Last month the world of physical and health education lost one of its most imaginative and inspirational leaders. Dr. Earle Zeigler passed away, aged 99.
I first became acquainted with Earle early on in my own professional career. Earle distinguished himself for at least two noteworthy reasons. First, because of his unexpectedly diverse educational background (read below), he brought an incomparable breadth and depth of knowledge to discussions and debate about physical and health education and sport issues. Second, at professional meetings Earle was instantly recognizable among his suited peers as the man in the cap and vividly decorated wool sweater. Earle Zeigler through his writings, leadership, and unique dress sense always stood out from the crowd!
Regrettably, over the years I didn’t get to know Earle well, but did connect with him via email a few years ago. I asked him if he’d like to share something with PHE America readers. Almost instantly, he responded (he was 96 at the time!), with an essay entitled, “Creating Positive Values Through the Promotion of Physical Activity Education.” He also proceeded to send me links to electronic copies of several of his books. Then just over a year ago I reconnected, this time with a request for him to share thoughts about where the professions should be headed in the future. Again, he was quickly back in touch with an essay entitled, “What Should the Field of Physical Activity Education Promote in the 21st Century?”
I highly recommend you make time to read Earle’s ideas. To learn more about Earle Zeigler or links to some of his publications see his Biography/Obituary below. And PLEASE, if you were one of Earle’s many students or knew him personally, please share a story or add some comments after this story. I know many of us would love to hear more about this very special man who devoted his long life to advocating for physical and health education. Thanks Earle.
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Biography/Obituary: Earle F. Zeigler August 20, 1919 — September 29, 2018
Earle F. Zeigler, Fellow #184 (inducted into the Academy in 1966), President of the Academy 1981-1982, and Hetherington Award recipient 1990, passed away on Saturday, September 29, 2018, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Earle celebrated a wonderful 99th birthday in August of 2018 and had been doing well until he became ill with the pneumonia about 3 weeks before he passed away. He is survived by his wife Anne, daughter Barbara and grandson Kenan. He was a friend, colleague, mentor, and leader in Kinesiology.
Earle was born on August 20, 1919 in New York City, USA. At 21, he earned a B.A. in German from the prestigious Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. In the subsequent 11 years he achieved an M.A. in German and a Ph.D. in the History and Philosophy of Education, both from Yale University. Earle was a top-notch athlete in several sports – football, wrestling, swimming, and table tennis.
Before his semi-retirement, Earle taught, coached, researched, published, and administered programs at four great universities (i.e., Yale, Michigan, Illinois, and Western University, Canada). At the age of 70, he experienced mandatory retirement and retired as Dean and Professor Emeritus from Western University, Canada. Throughout his career, more than 100 students took their master’s and Ph.D. work with him, many of them subsequently became distinguished leaders in the field.
Earle F. Zeigler, University of Michigan, 1956
From 1948-2015, Earle published 57 books and monographs, and 445 journal articles in the areas of sport philosophy, sport history, sport management, comparative and international aspects, and professional preparation. He is also the namesake of the prestigious Earle F. Zeigler Lecture Award that is given yearly by the North American Society for Sport Management.
Earle’s outstanding dedication and service to professional, scholarly, and professionals’ societies and associations is well documented. For this he has been honored as few others have been during the history of physical education/kinesiology. Both CAHPER and AAAHPERD bestowed upon him their highest honors.
In addition to receiving the top three awards in his field (i.e., Hetherington Award, AAKPE; Gulick Medal, AAHPERD; Alliance Scholar, AAHPERD), Earle received three honorary doctorates including: In 1975 the University of Windsor conferred upon him an Honorary Doctor of Law degree; in 1997 the University of Lethbridge recognized his enduring excellence by awarding him an Honorary Doctor of Science degree; and in 2006 Western University, Canada, bestowed upon him an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree.
Earle’s legacy is being maintained, in part, by granting free access to several downloadable versions of his recent books and articles. See: http://earlezeigler.com
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Remembering Earle Zeigler
Young professional who never met Earle are unfortunate because the opportunity to meet Earle was an opportunity to learn. Earle came along before the subject matter of our field was well defined. He was among the leaders in the Big 10 Body of Knowledge project that led to the development of the “discipline” of our field that is now called Kinesiology (See Zeigler and McCristol, 1967, Quest, 9(1), 79-84). He was a scholar and prolific author, a Dean and department head, and a true leader in our field. He was a longtime friend and colleague from whom I learned much. While he was an advocate for defining and developing the discipline, he was also a champion of the profession of physical education that he preferred to refer to as physical activity education. Earle was a giant in our field with a lifetime commitment to it. Young professionals would be well served by reading about Earle and what he had to say. I will miss him and so will kinesiology and physical activity education.
To echo Dr. Corbin’s thoughts, if you haven’t heard or read anything by Dr. Zeigler, what are you waiting for? His writing is not only informative, but ridiculously accessible. A selection of this is on his personal website. Earle left us a roadmap for a lot of the things that we think we have figured out with PE/PA/Health and was 50 years ahead of his time. People throw the word greatness around too often these days, but it is more than warranted in the case of Earle.
Earle Ziegler was one of those icons in our field who will truly be missed. I can’t help but think that his writings need to be compulsory reading in our graduate classes of students who no longer have the background in the history of our
field nor do they have the opportunity to discuss its direction. Thank you Earle.
When I had the honor to serve as executive director of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), I had the privilege of meeting so many brilliant minds in our profession, such as Earle. While I don’t think we ever met in person, I felt like I really knew him as a professional because he would take the time to communicate with me (share his lifetime of knowledge and insights and pose provocative questions) on topics and issues he was reading about in our journals and newsletters, because as Steve said, Earle never stopped contributing to our profession. That was able 10-15 years ago, so he was already in his mid-80s — sharp as a tack and making a difference. Thank you Earle — and rest in peace.
Comment from Dr. Marcel Hebbelinck
I am saddened about the news of the passing away of my old friend and
colleague Dr. Earle Zeigler. I had the pleasure meeting him several
times. In 1962 I first met Earle when I was spending an academic year
at Florida State University as a Fulbright Research Associate. During
the ensuing years I attended many congresses and academic meetings
in the USA and worldwide, I had the honor and pleasure to pursue our
friendship, exchanging ideas and philosophical insights on physical
education and sports, and beyond…
Earle Zeigler was by all means a lifelong promotor and a personal
example of physical education. His humanistic thoughts and writings
have undoubtedly inspired numerous people in the fields of Health,
Physical Education, Sports and Recreation.
Earle was a great man and he certainly will be remembered by all of us
who work in these areas of human endeavor.
Gratefully yours,
Marcel Hebbelinck
-1983 IRC-Distiguished Service Award of AAHPER,
-1968-1975 International President of ICHPER,
-Past-vice-president of ICSSPE,
-Fellow A.C.S.M.
-UNESCO Consultant
Marcel HEBBELINCK, em. Prof., PhD, Dr.h.c.
Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Fac LK/BESW
Pleinlaan 2
B-1050 Brussels (Belgium)
Wow! I have a mixed feeling of Dr. Zeigler’s departure from us in this world, and entry into another, as his legacy in physical education and sport has remained with us and will last forever. I am honored to be acquaint with Dr. Zeigler on the occasions of NASSM meetings during late 1990s and early 2000s. He was always able to offer a few words in commentary that had me rethink over and over again until when we met again in next meeting. His vision and ideals in physical education and sport are not only philosophical in academia but also functional in practice. We will miss you Earle in this world, and follow you into another, sooner or later.