Dr. Norman P. Auburn (1987) - Hall of Fame - University of Akron Athletics

Dr. Norman P. Auburn

Induction:
1987

Perhaps his belief that “athletics serves a dual purpose—the developing of a healthy body while developing a sound mind” gives hint to the interest he paid the athletic program during his 20 years as president of The University of Akron. That interest was paid off in action by Dr. Norman P. Auburn during the years of 1951-71. One of his first moves as president was to begin studies to build a physical education building. The result was Memorial Hall (1954) which brought UA basketball back on campus after playing in such places a Goodyear Gym, Perkins Gym and the Armory. He allowed Stu Parry to talk to him into starting a soccer program that has grown into a national power. Could it be Auburn was influenced by the fact that he himself had played and lettered in intercollegiate soccer at the University of Cincinnati? Without at question, Auburn helped save Zip football for extinction, when he long with Kenneth “Red” Cochrane, Ben Maidenburg and Fred Pockrandt, were co-founders of the Acme-Zip Game (1954), Acme-Zip celebrates it 35th Anniversary in 1988 and is the oldest promotion of its kind in the nation. The development of Lee R. Jackson Field (1967) not only gave UA a “a campus atmosphere” but provided athletic facilities for track, tennis, baseball, and soccer. Auburn was also responsible for the upgrading of UA’s Marching Band helped acquire the Rubber Bowl (1971). It was not only the big things but the little as well—from annually throwing out the first pitch at the first hone baseball game, his pep talks to the football and basketball teams and to his religious attendance to the latter two. In short, Auburn’s action during his 20 years as president, paved the way for the Division I program that UA has become in 1988.