Geary Eppley

Eppley has his "wingspan" measured at Maryland State College in 1917. Geary Francis "Swede" Eppley (December 30, 1895June 10, 1978) was an American university administrator, professor, agronomist, military officer, athlete, and track and field coach. He served as the University of Maryland athletic director from 1937 to 1947, during which time the school's athletic teams won seven national championships. Eppley worked in various capacities for Prince George's County and for private charities. He served in the United States Army during the First and Second World Wars.

Early life and education Eppley was born in 1895 in Washington, D.C. In 1914, he enrolled at the Maryland State College of Agriculture (now known as the University of Maryland), but put his education on hold to serve in the First World War. Eppley served as a second lieutenant in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment from March 11, 1918, to July 3, 1919. After the war, he returned to Maryland State, and earned letters in track and football in 1919 and 1920. He played on the football team as an end. In track, he set the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference pole vault record, and in football, he was named a second-team all-conference end. He was a staunch supporter of athletics at Maryland, and routinely sat in the student section at the university's games.

In 1941, Eppley was activated from the Army Reserve at the rank of colonel, and was assigned to the office of the Army Chief of Staff. and as its president in 1949. When the Southern Conference placed a ban on postseason bowl games, Eppley said, "As a member of the faculty, I am not over enthusiastic about bowls, but ... any over-emphasis is caused by the great desire of the American people to win." The incident proved a major catalyst for the formation of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in 1953. Eppley later served as the president of the ACC. Eppley played a pivotal role in the founding of the university's student union and its chapel. The Geary F. Eppley Award is awarded annually to the university's senior athlete with the highest grade-point average.

In 2006, the campus recreation center was dedicated as the Geary F. Eppley Recreation Center. His daughter, Frances Eppley Tobin, said, "It's a perfect building for him, because he was so dedicated to athletics and physical fitness." The university had unsuccessfully sought to sell the facility's naming rights to a corporate sponsor. An alumni group had petitioned to rename the Adele H. Stamp Student Union in honor of Eppley, who had organized its creation, but were rebuffed by the university. The school's administration later agreed to dedicating the recreation center to Eppley after an important patron threatened to cut off donations.