| Visionary RecSports Leaders | |
|
Berry M. Whitaker |
1916 Men’s Athletic Director L. Theo Bellmont hires Berry M. Whitaker to organize and run an Intramural Program for Men at The University of Texas. He became known as the “Grand Old Man of UT Intramurals.” |
|
Anna Hiss |
1919 As part of the Physical Training Department for Women, Anna Hiss organizes the first women’s intramural activity, and in 1921 she becomes the Director of Women’s Physical Training. |
| 1922 Men’s Intramurals separates from Athletics and is incorporated into the Physical Training Department. The men’s and women’s programs continue as two distinctly separate entities becoming part of the Division of Student Life in 1930. | |
|
Sonny Rooker |
1948 Albert A. “Sonny” Rooker
becomes Assistant Director to Mr. Whitaker.
1960 Upon Berry Whitaker’s retirement, Mr. Rooker assumes the directorship of Men’s Intramurals. Under Mr. Rooker’s leadership, the Gregory Gym Annex is constructed. |
|
Betty A. Thompson |
1972 The departments of Men’s Intramurals and Women’s Intramurals are combined into one administrative unit and renamed the Division of Recreational Sports. Betty A. Thompson is named director, becoming the first woman to be appointed to a position of this stature at a major university. |
|
Thomas W. Dison |
1988 Thomas W. Dison is appointed director of Recreational Sports upon the retirement of Betty A. Thompson. Under Mr. Dison’s leadership, the Recreational Sports Center is built, Gregory Gym undergoes a major renovation and is completed with the construction of the Gregory Gym Aquatics Complex, which opened in the fall of 2005. |
