Hall of Fame - 1991

Mary K. Browne was born in California in 1891. In 1912, she won the first of three successive U.S. Women's Championships in tennis. Between 1912 and 1926, she was a five-time U.S. Women's Doubles Champion, four-time U.S. mixed doubles Champion and the Wimbledon Doubles Champion. Some of her partners included Bill Tilden, Helen Willis and Elizabeth Ryan. She ranked as the number one player in women's tennis for twoyears. She was also a captain of the U.S. Wightman Cup team for two years.

In 1926, Browne accepted an offer from C.C. Pyle to play against Suzanne Lenglen in the very first tennis tour. During the 1920s and 1930s, she also won several golf championships, including the Southern California Women's Championship, the Ohio State title and the Cleveland Championship four times.

From 1930 until 1951, Browne was a part-time tennis instructor at Lake Erie College except during World War II when she served with the American Red Cross in Australia and Italy.

While at Lake Erie College, she devised the tennis game of Battleboard Tennis with the first backboard installed in Ritchie Gymnasium. She was also responsible for many outstanding tennis players coming to Lake Erie College for exhibition matches and invitational tournaments. She was an author of three respected tennis texts. Because of her worldwide tennis accomplishments, she was enshrined in the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1957 in Newport, Rhode Island. Later Browne became a very successful and much sought-after portrait painter. After her very active tennis and golf career, she returned to California where she died in August 1971.

It is indeed fitting that Mary K. Browne be inducted into the Lake Erie College Athletic Hall of Fame posthumously on this April 26, 1991.

Sandra Brooks Geaman

Sandra Brooks Geaman majored in social studies and history at Lake Erie College and received her bachelor's of arts degree in 1957. She participated in varsity tennis for two years, varsity basketball and volleyball for three years and varsity field hockey and softball for four years. Geaman also competed in archery, badminton, bowling, lacrosse and table tennis.

For athletic accomplishments, she was presented the Athletic Association Seal Award. She was the founder of the Rifle Club and an instructor for two years. She served as treasurer and later president of the Athletic Association Board. She spent the Winter Term Award studying the physical education system in the public schools of Copenhagen, Denmark. In 1958, Geaman received the Graduate Certificate in Physical Education at Lake Erie College. In 1959, she became a graduate assistant in the Women's Physical Education Department at Ohio University, where she taught archery, tennis, volleyball and badminton, and coached the women's varsity tennis team. In 1963, she was an instructor in physical education at Lake Erie for the winter term.

Since 1975, Geaman has been actively involved in directing and coordinating several tennis and volleyball programs in Connecticut, where she is the Director of Religious Education for All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in New London.

The Hall of Fame Committee of Lake Erie College recognizes all of these accomplishments by honoring Sandra Brooks Geaman as an inductee into the Athletic Hall of Fame on this April 16, 1991.

Margaret F. Jones

Margaret F. Jones came to Lake Erie College from Nassau, Bahamas and graduated in 1977 with a bachelor of arts degree in equestrian studies with a special certificate in horsemanship.

She spent the winter term of her junior year in Belvoir Vale, England at an equestrian center. Although riding was her main athletic sport, she was also a member of the varsity field hockey team for three years. As a student, she was dorm head of College Hall, a board member of the Student Association of Self Government and vice president and president of the riding club.

As a senior, Jones was selected for both the Prix de Ville Dressage Team and the Prix de Ville Jumping Team. She returned to Lake Erie College for one year as an instructor in the equestrian program.

Since 1983, Jones has been co-owner of Sanmar Farm, Culpeper, Virginia, buying, selling, teaching and training hunters and jumpers. In 1987, she represented the Bahamian Equestrian Federation at the Pan American Games. She continues to be very active in the equestrian world, as well as enjoying scuba diving, skiing, tennis and swimming.

Lake Erie College and the Hall of Fame Committee are pleased to honor Margaret F. Jones as an inductee into the Athletic Hall of Fame on this April 16, 1991.

Jane Strait Misurelli

Jane Strait Misurelli received a bachelor of arts degree with high honors from Lake Erie College in 1958 with a major in biology and chemistry. In 1959, she earned a graduate certificate in physical education. She spent her Winter Term Abroad in Goettingen, Germany.

Strait Misurelli was a member of the Lake Erie College varsity field hockey team and played for the Cleveland Field Hockey Association. She was also an outstanding performer in basketball and softball. Upon her graduation, she continued to play club field hockey and lacrosse.

In 1960, Strait Misurelli received a master of science degree in physical education from Smith College. She then joined the Skidmore College department of physical education and dance as an instructor, where she was promoted to the rank of associate director in physical education. In 1983, she was named associate athletic director.

She has coached field hockey and lacrosse at Skidmore College for more than 30 years. She also directed the Skidmore Summer Tennis Program from 1975-1987. Additionally, Strait Misurelli was a tennis pro at the Albany Country Club in New York for one year. From 1985-1990, she served as the Commissioner of Champions for the New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association. She presently spends a great deal of time playing tennis and squash, as well as participating throughout the United States in cross country skiing, hiking and cycling.

For these outstanding athletic achievements, the Hall of Fame Committee is pleased to honor Jane Strait Misurelli as an inductee into the Athletic Hall of Fame on this April 26, 1991.

Barbara Sanford

Barbara Sanford majored in health and physical education and graduated from Lake Erie College in 1972 with a bachelor of arts degree. She was a member of the varsity field hockey team and dwan club, the synchronized swimming group, for four years. In 1971, she also was director of the Learn to Swim program, taught beginning golf, was on the volleyball team and was manager of the field hockey team. She spent her Winter Term Abroad in Grenoble, France.

Sanford received a M.E.D. degree from State University on New York at Cortland in 1978. She has taught Health and Physical Education in Massena Central Schools in Massena, New York for 19 years and in the Adult Education Program for four years. During this time, Sanford has coached varsity girls soccer for 13 years, varsity girls volleyball for 10 years and junior varsity and varsity cheerleading for five years. She is actively involved in several professional organizations for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. She is a certified water safety instructor and life guard instructor for the American Red Cross. In addition to traveling, she also participates in skiing, swimming, tennis and is involved in church activities.