Professor's legacy honored

By Michael Watanabe
Daily Forty-Niner

Recognition was given to kinesiology and physical education professor Dixie Grimmett Wednesday, as part of the Legacy Lecture series held every semester.

"It's sort of a celebration of the years I've spent here," Grimmett said. "I've seen so many friends Ö and friends come back and share some of the history."

The lecture series provides a way to narrow the generation gap between the older and younger professors by sharing one another's key values, said Valerie McKay, acting director for the Center for Faculty Development.
 
"The purpose of the Legacy Lecture series is to provide a kind of place for Ö faculty to speak to the university community as if it were their last lecture," she said.

Grimmett has brought national recognition to women's athletics at CSULB, and has helped in integrating the men's and women's athletic programs. She has also won several awards as a volleyball coach.

During her lecture, she gave tribute to Jack Montgomery, the first men's athletic director, and Herm Swartzkopf, who coached the first basketball and track teams. But, most of all, she gave tribute to Dorothy Fornea and Patricia Reid, real influences on the development of women's athletics.

Grimmett mentioned tidbits about the history of women's athletics through her years at Cal State Long Beach, such as the first scholarship that was given to women. In 1972, a time when tuition was $50 a semester, Grimmett was given $200 to spread among 12 players.

"It wasn't so much the money, as much as it was being able to say 'I'm on scholarship for volleyball at this school'," Grimmett said.

CSULB President Robert Maxson attended with his leadership class to "show them a real leader," he said.

"She ran her program," Maxson said. "Her issues did not end up on anyone's desk but her desk. And never once, through all those years did a student or professor tell me that she was unfair."