Inside RecSports: Spring/Summer 2011

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YOUR CONNECTION TO UT INTRAMURALS Vol. 10, No.2 Spring/Summer 2011 EDUCATION THROUGH RECREATION LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM FEATURE ARTICLE

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Alumni Newsletter

Transcript of Inside RecSports: Spring/Summer 2011

Page 1: Inside RecSports: Spring/Summer 2011

YOUR CONNECTION TO UT INTRAMURALS

Vol. 10, No.2 Spring/Summer 2011

EDUCATION THROUGH RECREATIONLEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

F E A T U R E A R T I C L E

Page 2: Inside RecSports: Spring/Summer 2011

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.

Dear Friends: As we have illustrated in past editions, participation in recreational activities is much more than physical fitness and intramurals. Our activities and programs impart various valuable life lessons on the courts and on the playing fields. Many of these lessons, from learning how to get along with others to developing self-confidence, contribute to the personal development of UT students.

Growing up as the son of a high school basketball coach, I, too, learned a number of life lessons from participation in sports that I incorporate on a daily basis. One of the most important lessons I learned from my father concerns the value of teamwork. He taught me that each player’s contribution, regardless of role, is important to a team’s success. As a Friend of RecSports, you are a valuable member of our team. Your contributions, whether in the form of encouragement or through donations to the Excellence Fund or to one of the endow-ments, make a significant impact on RecSports and, thus, on today’s Longhorns.

Last fall I wrote about the revitalized energy and increased excitement across campus as the new academic year began. While the energy is still apparent today, I must admit we are facing some challenging times. The changing economic landscape has taken its toll on most offices and departments on campus. Significant adjustments have already been made in our current budget and more cuts are imminent. My 91-year-old dad would likely advise when confronted with such challenges, “Don’t press. Stick to your fundamentals. Support each other.” I firmly believe there is a way out of this box if we work together. Your continued support, in whatever form, is needed now more than ever to help withstand these difficult economic times.

As you read the stories and testimonials inside, we hope you will remember the good times you enjoyed with RecSports during your time at UT and will join our efforts to assure that today’s Longhorns enjoy the same opportunities you had. We also hope that you will reflect on the critical life lessons that you may have learned as a participant of Recreational Sports and how they helped shape the person you are today.

Continuing the tradition of “Education through Recreation” is more than a slogan—it is a philosophy that has held true for countless generations of Longhorns and serves as a guiding principle in all that we do today. Thank you for your past and future support of RecSports and please stay in touch.

Best Wishes,

Thomas W. DisonAssociate Vice President and Director

Cover:

Intramural basketball teams: 1984

Fitness instructors: 2011

Yosemite National Park adventure trip: 2010

Fitness/Wellness– Nutrition ConsultationsRecSports has introduced a new service, Nutrition Consultations, as part of its Fitness/Wellness Program. Participants now have the opportunity to meet with a registered dietician and a certified personal trainer for advanced nutrition consulting, including tips on meal planning, nutrient and caloric intake, food choices and journaling. These one-on-one sessions are held twice weekly on an appointment only basis.

Intramural Sports– OfficiatingIn addition to officiating intramural games on campus, a select few student intramural officials get the opportunity to officiate at regional and national tournaments hosted by the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA). Over the past decade, UT officials have regularly worked the flag football and basketball regionals and nationals, with nine UT officials working in the last two years. In April The University of Texas hosted the 2011 NIRSA NCCS National Basketball Championships featuring 16 teams and 14 officials from across the country.

Outdoor Recreation– Adventure TripsLast May RecSports adventure guides led 10 students on a backpacking/rafting trip to Yosemite National Park in California. The group spent seven days exploring the grandeur and beauty of the Yosemite Valley. Highlights of the trip included a five-night backpacking excursion along the rim as well as a wild ride down the class IV rapids of the Merced River. The trip was such a success that RecSports will lead another trip to Yosemite National Park in May 2011.

Sport Clubs– Women’s Soccer This past fall the Women’s Soccer Club finished with a 14–1–3 record and qualified for nationals in Phoenix, Ariz. There, they defeated the University of Pittsburgh and the University of California-Berkeley in pool play. They then defeated three other universities–the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of California, Los Angeles, and Texas A&M University–to reach the finals against three-time defending champion University of California, Santa Barbara. The game ended in a 1-1 tie and UC–Santa Barbara eventually won 5–4 in penalty kicks. Named to the all-tournament team from Texas were Chelsea Pace, Madeline Danna and Emily Gross.

Division– Job FairRecSports hires nearly 1,000 students each year for 73 different job titles. Some jobs require experience and others just a good attitude and a willingness to work. The positions range from photographers to yoga instructors to lifeguards and everything in between. To accomplish this massive hiring, veteran student employees conduct initial interviews at a Job Fair held in Gregory Gym in October and March each year.

Design by Jess Moss

“As you read the stories and testimonials

inside, we hope you will remember the good times you enjoyed with RecSports.”

WELCOME SPOTLIGHT

Inside RecSports is published twice a year by The University of Texas at Austin, Division of Recreational Sports. For more information, log on to www.utrecsports.org/friends.

StudentDIVISION OF

Affairs

Page 3: Inside RecSports: Spring/Summer 2011

What They SayFernando Cordova, ’10, former RecSports building coordinator, states, “My involvement with UT RecSports permitted me to come to the realization that one should strive to become a person of value and actively live up to values like responsibility, leadership, tolerance, friendship, teamwork and honesty.”

Application Consultant–BrainLAB, Dallas, Texas

Lynn (Fox) Utter, ’84, says, “It was as a referee on the intramural volleyball courts that I may have learned some of the most important and early lessons on the value of and challenges in multicultural diversity. I recall vividly being the lead referee in the men’s championship volleyball game between an American

team and a team composed of Middle Eastern international students. Tempers flared from both sides of the court. The specifics don’t matter. What I took away from the game was a renewed awareness of how stereotypes and a lack of sensitivity plagued both sides. Yet, through athletic competition, sportsmanship prevailed. For the record, I went on to grad school and wound up playing on the men’s intramural volleyball team that was composed of five men from Iran and me, a Caucasian, white female who spoke English. I learned more on that team about the challenges and value of diversity and inclusion than I could ever recount in a job interview. But the experience surely made me a better person, if not a more inclusive leader.”

