Eastern Michigan Athletics
Howard & Luanne Booth Commit $50,000 to EMU Athletics
3/23/2017 5:09:00 PM | General, Eastern Athletic Fund
It is the first lead gift for the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame Project
Support the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame Project.
View the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame Vision.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — A $50,000 gift to the Eastern Michigan University Department of Athletics will support the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame Project, an effort to relocate and modernize the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame. The E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame's current location is nearing capacity to recognize the dedication and achievements of EMU student-athletes, coaches, and administrators.
The project plans to move the Hall of Fame to the west concourse of the Convocation Center – a more visible location, which will allow the EMU Athletics story to be told in a bold, contemporary fashion, while providing decades of additional space for future classes. The gift, from E-Club President and EMU Track & Field Coach, Dr. Howard Booth, and his spouse, Luanne Booth, is the first lead gift toward the project.
"Eastern Michigan University helped prepare me for my career, employed me, and is the center of my lifelong athletic passions," mentioned Howard Booth. "This university is doing a better job of embracing EMU's tradition-rich athletics history. Now is our time, with both our energy and financial support, to pay it back and in doing so we pay it forward to benefit the next generation."
As permanent recognition of Booth's generosity, the concourse of the Convocation Center will become known as the "Howard and Luanne Booth Concourse" - Home of the E-Club Athletics Hall of Fame.
"Teachers teach and learn; student-athletes learn and teach," added Luanne. "Eastern Michigan University fosters that relationship so well. The University has enhanced and changed my life and my life with Howard. It is our great pleasure to give back to an institution that has done so much for us."
Howard Booth is a two-time graduate of Eastern Michigan, holding both bachelor's (1966) and master's degrees (1968), while earning his doctorate from Michigan State University in 1974. Inducted into the E-Club Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011, he lettered in gymnastics from 1963-66, serving as captain and co-captain, men's track in 1964 and 1965, as well as cheerleading in 1963-64, serving as a co-captain in the latter. Also, in 1964, Booth was recognized with a campus leadership award from the Men's Union. Starting as a graduate teaching assistant, his career at EMU extended into the classroom, where he became a biology professor, serving for 47 years. Currently, Booth coaches the men's pole vaulters and continues to compete in masters level track, where he has won two gold medals in the pole vault at the World Masters Athletics Championships in the last seven years.
Some of Booth's other connections with EMU and EMU Athletics include: having served on the Faculty Athletics Advisory Board and on several hiring search committees; given the Undergraduate Symposium Commitment to Excellence Award for most students sponsored; given the keynote address for the class of 1966 at Alumni Association Golden Years reunion; and represents emeritus faculty as an EMU Foundation Trustee.
Booth's transition from biology professor to pole vault coach for EMU's nationally acclaimed track and field program began a decade ago with permission to work out in the Bowen Field House's pole vault area during off hours. This was followed by an invitation from the student-athletes and pole vault coach to join them during workouts. That synergy of learning from them while sharing his masters vault experience led to an invitation from Head Coach John Goodridge to assist in the vault as a volunteer coach. After six years, three Mid-American Conference Championships, school records, and All-Americans, it has become his "new profession" since retirement.
The first person in her extended family to attend college, Luanne earned her bachelor's degree from EMU in 1967 while working full-time in the payroll office with greatly appreciated financial assistance from Eastern's Board of Regents Scholarship program. At Eastern, she met and married Howard. After the birth of their son, she worked part-time toward her master's at EMU, completing it in 1976. At that time, Luanne began a career that would span 24 years at Greenhills School, first as Director of Admissions and College Guidance, and ultimately as Head of Middle School, all the while teaching English to seventh graders.
Having followed Howard around the world for track competitions, Luanne decided some years ago to become more than a spectator and has joined in running events at statewide Senior Olympics in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, twice competing nationally. Pursuing their hobbies, Howard and Lu are each other's best fans. Luanne's volunteer efforts include service on the Dexter Band's Board of Directors, assisting with interviews for the Presidential Scholars Program at EMU, and supporting Howard's myriad of commitments to the university.
"Howard and Luanne are so special to Eastern Michigan University," said Associate Athletic Director for Development Dan McLean. "Their combined passion for athletics, academics and volunteering is inspiring at the greatest level."
The Booth's lead gift brings current fundraising total to over $75,000 toward the $250,000 goal. The E-Club Hall of Fame project was launched in early March.
