1. How did you get started with Rec Sports and what led you to becoming the director of philanthropy? “Well, it all started back in 1971 when I was a freshman at the University of Southern Mississippi. I became heavily involved with Intramurals while supporting myself through college, and I needed to make a little money. Back then, Intramural officials were paid $4 an hour! That was big money at that time, so I would work three games a night and this would help me pay the bills. The first year I was a sports official, and then, as a sophomore I was assigned to train the new officials. Once I graduated, I went back for my masters and did the same thing—worked in Intramurals. My director was Lou Marciani, who became the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) president and knew Dennis Corrington. At the time I met Dennis, I was teaching at a local high school. The next thing I knew, I was offered the opportunity to come to Aggieland and be a part of Rec Sports at Texas A&M. I arrived in College Station with a new wife and job in 1977. I was thrilled. I originally came to Rec Sports to only train Intramural officials. Back then we had about 600-700 flag football teams, and large numbers of basketball and softball teams, so the program needed many officials which required a lot of training. Another aspect of my early years with Rec Sports involved creating the training program for softball officiating through NIRSA. It was a lot of fun back in the day as a young professional. In ’79 I was promoted to associate director, so I had to change my focus toward the sport clubs program. Since then, I’ve done just about everything from facilities to aquatics to marketing. It was really a lot of fun. In August of ’95, we moved into the new Student Recreation Center and I was still a part of sport clubs. I received an offer to go to LSU Recreational Sports in 1998. I was with them for a few short years and returned to Texas A&M Rec Sports in 2000 to serve as the assistant to the director. I then was promoted to associate director and placed in charge of sport clubs, intramurals, medics, and a few other things. After a year or so, Dennis and I
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both knew change was needed, so in 2003 I began working in philanthropy for Rec Sports. That was really my purpose for coming back to Rec Sports; I wanted to really help support the department. There was a lot to be accomplished with the Vice President of Student Affairs, Dean Bresciani, and with the Texas A&M Foundation. Dean was very supportive of fundraising and philanthropy. One of the Foundation's staff members worked directly with Dean, and they invited me to attend numerous events in Houston and cities around Texas. At these events, we would run into many former students and former Rec Sports student employees. After returning from one trip, Dean gave the approval to start a full-time employee position and I received access to the Texas A&M Foundation's former student database. And that is how it all started with me serving as associate director of philanthropy here at Rec Sports.” 2. What has been one of the biggest changes or one of your favorite things at Rec Sports? “My favorite thing has always been working with students. Holding numerous positions and supervising different programs through the years afforded me the opportunity to engage with many students. When I managed sports clubs, I worked with their leadership team, and when I worked with Intramurals, I trained their officials… I loved that. Now that they are former students, I am able to talk to people that I had an impact on early in my career. It comes full circle. Aggies are amazing in the fact that when they are able, they give back. When any of them have a passion for something, they will donate. There have been times when I get calls from former students that want to donate without me even calling them. They tell me how they would not be the person they are today without their work in Rec Sports. If you find out what people’s passions are and they are willing to support that, you don’t really have to do a lot of asking. This program is anything but ordinary in the fact that they are a family that stays in contact; I will always appreciate that.”