President and Chief Operating Officer–Knoll North America

Bill McMeans, ’80, notes, “While my degree was in economics, my real education took place on the fields and courts of the Intramural Sports Program at The University of Texas. The interpersonal skills learned while interacting with team members, competitors and officials in a competitive environment could not

be replaced with multiple academic degrees.” Former Co–Founder, President and

Chief Executive Officer–Republic Plastics Ltd (1998–2006) Independent Management Consulting

Professional/Principal–Out To Lunch Foods LLC

Ed Junell, ’68, ’71, says, “While I can’t speak to the state of recreational sports at UT today, I can say without hesitation that intramural sports in the 1960s did more to develop strength of character and build broader and longer lasting personal relationships than any other single activity. The program was strong, the

athletes were exceptional and the competition was fierce, yet sports-manship always prevailed. Clearly, many of those that competed have carried their leadership and competitive qualities into chosen professions and today stand among the best and brightest of The University of Texas.”

Attorney–Schwartz, Junell, Greenberg & Oathout LLP

Education Through RecreationLearning Outside the ClassroomStudents who participate in recreational sports have certain expectations. Primarily they expect to improve fitness, build strength, overcome stress, control their weight and increase their energy level. Few students realize that their participation in RecSports will also help them gain personal and career enriching skills that will follow them the rest of their lives. Yet that is precisely the message RecSports receives from countless students and alumni and with good reason. A key part of RecSports’ mission is “to teach students meaningful life experiences, encourage personal achievement and develop involved and responsible citizens.”

All of the program areas within RecSports offer unique opportunities for students to grow and thrive as scholars, individuals and citizens. The Intramural Sports Program, for example, hires several hundred student officials who manage over 5,000 sport contests a year and ensure fair play among over 12,000 participants.

Betty (Baker) Anderson, ’76, who was named Best Official in 1975–76 and is now a branch manager for Network Funding L.P., credits her intramural officiating experience for teaching her invaluable career-enhancing lessons. She says, “As a female officiating men’s games, I learned to know my subject well, how to defend my position and know when to rely on my partner for a better perspective. Those very same lessons applied when I was the only female out of 13 hires to enter the management training program for the second largest bank in Houston.”

The Fitness/Wellness Program has also enriched the personal and professional lives of many students who worked as personal trainers or fitness instructors. Tia (Wallace) Bennett, Ph.D., ’03, now an assistant professor in Health and Education at Northeastern State, says her career path was molded while teaching aerobics at UT. “I learned who I was and how natural it was for me to teach and motivate others to improve their own quality of life, ” she says.

Through formalized service learning opportunities, the Outdoor Recreation Program facilitates the development of character and leadership in students who lead outdoor trips. Ryan Ruppert, ’08, a reservoir engineer in Alaska, says his experience as a trip guide allowed him to see a very human side of UT and increased his passion for working in natural environments. “I led a backpacking trip to Lost Maples Park in the

fall of 2004 with a married couple, a law student, a nuclear physicist, international students, professors and freshmen not two months into their stay on the Forty Acres. That crew best embodied the diversity of RecSports and of UT. It was such a fun trip to learn about everyone’s different heritage and backgrounds,” he says.

The Sport Club Program, which provides students with the opportunity to participate in recreational and competitive non-varsity sports, is another area that directly supports well-rounded personal development. Nearly 2,000 students participated in 43 clubs last academic year. Many held leadership positions, which required them to be directly responsible for the formation, development, governance and admin-istration of each club. Students learn such life skills as planning, time management, budget development and peer communication. Brooke Carpin, ’07, now working in the corporate offices of Equinox Fitness Clubs in New York, N.Y., says, “Of all the experiences I had with RecSports, it was my position as director of the Dance Team that earned me this job.” Brooke notes that “learning to lead a group of your peers and understanding the importance of delegation” were valuable lessons she acquired. “Essentially, I learned how to run a small business that required money to operate and a staff that functioned like a well-oiled machine,” she concludes.

Students who hold part-time jobs with RecSports in such capacities as building coordinators, cashiers and clerical assistants gain far more than a paycheck. They acquire life skills that provide them with a found- ation of essential competencies such as conflict resolution, personal organization, interpersonal relationships and stress management. In an annual survey conducted in the spring of 2010, RecSports student employees indicated the top five life skills they gained during their employment as: (1) the ability to work with diverse populations, (2) confidence, (3) customer service, (4) interpersonal skills and (5) personal organization.

Nearly 1,000 students are employed each year to fill 73 different kinds of jobs for RecSports. This includes up to 300 new employees annually. Here are some other facts concerning student employees:

94 percent of student employees agree that their UT RecSports employment experience has enhanced their quality of life at the University.

97 percent of student employees feel that their employment with RecSports has contributed to the development of their leadership skills.

95 percent of student employees feel that their employment with RecSports has contributed to their appreciation of an inclusive campus community.

99 percent of student employees would recommend RecSports to other individuals who are seeking employment.

“Studies show that learning outside the classroom can often be more effective and have more impact than traditional learning methods,” notes RecSports Senior Associate Director Eric Stoutner, adding that participation in extracurricular activities, such as intramurals, has also been positively related to persistence and satisfaction in such areas as social competence, autonomy, confidence and self-awareness.

