Inside RecSports: Fall/Winter 2002

Published for friends and supporters of UT Recreational Sports

Vol. 2, No. 1 Fall 2002

A Letter from the

Director

Dear Friends: A year ago this fall, the Division of Recreational Sports introduced the inaugural edition of Inside RecSports. As we celebrated the Division’s 85th anniversary, we were reminded of the rich and diverse history of the Men’s Intramural program, the Women’s Intramural program and the combination of the two in 1972 to form the Division of Recreational Sports. During the following three decades, RecSports has experienced unprecedented growth in participation, and expanded services and facilities development. As we pause to examine that history and reflect upon where we are today, it is apparent that RecSports was built on the solid foundation of people like you who have contributed so very much to its legacy.

In 2002, the Intramural program, with over 400 football and basketball teams, along with a myriad of other sports, continues the tradition that started in 1916. The Sport Club program, with 43 clubs competing recreationally and nationally, provides an invaluable outlet for thousands of students. Fitness/Wellness attracts over 61,000 participants to its group exercise classes. The Outdoor Recreation program touches the lives of many students by offering over 44 outdoor trips, an outdoor rental equipment program and climbing wall activities. What you enjoyed during your time at UT is still popular, plus we’ve expanded our programs and services to accommodate the needs of today’s students. RecSports has become an even more integral part of the UT community and continues to serve the university’s mission of transforming lives by “education through recreation.”

We hope that this third edition of Inside RecSports serves to keep you connected. We welcome your insight and your memories and look forward to hearing from you via our Web site or by phone (www.utrecsports.org or 512-471-1155). Better yet, please join us in Gregory Gym for an Open House on Saturday, October 26, prior to kickoff of the UT vs. Iowa St. game. Visit old friends, share your memories and see what’s new at RecSports.

Thank you for your contribution to the history of RecSports. We hope to see you this fall or to hear from you in the near future.

Sincerely,

Thomas W. Dison Associate Vice President and Director

In an ongoing series of interviews with the Greats of RecSports, Tom Dison sat down with Bob Higley and talked about Bob’s long association with RecSports and the university.

In the summer of 1959, after serving in the U.S. Army in Korea and Japan, Lt. Colonel Bob Higley was assigned to The University of Texas as part of the ROTC staff. As an associate professor, he taught military history courses and was responsible for the intramural touch football team for Army ROTC students. On January 31, 1963, Bob retired from the Army and immediately went to work in the university’s International Office as a counselor for international students.

During this period, international students gathered informally to kick a soccer ball around at the old Intramural Fields (the current site of Jester Center). These pick-up games evolved into informal matches, intramurals and, eventually, a soccer club. In 1964 a group of international students requested a faculty sponsor in order to play organized soccer. Col. Higley recalls being asked to serve in that capacity and, because of his Army background, considered it an order.

“I did not coach, but I thought it was a good idea, and I helped them out for a number of years. We won our first tournament in 1964 in College Station. The only American on the squad was the goalie,” he recalled.

After 10 years of taking his soccer team to competitions throughout Texas and even as far away as California, the Colonel retired as faculty sponsor. “By that time we were pretty well organized … and had 16 teams in a conference.

We had a Southern Division and a Northern Division, ” he said. Today, the men’s club soccer team remains strong and continues to attract international students to the roster.

In 1963, the Colonel strengthened his ties to RecSports by joining an exercise group known as the Early Birds.

Three days a week, the group would meet at 6:30 a.m. “We

Soccer Club 1964 exercised down in Gregory on the big mats. If you came in late, you would have to use the hard floor,” the Colonel recalled.

Stan Burnham led the effort with the assistance of charter members Ed Barlow and Bob Armstrong, attracting loyalists from all walks of life, including doctors, lawyers, and businessmen such as Fred Wessels, Cliff Price, Bob Shannon and Eddie Joseph. In 1974, Col. Higley “fell heir to the class” and proudly notes the Early Birds have met and exercised together for the past 40 years.

Assisted by such men as Tom Martine, Charlie Craven, Al Smith, and even legendary athletic trainer Frank Medina, this group, with Col. Higley’s guidance, has been a big part of RecSports through renovations and relocations over the past two decades. Each year as many as 60 alumni gather to renew friendships, remember old acquaintances, and visit with RecSports staff at an annual alumni breakfast which Col. Higley began in 1982.

