Inside RecSports: Spring/Summer 2010

Your connection to UT Intramurals

Vol. 9, No.2 Spring/Summer 2010

Education Through Recreation Fe atu re A rticle

FITNESS/WELLNESS PROGRAM: FROM AEROBICS TO ZUMBA

WELCOME

From the Director Dear Friends:

Although these are challenging economic times, the Division of Recreational Sports is working creatively to maintain the core programs that the students of UT have come to expect and appreciate. As UT President Bill Powers stated in his new Tower Talk blog, “In the midst of all this, we must remember that our core mission is to transform lives for the benefit of society, and continue to do that every day.”

Recreational Sports is committed to this goal, and through the support of students and alumni alike, we strive each day to do our very best to help The University of Texas achieve excellence and distinction.

RecSports is a key participant in the Division of Student Affairs’ Wellness Network, a campus-wide committee that addresses student health and fitness issues.

In the previous newsletter, we reported that RecSports was recognized in the 2009 Newsweek-Kaplan College Guide. While a number of factors may have contributed to this acknowledgement, the high level of participation by the students on this campus continues to provide the best evidence of the Division's success.

Over 90 percent of the undergraduate student population participates in RecSports through intramural sports, group exercise classes, sport clubs, outdoor trips, instructional classes and informal recreation.

This issue of Inside RecSports features the Fitness/Wellness Program, one of the newest and fastest growing program areas for students. Stemming from a small informal aerobics class formed by a group of students in 1985, today’s Fitness/Wellness Program has grown in scope and reach, serving thousands of students, faculty and staff through a myriad of opportunities including group exercise classes, personal training, fitness assessments and massage services. Additionally, RecSports is a key participant in the Division of Student Affairs’ Wellness Network, a campus-wide committee that addresses student health and fitness issues. The Division also collaborates with other agencies on campus to support the health and wellness of the entire UT community. Read inside the story of this truly amazing program that has expanded its offerings from Aerobics to Zumba.

As we look ahead to the future and anticipate the 100th anniversary of RecSports in 2016, we hope to involve both present and former students and friends to celebrate the past and unveil plans for the next century. Because so many of you played a significant role in men’s and women’s intramurals and its evolution to Recreational Sports, we hope you will take the time to participate in this special occasion. In the meantime, come by for a visit, attend an open house or just drop us an e-mail or letter. We always enjoy hearing from you and adding to our bank of memories. As we have said many times before, the success we enjoy today is because of your contributions to our history.

Best wishes,

Cover: (clockwise from top left): An aerobics class in Anna Hiss Gym: 1988 The men of Oak Grove: 1953 Intramural football: 1974 Intramural volleyball: 1968 Sit-ups were part of the aerobic class workout: 1989

Thomas W. Dison Associate Vice President and Director

Go to www.utrecsports.org/whereareyou to let us know what you’re up to or drop by Gregory Gym the next time you’re in Austin.

SPOTLIGHT

(1)Sport Clubs –Texas Marathon

Texas Marathon is a coed organization open to runners of all skill levels from elite 10K and Boston-qualified marathoners to fun runners and people trying to get in shape. As the oldest recognized running club with RecSports, Texas Marathon is the only member of the National Intercollegiate Running Club Association at UT and currently the only member in the state. The club is working diligently to get involved in races sponsored by the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association and hopes to become a force in college club running.

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(2)Fitness/Wellness – Fit-to-Go

Throughout each semester a certified RecSports personal trainer and nutrition peer educator from University Health Services team up to provide education, handouts and other resources regarding fitness and nutrition to UT students. These experts host a Fit-to-Go information table in Gregory Gym and meet one-on-one with individuals seeking reliable fitness and nutrition advice and information.

(3) Intramurals – Student Affairs Softball

The Division of Student Affairs Softball League, which will enter its 19th year of competition this season, is comprised of several past and current agencies from the Division of Student Affairs. The winning team takes home the Vick Trophy to display in their office for the year. The trophy’s namesake, Dr. Jim Vick, served as vice president for Student Affairs from 1989–2005. In his last year with Student Affairs, Dr. Vick played as a member of the winning team, the Psychlones (pictured right). The annual event allows employees and their families to get better acquainted with each other through friendly competition. University departments that participate in the event include Admissions, the Career Exploration Center, the Counseling and Mental Health Center, the International Office, the Office of the Dean of Students, Recreational Sports, Student Financial Services, the Texas Union and University Health Services.

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(4) Outdoor Recreation– Community Service

Ten UT student trip leaders traveled to San Marcos, Texas, to help weed out a plant called elephant ear from the banks of Spring Lake. The eradication is necessary because the plant's massive water consumption is contributing to the drought conditions plaguing the area. The RecSports Adventure Trip Program requires its guides to participate in one service project a semester to build relationships between students and their environment.