To read more success stories, log on to: www.utrecsports.org/friends/newsletter/inside_recsports_newsletter.php

LOOKING BACK LOOKING BACK

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A Message from Joe Bill Watkins,’65, ’68 RecSports Leadership TeamChair

Lambda Chi Alpha ReunionThe Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity has a long history on the UT campus and is known for placing a high value on brotherhood, which it considers to be a lifelong bond that endures beyond college. In the spirit of brotherhood, the group held a reunion in Gregory Gym this past fall that was attended by over 200 alumni, including spouses and families. Organized by Kevin Farrell, ’90, ’93, with assistance from Rennie Baker, ’70, the event attracted alumni from seven decades. J.C. Thomas, who was initiated in 1945, was the oldest alumnus in attendance. Ben Bynum,’61, received an award for Outstanding Stewardship for the dedication he has shown the chapter over the past 50 years. Current Lambda Chi Chapter President Les Lopez also attended. Photos of the event are available online at: www.utrecsports.org/friends/events/events_photos.php.

For more information about the fall 2011 Lambda Chi Alpha reunion planned for the weekend of the Oklahoma State football game on Oct. 15, contact Kevin Farrell at [email protected].

Fun, food, friendship, laughter, golf. Enjoy all this and more at the 2nd Annual Bob Childress Golf Classic, slated for Friday, May 13, at Falconhead Golf Club, located in west Austin, just minutes from campus. Designed by the PGA Tour Design Center, the course offers golf enthusiasts the same kind of quality golf that the pros experience. Last year’s inaugural tournament, which filled to capacity with 80 players, has been expanded to accommodate up to 120 golfers.

Participants in last year’s event included 1980-81 intramural football champions from Delta Upsilon; several former student employees, including student intramural officials; many current or recently graduated students; and business professionals from the Austin community. The namesake of the event, Bob Childress, RecSports development & campus relations coordinator, took delight in the turnout and enjoyed reminiscing with two of his oldest friends, Mark Baletka, ‘75, and Mike Wasson, ‘81. He also had the opportunity to play in a foursome with Leadership Team member Bill McMeans, ’80. He notes, “Despite the bad weather that ended the tournament early, everyone had a wonderful time.”

Proceeds from the four-person scramble will benefit the RecSports Excellence Fund, a critical, unrestricted resource for the Division.

Bob Childress Golf ClassicFriday, May 13, 2011

Falconhead Golf ClubAustin, TexasEntry fees:

$150/person $600/foursome

Format:Best ball

Fee includes:Golf, prizes, lunch and happy hour

Enter online at www.utrecsports.org/friends/golf.For additional information or questions, please contact Randall Ford

at 512–471–3116.

You’re Invited2nd Annual

Bob Childress Golf ClassicAs chairman of the RecSports Leadership Team for the past three and a half years, I’ve come to realize how much my experiences in this great program decades ago have meant to me. With great respect for my Plan II and Law School professors, I feel, like many of you, that I “majored” in intramural sports during my student days. I also do not mind acknowledging that I identify with the students quoted in this newsletter who attest to the value of participating in some aspect of RecSports and feel that RecSports remains a vital part of campus life while supporting the University’s mission.. Unfortunately, the current economic climate is threatening this fine program that touches the lives of so many students. If your student experiences with RecSports were good ones, I strongly urge you to consider what you can do to help. Whether it’s your time and energy or a contribution to one of several endowments, I invite you to join me and the other Leadership Team members in our efforts to help RecSports remain a strong and vital component of the University’s educa-tional process. I assure you, it’s well worth the time and effort.

DEVELOPMENT

Ben Bynum accepts an award from David Lambert (L) and Rick Gentry (R).

Friends of RecSports presents

ClassicBob Childress

the

5.13.11

Friends of RecSports DonorsThe Division of Recreational Sports is pleased to acknowledge the following individuals and businesses for their

generous contributions received between Oct. 1, 2009, and Dec. 31, 2010. Gifts to RecSports support student professional development initiatives, contribute to student leadership opportunities and help to ensure our

commitment to excellence. Note: Donations to the Sport Club Program are not included in this list.

Abel’s on the Lake

Ken Allen in Memory of J.E. Cox

Leland Allred

Henry A. Anawaty III

Dr. Glenn D. Appelt

David A. Armour

Austin Screen Printing Inc.

David L. Balderach III

Mark Baletka

David Bickham

Jackie R. Boston

David R. Bowles

Michael I. Branisa

Kim E. Brightwell

Ann Vandivier Brodnax

Brodnax & Karnes CPAs

Harry J. Brooks, Jr.

Reggie Brooks

I. Jon Brumley

John G. Campbell

S. Benton Cantey

Michael M. Carnes

Betty L. Carter in Memory of Lee Carter

Gene A. Carter

Mary C. Carter in Memory of Lee Carter

Claire & John Caudill

CC Creations Ltd.

C. Mark Chassay, M. D.

William R. Childs

Marchelle W. Clements

Brian Cogburn

C. F. K. Cole

Jim Cole

Martin I. Cole

Jim Condry

Albert S. Conly

Continental Airlines Inc.

Taylor V. Cooksey

Dr. Danielle Baker Cooper

Rox B. Covert in Memory of Lynn Brill

Delbert M. Cox

Harry L. Craig

Cuatros

Isabella C. M. Cunningham, Ph.D.

William H. Cunningham, Ph.D.

R. Timothy Curran

Cybex

Amy D. Dalrymple

Carolyn & Platt Davis

Thomas W. Dison

Darci E. Doll

Robert A. Dosher

B. Tom Dreher

David S. Dunham

David G. Dunlap

Buford L. Emerson

Enterprise Bank

Eyes of Texas

Daniel J. Feitel II

Chip Fly

Dr. Kenneth B. Ford, Jr.

Walter S. Fortney III

Four Seasons Hotel–Austin

Watson W. Fung

Jayson S. Galler, Ph.D.

Bruce Garcia

Gardner Aldrich L.L.P.

Kevin R. Garrett

René A. Garza

Robert E. Gerrie

Jon R. Gibson

Marion & Bennett Glazer

George E. Glober, Jr.

Howard Goldberg

Nick W. Goodrich

Randy Gordon

Bert Graham in Memory of Glenn Graham

Grey Rock Golf Club

Christopher M. Gunter

Lynn C. Halamicek

Ronald A. Hecht

George A. Helland, Jr.

