UW-Sheboygan to dedicate the Jack Snyder Court
Ceremony set for Nov. 2 to kick off men’s hoops season

The University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan and the UW-Sheboygan Foundation invite the Sheboygan community to join them in the formal dedication of the Jack Snyder Memorial Court in the UW-Sheboygan Gym on Wednesday, November 2.

The gym floor, which is located inside the Physical Education Building on the UW-S campus, has been named by the campus in honor of the late John “Jack” Snyder, UW-Sheboygan’s first-ever Athletics Director and longtime Physical Education professor. The court dedication will officially open UW-Sheboygan’s 2011-12 Men’s Basketball season in the UW-S Gym.

The event will feature a reunion from 5:30 to 7 p.m. November 2 in the Gym Lobby for all UW-Sheboygan alumni, former athletes, campus staff, faculty and retirees, students, friends and family. Appetizers and refreshments will be provided. A display of Jack Snyder memorabilia will be available.

The dedication ceremony will start at 7 p.m. and feature comments from several former Coach Snyder athletes and campus and Foundation leaders, as well as the unveiling of Snyder’s signature on the floor. The men’s basketball game vs. UW-Fox Valley will follow. All ceremony guests are encouraged to stay and cheer on the Wombats to a conference victory.

Snyder, 68, died unexpectedly on December 26, 2009, of an apparent heart attack in his sleep. Snyder was best known as the man who molded the UW-Sheboygan men’s basketball team into a fierce competitor in the Wisconsin Collegiate Conference in the 1970s and 1980s. Snyder joined UW-Sheboygan as the campus’ first Director of Athletics in 1969 and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2001. During his tenure as a Professor of Physical Education on the campus and the Athletics Director, Snyder coached numerous varsity sports teams, including men’s basketball, cross country, golf and tennis in addition to his teaching and administrative duties.

The dedication ceremony follows the UW-Sheboygan Foundation’s establishment of the Jack Snyder Memorial Fund in January 2010. All donations received to date have been added to the fund, which continues to collect donations in an effort to improve the Physical Education building and sports program at UW-Sheboygan in Snyder’s memory.

Several anonymous donors have offered the Snyder family a match of all donations made to the UW-Sheboygan Foundation fund up to $15,000. The campus and Foundation have earmarked a number of projects to benefit from fund donations, including new scoreboards and shot clocks, padded team chairs for varsity sports and the possible remodeling of the Gym lobby and bathrooms.

Snyder was an avid supporter of Foundation fundraisers, including the annual scholarship fundraiser, Chicken & All That Jazz. Each year, Snyder volunteered extensively at the event coordinating grilling operations, working side-by-side with his former student-athletes. He was an avid supporter of the campus and its students and consistently called his days at UW-Sheboygan a “labor of love.” Many of his former athletes return each year to work Chicken & All That Jazz and assist the Foundation in its fundraising efforts.

“While the Foundation hopes that the community will find it in their hearts to give to this fund in Jack’s memory, it is our hope that this ceremony and the Jack Snyder Memorial Court provides a lasting memory of Jack and all that he did for UW-Sheboygan,” said Carrie Hoppe, UW-Sheboygan Foundation executive director. “We greatly appreciate every donation that has been received to date, and with the community’s help, the UW-Sheboygan Foundation, as stewards of this fund, will do whatever we can to improve the Gym facility at UW-Sheboygan to enhance the student experience through athletics.”

According to Bob Maki, UW-Sheboygan alumnus who played under Snyder in the 1970s, considered Snyder an influential mentor, who set him on a path to a career in teaching and coaching.

“Jack built the UW-Sheboygan basketball program into one of the most respected junior college programs in the state,” Maki said. “He gave local players the opportunity to develop and experience success at the junior college level. Jack Snyder was a real treasure for UW-Sheboygan and this memorial is a great way to honor his legacy.”

Over the coming months, the Foundation will continue to accept donations in Snyder’s honor in an effort to reach – or exceed – the $15,000 match threshold. All donations are tax deductible. Pledge forms will be available during the reunion and ceremony event, and are available on the UW-S web site (http://www.sheboygan.uwc.edu/community/foundation/fundraising-events/JackSnyderFund.html).

A plaque will be hung in the Gym lobby recognizing donors to the Jack Snyder Fund, including “Coach’s Corner” ($5,000 and above), “All Stars” ($1,000-$5,000) and “First Team” ($500 to $1,000).

Anyone wishing to contribute to the UW-Sheboygan Foundation Jack Snyder Memorial Fund can send donations to the UW-Sheboygan Foundation, One University Drive, Sheboygan, WI 53081. All checks should be made payable to the UW-Sheboygan Foundation. Donors are also asked to note “Jack Snyder Memorial” in the check memo section.

For more information on the UW-Sheboygan Foundation, the Jack Snyder Memorial Fund or giving options, contact Hoppe at (920) 459-6612 or e-mail carrie.hoppe@uwc.edu.