. Post graduation this group continued playing in the city leagues and won softball and football national championships.

Jeff Eastman ‘78, intramural football champion and All-Intramural receiver in 1975, two-time intramural softball champion in 1977 and 1978, and second team All-Intramural softball in 1978, is currently the chief executive officer (CEO) at Alchemy Systems, Ltd. in Austin. He brings over 25 years of entrepreneurial and management experience as the former CEO of Alchemy Studios. Of note: Jeff ’s father, Harry Eastman, served as assistant chief with the UT Police Department for 25 years from 1968–1993.

Jim Savage ’78, played for all three champion Wombats teams. He is retired from a career in education as a teacher, coach and admin-istrator and lives in Manor, Texas. Today, Jim works for the Texas Education Agency in Austin.

Jerry Russell ’75, played on the 1975–76 football champion team and was named an All-Intramural first team defender. He was a second team softball outfielder. In 1980 Jerry founded his own company, Southwest Energy Consultants, Inc., in Austin. Following graduation Jerry played city league softball

and football, and was a member of the national champion teams.

Karl Quebe ’74, ’77, practices law in Waco, Texas, and remains active as a player in senior league baseball and as an official for football, basketball and baseball. Karl was one of the core Reagan Raider exes who won football and softball championships. He is married to Debbie (Smith) ’75 and has one daughter.

Mickey Buratti ’82,’85, an Austin high graduate, joined with the Reagan boys to help win the softball championships. Married to Kathryn (Adams) ’93, and with two children, Mickey now provides software for hospitals through Medisolv, Inc. in Austin.