The group chose to help improve ecological conditions at Spring Lake because the area is home to eight unique animal and plant species that exist no place else on planet Earth.

Removing the elephant ears will enable the native plant and animal species to return and thrive, creating more biodiversity and a healthier ecosystem.

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(5)Dance Marathon

Since 2003 the student-organized benefit, Dance Marathon, has raised over $165,000 for Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas. Each February Gregory Gym is filled with 12 straight hours of music, live entertainment, food, games and, of course, dancing.

A student organization advised by RecSports Assistant Director Rhonda Cox spends the year planning the activities and recruiting the dancers to raise a minimum of $100 each to participate in the event. Rhonda comments, “It is amazing the level of commitment that these students exhibit to raise money for the Austin community. It shows that these UT students are truly dedicated to community service and helping others.”

(4)

(5)

LOOKING BACK

From Aerobics to Zumba The Fitness/Wellness Program

Today, the Fitness/Wellness Program at Texas caters to yogis, kick-boxers, dancers and, yes, even couch potatoes. Longhorn students, faculty and staff don’t just exercise – they TeXercise.

What began as simply aerobics has now evolved into dance aerobics, step aerobics, water aerobics, kick boxing, group cycling and a myriad of other exercise forms all the way to the newest craze, Zumba. Here is the story of that journey from Aerobics to Zumba Dance.

“TeXercise classes are addictive. I started going to one class twice a week and now go to a different class five days a week. The classes not only get me in shape but they help me outside the gym as well.

I feel I am more organized; I have more energy and feel more confident about myself. TeXercise classes are the reason.”

Annie-lee Taylor, sophomore, TeXercise participant TeXercise: n. A broad range of group exercise classes offered at The University of Texas at Austin by the Division of Recreational Sports.

History of Aerobics

Student Aerobics & the Non-Student Program

In 1987 UT Aerobics became a sport club within the Division of Recreational Sports. A $10 fee was assessed to club members, but even with classes being held in Anna Hiss Gym, Jester Center and Bellmont Hall, membership was limited to 500 due to facility constraints. With the opening of the Recreational Sports Center in 1990, operations were moved into the two 4,000 square foot aerobics rooms designed specifically for aerobics classes. Numbers increased dramatically as some 2,900 students registered for these classes. Ultimately, in 1993, UT Aerobics, keeping the same name, became a program area within RecSports instead of a sport club.

As UT Aerobics was growing exponentially and the Non-Student Program continued to expand, the need for a full-time staff person was clear. In 1990 Celeste Hamman was hired by RecSports to oversee the Non-Student Program. Her experience in health and fitness promotion, as well as a master’s degree in exercise physiology, increased the credibility of this program.

Celeste’s first priorities were to increase name recognition through wellness presentations on campus and with community groups. In addition, a monthly RecSports column appeared in the Austin Health Fitness magazine. As the program steadily grew and with the change of UT Aerobics from a sport club to its own program area, it became clear that one program area serving both students and faculty/staff was advisable. Long-range plans were formulated to consolidate these two programs when Gregory Gymnasium reopened in 1997 following major renovations.

In 1968 Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper, a physician at the Air Force hospital in San Antonio, Texas, coined the term “aerobics” to describe a form of exercise that uses oxygen and improves the cardiovascular system. His book, “Aerobics,” outlined exercise programs using running, walking, swimming and cycling to achieve this goal and thus began an exercise form that was to take the fitness world by storm.

Aerobics at The University of Texas

In the 1980s, Jane Fonda’s first workout video led to a national craze and brought aerobics into everyone’s home. At the same time here on campus, the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education (KHE) offered aerobics as an activity class for students.

With the popularity of this form of exercise exploding and a lack of adequate aerobic sections offered by KHE, a group of students led by Physical Education Teaching Assistant James Clark formed the UT Aerobic Dance Association (UT Aerobics) in the summer of 1985. The association met Monday through Friday for an hour-long workout in Anna Hiss Gym.

1989 aerobics class in Anna Hiss Gym.

Also in the 80s self-directed fitness classes for faculty and staff were initiated by Fitness Instructor Debra Eaton. The men and women in this faculty/staff or Non-Student Program embraced these classes as well as a series of aerobic fitness workshops focusing on running, swimming and cycling.

Dec. 1999 Dead Day Jam in Gregory Gym.

A New Fitness/Wellness Program

In 1997 UT Aerobics and the Non-Student Program finally merged into one program – the Fitness/Wellness Program – coinciding with the reopening of Gregory Gymnasium. In addition to offering new fitness classes, including specialized yoga classes, cardio kick boxing and an instructor training series, RecSports began collaborating with other campus agencies on wellness activities such as Body Image Awareness Week, Stressfest and Wellfest, and nutrition series with the University Health Center. By this time the Fitness/Wellness Program had reached a stage that not only made it the fastest growing area in RecSports but also a major part of campus wellness.