Dick Henkle

A. Jackson Hill in Memory of David Henderson

Ira L. Hillyer

Jack Holford

ACACIA–Jim Holloway

William L. Holmes

James K. Holtzman

Carter (Corky) Howard

Ralph T. Hull

JetBlue

William E. Junell, Jr.

John Robert Kamrath

Cliff L. Kavanaugh

Mark B. Kellner

Mark B. Kellner in Honor of Kayla Fink

William M. Kennedy, Jr.

Edward S. Knight

Rodney C. Koenig & Frost National Bank, Co-Trustees of the Alice Taylor Gray Foundation

William D. Kvinta in Memory of Charles Kvinta

Weir Labatt III

Steve Lappin

Jim Larkin

Carter Llewellyn

Lloyd Lochridge

Laura A. Longoria

James L. Lozier

David D. Lybarger

Marathon Fitness

The Greg & Mari Marchbanks Family Foundation

Steve T. Matthews

Maudie’s Cafe

Maxwell Locke & Ritter LLP

Mr. & Mrs. James W. McBride

John J. McKetta, Jr. Ph.D., P.E.

William V. McMeans

Col. Ben A. Meharg, USMC (Ret.)

Dr. Jerry L. Merritt, Jr.

Brian N. Mills

John R. Mireur, M.D.

Mr. Gatti’s LP

Jeffrey G. Mundy

William S. Nance

John H. Nash III

Larry W. Nettles

Terry Newman

Ashley H. Nipper

Collins F. Oakley

Michael S. O’Brien

Charles P. Oles, Jr.

The Bill Patman Family

Stephen M. Pearce

John H. Peper

Dr. M. Clifton Perry

James L. Persky

Fred N. Pfeiffer

Daniel M. Phillips, Senior Men 1959

Gayle Greenwood Pitts

Manning B. “Buddy” Pletz

Theo L. Polasek

Paul E. Powell

P. Clift Price, M.D.

Property Tax Group Inc.

Keshav Rajagopalan

Robert R. Randolph

F. Kyle Read

John J. Redfern III

Scott Reeves/Matrix Fitness

Mario J. Rios

George S. Robertson, Jr.

Richard L. Romatowski

Roy E. Rushing

E. J. Sarraille

L. Franklyn Schaefer

Matthew C. Schuetz

Craig Scott

Charles B. Shelby

Tom Shelton

Marilyn E. Shepherd

Ben H. Sheppard, Jr.

Marshall Sherwood

Larry Sikes

Thomas D. Simmons, Jr.

Brenda B. Smith

J. Ed Smith

Max H. Smith

William C. St. Clair

Thomas H. Stewart

Robert L. Stillwell, Sr.

Jack H. Stutts

Glenn M. Sutton

Suzi’s China Grill

Evans R. Swann

John Y. Tarlton, D.V.M.

R. D. Tatum

Texas Rangers

Alvin Thaggard III

Michael J. Tomsu

Terry O. Tottenham

James C. Upchurch

James W. Vick

Jay R. Waddell

J. A. Wade

Michael H. Wasson

Joe Bill Watkins

Seth M. Weatherly

Timothy J. Wellik, D.D.S.

Douglas C. Whatley

Linda McCalla Williams

Ronnie Williams

Jack W. Womack

Henry K. Woodward

World Class Capital Group LLC

Lyle G. Worthington

DEVELOPMENT

Page 5: Inside RecSports: Spring/Summer 2011

Paver Patrons Congratulations and sincerest thank you to the following individuals, teams and organizations for their

patronage of the Pavers Project. Their brick pavers have been installed in Section 1 and are now on view for all to admire as they enter Gregory Gym.

Gregory Gym Pavers Another milestone moment in the history of Gregory Gym took place over the winter break as Section 1 of the Gregory Gym pavers was installed at the entrance to the facility. Section 2 pavers are now available for purchase. Options include single pavers and groupings that can honor or commemorate teams or organizations. RecSports staff will work with you to determine the design that best meets your needs and budget. Take advantage of this lifetime remembrance of a family member, a team or your own experience at UT with intramurals or RecSports.

Pavers are available in five sizes: 4" x 8" $250 8" x 8" $500 8" x 12" $750 8" x 16" $1,000 16" x 16" $2,500

All proceeds are tax deductible and benefit the RecSports Excellence Fund.

Interested in purchasing a paver? Order online at www.utrecsports.org/friends/initiatives/pavers/.

Contact Bob Childress at [email protected] or 512-475-7180.

Ki AllenRaye M. AllenHenry A. Anawaty IIIBetty Baker AndersonJohn G. AngellMike AngellAndrew W. BachofenKelly L. BakerMark BaletkaRonald D. BandyCarroll S. BarbourRichard A. BeelerSteven BercuJack S. BlantonRobbie K. Blanton-LowreyJohnnie BooneCue D. BoykinTara C. BradyJay BrimAnn Vandivier BrodnaxJames E. BurkhardtRobert A. CarnesLouis S. CaseyRobert G. ChildressThomas G. ClarkGareth W. CookDelbert M. CoxMark G. CreightonR. Caven CrosnoeSylvie P. CrumRichard W. DavisPeggy Stocker DiebelAna R. DisonLewis W. DonagheyRobert A. DosherCindy Hopson DownsRonald D. EarleGus K. Eifler IIIJulie EnnisPreston T. FaykusWilliam H. Fenoglio, Jr.Daniel V. FlattenJames L. Geary

N. Martin GieseckeCarroll W. GlaserH. E. Bert GrahamThomas A. GravesStaley W. GrayDean M. GreenwoodMike HammMack H. HarrisRobert Eldon HarrisTodd L. HasieRay HelmcampRoger C. HendersonThomas F. HillJ. T. HiltonHobby Family FoundationRebecca L. HopsonS. Sykes Houston, Jr.David B. HurstThomas R. HurstRobert C. IttnerKenneth M. Jastrow IIClare Broun JohnsonBilly R. KarrhCarolyn Frost KeenanFrederic KellyLynn KerchevalMary & Steve KnightNora S. KnowlesDaniel D. KubinWeir LabattB. D. LainJoyce Mathey LewisR. Glenn LooneyJim M. LyonsJames M. MalloySteve T. MatthewsNora S. McCulloughDeborah Kyle McGeeGrace MeeksKenneth J. MighellMargaret Harris MillerSandra & Doyle NicholsonJohn Nolan

