Rock, at 339 Normal Avenue, a house that still stands today. Like their father, Eleanor and Ed became accomplished athletes. Ed Cottrell played four varsity sports at SRU and many considered Hartzell the best woman athlete on campus. She excelled at swimming, tennis, dancing and gymnastics. “Back then, all we had were intramural sports for women,” she said. “I just did everything that was available.” Ed and Eleanor both married SRU graduates. Ed is married to Millie Weed Cottrell, a 1943 graduate; Eleanor is married to Herbert Hartzell, a 1935 graduate and retired Army colonel. Together, these alumni have donated $137,622 to the Elmer B. Cottrell Memorial Endowed Scholarship. The Cottrell family knew many of the people and experienced the events that have become part of SRU lore. They had a friendship with head football coach N. Kerr Thompson and athletic director Archie Dodds, for whom a residence hall was named, and both recall the 1937 fire that felled the original North Hall. Hartzell was a Slippery Rock student at the time. “Although I didn’t live in the dorm, I was there when North Hall burned,” she said. “I rounded up all the girls who were in my physical education class and brought them up to my house because all they had were nightclothes and bathrobes. There were 15 girls.” Ed Cottrell, two years younger than his sister, said their father was a man of principle. “Dad was student oriented as were most of the professors,” he said. “He believed in loyalty, respect and integrity. Good sportsmanship was part of his make-up. My father was an outstanding athlete in high school and college. This ability carried over to my sister and me.” During Elmer Cottrell’s 25 years at SRU, he also was assistant
football coach, assistant basketball coach, and head gymnastic, tennis, golf and swimming coach. For two years he also coached the Slippery Rock High School basketball team. Hartzell’s and Ed Cottrell’s mother, Emma Cottrell, died in 1943, and Elmer Cottrell retired from Slippery Rock in 1948 to become director of Health, Physical Education and Recreation for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was one of the founders of the Pennsylvania Association for Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. He died in 1957. “His influence in my life has never disappeared,” Ed Cottrell said.
Eleanor Cottrell Hartzell (second from left front row) and other members of the 1937 women’s swim team, competed in the East Gym swimming pool. www.SRU.edu 35 23 www.SRU.edu