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1975 Sexist OSU Newsletter
The Old Man, the newsletter of the Ohio State University Men’s Rugby club announced the formation of the Ohio State women’s team. Note the graphic illustration of a female player.
1977 The Pitch
The Tube and the Pitch, two different Ohio State Women’s team newsletters from 1977 show the grassroots organizing, bawdy nature of women’s rugby at the time.
The Pioneers Club is made up of the first 100 individuals, teams, and businesses donating $1,000 or more to the US Women's Rugby Foundation. Members hold a special place in the history of the USWRF and are credited with making our work possible.
We are closing in on 100 Pioneers! Add your name to the list today!
The Foundation gratefully thanks our “Pioneers” for believing in our mission and helping us to
transform the future of girls and women in rugby.
100 PIONEERS CLUB MEMBERS
1 | Danita Knox | USWRF President, Alum Atlanta Harlequins WRFC | |
2 | Terry Owen | Alum Florida State University WRFC | |
3 | Suzi Rosen | USWRF Treasurer, Alum Florida State University WRFC | |
4 | Lisa Durham | USWRF Vice President, Alum Atlanta Valkyries WRFC | |
5 | Bev Armstrong | USWRF Secretary, Beantown RFC | |
6 | Clare Sup | Alum Florida State University WRFC | |
7 | Mary Holmes | Alum Florida State University WRFC | |
8 | William Holmes | Supporter of Women’s Rugby | |
9 | Jackie Watts | Alum Houston Heathen Hearts & Florida State University WRFCs | |
10 | Jamie Jisa | Alum University of Montana/Missoula’s Betterside & Northern Virginia WRFCs | |
11 | Tania Hahn | Alum New Orleans Halfmoons WRFC | |
12 | Dana Jackson | Atlanta Harlequins WRFC | |
13 | Annie Collier | New York RFC | |
14 | Holly Gaff | Norfolk Storm WRFC, Alum Washington DC Furies, Maryland Stingers, Atlanta Harlequins, Berkeley All Blues, Smoky Mountain, Stone Lion, & University of Tennessee WRFCs | |
15 | CJ Jones | Alum Coast, Purdue, Hoydens, Combined Services, Storm, Beantown, Furies, & Norfolk WRFCs | |
16 | Lisa O’Donnell | Alum Naples WRFC | |
17 | Julia McCoy | Alum New Orleans Halfmoons WRFC & Ozark Ladies RFC | |
18 | Vicki Hudson | Alum University of Florida, Orlando Alouettes, San Francisco, St. Louis WRFCs, Berkeley All-Blues & United States Combined Services | |
19 | David Pelton | Supporter of Women's Rugby | |
20 | Deb King | Alum Norfolk Storm, Combined Services, Gypsies, Hartford Roses, Indianapolis Hoydens, Purdue University, & Coast WRFCs | |
21 | Penn State Women's Rugby | ||
22 | World Rugby Shop | ||
23 | In Memory of Dawn White | Alum Ft. Bragg & Atlanta Harlequins WRFC | |
24 | Beth Fordyce | Alum Georgia Women's Rugby, Southeast, & Atlanta Harlequins WRFC | |
25 | Mary Money | USWRF Vice President, Tufts University WRFC, Beantown RFC, Atlanta Harlequins, USA Eagles | |
26 | Ros Anderson | Rugby Referees of NY, Village Lions RFC, in memory of Linda Moore, a pioneer in her field | |
27 | Kerri Heffernan | USWRF Vice President & WRCRA Chair, Florida State, Houston Heathen Hearts, Beantown RFC, USA Eagles, Brown University WRFC | |
28 | Rob Halcomb | MidSouth Rugby Referee Society, Life Rugby, Tennessee Rugby Alum | |
29 | Rev. Shelley Donaldson | Alum Atlanta Harlequins WRFC | |
30 | Krista McFarren | USA Eagles, Maryland Stingers, New Orleans Halfmoons, Washington Furies | |
31 | KJ Abel Ruch | Truman State University & Kansas City Jazz, Kansas Women's Rugby Football Club | |
32 | Kathy Flores | USA Eagles, Florida State, Berkeley All Blues, Cal, USF, SF Fog, Pacific Coast All-Stars, Brown University | |
33 | Pam Kosanke | USA Eagles Sevens, USA Eagles 15s, Atlantis 7s, Chicago North Shore, Midwest Sevens and 15s All-Stars | |
34 | Phaidra Knight | USA Eagles Sevens, USA Eagles 15s, Northeast All Stars, Midwest All Stars, New York Rugby Club, Old Blue Rugby Club, Wisconsin Women's Rugby Club | |
35 | Carly Harrington | Atlanta Harlequins | |
36 | Nancy Dennis Campbell | Florida State University, Canton Maddogs, Eastern Suburbs, Eno River, Memphis, Chattanooga, Nashville Stone Lions, Knoxville Minx, Shreveport Valentines, Dallas Harlequins, Louisiana Lagniappe, Olde Girls, and Gypsy Rugby | |
37 | Jami Jordan | Alum Chesapeake Women’s Rugby, Maryland Stingers and New York Rugby Club | |
38 | Lori Utchel | ||
39 | Linda McLean | ||
40 | Laurel Lockett | ||
41 | Rick Humm | World Rugby Coach Development Trainer, President Northern California RFU | |
42 | Robert McFarren | Supporter of Women's Rugby | |
