2007

Barbara Jo Palmer

Barbara Jo Palmer, a pioneer in the development of programs for female athletes, has been nationally recognized for her efforts to establish equity in sports for women.

A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Palmer came to Florida State University in 1970 where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

In 1977, Palmer became Florida State University’s Director of Women’s Intercollegiate Athletics. Under the leadership of Palmer, Florida State University women have won five national championships and 226 All-American awards.

Her lobbying work on Title IX, a 1972 federal mandate to ensure equitable treatment of girls and women in school athletic programs, entitled her to be admitted into Florida’s Women’s Hall of Fame in 1982.

Dr. Carla Lowry

Dr. Carla Lowry was a leader among women athletes, women coaches and women administrators. Although many women’s teams had to find their own way, those led by Lowry were certain to not get lost.

As an athlete, Lowry won two National Championships while she attended Wayland Baptist College and was a member of the famous Hutcherson Flying Queens team, which competed all over the country. She competed in the 1959 Pan American Games and represented the United States while competing in Russia and Sweden. For her athletic accomplishments, she was recognized as an All-American in 1961, inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Wayland Baptist University Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.

Upon completing her athletic playing career, she chose to continue her education at Texas Woman’s University, earning her master’s degree and Ph.D. For the next 20 years, Lowry taught and coached in several Texas universities and high schools. As an educator, Lowry was on the faculty of four different universities and a visiting lecturer at three universities. Whether it was the local country club or as a member of the NAIA Executive Committee, Lowry was a pioneer fighting the equality battle for women athletes.

Lowry may have shown her wisdom early on as a college administrator when she hired Coach Jody Conradt for a coaching job at the University of Texas, Arlington. Her wisdom and foresight continued as she was named the Chair of the Kinesiology Department, the Director of Athletics for both the men’s and women’s teams, and Associate Dean of Students at Southwestern University in 1984. Lowry was one of the very few women athletics administrators to run both a men’s and women’s athletic program in the state of Texas; she was a tremendous role model and leader for other women.

Dr. Phebe Scott

Dr. Phebe M. Scott came to Illinois State University in 1966 from various positions including Bradley University, the University of North Dakota and The Ohio State University. Not only did she provide mentorship to faculty and students as Chair of the Department of Health and Physical Education for Women, she served as Acting Chair of the combined Men’s and Women’s Departments from 1973 to 1976.

Scott was one of the founding Commissioners of the first National Intercollegiate Basketball Championship for Women in 1972. Illinois State University’s women’s department hosted the championship under the guidelines of the Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for Women.

A member of the Illinois State University Athletic Hall of Fame, Scott has held numerous leadership positions in various professional organizations, is the author of Track and Field for Girls and Women, and is a widely sought-after speaker.

Scott dedicated her efforts to the ‘60s and ‘70s movement for girls and women to compete nationally and internationally in well-coached, well-funded and well-supported programs.

Among other initiatives, Scott started the Dr. Phebe M. Scott Endowment Fund for Professional Development for Women in the School of Kinesiology and Recreation and the Health Education Program. The Endowment provides financial support for women faculty members and women graduate students.

When reflecting back on her career, Scott said: “I had a good run at Illinois State University, and I thought I could give something back to the University that has so enriched my life. I’ve always been interested in women’s opportunities, or lack thereof, and I thought that a gift that supports women in their academic studies might do something to help equalize their opportunities.”

Joanna Davenport

Dr. Joanna Davenport, a woman’s sports history scholar and former member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, was an associate professor and professor for 20 years at Auburn University, where she taught sports history and served as Women’s Athletic Director from 1976 until 1987.

She was the first visiting professor for physical education at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Education Council. Davenport received a bachelor’s degree from Skidmore College, a master’s degree from Smith College in Northampton, and a doctorate from The Ohio State University.

Davenport was passionate about sports history, particularly tennis, the modern Olympic Games, and the role of women in sports. She published numerous articles, book chapters, and reviews over the years and was working on a book about sports pioneer Eleanora R. Sears before she passed away.

Davenport was a member and leader in many organizations, including the National Association for Physical Education in Higher Education; the International Society of Olympic Historians; the North American Society for Sport History; the International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance; the Women’s Sports Foundation; the National Association for Sports and Physical Education; and the National Association for Girls and Women in Sports where she was past President.

She was an ardent tennis player and also remained involved with her alma mater, acting as Skidmore College Alumni class secretary for 37 years.

Sandra Shuler

Sandra Shuler coordinated women’s athletics at North Carolina Central University(NNCU) from 1974 to 1980. During her administrative career, Shuler held titles and positions that included Director of Women’s Athletic Association, 1966-74; CIAA Vice-President Women’s Coordinator, 1988-91; and President of the Volleyball Coaches Association, 1981-92. She served on several NCAA Committees, including the NCAA Special Subcommittee on Opportunities for Minorities.

Shuler pioneered the championship format for the CIAA Volleyball and in 1973 coordinated NCCU’S transition from Women’s Athletics Association to intercollegiate athletics.  While teaching physical education at NCCU, Shuler became the volleyball coach and recruited women on campus because there were no scholarships for women at that time. Her career record as Head Volleyball Coach includes 287 wins and 140 losses, including seven-time conference championship runner-up to Saint Augustine’s College.

Aside from volleyball, in 1966 Shuler organized and coached the first NCCU intercollegiate softball team. In her time of coaching and administrating, Shuler authored: Policies and Procedures for Coaches of Women’s Sports, followed by Policies and Procedures for Coaches of Men’s Sports in 1980 as well as the History of NCCU’s Physical Education and Recreation Department from 1937-1985.

According to Ingrid Wicker-McCree of NCCU, “Shuler’s a magnificent woman, a pioneer. She had ideas back in the early ‘70s when Title IX was starting to be in the forefront. She just pushed the buttons and made it possible for women at our school and in all sports.”