Knox D. NunnallyRobert W. PaddockCharles S. PageDeborah & Mark PapeGranville E. Paules IIIMark W. PerrinDaniel M. PhillipsJ.W. PieperKen Raggio ’71, ’74Shannon H. RatliffLeo C. RoanFred Sarchet, 1975/76 Mean GreenEmy Lou Settle SawyerJerry Lynn SetliffJ. Shelby SharpeClare Ward SmithJerry SmithJudge Steve SmithSuzanne Harris SmithEric D. StoutnerSteve UnderwoodJohn T. UsherLynn Fox Utter Francisco Valladares, UT Staff, MCDB The Vermillion Family Foundation, Inc.Kathy G. WallaceLinda & Mark WilliamsLinda McCalla WilliamsJack W. WomackBill Woods, Retired, Geo SciencesJames Woodworth

Organization Pavers Delta Kappa EpsilonDelta Tau DeltaHill HallNavy FootballPhi Delta ThetaPhi Gamma DeltaPi Beta PhiRecruitsSigma Phi Epsilon

DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT

Page 6: Inside RecSports: Spring/Summer 2011

joined the faculty at Oklahoma University–Tulsa in 2000 where he and his wife, Linda Bell, reside. Steve appears on the Wall of Fame for his 1981 coed fun-run victory with Lisa Popp,’88.

1980s Randy Howry,’80, a member of the coed football champions Bombers in 1978, also won the Notwotny Sportsmanship Award that year. He earned a law degree from the South

Texas College of Law and specializes in civil litigation with the Austin firm, HowryBreen, L.L.P. Randy is past president of both the Austin Bar and the West Austin Youth Association and is married to Julia (Baker) Howry, an Arkansas alumna. They have two children,16-year-old Baker, a junior at Austin High School who aspires to be a Longhorn in 2012, and 15-year-old Daniel, a freshman at St. Andrew’s Upper School who likes basketball.

David Muir, ’85, table tennis doubles champion, says he first worked as a reservoir engineer finding gas and oil in “the lower 48” for ARCO and now does likewise for BP. David

and his wife, Debbie, live in Katy, Texas, with their three daughters. David’s interests include Bible study, parenting, fishing, golf-ing, jogging, playing tennis and table tennis and snow skiing.

Tom Rowley, ’84, ’88, received degrees in architectural studies and community and regional planning while working as a lifeguard and then building coordinator for RecSports.

Tom won intramural champion T-shirts in softball, inner tube basketball and water polo. He spent nearly 20 years in Washington, D.C. , working first for the federal government then as a freelance writer before returning to Texas in 2005 with wife Maria and sons Jake and Michael. He serves as U.S. director of A Rocha, an international conservation organization.

1950s/1960s Les Bryant,’56, who played on the AIChE softball team, which won the championship in 1955–56, notes, “Probably for the first time in history, every man on our champion softball

team graduated as a chemical engineer.” Les worked 30 years for Union Carbide Chemi-cals in Texas City, Texas, as a senior engineer in operations. “After 55 years in Galveston County and too many hurricanes, my wife of 60 years and I retired in Midlothian, Texas,” he says.

J. A. Wade, ’66, runner-up in Class A football with Delta Sigma Pi, traveled to practically every nation in the world during his working career, providing economic analysis and

international operational planning for various oil and gas companies. Today, he and his wife are retired in Lakeway, Texas. One of his four children is a UT graduate now serving as assistant volleyball coach at the University of Virginia. The Wade family includes 15 grandchildren.

1970s Ken Raggio, ’71, ’74, a four-time track champion running for Sigma Nu, the Lorts and Akala, as well as a football champion for Akala and the Legal Eagles, practices law in

Dallas while remaining active in sports. He still plays a little football, is a gold and silver medal winner in the State Senior Track Meet and just recently finished second in the Sears Tower Race (2,109 steps in 20 minutes).

Steve Hoppes, ’75, ’78, ’84 (Ph.D.), received all his degrees from UT and taught physical education and coached at Howard Payne University and Schreiner University until

1991 before changing careers. He obtained a degree in occupational therapy in 1994 and

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.

FAST FORWARD

Ingrid (Christiansen) Cropper, ’84, was an intra-mural champion with the Trainers and a member of the Intramural Council. After college she worked

for Austin EMS before teaching at various schools as she and her Air Force husband moved around the United States. Today, she teaches at St. Matthew’s Catholic School in San Antonio and is on the coaching staff for middle school track. Ingrid and Leo have two children, Michael, 22, and Teresa, 12.

Karen Schultz, ‘89 (UT law), a mixed doubles tennis champion, practiced law in Dallas for 11 years before moving to San Antonio where she started a consulting

company in long-term care planning for lawyers nationwide. Karen homeschools her 9-year-old son, writes freelance and enjoys playing golf.

Leigh (Agee) Grover, ’86, played with the women’s football champions, the Outlaws, which finished second to Georgia Tech at the 1989 national flag foot-

ball tournament in New Orleans, La. Leigh is currently a senior geologist/project manager for Shaw Environmental in Irving, Texas. Her oldest son, who serves in the Army, expects to ship out to Afghanistan this spring. The youngest son attends college in Houston.

Merry (Fawley) Heyne, ’87, an intramural tennis champion (women’s singles 1984), plays in two tennis leagues in Houston and works part time as a legal assistant.

She says she has been happily married to Erik Heyne, ’82, for 21 years and has two teenage daughters.