Over the past four decades as a leader and proponent of the value of play and exercise, Bob Higley clearly has had a profound influence on the Division of Recreational Sports.

Mr. Dison and Col. Higley at the conclusion of the interview, December 19, 2001.

Bob Higley is retired and living in Austin. He serves on the Advisory Board for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, and hosts the annual Early Bird Breakfast each year.

Waiting for the unveiling of the new Gregory Gym. Opening day attendance totaled 12,000 visitors.

If These Walls Could Talk Throughout its 72-year history, Gregory Gym has been a center of student activity and so much more. This beloved and imposing structure has been the site of gubernatorial balls...the place where the annual Fite Nites were held...home of UT basketball, volleyball and swimming teams...stage to visiting performers including Benny Goodman, Will Rogers, Van Cliburn, Janis Joplin, Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope...center for the annual UT registration prior to automated systems...where UIL state basketball championships were held...venue for the annual Texas Round-Up...the place where the “Hook ‘em Horns” signal was born during a pre-game pep rally in 1955...site of the final trials for the Men’s U.S. World Games Gymnastics Team in 1974...venue for countless commencements...setting for the funerals of Thomas Watt Gregory and UT President H. Y. Benedict...destination of tour groups, alumni parties, Freshmen Orientations, Parents’ Day events, summer sport camps, voters in student elections...setting for many black-tie events such as the recent Blanton Ball and the Capital Campaign Milestone Celebration held to commemorate the $1 billion milestone of the We’re Texas campaign. If only Gregory’s walls could talk...what stories could be told!

Nearly five years ago, The University of Texas welcomed back a venerable old friend. On November 12, 1997, (following 22 months of closure for construction and remodeling) Gregory Gym reopened, revealing a modern, airy setting uniting the heritage and tradition of the old Gregory with a functional state-of-theart design.

The idea to renovate Gregory Gym arose soon after the Recreational Sports Center was built in 1990. Students were flocking to the modern new facility which featured many activities and amenities that Gregory Gym lacked. In the spring of 1992, student leaders began asking RecSports about the possibility of a major renovation of Gregory Gym. At the same time, the Campus Master Plan was calling for the creation of additional centers for community. This University goal was consistent with the original vision for Gregory Gym as a place for students to meet, exercise and socialize.

Thomas Dison, Associate Vice President and Director of Recreational Sports, recognized the need to transform the flagship facility into one that future generations of students would use and enjoy.

“We wanted to provide a higher quality and more functional indoor recreation facility that would meet the wide range of leisure activities enjoyed by students, as well as other members of the campus community,” Mr. Dison said. Consequently, student input became a part of the planning process, which resulted in the addition of such venues as an indoor track, Cardio Theater, Sports Cafe, Climbing Wall and Outdoor Center.

Since reopening in 1997, Gregory now houses a travel agency to meet the expanding needs of students, faculty and staff. Looking ahead, plans are being developed to complete the renovation project with the addition of a new outdoor Aquatics Complex along with renovation of the existing pool. Continued improvements remain at the core of the Division’s commitment to provide enriched recreational and academic resources on this campus.

Over 7.5 million individuals have visited Gregory Gym since reopening in 1997.

Gregory Gym Timeline Features of the new Gregory Gym • Indoor track

1907 Thomas Watt Gregory , the first ex-student appointed to the UT System Board of Regents, proposes the construction of a modern gym.

• Squash courts • Cardio Theater • Sports Cafe • Outdoor Center • Climbing Wall • Wellness Center • Retail store • Billiards/games room • Sauna rooms • Air conditioning • Travel agency* • Multi-purpose rooms • Expanded weight room • Basketball/ volleyball courts • Aerobic/dance rooms • Open lounge space * Added after the renovation.

1929 Groundbreaking takes place.

1930 Gregory Gym opens.

1963 The Annex to Gregory Gym is built.

1993 Students vote in favor of funding a major renovation of Gregory Gym. 1996 Gregory Gym closes to begin renovations.

1997 The new Gregory Gym reopens in November.

1999 Students vote in favor of completing the Gregory Gym renovation with a new Aquatics Complex.

UT Sport Clubs Compete for National Titles Championship Win by Women’s Gymnastics Lights Tower Orange The UT Women’s Gymnastics Team earned its third consecutive national championship trophy by defeating host Ohio State at the National Association of Intercollegiate Gymnastics Conferences meet April 3-7, in Columbus, Ohio.

