Womens Golf Association of Western Pennsylvania

Ruth Podbielski, a Past-President of the WGAWP who passed away at the age of 90 in April, was honored recently by Indiana University of Pennsylvania in a tribute that was attended by many Western members and female athletes from IUP, past and present.  She was a leader in gender equality and credited with starting the women's sports program at IUP long before the federal Title IX mandate requiring equality in sports opportunities for women was enacted in 1972.

Ruth or "Pod", as everyone called her, came to IUP in 1955 after teaching Health and Physical Education at Butler High School.  A true trailblazer, Pod worked tirelessly to remove the barriers that prevented women from competing in sports.  As a teacher, coach, intramural director and assistant athletic director she sought to create opportunities for women to build self-esteem, ethics and teamwork.  During her tenure, IUP added 10 varsity sports for women.  Former Athletic Director Frank Cignetti gave her full credit for "the whole foundation of the women's program" at the university.

Podbielski retired from IUP in 1987 after a career of almost 60 years in the field of Health, Physical Education Recreation and Dance.  She was inducted into the Sports Halls of Fame for Indiana County, IUP and Slippery Rock University and was awarded the Heritage Award by the Division of Girls and Women's Sports (the governing body for women's sports before the NCAA)  The softball field at IUP has been dedicated in her honor and in 2013, she received the President's Medal of Distinction: the highest non-degree award for professional achievement.  

Ruth was truly a woman of valor and distinction!