1990s/2001 Kimara (Ckodre) Wilson, ’91, a six-time member of the Wall of Fame (basketball, football, softball), married fellow coed football team member, John Wilson, ’91. Ki received a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from Texas Woman’s University in 2002 and today lives in Sonora, Calif., with husband John and three children–

Avery, Camden and Brevin. John coached basketball and cross-country for 14 years and now works at the Sonora Sports & Fitness Center.

Jennifer McCarver, ’01, home run derby champion ’98, and runner-up in coed softball in ‘99, graduated with a degree in biology in 2001 and went to work for the Texas Department

of State Health Services Laboratory. In 2009 she received a master’s degree in public health from Texas A&M University through the distance education program and is currently employed as the general laboratory supervisor for Dallas County.

Dr. Kedra B. (Thomas) Ishop, ’97, ’00, ’08 (Ph.D.), earned her degrees from UT where she played intramurals, officiated volleyball and softball and worked as an

intramural supervisor. Kedra, a three-time member of the Wall of Fame for coed and women’s football, says, “My time as an intramural participant and supervisor allowed me to do everything that I loved and to learn plenty about things that I didn’t know I was looking for. It was the beginning of my professional education in conflict management, fairness and diplomacy.” Kedra has served in several capacities for the Office of Admissions at UT. After beginning her career as a freshman admissions counselor, she established the University’s second regional admissions center in Dallas before moving on to manage the Houston Admissions Center. In July 2003 she returned to Austin after being named associate director of admissions, and in 2009 she assumed the role of vice provost and director of admissions at The University of Texas at Austin.

Wall of Fame Record Holders

Cathy Purcell ’92, and Cindy Purcell ’92, both pharmacy graduates and both working today in that field, established the unofficial record for Wall of Fame photos by appearing 28 times (Cindy) and 27 times (Cathy). In four undergraduate years, these twin sisters played and excelled in women and coed divisions of football, soccer, volleyball, basketball and softball. Cindy, married

with two children–Austin, 4 and Rylie, 8–still plays adult soccer but had to give up hockey and softball when the kids arrived. Cathy, single, still plays soccer, works out at the gym and enjoys skiing and wake boarding with her sister. Both reside in Kennedale, Texas.

Cindy Purcell displays her skills as an intramural softball player.

Are you pictured on the Wall of Fame?

Did you play on a sport club? Or did you work for RecSports?

Share your best memories with us so we can mention you in the Where Are You Now pages.

Please contact Bob Childress. 512–475–7180 or [email protected]

Page 7: Inside RecSports: Spring/Summer 2011

CLASS A CHAMPS

Kappa AlphaClass A Basketball ChampionsCommitment • Hard Work • Team Effort“We caught lightening in a bottle” is the way Al Badger recalls how he felt when Kappa Alpha won the All-University basketball championship in 1964–65. Joel Robuck remembers, “It was a thrilling season but it involved much hard work because we were committed to winning the championship.”

Joel Robuck, ’64,’65, grew up in the Dallas South Oak Cliff neigh-borhood where he “lived and breathed” basketball. He attended Paris Junior College for one year on an athletic scholarship before following his mother, father and sister to UT. After receiving his degree in 1964, he continued to work on an MBA. While in graduate school, he noticed that the Kappa Alpha chapter had several really good basketball players. “I suggested we could win if we really devoted ourselves,” says Joel, adding “we all committed to diligent practices, including running the bleachers in Gregory Gym.” Fundamentals, conditioning and the Drake Shuffle offense resulted in an undefeated season capped by a final played before a UT basketball game in Gregory Gym. Since graduation, Joel has continued to be active with UT not only as a Texas Exes Life Member but also as a contractor. His latest business venture involves the team construction management project of a $5 million renovation and expansion of the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center on the UT campus ( John P. Harbin is his father-in-law). Joel has been creating residential communities for 35 years in the Dallas and Austin areas, including Lake Pointe, Lake Forest, Belvedere and Brushy Top. He and his wife, Linda, have two sons, the youngest, Richard, a 1997 UT graduate and former member of Kappa Alpha.

Al Badger, ’67, outstanding fast-pitch softball pitcher and member of the basketball team, is still practicing law in Dallas. Al notes, “It was a total team effort. We even missed some ‘paid-for’ evening meals because we were practicing in Gregory Gym. We played together and didn’t really have any stars, although Joel should be credited with our success.” Al and his wife, Tanna, have four children, all of whom have completed college. Son number two is completing his second tour in Iraq and is due home soon.

Denman Moody, ’65, ’68, graduated from UT law school and after a law career dedicated more than 30 years to the banking and financial industry. Today, he’s a high-powered financial advisor and estate manager. After hours he is a freelance wine writer, an organizer of charity wine auctions and a wine consultant to some of the wealthiest residents of Houston. He began Moody’s Wine Review in 1978. In the early ’80s, The Washington Post called it “...the best newsletter in this country for tracking the state of rare and exotic wines.” Moody’s leadership qualities and charitable activities, as well as his speaking and journalistic skills, have been nationally and internationally acclaimed for nearly two decades. He has written a monthly wine column since 2000 for Houston Lifestyles & Homes. In addition, he has served as editor and publisher of Moody’s Weekly Wine Review. He is also a restaurant wine consultant and has planned the perfect wines and innovative wine/food pairings for weddings, wine tastings, parties and gourmet wine dinners for over a quarter of a century. Yet, what really sets Moody apart is his casual, unpretentious approach to wine. He says, “I just have a compelling interest in learning about wines; however, the best part is sharing with others what I learn.”

Jon Ford, ’66, says, “I played in almost every intramural sport except one for five years and don’t think I missed a season. I tried water basketball only as a freshman but was almost drowned by the Delts.” He adds, “We had some good players on the basketball team. We worked very hard and with Joel’s (Robuck) leadership, focus, commitment and dedication, we moved forward.” Married to Nancy Archer for 44 years and with three “wonderful” children, Jon is president and CEO of Todd-Ford Mechanical and lives in San Antonio, Texas, but enjoys spending time at his home in Rockport, Texas. “It’s been great fun to reconnect with my teammates and to remember that magical season all over again,” he says.

