Posted on Friday, November 01, 2019
A LaGrange College alumna praised for her steadfast support and significant influence on athletics received a surprise honor Sunday with the naming of the Dr. M. Judith Greer Tennis Courts.
With her famous energy, Judy Greer ’57, H’07 greeted everyone in the large crowd, making her rounds with hugs, smiles and laughs.
“I wish I could introduce each of you individually and relate how and when and where on our journey together we became lifelong friends,” she later told the crowd. “… This is such a great gathering … you’re my friends, my family who I’ve appreciated and loved for many years.”
The naming was a gift from Greer’s niece and nephew, Bill ’74 and Becky ’73. The Manuels met at LaGrange College, with Bill Manuel calling it “a special place to us.”
“Becky and I thought this would be a very fitting gift, a gesture to show our love for Aunt Judy,” he said. “It also gives us the opportunity to show our love to LaGrange College.”
Greer started at LaGrange College in 1953. Moving into Hawkes Hall, she noted it “overlooked two cracked, asphalt-surface tennis courts with sagging nets.” She also started a work-study in physical education.
“This valuable experience actually became an internship for me as I learned, taught and became as efficient in sports as I could be,” she said. “By helping with the intramural teams, play dates, sorority competitions and May Day, and continuing my interest in basketball by starting up a women’s basketball team … I began to see a future for me in physical education.”
Greer said her focus began to gravitate more toward tennis, and it “began to climb higher and higher on my sports-interest scale, almost replacing basketball as my game of choice.”
“Most accurately, it can be said my love for tennis began here at LaGrange College,” she said.
Greer would go on to take an appointment teaching physical education at Oxford College of Emory University, eventually specializing in directing the tennis programs there. She retired from Oxford in 1996, and was named to the inaugural class of the LaGrange College Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
College President Dan McAlexander thanked Bill and Becky Manuel for the gift, and noted Greer’s influence has been significant to LaGrange College over the tenure of at least three prior presidents: Waights G. Henry, Walter Y. Murphy and Stuart Gulley. Murphy’s widow, Marianne, and Gulley both attended the ceremony.
“I’ve been to a lot of dedication ceremonies,” McAlexander told the gatherers “… I don’t know if I’ve ever seen such a crowd attend one as we have here today, which is a real testament to all the lives you have touched: your alumni friends, fellow graduates, various supporters of this college, people in this community. It is a true testament to the impact you have had.
“We could not be more grateful. Thank you for everything you have meant to the college.”
A new documentary film about Southern writer/activist Lillian Smith (“Strange Fruit”) will be screened at 7 p.m. Thursday in Dickson Assembly Room. The project is co-produced and created by Henry Jacobs ’13 and his father, Hal Jacobs. A portion of the soundtrack was recorded by students in the LaGrange College Music Department, featuring Lloyd Buchanan and Front Porch Collective. The event is free but reservations are recommended.
Spring 2020 registration for day students is next week. Students completing degree requirements by end of Fall, Interim or Spring terms should file petitions for graduation with the Registrar.
Don’t forget Service Saturday this weekend. The college will be participating with the City of LaGrange’s “Leaving LaGrange Better Than We Found It” campaign. The event will begin at 7:30 a.m. and end at 10 a.m. Students must register.
The final Practice GRE Test will take place from 1-4:30 p.m. Thursday in Lewis Library’s multimedia room. To register, e-mail jrkrzysiak@kongtiao11.com.
Several Political Science students and Political Science Professor Dr. John Tures published their article “Will killing Al-Baghdadi give Trump a boost in the polls? Probably, but it won’t last” on The Conversation website. It was reposted in newspapers from San Francisco to San Antonio.
Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday. Be sure to turn your clocks back one hour, and enjoy that extra hour of sleep!
Tuesday
Thursday
Friday
Men’s soccer
Senior Errick Sturm scored three goals to lead the Panthers (6-10-1, 5-7-1 USA South) to a 4-3 win at Pfeiffer last Saturday. Sturm was LC’s representative on the USA South All-Sportsmanship team for men’s soccer. The Panthers play at Covenant on Saturday in the first round of the USA South Tournament.
Golf
Junior Ben Womack was the USA South Co-Golfer of the Week. It is the second time Womack has been selected for the conference’s weekly honor. Womack tied for first at the Chick-fil-A Invitational, his second individual title of the fall.
Volleyball
The Panthers (10-17, 7-5 USA South) recognized seniors Samantha James, Jazzlyn Kenner and Leigha Reynolds before Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to Huntingdon. Kenner had a team-high 13 kills in the match. LC faces Berea and Maryville in a USA South quad match Saturday.
Football
Senior Brendon Scott ran for 98 yards and caught a touchdown pass in the Panthers’ 28-10 loss at Maryville last Saturday. LC (3-4, 1-3 USA South) hosts Brevard on Saturday.
Cross country
The LC teams will compete at the USA South Championships on Saturday in Rocky Mount, N.C.
Swimming
The Panther teams will be at the South Georgia Invitational on Saturday.
Women’s soccer
The Panthers (8-11, 1-7 USA South) ended their 2019 season with a 10-0 loss at Maryville on Sunday. LC doubled its win total from 2018. Sophomore Sydney Dailey was LC’s representative on the USA South All-Sportsmanship Team for women’s soccer.
Saturday, Nov. 2
Football vs. Brevard; 2 p.m., Callaway Stadium (Band Day)
Volleyball vs. Maryville, noon; Berea, 3 p.m., Montgomery, Alabama
Men’s Soccer at Covenant; USA South Tournament, TBA; Lookout Mountain, Georgia
Swimming at South Georgia Invitational; Douglas, Georgia
Cross Country at USA South Championships; Rocky Mount, North Carolina
One Word can tell a story. When it comes to LaGrange College, what sums up your experience?
Go to kongtiao11.com/oneword to share yours. Then, in honor of what LC means to you, make One Gift to enrich the lives of students.
Tuesday, Dec. 3 — Giving Tuesday at LaGrange College — is your opportunity to help LC continue its mission to challenge the minds and inspire the souls of its students.
LPD practices active shooter scenarios – LaGrange Daily News, Oct. 24, 2019
Volleyball seniors honored before match – LaGrange Daily News, Oct. 31, 2019
Category: Academics, Service, Arts and Culture, Faculty, Events, Community, College, Students
Keywords: tennis alumni court