Fitness in the New Millennium

With the new millennium came new program offerings to continue this phenomenal growth. The Fitness Assessment Center opened in Gregory Gym in 2003. Pilates Reformer classes offered a small-class alternative to the group classes. And, with the opening of the Gregory Gym Aquatic Complex in 2005, aqua and coached swim classes were reintroduced. In addition, the Personal Trainer Program grew as students, faculty and staff searched for individual assistance to start and continue an exercise regimen.

Fitness/Wellness Today

Today’s faculty, staff and students choose from a wide variety of opportunities in the Fitness/Wellness Program. Choices range from any of the 100 weekly fitness and mind/body TeXercise classes to the amazing challenges of Group Cycling classes.

Participants can maximize their health and performance with the professional assistance of a certified personal trainer. For those wishing to monitor their fitness levels, a 30-minute assessment session is available. Finally, after a workout or just for pleasure, students and RecSports members can take advantage of massage and spa services in the Wellness Center in Gregory Gym.

Zumba: n. An exercise style that fuses Latin and international music and dance themes together for a great, dynamic and effective fitness class.

“I discovered TeXercise classes during my freshman year at a time when I was studying non-stop and felt so all alone. Once I got hooked on the classes, I started feeling better and making friends at the gym. After a while some of the instructors approached me about becoming a fitness instructor so I auditioned. As an instructor, I enjoy the sense of team and school spirit in the TeXercise classes. The team motivation that goes on in the aerobics rooms cannot be re-created anywhere else in the gym.”

RecSports Fitness Instructor Christina Stylianou

Poker Walk

In the spring of 1991 RecSports organized and implemented the first annual Poker Walk, an event designed to promote health and wellness among faculty and staff. The event has continued to be held every spring to commemorate National Employee Health and Fitness Day. Faculty and staff participants walk a one-mile course around campus, picking up poker chips along the way.

They turn in their chips at Gregory Gym where student staff members deal out a poker hand to each walker. All participants receive a free T-shirt and those with the top three hands win valuable prizes donated by local businesses and RecSports.

During lunch, prizes are awarded to randomly drawn office teams as well as the group with the best team costume. Over 400 registered for the first walk, and in 2009, a total of 1,200 UT faculty and staff participated in this popular event.

The Fitness/Wellness Program of today addresses the physical, mental and emotional wellness of students, faculty and staff of The University of Texas at Austin. Whether it is a basic aerobics class or Zumba Dance, yoga or Tai Chi, racquetball or swimming, The University of Texas community does not just exercise, it TeXercises.

Best team costume 2009.

Walkers turn in their poker chips.

Best team costume 2009 was awarded to “Powers that Bee” from the Office of the President (William Powers). Honorable mention went to the “Slippery Peels” from the Texas Interdisciplinary Program (TIPS).

Best team name 2009 went to The University of Texas Police Department for “UTPD: We Don’t Bluff, We Cuff.” Honorable mention went to “Texas Withold’em” from UT Payroll Services.

2007 personal training workout.

2009 group strength class.

DEVELOPMENT CORNER

A Message from Joe Bill Watkins Chair, RecSports Leadership Team As the Campaign for Texas strives to reach its goal of raising $3 billion for the University, the Division of Recreational Sports has contributed to this effort with its own successes. Two new scholarships for student employees of RecSports have been established. Thus we will award 11 student scholarships this coming August. In addition, a new initiative to establish an Intramural Endowment has begun with a number of separate campaigns, and the RecSports Excellence Fund has grown through the sale of Gregory Gym pavers and digital Wall of Fame photo reprints. Read more about each of these initiatives in this publication.

Oak Grove Reunion

Oak Grove, a cooperative house for men, first became active in intramurals in 1942.

For the next 20 years this group of men excelled in intramurals, establishing a record that is vividly displayed on the Wall of Fame. In 1996 the “Grovers” started a Bob Childress emceed the Oak Grove reunion. tradition by holding a reunion in Austin that attracted some 90 exes and their wives. This tradition has continued every two years under the leadership of Jim Cole, Max Smith and Kyle Read.

This past fall the Oak Grove reunion was held Oct. 9–11, coinciding with the UT vs. Colorado game. The event featured a formal dinner in Gregory Gym, tours of the facility and a trip down memory lane by way of the Intramural Wall of Fame. Some 55 alumni attended the reunion, including 84-year-old Bill “Bulldog” Kennedy, one of the earliest Grovers. A multimedia presentation illustrating the many championship teams and individuals highlighted the after-dinner program.

I speak for the entire Leadership Team when I say that your involvement and support of this 94-year old program truly affects today’s students and certainly contributes to the University’s mission of “transforming lives for the benefit of society.” I invite you to join us in our efforts to support a program that you and I enjoyed so much.

The 2009 Oak Grovers.

