Dear Fellow Intramural Managers:

In 1916 Berry Whitaker came to The University of Texas at Austin and founded the Men’s Intramural Sports Program– now the third oldest program of its kind in the country. In 1927 a formal managerial program was established with three senior managers assisted by nine junior managers, each taking responsibility for a term of intramural competition. This program was discontinued during the World War II years because so many students left school to serve our country. By 1946 the managerial program was back in full force and continued until 1980. Throughout the 54-year history of this program, 167 individuals earned their Varsity “T” letter sweater or blanket and three times that number served as junior managers.

In the 94-year history of the Intramural Sports Program much has remained the same but much has also changed. Men, women and, beginning in 1974, coed teams still compete in all of the major team sports as well as every imaginable individual/dual sport. In 1982 the Intramural Sports Program began generating income to pay expenses. Teams were charged a $10 entry fee to play. Students now pay $75 per team for major sports. As a result of the challenging current economic climate at the University, there is growing pressure to find ways to increase revenue (such as increasing the fees to play intramurals) or cut costs (such as reducing hours or employing fewer officials). We believe that the best answer to this current and likely future economic uncertainty is to establish an Intramural Endowment to help make the Intramural Sports Program self-sustaining.

As a past senior or junior manager, you are a member of an exclusive group of alumni who played a vital role in helping to shape not only the student experience but also the lives of thousands of UT intramural participants. To mark our place permanently on the UT Austin campus with a plaque in Gregory Gym specifically recognizing all those who participated, we are asking you to consider giving back to this historic program with a contribution to the Intramural Managers’ Campaign. This campaign, in conjunction with similar campaigns by other groups of past participants, will benefit the Intramural Endowment. This Endowment will ensure that today’s intramural participants, as well as future Longhorns, will continue to enjoy the benefits of a strong, diverse and comprehensive Intramural Sports Program.

The goal, utilizing multiple campaigns, is to generate $100,000 by the end of 2010 and to grow the Endowment to $500,000 or more by 2016, which will mark the 100th anniversary of the program that Berry Whitaker began and that we enjoyed so much. We ask you to consider giving to this Intramural Managers’ Campaign.

Should you have any questions, please contact Bob Childress, UT Recreational Sports development & campus relations coordinator, via phone at (512) 475-7180 or by e-mail at bobc@mail.utexas.edu or any of us. Thank you for your time and we look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

All the Best,

The Intramural Program Today

Over the 94-year history of the Intramural Sports Program much has remained the same but much has changed. Men, women and, beginning in 1974, coed teams, still compete in all of the major team sports as well as every imaginable individual/dual sport. In 1982 the Intramural Sports Program began generating income to pay expenses. Teams were charged a $10 entry fee to play. In 2010 the cost has escalated to $75 per team. With the current economic climate at the University, there is growing pressure to find ways to increase revenue (such as increasing the fees to play intramurals) or cut costs (such as reducing the number of games played or hiring fewer officials). The answer to this current and likely future economic uncertainty is to establish an Intramural Endowment to enable the intramural program to become self-sustaining.

Make an Endowment Contribution

Your 100% tax-deductible contribution to the endowment is welcomed and planned giving opportunities are available. If your employer offers a charitable matching gift program, you can increase the size of your gift. Checks should contain "Oak Grove campaign" on the memo line, be made payable to The University of Texas at Austin and mailed to:

Division of Recreational Sports
Attn: Development Coordinator
1 University Station D7500
Austin, Texas 78712-0395

Online contributions can be made through UT Online Giving.

Click here for an Intramural Endowment gift and pledge card to accompany your gift.

Intramural Endowment FAQ's. Click here.