Dr. Sue Rollins’ association with Drury College began in the fall of 1976. Dr. Edsel Matthews, athletic director, head basketball coach and chair of the physical education department at the time, brought her “into the fold” after a distinguished, teaching career in Mountain Grove and Moberly. Little did anyone realize at that time what a major role Sue Rollins would go on to play over the next 30-plus years in behalf of the women’s athletic program, the entire athletic department, and the college as a whole. Within two years she became a fulltime member of the Drury faculty and in the fall of 1978 “assumed” the title of Coordinator of Women’s Athletics. With the departure of Dr. Matthews, who accepted the position as the Director of Athletics for the Springfield Public Schools in the summer of 1978, she worked alongside Bill Harding in administering the Panther athletic program, a program that boasted six sports and only two women’s sports: tennis and volleyball.
A “pioneer” on behalf of the women’s sports at Drury, Sue worked tirelessly in promoting the growth of the women’s program. Bouyed by the impact of Title IX, Sue was able to secure funding for full-time coaches, increased operating budgets and some limited athletic scholarships. She helped stabilize a program that was little more than an intramural program when she arrived into a legitimate college women’s athletic program. In the 1970’s she oversaw its growth as a member of the AIAW (Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) as well as its move into the NAIA’s new championship system for a number of women’s sports. In 1980 the NAIA was the first collegiate athletics association to sponsor both men's and women's championships. She was a member of the original NAIA District 16 committee ultimately took Drury’s women’s athletic program into the modern era.
In 1985 Dr. Rollins accepted the position as Drury’s Dean of Continuing Studies and Graduate programs. At the time Drury offered classes in two locations: Springfield and Fort Leonard Wood and the enrollment figure for those programs was in the neighborhood of 1,200 students. By the time Sue “retired” for the first time in 2002, those numbers had increased to eight satelitte campuses and an enrollment today of nearly 4,000 students. But Sue Rollins never was too far away and she was twice asked to return to full-time status. Once to serve again as the interim director of the College of Continuing Studies and the other, was to again serve as an athletic administrator.
Drury’s athletic director Bruce Harger was battling cancer and ultimately passed away on May 13, 2003. Before, during and after Dr. Harger’s heroic battle, Drury President, Dr. John E. Moore, Jr., asked Sue to return to campus and serve as interim Director of Athletics. Ever loyal to Drury, and always a champion of intercollegiate athletics for men and women alike, Sue used her skills, energy and creative administration abilities to smooth the way as Drury was in a critical and transitional stage in terms of its athletic program. Additional sports were being added, particularly on the women’s side. At the same time there was a major decision being considered: changing NCAA-II conference affiliation. A charter member of the Heartland Conference, Sue played a key role as Drury was making its decision to move, or not to move, from the Heartland Conference and join the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Now a member of the GLVC, her leadership and foresight helped provide a wonderful “home” that Drury athletes continue to enjoy today.
Sue has continued to be a supporter of the Drury athletic program since she first stepped on the campus in the fall of 1976. She has served the athletic department and many other areas of the college. Today we take a moment to say “Thank You” for her years of service and for making Drury a better place for so many. She is joined today by her husband of 50 years, Don; her two children, Scott and Angie; her six grandchildren and many others. On this date, November 30, 2013, Dr. Sue Rollins is honored for her lifetime of service to Drury and for her dedication as an athletic administrator by being inducted and forever enshrined in the Drury Sports Hall of Fame, as a member of the Class of 2013.
