Distinguished Deltas: Fay Biles

Happy Tuesday, Deltas! Today, we wanted to look at another Distinguished Delta. Dr. Fay Biles was nothing short of accomplished. Her life was defined by leadership and service. She never backed down from a challenge and shattered the glass ceiling for women in sports.

Born in 1927 in Reading, Pennsylvania, Biles always seemed to be a fierce leader. Growing up, she played every sport she could and kept up with the boys. Going to college, she was one of two women from the Philadelphia area selected to go to Duke University. It was at Duke University, that she would pledge Tri Delta, triple major in Biology, English, and Physical Education, and meet her husband.

After graduation, Fay and Bedford, her husband, moved to Ohio where she would start teaching high school students. While teaching, she pursued a Master's Degree from Kent State University where she later became the Instructor of the Physical Education Department. She coached an undefeated women's field hockey team. Plus, she earned her multi-disciplinary doctorate from Ohio State University.

She would go on to develop the "Jump Rope For Heart" for the American Heart Association. This program raised over $1.2 billion for heart health education and nutrition in schools across the nation. Because of her work, Fay would receive the National Merit Award from the American Heart Association in 1988.

Fay had a long list of accomplishments including: She was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame in 1986, she served as president of the American Association of Health, Physical Education, and Dance, and she served on the United States Olympic Committee for 16 years. This short list doesn't even do her justice. She truly accomplished so much in her lifetime.

We can learn quite a lot from Fay Biles. She is a beautiful reminder to our chapter that we shouldn't just participate, we should lead the way.