Best Wishes from the 40 Acres,

Joe Bill Watkins ‘65, ‘68

Acacia Fraternity

On Saturday, Nov. 21, coinciding with the UT vs. Kansas game, the Division of Recreational Sports hosted the Acacia Fraternity at the Recreational Sports Center.

The purpose of the meeting was to formally acknowledge all those who helped create the Acacia Fraternity Endowed Scholarship and to recognize the outstanding history of Acacia Fraternity’s intramural participation. Thirty-two men attended, including alumni from the 1960s, as well as current Acacia members.

Digital Wall of Fame www.utrecsportsmedia.org

The Intramural Wall of Fame is now online.

Revisit your favorite memories from college or find former teammates and friends.

View and order photos at: www.utrecsportsmedia.org The original photo boards that comprise the Intramural Wall of Fame are located in Gregory Gymnasium and viewing is available during operating hours of the facility.

Acacia alumni enjoy a brief presentation from Associate Vice President and Director Tom Dison.

Terry Newman, Kelly Howard and René Garza reconnect at the event.

DEVELOPMENT CORNER

The Intramural Endowment Initiative Over the 94-year history of the Intramural Sports Program much has remained the same but much has changed. Men, women and, starting in 1974, coed teams still compete in all the major team sports and individual/dual sports. In 1982 intramural teams were charged a fee to play for the first time in the history of the program.

Starting at $10 per team, that fee today is $75 per team and will increase next fall and in the future. With the current economic climate at the University calling for all units to find alternative means of raising revenue or to reduce or eliminate services, the Intramural Sports Program is at a crossroads. In order to become self-sufficient while holding down the cost for students to play intramurals, an initiative to establish an endowment to help fund the Intramural Sports Program has been launched.

Multiple campaigns are in progress to fund this endowment.

Oak Grove has begun to solicit their alumni with a goal of raising $10,000. The Delta Upsilon Fraternity already has a lead gift of $2,500 dedicated to its campaign for this initiative. In addition, a Women in Intramurals Campaign, led by Ann (Vandivier) Brodnax and Linda (McCalla) Williams, is focusing on women who have had a positive experience playing intramurals (see Women in Intramurals Campaign). Other groups organizing or starting their own campaigns include Kappa Sigma Fraternity and the exclusive group of alumni who served as intramural senior and junior managers led by Leadership Team member Gordon Appleman.

Donations to this fund can be made individually or by organizations.

For more information about starting a campaign for your group contact Bob Childress at 512-475-7180 or bobc@mail.utexas.edu.

Women in Intramurals Campaign – Intramural Endowment

From 1933 to 1974 the Women’s Intramural Program, located in Anna Hiss Gym, operated independently from the Men’s Intramural Program, headquartered in Gregory Gym. In 1972 these two departments combined to form the Division of Recreational Sports, with all offices located in Gregory Gym by 1974. Additionally, a formal Coed Intramural Program began that same year.

To honor the legions of women who played intramurals throughout the history of RecSports, Ann (Vandivier) Brodnax ’78, and Linda (McCalla) Williams ’82, have assumed a leadership role in launching a special campaign for the Intramural Endowment called the Women in Intramurals Campaign. As this campaign gains momentum, they are seeking to identify other women intramural alumni interested in this campaign. Team managers, in particular, and other individuals who want to learn more about this initiative should contact Bob Childress, development and campus relations coordinator, at 512-475-7180 or bobc@mail.utexas.edu for more information.

Donations to the Women in Intramurals Campaign can be made online at www.utrecsports.org/friends/initiatives/womeninintramurals.php or by check to The University of Texas at Austin (Women in Intramurals) and mailed to RecSports in the enclosed envelope.

Scholarship UPDATES The Acacia Fraternity Scholarship

Members of the Acacia Fraternity have consistently participated in the Intramural Sports Program as evidenced by its accomplishments during the 1960s and 1970s. From its recognition on the Wall of Fame to its leadership as senior managers, the men in this fraternity were a significant part of the intramural program. Funds for the scholarship were raised during fall 2009 and presented to RecSports on Nov. 21, 2009. Thanks to René Garza, Harry Craig, David Dunlap, Steve Lappin and Ed Knight for their leadership in establishing this scholarship.

The Phi Gamma Delta Scholarship

One of the truly great organizations to compete in the intramural program over the 94-year history, the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, is working to establish a scholarship to both commemorate the achievements of the Fiji teams and individuals, as well as assist a student employee of RecSports. Led by Phi Gamma Delta members Jack Holford, Ken Ford, Walter Fortney, Ed Junnell and Tom Stewart, this scholarship specifically honors teams and individuals from 1955 to 1965. A sincere thank you goes out to all those involved in establishing this scholarship which will recognize the tremendous achievements of the Fiji intramural teams and individuals.

Almost 2/3 of the Intramural budget goes to the 300 students who work as intramural officials each year.