J.D. Bell, M.D.,P.A., attended UT for three years before being accepted to The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston where he received his medical degree in 1969. Following three years of active duty as a medical officer in the U.S. Navy, John completed his medical training in Galveston, Texas, and in 1985 entered private practice in nephrology and critical care in New Braunfels, Texas. Since 1994 J.D. has been the medical director of DaVita Dialysis Centers in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Married in 1983 to Barbara (Shaw) Bell, they have two sons. Son Bobby is a Rice University graduate who was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007. Bobby made it to AA level before retiring and now works as a business analyst in Houston. Son Hank will graduate cum laude from Pepperdine University this spring in management/advertising.

Rob See, Jr., ’64, ’66, brings more than 40 years of experience to commercial real estate, construction, finance and telecommunications transactions. Today, he practices law in Dallas at Robert F. See, Jr. & Associates, P.C. He also is the owner, operator and one of the ranch hands of an East Texas cattle ranch, which maintains a herd of Brahman-Hereford crossbred cattle. After winning the championship with Kappa Alpha, Rob played in the law school championship game with Phi Delta Phi and lost to Tauri 36–32. Rob’s only son is a freshman at The University of Alabama.

1964–65 Softball Fast Pitch Class A Champions. Front (L‐R): Oliver W. Stateler, J.D. Bell, Al Badger, Jon Ford, Fred Graeber. Back (L‐R): Dudley W. Malone, John Robinson, Forrest Silva, John Harris, Tommy Nobis.

1964–65 Basketball Class A Champions. Front (L‐R): Jon Ford, J.D. Bell, Al Badger, Dudley W. Malone. Back (L‐R): Joel Robuck, Denman Moody, Rob See, Jr., Kim E. Martin.

CLASS A CHAMPS

Are you pictured on the Wall of Fame?

Do you have a story to share? If so, please contact Bob Childress.

512–475–7180 or [email protected]

Receive a commemorative Wall of Fame T-shirt for submitting to the newsletter.

Page 8: Inside RecSports: Spring/Summer 2011

Composed primarily of UT tennis players, the Pelicans earned a place in RecSports history by winning an impressive number of championships. While best remembered for their 1974–75 championships in football and track, the team also won championships in table tennis, squash, badminton and racquetball. Other accolades included awards for Best Manager (Scotty Govaars,’75), Best Athlete (Candi Cowden, ‘75) and All-Year Trophy for participation. The team derived its name from their coaches’ association with the now-defunct Pelican’s Wharf restaurant, which was situated on the banks of Lady Bird Lake in Austin. The restaurant provided the team with pelican-motif T-shirts. Meet some of the team members:

Scotty Govaars, ’76, named Best Manager, recalls, “We met our goal of having a Pelican participate in every intramural sport offered at that time. We had so much fun and laughter and enjoyed the camaraderie.” Scotty has worked for the Department of Defense Education Activity for the last 23 years teaching children of military families. She has had assignments in Spain, Italy, Germany and now Peachtree City, Ga. She is now the educational technologist for the Domestic Dependents Elementary and Secondary Schools Area Office.

Nancy Macken,’75, taught tennis at the Pharr Tennis Center for two years after graduating. Next, she worked for the Texas Senate as the committee coordinator and then at the Texas Legislative Council as liaison to the Senate and assistant director for the research division. Most recently, in 2000, she worked for Lt. Governor Bill Ratliff for four years and is now retired and living in Austin.

Candi Cowden, ‘75, named Outstanding Woman Athlete in 1974-75, taught and coached in college for 10 years. She began her career at Concordia Lutheran University in Austin as the men’s and women’s tennis coach and the women’s volleyball coach. She earned a master’s degree at the University of Arizona then went to the College of William & Mary in Virginia, where she coached women’s tennis, men’s and women’s badminton and taught activity classes in physical education. Today, she runs the family ranch out of Midland, Texas. “I have two granddaughters,” she says, “Hannah, age 9, and Micah Day, age 6, who are the light at the end of the tunnel for me.”

Mary Tredennick, ’76, says, “Playing intramurals made us closer as a team that year. We even finished fifth in the nation in women’s tennis.” Mary earned a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from Trinity University in 1981 leading to a 30-year career as a coach (tennis and golf ) and teacher (economics, sociology and government). Married in 2006, she and her husband retired to a quiet life on a lake near Fort Worth. Mary says, “Life is good. It’s been fun getting in touch with my former teammates.” She now spends her time playing golf, tending the garden, walking the dog and riding her hydrobike.

Jo Ann Kurz, ‘77, named an All-American in tennis in 1977, moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1980, married and had two children. Her career has included serving as tennis director at Bellingham (Wash.) Tennis Club and managing the Boise (Idaho) Racquet and Swim Club. Currently, Jo Ann is working with the City of Meridian, Idaho, to fund and build a $2.5 million dollar community tennis center.

Ann Ward, quarterback for the Pelicans in 1974-75 and team manager in 1975-76, left UT before graduating and lived in Paris for a time. She relocated to Los Angeles, Calif., where she owned her own clothing company. Currently living in Culver City, Calif., she owns and manages rental property and remains active rollerblading, skiing, mountain biking and boogey boarding.

Rebecca Bryant, ’75, ’77, women’s tennis and intramural champion for football and track, has been “figuring out what needs to be done and then getting it done” for the past 30 years. She has served as director of planning & economic development for the City of Wrangell, Ark., and as principal at Freelance Intelligence since 1995. Currently, Rebecca is the refugee resettlement coordinator for Catholic Charities in Arkansas.

Dr. Paula Phillips, ’75, ’80, a pharmacy major, attended medical school in San Antonio after graduating UT in 1980. Following a residency in Florida, she relocated to Houston where today she practices as an ophthalmologist. In addition to football championships, Paula won table tennis doubles with Beverly Tisdale, badminton doubles with Candi Cowden and played softball.

