Geary Eppley facts for kids
Geary Francis "Swede" Eppley (December 30, 1895 – June 10, 1978) was an amazing person who did many things! He was a university leader, a teacher, a farmer, a military officer, an athlete, and a coach for track and field. He worked as the athletic director at the University of Maryland from 1937 to 1947. During his time, the school's sports teams won seven national championships! Geary Eppley also helped out in his local community, Prince George's County, Maryland, and with different charities. He served in the United States Army during both World War I and World War II.
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Early Life and College Days
Geary Eppley was born in 1895 in Washington, D.C.. In 1914, he started college at the Maryland State College of Agriculture, which is now known as the University of Maryland. But he paused his studies to serve in World War I. He was a second lieutenant in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment from 1918 to 1919.
After the war, he returned to Maryland State. He was a talented athlete, earning special recognition in both track and college football in 1919 and 1920. He played as an "end" on the football team. In track, he even set a record in the pole vault for the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference! He graduated in 1920 with a degree in agriculture. He was also a member of several honor societies and groups like Phi Kappa Phi and Scabbard and Blade.
A Career in Education and Sports
In 1922, Eppley became an assistant professor of agronomy (the science of soil and crops). He continued his own education and earned a master's degree from the University of Maryland in 1926.
Coaching Success
During the 1930s, Geary Eppley became the track coach at Maryland. His teams were very successful, winning two national championships! Jim Kehoe, who was on one of Eppley's track teams and later became a coach himself, said that Eppley was a "really good coach" who was "very aggressive" and "well informed."
Leading University Athletics
In 1936, Eppley was made the university's "dean of men," which meant he was in charge of male students. The next year, in 1937, he became the athletic director. He held this important role until 1947. While he was athletic director, the University of Maryland won one national championship in football and six national championships in lacrosse. He loved sports at Maryland and often sat with the students at games to cheer on the teams.
Serving in World War II
In 1941, Eppley was called back to serve in the United States Army Reserve as a Colonel. He worked in the office of the Army Chief of Staff. After World War II ended, the university president, Harry C. Byrd, really wanted Eppley to come back as dean in 1945. The university was getting many new students, especially veterans using the G.I. Bill to go to college. This made things very busy! The school needed more ways for students with injuries to get around, and dining halls had long waits.
Sports Conferences and Changes
Geary Eppley was also involved in college sports at a higher level. He served as the vice president and then president of the Southern Conference in the 1940s. During this time, there were some issues in college sports across the country. When the Southern Conference decided to ban teams from playing in postseason bowl games, Maryland chose to ignore the ban to play in the 1952 Sugar Bowl. This led to Maryland being punished by the conference. This event was a big reason why the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) was formed in 1953, and Eppley later became its president too.
Student Life and Community Work
From 1946 to 1958, Eppley was the university's director of student welfare, looking out for the well-being of students. In 1964, he was named a dean "emeritus," which is an honorary title for someone who has retired but is still respected.
In 1953, there was a time when Eppley stopped thousands of copies of the student newspaper, The Diamondback, from being distributed. The paper had published an article about living conditions in the female dorms. Eppley also played a key role in creating the university's student union and its chapel.
Beyond the university, Eppley was very active in Prince George's County, Maryland. He was a director for the Boy's Club, a leader for the county grange, a member of the Welfare Board, and helped with the county's Community Chest budget.
Family Life
Geary Eppley married Elizabeth Flenner in 1925. They had two daughters, Elizabeth and Frances, and one son, Geary W. Eppley. Geary F. Eppley was also involved in many other groups, such as the University of Maryland Alumni Association, the American Cancer Society, the Masons, and the College Park Rotary Club.
Honors and Legacy
Geary Eppley's wife, Elizabeth, passed away in 1976. He died on June 10, 1978, from a heart condition.
He received many honors for his contributions. In 1982, he was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame. The Geary F. Eppley Award is given every year to the university's senior athlete who has the highest grades.
In 2006, the campus recreation center was named the Geary F. Eppley Recreation Center in his honor. His daughter, Frances Eppley Tobin, said it was "a perfect building for him, because he was so dedicated to athletics and physical fitness."
