Happy New Year! Wishing you a great year in 2008!
On October 28, 2007, a day of celebration took place at the University of Hawaii, Manoa Stan Sheriff Sports Arena with the unveiling of a commemorative sculpture that I created of Dr. Donnis Thompson, U.H.’s first womens athletic director. Over 300 people attended the dedication. The dedication plaque best describes the career and accomplishments of Dr. Thompson’s work at the University of Hawaii, Manoa.
Author Jan-Michelle Sawyer, Ph.D. with Dr. Donnis Thompson
Pioneer and Trailblazer - Athlete and Coach
Professor of Health, Physical Education and Administrator at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa (1961-1991)
First Women’s Athletic Director (1972-1981)
Born in Chicago, Illinois on April 1, 1933, Dr. Thompson moved to Hawai`i in 1961 to start the University of Hawai`i’s track and field team. She worked closely with U.S. Representative Patsy T. Mink, who co-authored and oversaw the 1972 passage of Title IX by the United States Congress. This landmark legislation mandated equal opportunity in education for women, including female athletes.
Through its implementation, Dr. Thompson was able to expand the UH women’s Rainbow Wahine Athletics program from a two-sport program to an eight-sport program by 1975, and also initiated the Wahine athletic scholarship program.
She was inducted into the UH Sports Hall of Honor in 1988 and into the Hawai`i Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
Dr. Thompson, herself a track and field star, coached hundreds of athletes, including nine Olympians, world and national record holders, and six participants in the Pan American Games. As a professor, coach, administrator, community volunteer and consultant, Dr. Thompson worked tirelessly and tenaciously for equal opportunities for women
and continues to touch the lives of generations of student-athletes.
Sculpture by Jan-Michelle Sawyer, Ph.D.
Mahalo to the following supporters who helped make the commemorative sculpture and dedication event honoring Dr. Thompson a reality.
Marilyn Moniz-Kaho’ohanohano, Kelvin Shoji, Lorraine Leslie, Jeanne Rolles, Donna Vuchinich, Bobby Perry, Rich Sheriff, Mele Welte, Sarah Keahi, Faye Kennedy, Nake’u Awai Designs, Herman Frazier, and Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw.
