NEW UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS FACILITY TO BE NAMED FOR DIRECTOR OF WOMEN’S ATHLETICS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - University of Arkansas Chancellor Dr. John A. White today announced the University’s intention to name the planned gymnastics and training facility for female student-athletes as the Bev Lewis Center for Women’s Athletics.

The new facility will be named in honor of the University’s current director of women’s athletics, Bev Lewis, and is being done at the request Bob and Marilyn Bogle. The Bogles, of Bentonville, are long-time University benefactors, Arkansas athletics supporters and recent recipients of the Chancellor’s Leadership Medal.

"Bob and Marilyn, in a continuing demonstration of their love for and support of the University of Arkansas, have made a substantial gift to help cover the cost of the new facility," White said. "When approached about the resulting naming opportunity, they said that they wanted it named for Bev Lewis. As a result, I will be requesting approval of the Board of Trustees at its next meeting to name the facility for Bev."

Lewis joined the University in 1981 as the women’s cross country and track and field coach. She became the Director of Women’s Athletics in 1989, stepping away from her coaching position the following season in 1990. During her 21-year tenure at the University, she has played a pivotal role in the expansion of opportunities for women to attend the University on athletic scholarship.

"What Bev Lewis has done to bring the Women’s Athletics program to a nationally competitive level is nothing short of phenomenal," White said. "We are very fortunate to have her at the University of Arkansas, and are pleased that others have noted the substantial contributions she has made and the leadership she has provided."

"This would not happen without the special and significant support of Bob and Marilyn Bogle," Lewis said. "They are so special to this campus in so many ways. I want to first thank them for their faith and trust in me, and I also want to thank Chancellor White for his support of this naming."

Lewis, a member of the NCAA Championships and Competition Cabinet, is in Indianapolis today for the opening meeting of a special committee on restructuring all NCAA Championships which she has been asked to chair.

"I am very humbled and honored, and a bit overwhelmed with this," Lewis said. "I have always considered it a privilege to be a part of the University of Arkansas. I have walked this campus many times over the years both as a coach and as an administrator, and I have seen the names of the people who have made a significant impact upon the University and in higher education in the state of Arkansas. To be considered a part of that group of leaders in education and athletics is indeed an honor, and very, very special."

The Bogles’ gift ensures the construction of the 40,000-square foot Lewis Center to be located immediately south of Barnhill Arena. The Lewis Center will house the new gymnastics team’s training area, locker room and coaches’ offices, as well as a 7,000-square foot weight training area for all 11 Lady Razorback teams, other coaches’ offices and the Women’s Athletics Department administration.

"Bob and Marilyn are extraordinarily generous people and have set an example for philanthropy that is unmatched," White said.

Final plans for the Bev Lewis Center are under way, with ground breaking scheduled for late December of this year. The facility is expected to be completed by January 2003 to coincide with the inaugural season of competition for the Lady Razorback gymnastics team. Considered one of America’s top athletic administrators, Lewis has left her mark on the University and defined women’s athletics on a state, regional and national level. In September 1998, Lewis was inducted into the University of Arkansas Hall of Honor in recognition of her contributions to Women’s Athletics both as a coach and an administrator. The hallmark of her time as the Director of Women’s Athletics has been the overall excellence of her entire program. During her years as athletic director, every Lady Razorback sport has reached a new pinnacle from basketball achieving the Women’s Final Four in 1998 to the national runner-up trophy earned by cross country and NCAA third place by indoor track both in 2000. The 1999-2000 season was one of her department’s greatest as all ten teams reached the post season, with eight making their respective NCAA championship.

She has presided over the significant expansion of opportunities for female athletes to compete at the University, helping guide Arkansas’ proactive approach toward equity with the addition of four varsity sports during her tenure as the Director of Women’s Athletics. The first phase of expansion came in the mid-1990s with volleyball (1994), golf (1995) and softball (1997). After building each of these teams into NCAA tournament participants, she moved forward again, selecting gymnastics to become the 11th Lady Razorback sport, with competition to begin in 2002-03. Lewis has served in leadership roles on committees for the Southeastern Conference and the NCAA. In addition to her service with the NCAA Championships Committee, she is a former member of the NCAA Track and Field Committee, serving as the outdoor championships chair, and the NCAA Soccer Committee. From 1992 to 1995, she served a term as a member of the SEC Executive Committee.

She has brought national attention to Arkansas as the host of numerous SEC Championships as well as the 1994 NCAA Women’s Basketball Mideast Regional, the 1994 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship and the 1999 WNIT Championship.

One of Lewis’ most recent achievements was the 2001 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Championships, hosted by the University. She will head up the leadership team for the national meet again in 2002. Prior to assuming the duties of Athletic Director, Lewis’ Lady Razorback cross country and track teams had six top 20 national finishes, and she coached Team USA at the 1990 World Cross Country Championships.

Her Arkansas coaching milestones were numerous. Under her direction, cross country achieved three notable Lady Razorback firsts. On Oct. 4, 1984, her cross country team became the first Lady’Back squad to achieve a national ranking. Arkansas finished that season ranked 16th, and it started an impressive run in the polls as the Lady’Backs have ranked during the regular season in 15 of the past 16 seasons. She added the first top 10 finish to her resume in 1986 as cross country finished 10th at the NCAA Championships, and backed it up with a ninth-place finish in 1987.

Lewis also coached Arkansas’ first conference championship team for women with the 1988 Southwest Conference Cross Country Championship. As a result, her peers voted her SWC Coach of the Year for the second year in a row. She was also SWC Outdoor Track Coach of the Year in 1989. A 1979 graduate of Central Michigan, she is married to Harley Lewis, director of development for University programs at the University of Arkansas, the former athletic director at the University of Montana and a former assistant director of championships with the NCAA.