Team captain Jillian Butt led the team to victory by capturing the gold medal as the top All-Around gymnast. The Gymnastics Team made RecSports history by becoming the first UT Sport Club to be honored by the lighting of the Tower.

Photos being gathered for inclusion on Wall of Fame For nearly 70 years women have been playing intramurals on this campus. A project is currently underway to reproduce all women’s intramural champion photographs from 1933 to 1974 for inclusion on the Wall of Fame in Gregory Gym (since 1974 women’s photos exist on the Wall). The anticipated target date for unveiling the new photos is October 26 during the RecSports Open House. Softball champions Our Gang (below) dominated women’s competition for many years in the 1970s. Let us hear from you!

Front row (L to R): Celeste Birdwell, Lynn Kercheval, Carla Spankoch, Debbie Norton and Barbara Choffell. Middle row (L to R): Katie Trong, Gail Vander Stoep, Joan Shepherd, Brenda Bolin and Anna Koncewicz. Back row (L to R): Dorothy Brooks, Sandra Pruneda, Anita Hafertepe and Linda Lindsay.

Tennis Club Takes Second Place The UT Tennis Club finished as runnersup in the third annual USA Team Tennis National Campus Championships hosted by RecSports April 4 - 6. After advancing through pool play against Florida and Michigan, UT defeated Delaware and Ferris State to reach the championship. Battling cool, rainy conditions, the team lost the final to Texas A&M by a score of 3-2.

UT Tennis Club

In response to the proliferation of youth sports in the community and the need for a reliable source of referees and umpires during the 1970s, the Division of Recreational Sports formed a student organization called the University Officials’ Association. Students who joined the association were advised by professional staff at RecSports and became available to officiate at community youth leagues.

The UOA still flourishes and has provided hundreds of UT students with the opportunity to learn the profession of officiating outside of the intramural setting. Each year over 1,200 community league games are officiated by UT students. Many former intramural officials now work at the high school, college or professional level.

Today, the UOA performs a valuable community service by providing student officials to the Austin and Eanes Independent School Districts’ high school football game chain crews, Austin Interparochial volleyball and basketball leagues, Northwest Austin Youth Basketball Association, Western Hills Little League and West Austin Youth Association Pony League.

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: •John Nolan (’70) (JD ’73), intramural

•Cindy Shuffield-Holovka (‘87), former facility supervisor, resides in

champion, All-Around Athlete and award winner, minored in intramurals during his seven-year career with Stag Coop, the Recruits and powerhouse Akala. Today, John is a real estate lawyer in Dallas, active in the bar and the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, which works with kids and sponsors the Byron Nelson Golf Tournament. Active in basketball and volleyball until his knees gave out during his 40s, he now cycles, plays golf and still attends UT football games.

•Rik Wehmeier (‘73) (JD ’76) of Sua Sponte Intramural fame and married for 25 years to Susan Smith (sister of Jerry Smith) is the Managing Director of Balser Companies in Marietta, Ga. Two sons -Doug who entered UT this fall, and Greg who is a future Longhorn, plan to continue their dad’s intramural legacy.

•Jerry Smith (BBA’79) (MBA ’80), a member of the “Mudflap” intramural empire, is Director of Middle Market Credit for American Express Business and Finance. Married to “Chick” with two sons, Grant and Gabe, he still attends UT football games.

•Stan Pickett (’79) and wife Mary Jo live in Mesquite with a high school age daughter and a son who entered UT this fall. Stan, who was a player for the Mudflaps, owns three retail furniture stores.

•Clarke Wittstruck (JD ‘85), former UT student and RecSports employee, resides in Asheville, N.C. With two boys in college and a daughter in high school, he says the law practice is paying off.

•Lewis Wright (’86), known as “Sweet Lew” for the four-time basketball champions The Players and two-time football champions Quiet Storm (as well as one soccer and one softball championship), makes his home in Austin and works as a manager at Farmers Insurance Agency in Round Rock.

•David Von Hatten (’87), a UT Advertising graduate and RecSports participant, currently operates a free-lance business, Write Brain Works, in Austin.

Charlottesville, Va. and is the Sales and Community Relations Director for the Colonnades Marriott Seniors Living Community.

