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Hall of Fame Class Inductees (1997) Sr.
Philemon Banigan Sister Mary Philemon Banigan's contributions to the rich athletic success
of Salve Regina spans more than two decades. She was a prime mover of
this institution in its earliest days, serving as athletic monitor and
basketball coach from the early fifties to the mid-sixties. Before the school was a member of the NCAA... before Title IX legislation enhanced athletic opportunities for women... and before many of the existing buildings on campus were built, Sister Mary Philemon Banigan's efforts to promote intercollegiate athletics resulted in the opportunities enjoyed by today’s Salve Regina student-athlete. This retired mathematics and chemistry professor, now living in Cumberland, Rhode Island, devoted the major portion of her professional life and energies to the sound advancement of Salve Regina. "And she believed in the Division III philosophy," said Dr. Ascanio DiPippo, her chemistry colleague since 1962. "With Philemon, it was academics first... the rest was important, but they were extra-curricular." This University was built by religious women who were willing to walk the extra mile, work the extra hour, shoulder the extra duties - all with a smile - and these ideals were the pervasive inspiration of Sister Mary Philemon Banigan’s career at Salve Regina. That model of professional conduct is evident in the many "hats" worn by Sister Mary Philemon Banigan... from athletic monitor and basketball coach to mathematics and chemistry professor to college registrar to residence supervisor. Eloise Evans earned All-America honors in Track & Field (1984) and Cross Country (1984) and holds eight school indoor track records, four outdoor records, and eight cross country course records. She regularly bested Division I, II, and III competition. If those achievements aren't impressive enough, consider that Evans entered Salve Regina as a freshman at age 27 and was a wife and mother of two sons.
Evans was running on her own in the Newport area in 1982 before inquiring about the possibility of working out with the Salve track team. She was welcomed to Salve practice sessions and that association led her to enroll at the college later that Fall. When questioned about the age factor, she just laughs and says, "Age is no factor at all. That doesn't bother me one bit. I’m not doing this for fun. I want to win. I want to be the best that I can possibly be." While reaching her goal of being the best she could be, Evans' accomplishments attracted a greater interest from the Salve Regina community towards the track & field and cross country programs. As a freshman at Salve Regina in 1981, Jim Nelson recognized a collective interest in ice hockey throughout the college community. He took a leadership role and organized a group of hockey players and began to rent the St. George's rink. Nelson managed the scheduling and financial responsibilities associated
with this endeavor. During this time, Nelson submitted proposals to
the Salve Regina administration for a school-sponsored program. He was
told the school could not afford to support the program with a primary
concern being liability. Nelson continued to demonstrate the player's
commitment and asked only to utilize the school name and to be able
to promote their team on campus. At this time, the team was completely
funded by each player. Nelson later networked and gained the support of the University of Rhode Island ice hockey coach (the late Tom Macari) who had organized their program. With Mr. Macari's guidance, Nelson realized that ice hockey could become a reality at Salve Regina if the Student Life Senate voted favorably upon the constitution that he drafted and submitted. The ice hockey program was voted into the community as a "club" sport and furthermore, support was provided by the Administration. This was viewed as a program that the students were asking for the school to buy into and not one that the school was asking for the students to support. Oh, by the way, Nelson was also a three-sport athlete... competing for Salve Regina on the men's soccer, golf and, of course, ice hockey teams. Click here to complete an online Hall of Fame nomination form.
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During
this period, Salve enjoyed some of its greatest women's basketball achievements.
How
did she do it? From the Wednesday, February 2, 1983, Providence Journal-Bulletin
sports section... "I'm home all day," says Evans, who runs
about two hours a day. "I'm a full-time mother and I go to school
in the evenings. When I leave, my husband, who attends Johnson &
Wales, is coming home. It's hard but we manage. My husband is very supportive."