Class Includes Saturday Night Live Writer and Alderman from Chicago
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (October 12, 2010) – Seven former athletes, a former coach of a national championship team and several NCAA individual champions, and a longtime contributor to the Department of Athletics and Recreation, will be inducted into the University of Rochester Athletics Hall of Fame later this week.
Induction ceremonies will be held on Friday, October 15, in the Robert Goergen Fieldhouse as part of Meliora (Homecoming) Weekend. The Hall of Fame inductees will be introduced at halftime of Saturday's football game vs. the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The Hall of Fame held its first induction ceremony in 1992.
The Hall of Fame Class for 2010 includes: Douglas Abeles '81 (men's cross country, men's track and field), Jessica Lyon Densmore '92 (women's cross country, women's track and field), Patricia Dowell '78 (women's basketball), Timothy Hale (coach, men's cross country, men's track and field), Paul Macielak '72 (football), Kevin Uy '87, '93 (men's swimming), Lois "Inky' Watts '51 (friend), John "Spike Wilson '51 (baseball), and Jerrold Winter '59 (football).
Since they left the River Campus, the inductees have found success on all levels, including television writing, public service, athletics administration, health care, banking, and education.
Doug Abeles '81: (Hometown: New York, NY) At UR: Abeles ran cross country and indoor and outdoor track at Rochester from 1977-1981. As a senior, he finished 10th individually in the 10,000 meter run at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships and helped Rochester to a high national finish. He won the Silver Medal in the 10,000 meter run at the NY State championships. In cross country as a senior, Abeles placed fifth at the NY State championship, third at the NCAA regional qualifier, and 32nd at the 1980 NCAA Division III National Championships. Post-Graduate: After graduating in 1981 with a degree in psychology, Abeles worked in several areas before studying to become a comedy writer for television. He was hired in 2001 for Saturday Night Live, eventually rising to the position of head writer for Weekend Update. He received an Emmy Award in 2002, a Peabody Award in 2009, and three Writer's Guild Awards.
Jessica Lyon Densmore '92: (Hometown: Seneca Falls, NY) At UR: Densmore earned the Most Outstanding Performer of the Meet honors at the University Athletic Association indoor championships four times. As a freshman, she competed at the NCAA Division III National Indoor Championships and helped Rochester finish second nationally, its highest team finish ever in women's track and field. Her ability to compete in multiple events helped her claim several records for the University and for the UAA. She earned All-America honors in the 4x400 meter relay indoors and the heptathlon outdoors.
Patricia Dowell '78: (Hometown: Chicago, IL) At UR: Dowell became a dominant inside player for the women's basketball team despite now playing the sport in high school. She is still among the individual record holders today. As a senior, her skills helped Rochester post a 16-3 record. Post-Graduate: She graduated with a degree in developmental psychology. She earned a master's degree in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago. Currently, she is an Alderman of the 3rd Ward for the City of Chicago.
Timothy Hale: (Hometown: Fairport, NY) In a 26-year coaching career at the University, Hale coached four individual national champions, 58 All-Americans, and guided Rochester to the 1991 NCAA Division III Men's Cross Country Championship. His cross country teams won 15 New York State championships, including a record 10 straight first place finishes from 1987 to 1996. His men's and women's track and field teams won two New York State titles each. He was honored multiple times as Coach of the Year and served on several high-level NCAA committees. In 2009, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York State Collegiate Track Conference for longtime service to the organization. He served as the University's Associate Director of Athletics from 1998 to 2000 and is currently the Director of Athletics for SUNY Oswego.
Paul Macielak '72: (Hometown: Albany, NY) At UR: Macielak was a three-year starter at left offensive tackle after starting his freshman year as a defensive tackle. In 1971, he was awarded the Ball-Keating Award as the Most Valuable Offensive Lineman. Post-Graduate: After graduation, he earned a degree from Albany Law School in 1975. He is currently the president and chief executive officer of the New York Health Plan Association, an Albany-based organization that represents 30 managed care health plans across New York State.
Kevin Uy '87, M '93: (Hometown: N. Attleboro, MA) At UR: Uy's skills in the pool helped Rochester win four straight Upstate New York Championships from 1983 to 1987. As a senior, he was a key component of a Rochester team that finished seventh at the NCAA Championships. In four years, he earned All-America honors for seven events and was accorded Honorable Mention All-America honors in two events. He set multiple records, including breaking his own standards several times. Post-Graduate: He graduated in 1987 with a degree in optics. He worked in the aerospace industry before returning to the University to earn an MBA from the Simon Graduate School of Business Administration in 1993. He worked in the banking industry as a financial analyst, rising to his current role as Vice President at Bank of America.
Lois "Inky" Watts '51: (Hometown: Pittsford, NY) Rochester did not have an intercollegiate athletic program for women when Watts attended from 1948 to 1951. She participated in numerous intramural sports, including basketball, water ballet, and cheerleading. During that three-year period, she was the head cheerleader. She has continued her involvement with the athletic program working with recruiting and alumni programs in addition to serving on the Hall of Fame Committee. In 2002, she was selected to carry the Olympic torch for the Salt Lake City Olympics. She spent 38 years at Allendale Columbia as a reading consultant.
John "Spike' Wilson '51: (Hometown: Penfield, NY) At UR: Wilson pitched for the baseball team for two seasons (1947 and 1951) and spent the two years in between as an unpaid pitching coach. In 1950, he attended spring training for the Rochester Red Wings. While he did not receive any money, the NCAA declared him ineligible as a sophomore and a junior. His eligibility was restored for his senior year after head coach Lou Alexander wrote to each school on the schedule to permit him to play. Following graduation in 1951, he joined the United States Navy.
Jerrold Winter '59: (Hometown: Williamsville, NY) At UR: Over a three-year period (1956-1958), Winter played four positions on the gridiron: offensive tackle, center, middle linebacker, and defensive end. In 1958, the defense posted five consecutive shutouts to start the season and gave up just 19 points the entire year. Post-Graduate: he graduated in 1959 with a degree in organic chemistry. After serving for three years in the U.S. Navy, he enrolled at the University at Buffalo's School of Medicine, earning a Ph.D. in pharmacology. In 1966, he returned to teach and is now in his 43rd year as a faculty member.