•James Hillhouse (’88), an active intramural participant, is currently back at UT pursuing a doctorate in Aerospace Engineering.

•Tawnya (Michie) Kumarakulasingam (’88), Lifeguard and IM champ, and her spouse, Prabha, also a long-time student employee, just completed advanced degrees at the University of Kansas in May -Tawnya with her Ph.D. in Psychology and Prabha with his M.S. in Computer Engineering.

•Andrew Bankston (’89) resides in Wooster, Ohio. Andrew was the President of the Rugby Club at UT, as well as a member of the Sports Club Council.

•Steven Longcrier (’89), an avid intramural participant, obtained his M.S. in Sport Management from Georgia Southern in 1992 and worked in athletic administration until 1998 before switching to the field of heritage tourism. He is the Executive Director of Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails in Evans, Ga. •Rhonda (Fritsche) Cox (’91), former Building Coordinator, went through Southern Illinois for her Masters (’97) and worked at Iowa State for eight years before returning to UT last March as Assistant Director-Facility Coordinator.

•Bobby Burton (’92), former referee, IM champion and self-professed “gym rat,” is the Senior Vice President of Business Development and founding partner for Rivals.com, the nation’s sixth largest sports Web site. Bobby is considered the network’s foremost expert on college football recruiting and can be seen on Fox Sports Southwest Television.

•Michael Nava (’95), intramural supervisor and official, works at Rockland Community College in New York as the Director for Student Support Services. He and his wife Sandra celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary on September 21, 2001.

•David Dunham (‘96), former IM employee/referee, left UT for Southwest Texas State University to earn his Masters and now is the Sport Club Director at UC Davis where he oversees 32 clubs. For fun he referees women’s lacrosse, works the game clock for NCAA basketball games, and works home football games. Occasionally, David even gets to Lake Tahoe for skiing and mountain biking.

•Nancy Smith (BBA ’97), former RecSports participant, is currently a faculty/staff member at UT and a lecturer in the College of Education.

Go to www.utrecsports.org/whereareyou to let everyone know what you are doing now!

Kevin McCalla, captain and organizer of the Bombers coed intramural flag football team, was the first person to contact RecSports and correctly identify the players in this photograph which appeared in the last edition of Inside RecSports. For the record, here are the names of the 1979 Coed Flag Football Champions -the Bombers: Front row (L-R): Greg Johnson, Kevin McCalla, Randy Howry and Bert Huff. Back row (L-R): Mary Lynch, Susan Wolff (Schmidt), Linda Williams (McCalla), Cindy Kemble(Williford) and Mary Beth Starne (Williford).

40 Acres Report Mark G. Yudof, president of the University of Minnesota since 1997, has been named chancellor of The University of Texas System. He suc-

ceeds Chancellor R. D. Burck, who will continue to serve as a special adviser through August, 2005. Yudof’s career at UT began in 1971 as an assistant professor of law. He served as executive vice president and provost from 1994 to 1997 and dean of the School of Law from 1984 to 1994. Yudof is an authority on constitutional law, freedom of expression and education law.

UT biochemical engineers and chemists are working on a promising cure for anthrax based

RecSports Open House Gregory Gym

Saturday, October 26, 2002 Parents’ Weekend UT vs. Iowa State football game 2 hours before game time Enjoy refreshments Visit old friends Tour the facilities View the Wall of Fame Share your memories

The University of Texas at Austin Recreational Sports 1 University Station D7500 Austin, TX 78712-0395

on powerful antibodies. The research was announced in the June 1 issue of Nature Biotechnology. A long-term collaboration between Dr. George Georgiou, professor of biomedical and chemical engineering, and Dr. Brent Iverson, professor of chemistry, resulted in the development of the potential anthrax cure in research supported by the U.S. Department of Defense since 1997. Further trials will determine the effectiveness of the antibodies in humans and the best treatment methods.

The Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center’s copy of the Gutenberg Bible (c. 1450),

one of only 48 complete copies in the world, has entered the 21st century. Every page of the Gutenberg Bible has been photographed using the latest in digital technology. The project illustrates the university’s commitment to its “Digital Knowledge Gateway” initiative, an online service to share the great intellectual and cultural treasures of the institution with all the residents of the state. This marks the first time the technology will be used to digitize a Gutenberg Bible in the United States. Eventually, the pages will be accessible on the Ransom Center’s Web site.

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