Inductee Details

Evelyn Kinney arrived at OU during the 1945-46 school year after spending four years at the University of South Dakota. She went on to spend spent 35 years at Ottawa University, becoming well known in the Ottawa, Kan. community before retiring in the spring of 1981. 

Kinney came to Ottawa University to serve as the Dean of Women and was head of the physical education department. She established “women’s sports days” with the first volleyball play day being played in 1952 and the first softball play day being established in the spring of 1953. 

When Title IX was established, calling for equal sports for women, Kinney was instrumental in establishing track, volleyball and other programs. Bill Frear, a 1989 hall of fame inductee, recalled Kinney’s role in that process. “She was a great help when the government mandated “Title IX,” said Frear. “She helped me when I was athletic director at that time to get in compliance with the law.”

Kinney received her undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas and her masters from the University of Colorado. After her retirement, she stayed in Ottawa, Kan. and continued to be heavily involved in the community.