Woman’s flag football circa 1970s.

DEVELOPMENT CORNER

Leadership Team Mr. Gordon Appleman Mrs. Ann V. Brodnax Dr. John S. Butler Mrs. Sylvie P. Crum Dr. Kenneth B. Ford, Jr. Mr. RenĂŠ A. Garza Mr. Bennett J. Glazer Mr. W. Edward Junell, Jr. Professor Thomas O. McGarity Ms. Gigi T. Melrose Ms. Anna Lisa Holand Miller Mr. C. Baker Montgomery Mr. Howard D. Nirken Mr. J.W. Pieper Mr. Michael J. Tomsu Mr. Joe Bill Watkins, Chair Mr. Charles M. Wender Mrs. Linda McCalla Williams Mr. Mark J. Williams

Honorary Members The Honorable Bill Archer Dr. Tom Barrow Dr. Margaret Berry Mr. Jack Blanton Mr. R. Dan Burck Mr. Scott Caven Mr. Mike Cotten Drs. William and Isabella Cunningham Dr. Austin Gleeson Admiral Bob Inman Mr. Adolph Kiefer Mr. Lloyd P. Lochridge, Jr. Mr. Wales H. Madden, Jr. Dr. & Mrs. Bailey Marshall Mr. & Mrs. Red McCombs Mrs. Lynn Fox Utter Dr. Jim Vick Mrs. Custis Wright

Gregory Gym Pavers Commemorate a victorious season. Remember a loved one. Reward yourself. Any of these ideas and more are possible through the Gregory Gym paver project. Phase I is well under way but there are plenty of prime spots left. Each engraved paver will be installed at the entrance to historic Gregory Gym for all to see for years to come.

Personalized pavers using various combinations of bricks can be designed to meet your specifications. Teams, clubs, fraternities, sororities and organizations can purchase a design that can include dozens of names. Pavers are available in five sizes, ranging from $250-$2,500. You can order yours online at www.utrecsports.org/friends or use the enclosed envelope. The RecSports staff can work with you to design a paver layout to accommodate your group. All funds collected through this program will be directed to the Recreational Sports Excellence Fund to be used for new initiatives.

Invest in a brick paver and become a permanent part of Gregory Gym. Hill Hall Bob Childress Ray Helmcamp

Hill Hall Tommy Clark Jim Lyons

Hill Hall Intramural Champion Football Basketball Softball 1971-72 Hill Hall Jim Malloy S. Underwood

Hill Hall Hank Anawaty David Hurst

Here is a sample of a layout for the Hill Hall Intramural Champions.

Various sizes and patterns are available to customize your team's pavers.

For details, please log onto www.utrecsports.org/friends or contact Bob Childress at 512-475-7180 or bobc@mail.utexas.edu.

Note: Paver color, font and font size are not exact.

The colors, fonts and font sizes will be uniform for the entire project.

Golf Tournament

Scheduled for Friday, May 14, 2010, at the Grey Rock Golf Club in Austin, Texas, the first annual Bob Childress Classic Golf Tournament will tee off with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Entry fees are $150 per person or $600 per four-person team. A best ball format will be played over the 18-hole layout. Breakfast, golf, lunch and prizes will be part of the festivities. Enter online at www.utrecsports.org/golf or please download a registration form at www.utrecsports.org/friends/golf and follow instructions on how to mail your entry fee.

Please direct all questions to Randall Ford or Jennifer Speer at 512-471-3116.

Intramural golf participants compete in the spring Golf Classic. Join us on May 14 for your turn on the links.

Where Are You Now?

FAST FORWARD

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:

1950s Bob Sprague ’57, played intramurals for McCracken House and was named the All-Intramural softball first baseman in 1955–56 and 1956–57. With a degree in civil engineering, his career in Texas took him to Fort Worth, Galveston, Clear Lake and finally Houston where he retired from Bleyl & Associates to Willis, Texas. He and his wife, Scherry, have three children and one grandchild. ”Playing intramurals was a great diversion from studying all the time,” Bob remembers.

1960s Linda Fletcher ’62, ’69, led her sorority to the Participation Trophy with “98 percent of the girls participating.” Named Best Manager in 1961–62, she also won volleyball and softball championships and was runner-up in tennis and badminton. “I fell in love with officiating when I took a course from Pat Weiss,” she says. A nationally certified official in volleyball, basketball, softball, tennis and badminton, she spent more than three decades at Lanier High School in Austin. As the first woman in the Southwest Basketball Officials Association (Austin Chapter), she refereed basketball until the age of 43. She then worked as an assigner for area schools and for the Big XII for three years. A college volleyball official until 1992, she still assigns officials for the Southland Conference.

Deene Gott ’62, was part of Darrell Royal’s first recruiting class in 1957 as a quarterback out of Jefferson High School in San Antonio. He played freshman football and was a three-year letterman from 1959–61.

