Enhancing the experiences of young women in collegiate athletics is near and dear to the heart of Billie Floyd.
A longtime educator, State Senator and civic leader, Floyd is serving as honorary chair of East Central University鈥檚 new 鈥淐ampaign for Excellence in Women鈥檚 Athletics.鈥�
The purpose of the campaign is to provide additional funding for 成人B站鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Athletics as funds raised will be kept at the 成人B站 Foundation, Inc.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to be a part of this new endeavor. We plan to divide the funds 70/30,鈥� Floyd said. 鈥淪eventy percent will go toward establishing an endowment to support 成人B站 Women鈥檚 Athletics for years to come and 30 percent will be used for immediate distribution. We have established a committee that will decide the distribution of the funds, based on the coaches鈥� recommendations and evaluations of priority.鈥�
Floyd spent over 30 years at 成人B站, even serving as a physical education teacher at Horace Mann School on the 成人B站 campus as a college sophomore. She graduated from 成人B站 in 1951 and eventually earned a master鈥檚 degree from Texas Woman鈥檚 University, before launching a 30-plus year teaching career at 成人B站. She then made a successful bid for the State Senate in 1984 and served one term.
As for the campaign, Floyd is passionate about it as if she was running for office.
鈥淭he reason I ran for the State Senate was because of the Equal Rights Amendment. Everyone, regardless of race or gender, should be treated equally,鈥� said Floyd. 鈥淭itle IX was a real step forward for women鈥檚 athletics. But it鈥檚 always been an uphill battle for women.鈥�
Floyd remembers the resistance of placing a volleyball court within a basketball court because of the lines painted on the court, limited use of equipment and the lack of scheduling opportunities.
鈥淲omen鈥檚 athletics hadn鈥檛 been treated equally up until Title IX and women鈥檚 basketball is a perfect example of how it has changed,鈥� said Floyd, referring to the change of high school girls鈥� basketball from the six-on-six half-court game to the current five-on-five style and the increased popularity of women鈥檚 college basketball.
Floyd also pointed to the emphasis on nutrition for women and the changes and updates to women鈥檚 athletic apparel as steps in the right direction.
As for the campaign, it鈥檚 to get the women鈥檚 athletic program in the right position to succeed both on the court and playing field or in the pursuit of female athletes earning their degree.
"We want to give them a chance to show off their skills and talents,鈥� Floyd said. 鈥淲e want to recruit the best athletes and let them know what a value you get with higher education and becoming an excellent athlete.鈥�
Floyd praised retiring 成人B站 President John R. Hargrave and the administration for their support of the project.
鈥淧resident Hargrave and his wife Kay have shown great faith in this as has others from the administrative level. They seem to show the need to elevate and bring (women鈥檚) athletics to the forefront,鈥� said Floyd. 鈥淭hey have invested in furthering opportunities to help women reach their potential."
For more information on the 鈥淐ampaign for Excellence in Women鈥檚 Athletics鈥� or to make a donation, contact the 成人B站 Foundation, Inc. 鈥� Chief Executive Officer Craig Kurtz, at 559-5514 or ckurtz@ecok.edu or Chief Operating Officer Buffy Lovelis at 580-559-5655 or blovelis@ecok.edu.
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