TUSCALOOSA, AL — The University of Alabama’s College of Education on Friday unveiled a plaque on the first floor in Wade Hall to commemorate one of the more forgotten, but crucially important coaches in the history of the Capstone.
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Former players and students of Hanna Gillion were on hand for the ceremony to celebrate the university’s first women’s intercollegiate coach and the first women’s athletic director from 1964 until 1994.
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The Butler County native became a professor in 1962 at her alma mater in Tuscaloosa and was instrumental in pioneering women’s scholarship sports at the university.
These were the days before UA paid salaries to women coaches or funded women’s sports teams, with women’s sports mostly relegated to intramural competition.
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Undeterred, Gillion founded, coached, and paid travel expenses for the women’s volleyball, tennis and golf teams, while also leading the Title IX fight for equality in athletics funding, which resulted in the first federally funded women’s intercollegiate sports teams.
Along with her legacy for women’s sports at Alabama, Gillion is also credited with the university having an active membership in the Alabama State Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, in addition to her work with the Alabama Special Olympics.
Here’s a timeline of Gillion’s accomplishments:
1962- Joined the UA faculty as an instructor in the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, which is now kinesiology.
1970 – Developed and coached the first UA volleyball team in 1970, recruiting players from her classes and across campus. During this time, she coach volleyball, but that same year, also organized golf and tennis teams. Gillion was the sole administrator for all three teams — all without compensation from the university.
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1971 – Gillion was among the women across Alabama who created the Alabama Women’s Intercollegiate Sports Association. She would go on to serve on the Executive Committee and as president during the 1972-73 academic year.
1972 – Title IX is passed by Congress, which barred sex discrimination in educational activities, including athletics. This initiative was supported by federal money and made it possible for women’s intercollegiate sports to receive federal funding.
1973 — By this time, the Women’s Intercollegiate Sports Program fielded seven intercollegiate teams and had received funding and support from the University’s Athletic Department.
1974 – UA’s College of Education, led by Dean Paul G. Orr, formally recommended the university establish “A Program for Women’s Intercollegiate Sports and Preparation Programs for Teaching, Research and Service in Women’s Sports.” The proposal was first written by Gillion and William Clipson, area head for Health, Physical Education and Recreation.
1994 – Gillion retires as a full-time professor and, upon her death at the age of 71, was remembered as a “worthy adversary,” even for legendary University of Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.
The Trailblazer
UA says Gillion’s nephew Mark Childress— an Alabama graduate and the author of “Crazy in Alabama” — said Bryant once invited her to fly with the football team to an away game, which he said underscored her tenacity and Bryant’s begrudging respect.
Gillion’s legacy has been honored in the past at The Capstone, including during its “Commemorating 25 Years of Service to The University of Alabama” where Gillion was first on its list of the “Top 50 Women in the 50 Years of Title IX.”
Retired professor and UA trailblazer Archie Wade, the man for whom the building where Friday’s ceremony was held, was unable to attend in person. However, he penned a letter that was read aloud where he reflected on arriving on campus as the first Black faculty member at UA.
“I was one of three faculty members, including Dr. Hanna Gillion, who were assigned office space in Foster Auditorium,” he said. “Her early friendship and collegiality as she welcomed me into the department was especially important because I was unsure of what to expect when I first arrived at the University. That was the start of a personal and professional friendship that endured until her death.”
Wade said through their professional friendship, she was a constant help in advancing his career.
“She always encouraged me and provided me with positive and sound advice as I navigated uncharted waters,” Wade reflected. “We worked as a team as I tried to serve as a positive role model, especially for young Afro-American students, and as she worked to further the opportunities for young women interested in playing and coaching intercollegiate sports. We both endeavored to create an environment in our department that promoted both racial and gender equality at a time when those ideas were not always well received by our colleagues, the University administration, or the community.”
Despite the fanfare displayed Friday, Wade said Gillion was not one to seek headlines or attention for herself in her mission for equality.
“I truly believe that it would be quite fitting for Hanna to be recognized for her trailblazing efforts for gender equality in educational and extracurricular opportunities for women students,” he said. “I wholly endorse the efforts for Hanna to receive that recognition by having a plaque placed in Wade Hall to both commemorate her efforts and to provide inspiration for future faculty and students to continue to strive for equality and excellence.”
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