Brent Mutis, CapU Sport Information & Compliance Officer
When Georgette Reed started at Washington State University (WSU) on a swimming scholarship, she was following a path set by her dad George, the former WSU running back and Canadian Football League legend.
Some 30 years after graduating, she is adding to the family legacy as she joins her father in their alma mater's Athletic Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2022.
Georgette will be one of eight inductees at this year’s WSU ceremony. She and her father become the first father-daughter Hall of Fame duo in WSU history.
“When I got the phone call informing me of my selection, I was filled with a huge sense of pride as I was being inducted into the same hall of fame as my father,” said Georgette, who is now three months into her tenure as the Capilano University Athletics Director. “WSU gave me an opportunity to become a successful varsity student athlete. That start helped me have a successful career in sport after graduation and has influenced my journey to this day.”
It was not necessarily a road without some twists and turns. Georgette began her WSU career in the pool, specializing in the butterfly and freestyle disciplines but a shoulder injury forced her out of swimming. Rather than giving up on college sport, she simply picked up something else - a shot put, to be exact – which she became so good at throwing, she remains the school record holder to this day.
This year’s WSU inductee class is a special one as it is an all-female class to honour 50 years since Title IX was enacted, which made mandatory equal funding for women’s and men’s sports at U.S. colleges.
“Title IX definitely changed the way women were given opportunities to be in sport,” said Georgette. “Sport has been a huge influence in my life from family influences and watching my father, to my athletic career and coaching and now as a director of sport and recreation; each chapter of my life has been influenced by that and has helped me grow.
“Fifty years ago, my journey would not have been possible.”
After finishing a successful NCAA career at WSU, Georgette went on to represent Canada at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. She also competed for Canada at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, B.C. and the 2001 World Athletics Championships in Edmonton, Alta. Georgette is a 17-time Canadian champion with 15 titles in shot put and two in discus.
Georgette and her dad will be at the 2022 WSU Hall of Fame ceremony which is set for Sept. 16 and 17, 2022 in Pullman, Wash.