Dean is a two-time member of the Intramural Wall of Fame as a softball champion with the Little Ganders and as a tennis champion for his Sigma Nu fraternity. He retired in 2006 after a career with the Air Force as a civilian ops research analyst. Deene is still an active tennis player.

John Justice ’67, began officiating intramural sports at UT to help with school expenses. He was named Outstanding Official in 1966–67.

Following a two-year stint in the Navy after graduation, John began civilian employment in the aerospace industry lasting 32 years.

He continued officiating basketball for 10 years and today continues as an ASA (Amateur Softball Association of America) official and girl’s high school softball umpire.

Mary Jane (Underwood) McBride ’68, graduated with a degree in physical education and served as the intramural manager for her sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi. “I was fortunate to be in a sorority that loved sports like I did and I never had a hard time fielding a team,” she says. “The highlight for me was winning table tennis singles my freshman and senior years,” she remembers. Settling in Chattanooga, Tenn., where her husband got a teaching job at Baylor School, Mary has worked for Student Venture, The Magellan Foundation and Bible in the Schools. Two children and two grandchildren – Archer, age 4, and Winnie, 16 months, – bless the family. “I have continued my love for sports by being an avid fan both in person at the Baylor School and on television watching Texas and the Titans,” Mary Jane confesses.

1970s Richard Davis ’70, was named first team guard on the 1965 – 66 AllIntramural basketball team and was a member of the Class A champions, Phi Delta Theta. Richard, along with teammates Knox Nunnally ’65, ’68, and Kenny Jastrow ‘69, hails from Midland, Texas.

Today, Richard is married and lives in Kent, Conn., where he is a private investor and plays “at” golf.

Eugene Watson ’73, served as manager for the PEM Club (Physical Education Majors) and worked as an intramural field supervisor. He entered UT after serving three years in the Army during the Vietnam War. Prior to graduating and starting his coaching career in Austin in 1974, he served as a swimming assistant to the men’s and women’s teams with Coach Pat Patterson. Now in his 28th year as a high school swimming coach–presently in the United Independent School District in Laredo, Texas–he, wife Pat and four daughters live west of Dripping Springs, Texas. Eugene plans to retire this spring.

Jim Butler ’75, ’78, ’94 (MBA), Wall of Famer for squash in 1974–75, says he is happily married to Lynn Whitten ’75, ’83, who he met at UT in 1970. Jim is the City of Austin’s Creative Industries development manager.

David Davis ’69, ’71, ’77, earned his moment of “fame” with the Air Force ROTC intramural football team in 1967. After failing his senior-year eye exam to fly, he entered graduate school to study government. A waiver on his eyesight after a year in school landed him in navigator flight school where he trained as a weapons system officer. Two tours in Southeast Asia as a “back-seater” in an F-4 Phantom jet (84 combat flights) followed. He returned to UT law school in 1975 and is the founding director and shareholder of the Austin law firm Davis & Wilkerson, P.C. He and his wife have two sons, five grandsons and a granddaughter.

Bendel Rushing ’79, says he played intramurals for five years and played every sport he could compete in before winning his place on the Wall of Fame with a coed softball championship with the team called the Cs & Ds. After 10 years in the Air Force flying F-16 jets, Bendel has been an international pilot for Delta Air Lines for 19 years. One son, Bryson,

FAST FORWARD

Where Are You Now? attends UT while his oldest son, Ben, is a second lieutenant in U.S. Air Force pilot-training. Unfortunately, Bendel lost his wife, former UT cheerleader Pam McGee, in 2003. The family home is in Friendswood, Texas.

Kevin Cromack ’78, Class A tennis singles champion in 1976, lives in Austin with his wife, Mary (Hughes), where he is a home-based business entrepreneur as well as an agent for Health and Life Insurance. His daughter, Kimberley, is a freshman at UT in the McCombs School of Business. Kevin is the last of six siblings to attend UT. His father, Kermit, graduated from UT and UT law school in the 1930s.

Becky (Coffey) Pederson ’79, former president of Bevo’s Babes in 1978–79, was a member of the women’s intramural swimming champions in 1976 and 1978. Her husband, David, worked for RecSports as an activity supervisor in 1980. After a 25-year career with Southwestern Bell/SBC/AT&T in Houston, Becky moved to Dallas when her husband completed law school. Today Becky is employed with a worker’s compensation insurance company, has begun swimming again, and is involved with school and church activities. The family consists of a 13-year-old son and a daughter, Kate, who is a freshman at UT. Gene Craft and Docia (Alexander) Craft ’77, ’81, live in Pflugerville, Texas, with their six daughters. Gene dominated the handball scene at UT from 1972 to 1975, winning singles and doubles each year. Docia won champion shirts for softball and basketball.

Today Gene works for H-E-B while Docia teaches at Murchison Elementary School in Pflugerville.

