Mona Plummer

Early life and education Ramona M. Farish was born September 5, 1928, to Annie Mae Reynolds Farish and Edward Preston Farish in Gadsden, Alabama, and later lived in Birmingham. She graduated George Washington High School, and Averett College, a women's junior college in Danville, Virginia. She graduated Birmingham's University of Alabama with a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Physical Education, where she was a member of Phi Mu Sorority. Plummer coached 1972 Olympic backstroker Maryanne Graham who would later coach in Scottsdale. One of her more outstanding swimmers was Kendis Moore Drake. Drake placed fourth in the 100-meter backstroke at the Olympics in 1968, and became the first college swimmer to capture three national event titles with a first place in the 100 back, 50 back, and 100 fly.

Personal life Ramona Farish married Ernest Malcolm Plummer of Selma, Alabama, at Mount Vernon Methodist Church in Monroeville, Alabama, on June 18, 1955.

Death and legacy Plummer died at her home on March 17, 1985 in Phoenix, Arizona after a long battle with cancer. She was survived by a daughter, Kimberly. A funeral was held at First Methodist Church in Tempe, Arizona on March 21, and her remains were inurned at the Paradise Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Scottsdale. She was 56.

Mona Plummer Aquatic Center at ASU

Completed in 1981, the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center at Arizona State, was named in her honor. The complex has three pools, including an Olympic-size competition pool, a nine lane pool and a diving platform. A host for many national meets including those in the PAC-10 and NCAA, it includes seating for 2,000.

Honors In October 1984, Plummer was made a member of Arizona State's Hall of Distinction, and in June, 1988 was honored as a member of the Hall of Fame of the National Association of the Collegiate Directors of Athletics. In 1979, she was named the national coach of the year.