Ohio Wesleyan University Athletics

 

The Ohio Wesleyan Athletics Hall of Fame was founded in 1961.  It was one of the first in the United States and believed to be the first to induct women.

The Ohio Wesleyan Athletics Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding alumni athletes whose performance in their sport(s) was exceptional. The Hall of Fame also may honor those OWU coaches, staff personnel and others in the University community who have made extraordinary contributions to OWU athletics by means other than varsity competition.  The Ohio Wesleyan Athletics Hall of Fame recognizes individual athletes.  Team recognition is done through the Ohio Wesleyan Team of Distinction.

The Hall of Fame selection committee includes a cross-section of representatives from the athletics department, University Advancement, and alumni, and is responsible for screening and selecting inductees. The University Advancement division reviews/accepts the recommendations and officially notifies the inductees of their selection into the Hall of Fame.


Hall of Fame Honorees

OWU Athletics Hall of Fame — View the complete list of Hall of Fame inductees

Robert Strimer Honor Award — View the complete list of Robert Strimer Honor Award recipients

George Gauthier Award — View the complete list of George Gauthier Award recipients


Hall of Fame Nomination Criteria
 

• The nominee must be a graduate of OWU
• The nominee's preferred class must have graduated from OWU at least 10 years prior to the current academic year
• The nominee must have demonstrated exceptional and outstanding performance in his or her sport(s) and have earned at least one varsity letter.  The varsity letter requirement shall be waived for female athletes who graduated prior to such awards for their sport(s)
• “Silver Bishop” athletes — those who graduated from OWU at least 35 years prior to the current academic year and who meet all qualifications for selection — will be considered under the same selection criteria
• Coaches and staff are eligible for nomination two years after leaving their positions at OWU

Nomination Procedures and Deadlines

Nominate an OWU Athlete — To nominate an OWU alumnus or alumna for induction into the Athletics Hall of Fame, nominations must be submitted on the online OWU Athletics Hall of Fame nomination form.

Please note that only information submitted using the official nomination form will be accepted. All information submitted without using the nomination form will not be seen by the selection committee or used in the selection process.

All nominations are to be held in strict confidence by both those who submit a nomination and by the members of the selection committee. Candidates should not be aware of their nomination until they have been contacted by the University in an official capacity.

The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2026 Hall of Fame is January 15, 2026.


Robert Strimer Honor Award

The Robert Strimer Honor Award recognizes graduates of Ohio Wesleyan University who have made outstanding, widely recognized and sustained contributions to the field of athletics.  Examples of such contributions could include, but are not limited to:

• intercollegiate athletics administration and/or coaching
• professional sports administration, management or coaching
• interscholastic athletic administration and/or coaching
• sports medicine
• sport psychology
• sports journalism
• amateur or professional athletics
• other sport-related professions

Candidates for the award must be graduates of OWU, and cannot be considered prior to 20 years after graduation.  Recipients of the Strimer Award will be honored during the annual Hall of Fame ceremonies at Homecoming.  There will be no more than one Strimer Award honoree in any year.  Further, the Strimer Award need not be bestowed every year.  It shall be left to the discretion of the committee if there are any recipients in a given year.

Nominations for the Robert Strimer Honor Award must be submitted on the online OWU Athletics Hall of Fame nomination form.  Please make certain to select "Robert Strimer Honor Award" on the first pulldown.  The nomination deadline for the 2026 Robert Strimer Honor Award is January 15, 2026.


George Gauthier Award

The George Gauthier Award honors graduates of Ohio Wesleyan University for exemplary, widely recognized and sustained contributions to the Ohio Wesleyan athletics department, as an undergraduate on the playing fields, in the classroom, and as an alumnus/alumna providing lifelong support, interest and leadership.  The award also honors those who, through their acts of unselfish involvement, personify "Service Above Self."  Gauthier served as Ohio Wesleyan's athletics director from 1921-55.  He was the Battling Bishops' football coach from 1921-46, the Bishops' men's track & field coach from 1922-55, and the men's cross country coach from 1922-33, 1947-54, and 1957-59.