Matt Herring ’78, played every sport for his fraternity, Kappa Alpha, and was named the Best All-Around Athlete in the fraternity division in 1977–78. Matt and wife Carol have one son, Blake, 25, and he is the co-owner of Amicus Interests, a commercial real estate company in Fort Worth.

Pam (Renegar) Wren ’79, appears on the Wall of Fame with the Pointless Sister’s basketball team in 1978–79. Following graduation she worked in accounting for 10 years, raised “little longhorns” for 20 years, and recently accepted a position with an accounting firm owned by Craig Koenig ’78, a Wall of Fame member with the coed softball team 20th Bong.

One daughter is a sophomore at UT, a son will enter UT in fall 2010 and a second son is a sophomore in high school.

1980s Todd Pederson ’83, Wall of Fame member with Point Blank basketball team in 1982, is the program director of Business Intelligence Management for Aprende Technology, Inc. in Austin. He and his wife, Wendy (Cavanaugh), ’88, engineering graduate, have three boys – Dylan, a freshman at UT; Aaron, a high school junior; and eighth-grader Ben. Don VandeVanter ’84, football champion with the Kool Byrds in 1982, lives in College Station, Texas, with his wife, Kelli, and two younger children – Erin and Caleb. His oldest son, Jacob, is a freshman at UT playing intramural football and basketball. Don is the chief financial officer for Capital Farm Credit, a large agricultural lender across the state of Texas.

Tammy (Rodgers) King ’84, three-time Wall of Fame member (basketball twice and track), also worked for RecSports.

After graduation, she taught school for 11 years in the Northside Independent School District in San Antonio. She and her husband, James, have two childre n– Haley, 16, and Harrison, 15. In 1998 the family moved to Fort Davis, Texas, to enjoy the small town life. Their time is spent running a couple of real estate companies and driving to sporting events three hours away in the beautiful mountains of West Texas. Of note: Rick McIvor, a former Texas quarterback, is the county sheriff.

Betty Jo Powers ’81, is a six-time intramural champion (women’s volleyball twice, women’s football and three times in coed volleyball) and threetime runner-up (coed basketball, flag football and women’s volleyball). She says, “I have very fond memories of playing intramural sports at UT, especially with the Pointless Sisters.” With a bachelor of business administration in accounting from UT, she attended law school and now lives in Katy, Texas, where she practices law.

1990s Niki (Baker) Doyle ’99, a multi-sport intramural champion, taught elementary special education in Texas (Cedar Park and Houston) before earning her master’s degree in 2002 from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio with an emphasis on autism and emotional disturbances. In 2008 she graduated from St. Mary’s Law School in San Antonio and in 2009 married Conan Doyle. Now settled in Houston, Niki still enjoys running and has competed in the 2005 Houston Marathon, 2006 Austin Half Marathon and 2007 Austin Marathon Relay.

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

TEAM OF THE DECADE

Acacia Fraternity Over the decade of 1965–75, Acacia Fraternity experienced a great deal of success in all phases of the Intramural Sports Program: team championships, individual honors, organizational honors and individual service. The decade was highlighted by 14 championships, seven runner-up finishes, six men who served as intramural senior managers and two men named Best All-Around Athletes. Also noteworthy to mention is that in 1972–73 and 1973–74, Acacia swept all three divisions of volleyball: Class A, Class B and the Mullet Division.

Kelly Howard ’75, All-Intramural volleyball

player and multi-sport athlete for Acacia, works for EXCO Resources, Inc., in Dallas as the accounting manager. He and his wife, Susan, have a son, Jeff.

Kelly, an active golfer, and son Jeff combined to win the Oakmont Country Club Member-Member Golf Tournament four years in a row.

Harry Craig ’73, All-Around Athlete for Acacia, married Sandra

Blalock, ’73, and raised two sons, one an ’02 UT graduate and the other a Virginia graduate. Harry owned and operated Craig’s Cleaners in Houston for 31 years before selling it in 2004 and “refocusing.” A fan of UT athletics, he notes, “The friendships that were formed through UT intramurals have lasted a lifetime.”

Steve Lappin ’72, Acacia athlete and intramural

senior manager in 1970–71, has over 35 years of experience in the accounts receivable industry. He founded Quantum Credit Services (QCS) in 1993 and served as president and chief executive officer until 2006. Prior to QCS, he was vice president of CSC Credit Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Computer Sciences Corporation. Steve currently provides consulting services for clients in the credit and collection industry. He and his wife, Ginny, ’71, live in Lakeway, Texas. They have two grown children and two grandsons.

Albert Conly ’77, intramural senior manager and

tennis champion, is the senior managing director for FTI Consulting, Inc., in Dallas. Bert and wife Jeanie (Butler) Conly ’77, have three daughters and one son. “Three of the great experiences of my life came from UT– Acacia Fraternity, intramurals and the Silver Spurs,” Ber t remembers. “A ll t hree allowed me to meet lifelong friends and gave me a feeling of belonging to a great but large university,” he noted.

