University of Rochester
Athletic Hall of Fame
Hazel Wilbraham
'27
At Rochester:
- After graduating from the University in 1927, she immediately joined the faculty as a teacher of physical education and hygiene
- Member of the faculty for 30 years, working closely with Merle Spurrier
- Together, Spurrier and Wilbraham conceived of physical training not only as a means of maintaining curricular balance, but also a method of instilling confidence and learning enjoyment of sports that would carry over into the years after graduation
- Was affectionately known as "Gram" by generations of admiring women students
- Had a large part of devising (1931) and then in directing cooperative dormitories on the Prince Street Campus
- In 1955, a pool was opened in the Merle Spurrier Gymnasium-dedicated in her name in 1974
- When the new aquatic complex was constructed as part of the Zornow Sports Complex in the early 1980s, the pool was dedicated as the Speegle-Wilbraham Aquatic complex to recognize 2 pioneers in physical education-Roman Speegle and Hazel Wilbraham
- Hazel passed away in 1957
