Marge Holman has been a tireless advocate for, and promoter of, equality in sport throughout a distinguished career of leadership roles in athletics at all levels of sport governance locally, provincially, nationally and internationally. As a coach, administrator, teacher and researcher, her work has inspired countless generations of aspiring sports administrators.

Born in London, Marge graduated from Ridgetown District High School and later The University of Windsor, where she first forged an interest in sports administration and teaching. During a distinguished career as a professor in kinesiology, Marge served as the University’s Director of Women’s Sport for 18 years, coached the Lancers synchronized swimming and swimming teams, and was most widely known for her long tenure leading the Lancer women’s volleyball program. During this time Marge also served as president of the OWIAA and CIAU women’s volleyball associations.

As a sports administrator, Marge showed an immediate passion for gender equality issues in sport at a time when the equality scales were still heavily tipped against women in sport. She founded the Leadership Advancement for Women and Sport and championed the movement throughout the Windsor/Essex County region while helping promote similar values across the country. Through her unflinching campaign for gender equity in sports, Marge has become the known expert on issues of harassment and abuse in sport, and her tireless efforts have earned her numerous awards, including Windsor’s Woman of the Year and the WESPY’s Builders’ Award. The International Olympic Committee even sought her input on these same issues.

Marge has also worked with the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women in Sport as a facilitator for older women and exercise while creating programs tied to sport including GALS and Girls in Motion. She is the Founder of the Windsor/Essex County Volleyball Association and also spent many years developing young female athletes at Sandwich Secondary School and with Riverside Sports Club’s volleyball teams.

As a fitting tribute upon her retirement from the University, Faculty members in the kinesiology department created the Marge Holman Legacy Award for Gender in Sport, an award that will be given annually to a student who excels in the study of gender. For her contributions as a coach, administrator, teacher and researcher over the past four decades, Marge Holman is inducted into the Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame in the Founders category.