Terry Newman ’71, named Best All-Around Athlete in 1970–71,

played for championship teams in basketball, volleyball and softball. Now retired from the State of Texas, Terry and his wife, Mary (Hibbs) Newman ’81, ’84, reside in Austin.

Tom Shelton ’69, ’73, a member of all four championship vol-

leyball teams, is married to Linda (Ross) Shelton ’73, and has two sons – Greg and Brian. A retired corporate attorney (’02) living in Houston, Tom’s interests include watching all kinds of UT sports and traveling. African photo safaris are a favorite destination.

Cliff Kavanaugh ‘72, has been an investment banker in Houston

since 1976. Now living in Richmond, Texas, he and his wife of 34 years, Roslyn (Tieman) Kavanaugh, ’75 (UT Medical Branch– Occupational Therapy), raised three children and are grandparents to two grandchildren with a third on the way.

1972–72 Volleyball Champions. Front Row (L-R): Terry Newman, Harry Craig, Cliff Kavanaugh. Back Row (L-R): Roy Roberts, Tom Shelton, Jim Shelton.

Intramural Wrestling: The Real Story Dean Callender ’56, ’58, defeated Herb Hamilton ’60, for the 157-pound weight class championship in 1958–59. “I’ve received a lot of attention from that wrestling photo over the years. People thought I must have been a mean wrestler. The truth is my buddy, Herby, had had an altercation the previous night at the Fiji house,” Dean recalls. “I think my sponge half-mask made him mad,” Herb remembers. Dean married his college sweetheart two weeks after graduation, went to work for Standard Oil of Texas and today is in the securities business. Three children attended UT and currently a grandson, who is a wrestler, is a UT student. As an architectural engineer, Herb worked in 35 countries and traveled in over 100 dealing with the engineering and construction of offshore platforms and pipelines. Currently Herb is working on upgrading Exxon Mobil platforms and production facilities offshore from Nigeria. The family includes two boys and two girls, three granddaughters and five grandsons.

157-pound Finalist Dean Callender and Herb Hamilton.

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KSAers Volleyball

Patti (Baldree) Keeney ’85, worked for a property management

The KSAers were a group of women and former high school rivals that came together in the intramural program. The team won women’s volleyball in 1980–81 and finished as the runner-up during the next three years. Dee Davis, Donna Hafner, Patti Baldree and Diane Loe all played volleyball for Westchester High School while Donna Sloan and Kathy Zirker played for rival Stratford High School in the Houston area. “The team name KSA comes from an old rallying cry we did in our huddle during Wildcat days at Westchester High School,” confesses Dee. The cheer?

Kick Some A**! Who would have known?

company following graduation in Austin. In 1987 she married Art Keeney (a Texas A&M University graduate) and moved to Houston then to Michigan for Art’s job in 1994. Over the next 15 years, they relocated to Minnesota and Pennsylvania and had three children, now ages 10, 12 and 14. Patti notes, “We love the northwest for the colors and the hills, but I’d move back to Texas in a heartbeat.” She also adds, “It was so exciting to be a part of the KSAers. The college years at UT are my fondest memories over the duration of my life.”

Donna (Hodges) Hafner ’84, graduated with a bachelor of

London School of Economics and the University of California at Berkeley. Today she runs her own management consulting firm.

She and her husband and two children (Ian and Talia) live in Mill Valley, Calif., which is located just over the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. Kathy enjoys hiking the hills of California and swimming in the cold ocean. She adds,“I dearly miss playing volleyball and drinking Texas margaritas with the girls.”

business administration in accounting and now works for a major power company in Houston. Her two daughters attend UT— Rachel, Class of 2010, and Claire, Class of 2012. “Both of them are active in RecSports and love it,” says Donna.

Dee (Davis) Nowell ’85, moved to Houston after graduation.

Kathy Zirker-Smith ’84, received graduate degrees from the

She started out in retail management before eventually working in pharmaceutical management for 15 years. A company promotion took her to Scottsdale, Ariz., in 1995 where she lives with her husband, Jerry, and nine-year-old daughter Kendall. She left the pharmaceutical business and now spends time in the community volunteering and fund raising.

Donna (Sloan) Danto ’84, lives in Sugar Land, Texas, with her

husband, Al Danto, and son Chet, who is a sophomore in high school. Her daughter, Alicia, is a sophomore at Notre Dame University. Donna works as a certified public accountant at a local accounting firm, and enjoys sports and spending time with her family at a lake house in Crockett, Texas.

1980-81 Champions (L-R): Donna Sloan, Patti Baldree, Kathy Zirker, Dee Davis, Donna Hodges, Diane Loe.