A pioneer in Millersville's women's intercollegiate athletics history,
Dr. Mary Elizabeth Dixon served the University with distinction for 34 years, from 1947 until her retirement in 1981.
As a coach, Dr. Dixon guided the Marauder field hockey program for 12 seasons (1951 to 1958 and 1960 to 1963). As the second head coach in the team's history, she led the Black and Gold fielders to a 34-34-9 overall record. In addition, Dr. Dixon piloted the 'Ville women's basketball team for eight seasons (1950-58). She also was founder and advisor to the popular Dolphin Club which is devoted to the sport of synchronized swimming.
Dr. Dixon was professor of health and physical education during her Millersville tenure and was an active participant in numerous professional organizations. She held lifetime memberships in the Pennsylvania State Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (PSAHPER) and the National Education Association (NEA), and was a Fellow in the American Association of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (AAHPER). She also held membership in national and state physical education councils for women (NAPECW and EAPECU) as well as the American Association of University Professors (AAUP).
In 1968, Dr. Dixon was elected president of PSAHPER--the largest state group nationally and one of the largest organizations affiliated with the NEA-- and became only the fifth woman to head the organization since its inception in 1921. She also served in numerous capacities in PSAHPER: chair of the physical education and athletic policies committee, chair of the international relations committee, member of the executive committee, and vice president for health. She received the Professional Honor Award from PSAHPER in 1965 and the Elmer B. Cottrell Award in 1981.
In addition, Dr. Dixon was state chair of the Division of Girls and Women's Sports (DGWS) in 1961 and 1962, served as chair of the School Health Education Section of the Eastern District Association of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (EDAHPER), and was director of student services for Pennsylvania's AAPHER chapter. She also received the Eastern District Association (EDA) Presidential Award in 1982.
Dr. Dixon received honorary membership in Phi Delta Pi, Kappa Delta Pi, and Pi Lambda Theta. She received the Arnold Fink Professional Award for Lancaster County in 1964, and was named to Who's Who in American Education and Who's Who of American Women in 1959 and 1965, respectively.
She was a frequent host on WGAL-TV programs in the 1950s and 1960s that focused on elementary physical education. In addition, she wrote numerous articles for DGWS and PSAHPER.
Before she came to Millersville, Dr. Dixon served in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1944 to 1946 and was a physical education instructor at the U.S. Naval Training School at Hunter College in the Bronx, N.Y. She earned a bachelor's degree from Slippery Rock in 1939, an M.Ed., from Penn State in 1946 and a Ed.D., from Penn State in 1952.
For five years (1939 to 1944), she was a health and physical education teacher in the St. Marys (Pa.) Public School District.
In retirement, Dr. Dixon enjoys travel, sports, literature, music, woodwork, and painting.