43 | Cindy Allen | Washington D.C. Furies, Georgia Women's Rugby, Southeast and Atlanta Harlequins | |
44 | Candi Orsini | FSU WRFC, USA Eagles, Atlantis | |
45 | In Memory of Cheri Omega | ||
46 | Kris Hermanns | Wisconsin WRFC and Beantown RFC | |
47 | Shoshona Le | Denver Black Ice WRFC, Atlantis 7s, West Select 15s, Eastern Rockies RFU | |
48 | K.O. Onufry | ||
49 | Robin Pace | FSU Women's Rugby Club and USA Eagles | |
50 | Margaret Dessypris Thomas | James River WRFC, Virginia Rugby Union Women’s Select Side, Referee Society of Virginia | |
51 | MaryBeth Mathews | ||
52 | Mary-Kathryn Weaver | Alum Oklahoma Roses, Dallas, Austin WRFC | |
53 | Colleen Fahey | USA Eagles, Florida State University WRFC, Olde Girls Women’s Rugby | |
54 | Jennie Redner | Publisher of Communique, USARFU Referee Society; Publisher of In Control, Midwest RFU Referee Society; Publisher of In Support, USARFU Women’s Committee; Midwest RFU Women’s Select Side; Chicago WRFC; Michigan State University WRFC | |
55 | Laura Fraher | Alum SUNY Geneseo Women's RFC, New York RFC, DC Furies | |
56 | Vicky Bowlin | Alum FSU WRFC, All Star/USA Eagle/Wivern | |
57 | Kevin Kitto | USA Rugby, South Panther Rugby | |
58 | Lorraine Avery-Easterwood | Wilmington Rugby Football Union | |
59 | Jack Clark | Head Coach, Varsity Rugby, University of California, Berkeley | |
60 | Yancy Hammond Graf | Kansas City Jazz, Beantown RFC, USA Eagles, Rugby fan for life | |
61 | Jessica Hammond Graf | ||
62 | Amy Shopkorn | USWRF Board Member, Alum Bowdoin Women's Rugby Football Club, Former Coach American University Women's Rugby, Alum Washington D.C. Furies | |
63 | Jennifer Durant | Alum University of Texas Women’s Rugby, Austin Valkyries Women’s Rugby Club | |
64 | Sunny Myers | Raleigh Rugby Football Club - Youth Director, USA Rugby Youth & High School - DEI Council | |
65 | Sarah Sall | Atlantis 7's, MARFU 15's, Keystone RFC, Brandywine RFC, USA Rugby, TORI (The Original Rugby Influencer) Rugby | |
66 | C. Diane Poole | Washington DC Furies, Potomac Referee Society, University of Florida WRC | |
67 | Kathy Kojm | Florida State WRFC | |
68 | Lee Bryant | Alum University of Nevada, Reno; Grizzlies 15s & 7s; USAR National Panel Referee | |
69 | Andra Douglas | Florida State WRFC | |
70 | Anne Barry | ||
71 | Lisa Huff Henrich | Alum: Dartmouth Women's Rugby Club, Gotham City Women's Rugby, Philadelphia Rugby Football Club, Buffalo Women's Rugby, Olde Girls Women's Rugby, Atlantis 7s, MARFU 15s; Coach: Orchard Park HS Rugby; Mother of 15s Eagle Emily Henrich | |
72 | Annie Antar | Clubs: Radcliffe Rugby, Nashville WRFC, Atlanta Harlequins, DC Furies | |
73 | Laura Stratton | Alum Berkeley All Blues, Pacific Coast Grizzlies, and United States Combined Services, in memory of Kathy Flores | |
74 | Amanda Cox | ||
75 | Annemarie Farrell | ||
76 | Dana A. Schneider | ||
77 | Amy Marks | ||
78 | Jan Rutkowski | Beantown RFC, USA Eagles | |
79 | Annah M. Weaver | ||
80 | Elizabeth Dustin | ||
81 | Theresa Bertram | ||
82 | Glenn T. Jensen | ||
83 | Kathryn Dowty | ||
84 | Joanne Absher | Alum: San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara 7s Academy, Ponsonby, Counties Manukau, Belmont Shore, Santa Monica
Coach: Cal Poly SLO, UCLA, Pac South U23s
Admin: CRAA, Pacific Desert RC | |
85 | Monica VanBuskirk | ||
86 | Josie Ziluca | ||
87 | Kittery Wagner Ruiz | In loving memory of her wife, Capt. Kandis Ruiz, USMC | |
88 | Mary Swanstrom | ||
89 | Barb Fugate | ||
90 | Becky (TC) Regan | Boston University WRFC, Boston Women's RFC, New England Select Side, Coach - Wellesley College | |
91 | Angela Smarto | ||
92 | Koma Gandy Fischbein | ||
93 | Barb Bond | USA Eagles, Pacific Coast Grizzlies, BASH Women’s Rugby Club, Portland Zyphers, Reed College Lemmings | |
94 | Skyler Browder | ||
95 | Geoff Tancredi | ||
96 | Mikhala Dougher * | AHO WRFC Alum, Empire GU, CNY Rugby, and Uticuse Rugby | |
97 | Matty Leighton * | Alum University of NH, WA State University, University of CO, ERRFU and West Select 15s, ERRFU Referee, Plymouth State University | |
98 | Rachel Rheam * | ||
99 | Jeanna Beard * | ||
100 | Kat Aversano * | ||
101 | Ross Young * | ||
102 | Wendy Young * | ||
103 | Lisa Jackson * | ||
104 | Holly Abrams * | ||
105 | Jenn Stratton * | Cumberland Valley Girls High School Head Coach, Rugby PA BOD, NCR BOD, Past EPRU President, East Penn Rugby Referee | |
106 | Olivia Benzan-Daniel * | ||
107 | Betty Nguyen * |
* Pioneers in progress through recurring payments
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