July 14, 2009 issue
I started here in 1968 as an assistant professor in the physical education
department. My job then became director of intramurals. I was the first
(and still only) director of intramurals in EMU history.
When I started, we had a whole intramural office that was the size of
my office now. It was in Warner. At the time, we shared space with athletics
and physical education. In the winter, we got use of the gyms at 7 o'clock
at night and stayed open until 2 a.m. We had three racquetball courts,
the Warner Pool and an old weight room under the pool.
This facility (Olds-Robb Rec IM) opened in 1982. This was the first recreation
center that kind of bridged the gap between a utilitarian-type gym to
a club. For many years, this was the standard of the industry. I've gotten
to plan or help do program evaluations on about 22 rec centers around
the country. The last one I did was last spring at Ohio State University,
which was built for around $140 million.
A lot of them, still today, are running programmatic departments. But
very few are in the business operation like we are. We raise $500,000
a year from swim programs, summer camps and renting out the softball fields,
pool and gyms, and from Courtside and the Pro Shop.
I've had spectacular people who've worked me over the years. A lot of
my former employees and student employees are now directing rec centers
of their own or are associate directors.
It's because of the rounded experience they get here. I make them spend
a semester with Jack (Moffett) in intramurals, a semester with Donna (Schubert)
in memberships and then with Martha (Costa) in the Pro Shop. When they
leave, they really understand how to run an IM program. They're
not just scheduling football and basketball games. They learned how to
run the business operations.
EMU has meant everything to me. It's provided me a job to support my
family. It's given me a place that I could go on to do other things. It's
been very fulfilling. I enjoyed my time as athletic director.
EMU has been my total work life. I can't picture myself getting another
job. That would be a real surprise if that would happen.
— Contributed by Ron Podell
