Authors Cara Gilgenbach, ’95, and Theresa Walton. Photo by Gary Harwood, ’83

Blue and Gold Pride

Kent State athletics history celebrates rich tradition

By Jillana Gall, Kent State English major

Cara Gilgenbach, ’95, and Theresa Walton share a passion for Kent State University athletics, and following three years of research and writing, they have a book to prove it: Kent State University Athletics, a historical review, is now available.

Top Right: Former Kent State track star and Olympic bronze medalist Thomas Jefferson. Photo by Gary Harwood, ’83; Bottom Right: Former Kent State football player Jack Lambert, at his induction into the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Photo by Jeff Glidden, ’87

The book, which records the major athletic events since the founding of the university, contains 210 photographs and 10 chronological chapters that cover each decade of Kent State’s athletic history. It also highlights renowned athletes, coaches, faculty, staff and administrators. In addition, it captures the evolution of physical education, intramural sports and athletic traditions.

Gilgenbach and Walton both acknowledge the work of Kent State students as inspiration for their book. Gilgenbach, head of the university’s Special Collections and Archives, supplied the book’s numerous photographs from the library’s archival collections. Walton, who teaches the history and philosophy of sport and physical education in the School of Exercise, Leisure and Sport, requires students to write a paper on a topic in Kent State sports history using archival resources. Over the years, the work of these students has encouraged the authors to collaborate on a book that documents Kent State’s rich athletic past.

Walton says researching the book has been an extensive process in which they utilized not only the library’s archival collections, but also yearbooks, local newspapers and athletic conference records.

Upon completion of their research, Walton admits that she was surprised by the large number of successful Kent State athletes who transitioned into professional sports careers, as well as the number of Kent State athletes who have competed in the Olympics. Jack Lambert, Thurman Munson and Al Sherman are just a few of the well-known alumni.

Gilgenbach adds that she was fascinated when she learned that, at one point, sports were not just an activity as they are now, but a part of the curriculum for students.

Walton says that the purpose of this book is to encourage appreciation for Kent State’s history and promote pride in its outstanding athletes.

“By writing this book we hope to generate interest in Kent State history and its athletic programs, as well as encourage students to explore the resources available in Special Collections and Archives at Kent State,” says Gilgenbach.

The 128-page book, a part of Arcadia Publishing’s “Images of Sports” series, is available at www.amazon.com.