Jerry Westbrook brings awareness to women's athletics

Sitting in the student section, clad in Southeast Missouri State University gear and leading a "S-E-M-O" game chant is where one may find professor Jerry Westbrook on most game nights.

Aside from being a faithful Redhawk fanatic, Westbrook is committed to Southeast's athletics in another way. He is a strong advocate for equality in athletics and has made accomplished efforts to refurbish the women's coaches offices and athletic suites.

"Everywhere I've been, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Chicago and Southeast, I have noticed that the women's teams don't seem to get the same attention, nor the resources that they need, as the men's teams do," Westbrook said. "I know that's true everywhere I've been. So I made up my mind that I was going to do something about that."

Since 2014, Westbrook and Hutson's Fine Furniture have been able to donate enough items to refurnish the women's softball, soccer, volleyball and gymnastics offices and suites, along with other renovations. These renovations include new tables, chairs, televisions, microwaves, refrigerators, desks and other items.

"He is very concerned with our athletics, especially the women's athletics, and is interested in making sure that they have the opportunities and resources to put on a good presentation for people when they come on campus," Cindy Gannon, senior associate director of athletics and senior woman administrator, said. "And it has made a huge impact."

According to Westbrook and Gannon, the partnership is a cooperative effort between Westbrook and Hutson's in which they each donate 50 percent of the items.

"I have to give them [Hutson's] the credit," Westbrook said. "Their interior designer comes up with the plan and they make this possible. We couldn't do any of this without them."

Westbrook also added that former softball coach Lana Richmond, Gannon and a number of coaches and outstanding student-athletes have all had a tremendous impact on his efforts.

All of these initiatives started because two past student-athletes, Alora Marble and Amber Ewert, took the time to be congenial and were the role models they should be, according to Westbrook.

"They were very good students in my class and asked me to come see a softball game. That was the first softball game I had ever been to and we lost 10-0," Westbrook said. "That almost did it for me, but I decided to come back. They improved so much that season that I began to go to every home game and every practice. They mesmerized me to the point that I became a fanatic with softball."

During the 2011 season, the Redhawks softball team finished second in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship.

Westbrook's most recent effort has been to refurnish the gymnastics suites in Parker Hall.

"If someone would have told me 10 years ago that I would have ever gone to a gymnastics meet, I would have said, 'You are completely out of your head and I will not go to any such thing as that!'" Westbrook said with a laugh.

Throughout the four years Westbrook has been connected with the Department of Athletics, he has developed a strong presence in the eyes of the coaches, staff and athletes. The teams have presented him with cards, Christmas presents, autographed memorabilia and Southeast gear.

"Our student-athletes are all very respectful of him," Gannon said. "He always asks them how they are doing and how their classes are and just makes each conversation very personal. He also lets them know that he is just a huge fan."

Westbrook's heart for Southeast athletics is not exclusive to the women's teams, but extends throughout the entire Department of Athletics.

"He will come to the games with Southeast gear on and bring his signs, and he has his little cheer that he orchestrates throughout all of our events. So a lot of the student-athletes will be holding the signs and he will say, 'Now at three minutes we're gonna do three S-E-M-O's and a Rowdy Redhawk,' and then he will give them the go," Gannon said with a laugh.

In 2012, he also began a tradition to send off every team that made it to the OVC Tournament with a large cake, decorated in Redhawks colors that says "OVC Bound."

"He truly is one of our unsung heros, as it relates to his commitment with our women's athletic programs and his commitment to make sure our student-athletes feel special," Gannon said.

This past August marked the 20th year Westbrook has been working at Southeast. In the fall of 1995, he began as the Director of Career Services and is now teaching a freshman general studies course.

Westbrook has been teaching for 55 years and has held staff positions at the University of Mississippi, the University of Arkansas and the University of Chicago.