When the College opened in 1969 the Physical Development Department was led by Orville Gregory. Theodore Roosevelt “Sonny” Maynard was hired to teach courses the fall of 1969 when the college opened the doors on the Merriam campus. Kathy Stoop was hired to teach in the department.
A document found in archives included the course outlines for three classes in 1970 and included PD 150 Co-Ed Swimming, PD 152 Swimming Pool Management and PD 156 Cheerleading
1972 had a full schedule as they were in the gymnasium on the JCCC campus.
An article was published in the JUCO Review April 1974 when Johnson County Community College was the College of the Month. The publication was, and still is, the official NJCAA magazine, now name NJCAA Review. In the article it is stated that “JCCC offers more than 30 physical development courses, including mini-courses that permit students to earn credit in only eight weeks. While physical development is not a required part of the JCCC curriculum, courses are full each semester in such areas as soccer, handball, gymnastics, bowling, swimming, first aid, horsemanship and wrestling.” Included in the article are some great pictures including the full-time JCCC physical development staff members, Roger Trotter, Track and Field, Jeff Simons, Basketball, Orville Gregory, Director of Physical Development, Sonny Maynard, Baseball and D. J. Moore Women Sports.
The courses in the physical development department were known as PD. The courses were changed to the current HPER in the early 80’s
With Orville Gregory’s retirement in 1984, James Wolfe was hired as Director of Physical Development and Athletics. Wolfe resigned June 30, 1985 and was replaced by James “Mickey” Yasko who held the position until 1992.
Lori DeGarmo was initially hired as Program Director of Physical Education in and Althetics. DeGarmo replaced Yasko as Director when he resigned October 31, 1992
The Board Report #0692 March 31, 1988 found in the archives included a course proposal for HPER 182 Swimming (Beginning) and and HPER 183 Swimming (Intermediate)
From 1998 – 2008 Dave Burgess was the Director of the Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Wellness department.
In the fall of 2008 the Division of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics split and became two separate departments. The athletic department became its own division and the Physical Education and Wellness department became part of the Division of Health Care Professions and Wellness. With the split,the faculty positions for four (4) FT Faculty moved from the HPER/Athletics Division to Athletics. Of these 4 positions that moved to Athletics, this entailed 2 FT teaching loads or 60 hours of instruction. The remaining three (3) FT faculty/coach positions remained in HPER as FT Faculty only, and of these, the
department gained back only 30 hours of this FT load. The other FT faculty position became a Director/Faculty with the move of the HPER Assistant Dean to the President’s office, with no actual teaching load assigned. This resulted in the department losing 45 credit hours of teaching load.
Joe Weis stepped in as the director January 2009 when Burgess made the move to Executive Director of Institutional Advancement.
Professor Istvan “Steve” Javorek retired in May, 2011. With his retirement, the department will lost additional FT Faculty load. Steve’s load was unique in that he shared duties with both HPER and Athletics, even though his position was funded through HPER. His load was 11 credit hours per semester in
the HPER Department, with other duties as assigned in the Athletics division, as per agreement of both divisions.
In 2011 the department had 6 FT Faculty members. The total number of credit hours being taught by FT Faculty has decreased from 177 credit hours in 2008 to the current level of 142, a decrease of 35 credit hours. These hours have either not been replaced or are being taught by adjunct when we are able to find
qualified instructors. With Javorek’s retirement, that number would become a decrease of 57 credit hours, or approximately two full-time faculty positions.
2020 the department has changed leadership once again. Lori Mallory took over the position of Director of Health and Wellness July 1, 2020 as Joe Weis returned to teaching.
Jill Stinson, Lori Mallory, Susan Brown, Debbie Carrier,
Dean Lenora Cook, Joe Weis