For questions and project details, please contact McLean at dan.mclean@emich.edu or 734.487.8236.
View the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame Vision.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — A $50,000 gift to the Eastern Michigan University Department of Athletics will support the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame Project, an effort to relocate and modernize the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame. The E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame's current location is nearing capacity to recognize the dedication and achievements of EMU student-athletes, coaches, and administrators.
The project plans to move the Hall of Fame to the west concourse of the Convocation Center – a more visible location, which will allow the EMU Athletics story to be told in a bold, contemporary fashion, while providing decades of additional space for future classes. The gift, from E-Club President and EMU Track & Field Coach, Dr. Howard Booth, and his spouse, Luanne Booth, is the first lead gift toward the project.
"Eastern Michigan University helped prepare me for my career, employed me, and is the center of my lifelong athletic passions," mentioned Howard Booth. "This university is doing a better job of embracing EMU's tradition-rich athletics history. Now is our time, with both our energy and financial support, to pay it back and in doing so we pay it forward to benefit the next generation."
As permanent recognition of Booth's generosity, the concourse of the Convocation Center will become known as the "Howard and Luanne Booth Concourse" - Home of the E-Club Athletics Hall of Fame.
"Teachers teach and learn; student-athletes learn and teach," added Luanne. "Eastern Michigan University fosters that relationship so well. The University has enhanced and changed my life and my life with Howard. It is our great pleasure to give back to an institution that has done so much for us."
Howard Booth is a two-time graduate of Eastern Michigan, holding both bachelor's (1966) and master's degrees (1968), while earning his doctorate from Michigan State University in 1974. Inducted into the E-Club Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011, he lettered in gymnastics from 1963-66, serving as captain and co-captain, men's track in 1964 and 1965, as well as cheerleading in 1963-64, serving as a co-captain in the latter. Also, in 1964, Booth was recognized with a campus leadership award from the Men's Union. Starting as a graduate teaching assistant, his career at EMU extended into the classroom, where he became a biology professor, serving for 47 years. Currently, Booth coaches the men's pole vaulters and continues to compete in masters level track, where he has won two gold medals in the pole vault at the World Masters Athletics Championships in the last seven years.
Some of Booth's other connections with EMU and EMU Athletics include: having served on the Faculty Athletics Advisory Board and on several hiring search committees; given the Undergraduate Symposium Commitment to Excellence Award for most students sponsored; given the keynote address for the class of 1966 at Alumni Association Golden Years reunion; and represents emeritus faculty as an EMU Foundation Trustee.
Booth's transition from biology professor to pole vault coach for EMU's nationally acclaimed track and field program began a decade ago with permission to work out in the Bowen Field House's pole vault area during off hours. This was followed by an invitation from the student-athletes and pole vault coach to join them during workouts. That synergy of learning from them while sharing his masters vault experience led to an invitation from Head Coach John Goodridge to assist in the vault as a volunteer coach. After six years, three Mid-American Conference Championships, school records, and All-Americans, it has become his "new profession" since retirement.
The first person in her extended family to attend college, Luanne earned her bachelor's degree from EMU in 1967 while working full-time in the payroll office with greatly appreciated financial assistance from Eastern's Board of Regents Scholarship program. At Eastern, she met and married Howard. After the birth of their son, she worked part-time toward her master's at EMU, completing it in 1976. At that time, Luanne began a career that would span 24 years at Greenhills School, first as Director of Admissions and College Guidance, and ultimately as Head of Middle School, all the while teaching English to seventh graders.
Having followed Howard around the world for track competitions, Luanne decided some years ago to become more than a spectator and has joined in running events at statewide Senior Olympics in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, twice competing nationally. Pursuing their hobbies, Howard and Lu are each other's best fans. Luanne's volunteer efforts include service on the Dexter Band's Board of Directors, assisting with interviews for the Presidential Scholars Program at EMU, and supporting Howard's myriad of commitments to the university.
"Howard and Luanne are so special to Eastern Michigan University," said Associate Athletic Director for Development Dan McLean. "Their combined passion for athletics, academics and volunteering is inspiring at the greatest level."
The Booth's lead gift brings current fundraising total to over $75,000 toward the $250,000 goal. The E-Club Hall of Fame project was launched in early March.
For questions and project details, please contact McLean at dan.mclean@emich.edu or 734.487.8236.
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