Ohio Wesleyan Magazine - Ohio Wesleyan University

18 Women in Athletics
OWU’s rich tradition of women in athletics
features such coaches as Mary Parker and Harriet Stew-
art, who paved the way for today’s outstanding athletic
program.
20 Alumni Spotlight
Say hello to Richard and Ruth Firestone ’35,
who recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
They offer valuable advice for healthy and hearty rela-
tionships.
Departments
2 FrontLines
22 AlumniNews
34 Sports
36 RollCall
48 BookMarks
My Turn
The Legacy of Branch Rickey
.
Where to start?
Lawyer, preacher, teacher, crusader, financier, farmer and family
man. Ohio Wesleyan’s distinguished and revered alumnus,
Branch Rickey—Class of 1904—wore all of those hats so very
well. What mattered most to him, however, was character, and
treating people honestly and fairly. And of course, the sport of
baseball.
In 2004, Ohio Wesleyan honored Branch and his family, by
reenacting the presentation of the honorary degree he received
from OWU in 1947. How appropriate it was for grandson
Branch and Sharon Robinson, daughter of the great Jackie
Robinson, to be our Commencement speakers that year. And
how appropriate it is for members of both the Ohio Wesleyan
and Delaware communities to honor Branch further, by designating
an area on campus—close to OWU’s athletic facilities—as
“Branch Rickey Way.” Our story, beginning on page 8,
includes interviews with several individuals who collaborated
behind the scenes to make it all happen.
You’ll meet three Ohio Wesleyan students (page 11), Alex
Aguilar ’08, Jaime Fuentes ’10 and Julia Smith ’08—all Jackie
Robinson Foundation Scholars—who are honored and appreciative
of being selected for that honor. Says Jaime, “I am eternally
grateful to the Jackie Robinson Foundation for seeing
some potential in me.”
In our feature stories about the “tradition and pride” in OWU’s
women’s athletic program, we look at such pioneers as Mary
Parker and Harriet Stewart, both coaches and administrators
at Ohio Wesleyan (page 18), as well as a student-athlete of
today’s generation, Marie Rymut ’07 (page 17), who represents
that tradition so very well.
And as you browse through this edition the Magazine, be sure
to look at our story about “Memorial Gateway,” (known by
many as “Nicotine Gate”) which, thanks to the concern of
members of the Class of 1959, will be carefully restored and
improved (page 26). Preserving the beauty of the stone and
architectural elements—even the trees which still stand on
Slocum’s walkway, a gift from the Class of 1973 many years
ago—is important. As Trustee Binney Fouts ’73 notes, “It is
quite nice that this wonderful archway of trees will be preserved.”
Please read and enjoy the Magazine, and our tribute to the
legacy of Branch Rickey.
Pam Besel
Editor
Winter 2006 1