AWARD FOR WOMEN'S BASKETBALL IS ESTABLISHED AT THE UNIVERSITY

Grace Hoover of Cape Girardeau has donated $10,000 to sponsor an annual award recognizing an outstanding member of the Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball team.

The donation was made in both her name and that of her late husband, L.D. "Jim" Hoover.

Grace Hoover made the donation as a tribute to her mother, the late Grace Jenkins Richmond, formerly of Advance. Richmond was a member of the 1922-'23 Advance High School girls basketball team that won the Southeast Missouri District trophy for "best all-around team." The trophy was the first ever to be won by an Advance High School team.

"I have always been enthralled with my mother's basketball team and the fact that it won the first trophy at Advance High School," Hoover said. "I have realized my mother left me quite a legacy. I have begun to realize how much she really left me. When it came to recognizing her and her team, this is how I chose to do it."

Hoover, who calls herself "a big supporter of women's basketball on campus," recently retired as chairman of Southeast Missouri State University's human environmental studies department. She served four years on the university's athletic committee and was the MIAA Conference female faculty voting delegate. She also served as chairman of the task force on athletic affiliation, which recommended Southeast's move to Division I and the Ohio Valley Conference.

The honor will be called the "Hoover Athletic Award" and will be given annually to an upperclassman on the Southeast women's basketball team who combines exemplary skill in academics and athletics.

"This is the first award of its kind for women's basketball," said Greg Brune, associate director for athletic development. "This award symbolizes Grace Hoover's continuing commitment to Southeast athletics."

The first "Hoover Athletic Award" will be awarded today at the Southeast All-Sports Banquet.

"The women's basketball program is very thankful for Grace Hoover's support over the years," said Southeast women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen. "Grace has been a supporter of women's basketball since the sport became a collegiate sport at Southeast. She has always been one of our best fans, and this award will be a continuing reminder of her dedication to the women's basketball program."

Hoover said her mother was one of six players on the outstanding Advance team, which consisted of two forwards, two guards, a center and a running center. Richmond, the running center, was the only team member to play the full court, Hoover said.