February 24, 2000

Bowling Green, Ky. --- Western Kentucky University's Department of Intramural-Recreational Sports will honor two of its former directors during a special dedication ceremony Wednesday, March 1, at 4 p.m. at the Raymond B. Preston Health and Activities Center. A tribute and special presentation for James E. Pickens and the late Frank W. Griffin will be held as part of a program honoring the two.

Frank W. Griffin was director of the intramural program at Western from 1946-84. He enrolled at WKU in 1937 at the age of 16 and played football and ran track for the Hilltoppers. Griffin graduated in 1940 and joined the Navy. After receiving his discharge in 1946, he joined the WKU football coaching staff and later served as Western's golf coach. During that period, Griffin became interested in developing a program to meet the recreational needs of students not competing in varsity athletics. He was the first official intramural director at Western. By 1976, under Coach Griffin's direction, the program was organizing competition in more than 20 sports for men and women with a budget of nearly $100,000.

James E. Pickens began his days at Western as a football and baseball player in 1947. The first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference player had a brief stint with a farm club of the Detroit Tigers before injuring his arm. Pickens began his education career serving students as a teacher, coach and administrator. He coached football and baseball at Elizabethtown, Danville and Bowling Green. He returned to Western in 1965 as the University's baseball coach and after retiring as coach in 1976, became the Director of University Centers. He was named assistant intramural director in 1981 and took over the director's reigns from Frank Griffin in 1984. During his tenure as director, planning began for Western's first student health and activities center and a master plan was developed shortly before Pickens' 1989 retirement which led to the construction of the Raymond B. Preston Center.

For more information, contact Debby Cherwak, Intramural-Recreational director at (270) 745-6060.