A Good Day for the Knights

The PelicansWomen Champions of the 1970s

TEAM OF THE DECADE WALL OF FAMERS

Several Austin McCallum High School exes (the Knights) experienced a memorable day in March 1998. First, a four-man team of McCallum exes blitzed to the RecSports Sports Trivia Bowl championship. That same evening, David Crabtree joined fellow Knights Brandon Johnson, Cory Macdonald, Michael Wittenstein, Otto Smith-Goeke and Jonathan Dison on the Townies and won the Class A Six Foot and Under basketball championship. Several members of this Six Foot and Under team then joined friends on the Lone Star Tall Boys and won the Open Division basketball championship. Meet a few of these Knights:

Jonathan Muir, ’00, lives in Austin and works at a small consulting firm for long-time friend, Jonathan Dison, also a McCallum ex. “I’ve known the Disons since Little League,” says Muir. “I’m single, so no family and I love following the Longhorns.”

James Crabtree, ’00, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marines after graduation and served on active duty in Al-Anbar, Iraq, with a Marine infantry battalion until 2005. Currently, he serves as a captain in the Marine Reserves and makes his home in Leander, Texas, with his wife and two little girls. James works for the General Land Office and is the founder and commander of the American Legion Hunter-Morris Memorial Post 911 in Cedar Park, Texas. He enjoys baseball and politics.

David Crabtree, ’01, lives in San Diego, Calif., and teaches English and coaches baseball at Monte Vista High School. He and his wife, Lara, have a one-year-old son, Cole. David recalls, “After we won the Trivia Bowl I headed upstairs with a bunch of other McCallum Knights and won the Six Feet and Under basketball title. That was easily one of my favorite days on the 40 Acres.”

Geoff Ketchum attended The University of Texas from 1995–99 and is the owner/publisher of Orangebloods.com and co-host of “The Drive” on radio station 104.9 The Horn in Austin. He covered Longhorn athletics for nearly two decades before joining Rivals.com in 1999. In 2001 he launched Orangebloods.com where he led the site to the No. 1 spot in the Rivals.com network. In 2008 he published a book, “The Die Hard Fan’s Guide to Longhorn Football.”

Other McCallum KnightsOpen A Basketball Champions

Cory Macdonald, ’00, ’05, practices law in Austin at Davis & Wilkerson P.C. He married his high school sweetheart, Betsy, and they have three kids, Kelly, Christopher and Davis. “Playing on those teams was one of my favorite parts of college,” says Cory.

Jonathan Dison, ’01, owns Bender Consulting in Austin. He and his wife, Susan, have two children, Jake, 2 ½, and Lucy, 6 months. The proud grandfather is Tom Dison, associate vice president and director of UT RecSports.

Michael Wittenstein, ’04, lives in Austin, works for the family business (Karavel Shoes) and has one “awesome” daughter, Isabella. “The Lone Star Tallboys had at least six guys on it who played basketball at McCallum,” says Michael. “We were a ragtag group of guys who didn’t look like we could play ball, but we dominated the Open/A Division for a few years.”

Otto Smith‐Goeke, ’01, worked at an Austin TV station for several years, entered law school for a while and is now on his way to becoming a certified public accountant. He got married on a beach in Hawaii to his wife, Christina, who is currently in nursing school.

Joseph Caro‐Mata, ’01, earned a master’s degree in science after graduating from UT and today lives in Austin while working as a physician’s assistant in an emergency room outside Austin.

1974–75 Pelicans Flag Football Team. Front (L‐R): Kathy Head, Teresa Murphy, Scotty Govaars, Jo Ann Kurz, Patti Nixon. Middle (L‐R): Mary Tredennick, M. L. Govaars, Marty Corley, Becky Bryant, Becky Roberts. Back (L‐R): D. J. Housley, Candi Cowden, Paula Phillips, Ann Ward, Nancy Macken, John Brown.

1997–98 Sports Triva Bowl Champions. (L‐R): Jonathan Muir, David Crabtree, James Crabtree, Geoff Ketchum.

1998–99 Basketball Open A Champions. Front (L‐R): Russell Freeman, Jon Koss, Mike Shokrian, Joseph Caro‐Mata. Back (L‐R): Nathan Boyer, Jonathan Dison, Michael Wittenstein, Cory Macdonald, Brandon Johnson.

1975 UT Tennis Team. Front (L‐R): Jo Ann Kurz, Rebecca Bryant, Paula Phillips, Nancy Macken, Rebecca Walker, Debbie Brownstein. Back (L‐R): Patti Nixon, Teresa Murphy, M.L. Govaars, Mary Tredennick, Amy Wilkins, Candi Cowden, Coach Betty Hagerman.

Did you play intramurals? Which team? Contact Bob Childress at [email protected] to be mentioned in this newsletter. Receive a Wall

of Fame T-shirt as a token of our appreciation.

Page 9: Inside RecSports: Spring/Summer 2011

The University of Texas at AustinRecreational Sports1 University Station D7500 Austin, TX 78712-0395

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All friends, past and present, are invited to a reunion sponsored by the Division of Recreational Sports on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011, in Gregory Gym beginning three hours before kick-off (UT vs. BYU). Come meet your old intramural teammates, co-workers or workout buddies and enjoy a tour of renovated Gregory Gym. Be sure to visit the ever-expanding Intramural Wall of Fame. For those who graduated prior to 2001, RecSports invites you to show us your picture on the Wall of Fame to receive a commemorative T-shirt. The reunion will also include a short presentation about RecSports and refreshments will be served.

Interested in scheduling a reunion on campus for your team or organization? Rooms are available at no cost to you in Gregory Gym or the Recreational Sports Center. The accommodations are suitable for small groups (20-30 people) or large groups (200-300 people) and can be scheduled on a home football game day or at any other time of the year, subject to availability. Catering of food and a cash bar are the responsibility of the host group. For more information, please contact Bob Childress

at [email protected] or at 512-475-7180.

Please check the appropriate box and return this section to the address above. Or you can make changes online at www.utrecsports.org/whereareyou or via e-mail to [email protected].

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GETTING TOGETHER