Earle F. Zeigler Lecture

Earle F. ZeiglerIn 1991, the Faculty of Kinesiology at Western University decided to recognize the achievements of Earle F. Zeigler, its first Dean, by establishing a lecture in his name. His broad range of scholarly interests spans sport philosophy, sport history, and sport administration, and the Zeigler lectures, likewise, have been given by distinguished professionals from diverse fields. In 1998, responsibility for hosting the Zeigler Lecture was placed in the hands of the ICOS.

Earle F. Zeigler was born on 20 August 1919 in New York City, USA. At 21, he earned a B.A. in German from 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, Zeigler taught, coached, researched, published, and administered at four great universities - Yale, Michigan, Illinois, and Western. More than 100 students took their Master’s and Ph.D. work with him, many of them subsequently becoming distinguished leaders in their field. In his almost half-century career, Zeigler authored over 400 published works, including widely-used textbooks and articles in distinguished journals.

Zeigler’s outstanding dedication and service to professional societies and associations is well documented. For this he has been honored as few have been in the history of physical education/kinesiology. Both CAHPER and AAAHPERD bestowed upon him their highest honors. In 1978 he was named Alliance Scholar of the Year. In 1975 the University of Windsor conferred on him an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree; the University of Lethbridge recognized his enduring excellence by awarding him an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree in 1997. Of all the societies and organizations Zeigler served, none is more prestigious and influential than the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education. Zeigler served on nine of the Academy's various committees since his election to Fellow in 1966; he was called to the Presidency of the Academy in 1981. In 1989, he received the Academy’s most coveted distinction, the Clark W. Hetherington Award. Earle F. Zeigler passed away in October 2018, at the age of 99.

Earle's detailed autobiography can be accessed here (pdf).
Earle's personal web site can be accessed here.

Past Earle F. Zeigler Lectures

2018: Jeffrey O. Segrave, USA 2002: J. Koss & K. Harris, Norway/Canada
2016: Richard Pound, Canada 2000: Andrew Jennings, England
2014: Helen Jefferson Lenskyj, Canada 1999: Richard H. McLaren, Canada
2012: Barbara Keys, Australia 1997: Garth Paton, Canada
2011: Laura Robinson, Canada 1996: Ronald Smith, USA
2010: Larry Gerlach, USA 1995: Terry R. Haggerty, Canada
2008: Susan Brownell, USA 1994: Scott Kretchmar, USA
2006: Donnie Pei, China 1993: Gordon A. Olafson, Canada
2005: Richard King, USA 1992: William Morgan, USA
2004: Earle F. Zeigler, Canada 1991: Earle F. Zeigler, Canada
2003: Ingomar Weiler, Austria 1990: Gerry Glassford, Canada