Spotlight on NIRSA Legacy Contributor Will Holsberry

As a young professional who is new to working in higher education, it can be overwhelming learning not just a new environment on campus, but also fully understanding the purpose and intent behind what campus recreation offers to students. After a year of learning my role and responsibilities, attending various NIRSA conferences, and state workshops, all I can say is… I’m inspired.

I’ve had the pleasure to meet and learn from some great leaders in NIRSA over the last year, but it makes me wonder how NIRSA has gotten to where it is today. While there have been many great leaders in NIRSA’s history, there is one who is especially notable for his everlasting impact on NIRSA’s success. Care to dive into NIRSA history with me to see who it is?

Will Holsberry is a pillar in NIRSA’s pantheon of leaders

Let me introduce you to Will Holsberry! A graduate from Eastern New Mexico University in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education and 1965 with a Master of Science in Physical Education and Recreation. Additional education was also pursued at Texas Tech and North Texas State University.

At Texas Tech University, Will held titles of Assistant Professor of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, and Assistant Director of Intramural Sports between 1963 to 1972. After completing one year of doctoral studies at North Texas State, he returned to Texas Tech as Associate Director of Intramurals/Recreation from 1973 to 1975.

In 1973, Will was also appointed as the Executive Secretary of NIRSA, taking over the NIRSA reigns from his boss at the time Edsel Buchanan, who was the Recreation Director at Texas Tech.

Will was responsible for keeping financial records and membership files; serving as a recreational sports consultant to universities and corporations throughout the country; coordinating the NIRSA placement services and the jobs placement center for the annual conference; and serving as a member of the executive committee.

In 1975, Will held dual roles as the Assistant Director of Physical Recreation and Assistant Professor in College Student Services Administration at Oregon State University (OSU), all while continuing his nominally volunteer NIRSA duties. Many of us working in campus recreation today can feel like we’re wearing maybe one or two too many hats—but intramurals and recreation on college campuses during the 1970’s truly were the wild west: At OSU, the Physical Recreation Department included the Dixon Recreation Center, Parker Stadium Courts, McAlexander Fieldhouse, the Memorial Union Bowling and Billiards Center, the Outdoor Recreation Center, and the Sport Club program. Will served as the Chief Fiscal Officer, Program Director, and Facility Manager for all these areas within OSU’s Physical Recreation Department. And just when you think that he has enough on his plate, he also served on five university committees, one of which involved planning an addition to the Dixon Recreation Center!

Will served on nearly every committee within NIRSA and was also responsible for editing the NIRSA Newsletter for decades and producing the Conference Proceedings from 1971 to 1977. With his great leadership and experience, he always helped to facilitate smooth transitions from one leadership cohort to the next.

Outside of the association and work, Will’s community involvement included serving as president of the Crescent Valley High School Booster Club, chairing fund drives for United Way and the OSU Cultural Center, and actively participating on the Administrative Board and Rebuilding Committee for the First United Methodist Church in Corvallis.

I know what you’re thinking, any ONE of these roles is more than enough work, but when you love what you do (and Will did!) it is not work at all. And it does not stop there.

Did you know that the NIRSA Honor Award is the highest distinction conferred by the Association? The nominees are selected annually on the basis of their contribution to the profession. In 1980, Will Holsberry was honored as the 18^th recipient of the NIRSA Honor Award at the 31^st NIRSA Conference.

In 1985, after 13 years as Executive Secretary of NIRSA, Will tendered his resignation to the Association’s Board of Directors. His resignation letter included a popular Johnny Paycheck song title “Take This Job and Shove It” to initiate his resignation from part-time Executive Secretary position as he was moving on to the next adventure of his NIRSA journey. “It was time, and I was exhausted,” says Will.

I wish I would have resigned from my last job with such style! But Will’s separation from NIRSA was short lived. The next journey for Will was his appointment to full-time NIRSA Executive Director by the executive committee. With Will being known as the preeminent figure in relation to the business operations of the association since 1972, I think his appointment was a great choice!

A legacy that will live long in NIRSA lore

Will is known for so many great things, one of which includes establishing the NIRSA National Office in 1986. Prior to the change, NIRSA did not have an official, dedicated space that was not Will’s office. The addition of full-time staff and a national office made it possible for the organization to centralize business and pursue organized growth.

The association has received more reputable national exposure and experienced new growth through an increasingly diverse membership. The national office absorbed the task of operating the NIRSA Conference, which continued to grow year on year, and exploding the number of exhibitors from 32 to 131 in a three-year span (1986-1989).

In 1997, after many successful years leading NIRSA, Will announced his retirement. How incredible is it that Will was able to work with 25 different NIRSA presidents and executive committees? It is without a doubt that we can say that Will’s longtime contributions to NIRSA and the field of collegiate recreational sports has demonstrated his unwavering dedication to the profession. NIRSA Past President, Craig Stinson stated “his love for our profession and for our membership is unrivaled. Without his leadership and vision, NIRSA would not be as successful as it is today.”

NIRSA has been, still is, and always will be a vibrant and thriving professional association thanks to our legacy contributors, like Will Holsberry; I for one feel very lucky to be a part of it.

Who are the Top 10 humans of your NIRSA history?

The History and Legacy Committee is hoping to amplify diverse perspectives as they work to honor the individuals and milestones that have made a positive impact on your NIRSA experiences.

Take a few minutes this week to list up to 10 individuals, from your perspective, who have had the most significant impact on NIRSA, on the profession of campus recreation, and on your NIRSA experience. Don’t worry about listing them in any particular order.