June 20, 2007
Life After Witt

Ground Broken

Voices of the Hollow: Betty Doughman Dillahunt '46

Voices of the Hollow is an audio podcasting series that will highlight some of the people and places that define Wittenberg University.

Betty Dillahunt, Wittenberg University class of 1946, doesn't describe herself as a women's sports pioneer. In many ways, her career speaks for itself.

The 1985 Wittenberg Athletics Hall of Honor inductee was a groundbreaking student-athlete, successful amateur and semi-professional athlete, legendary coach and, most importantly, an educator who made an impact upon thousands of students in a four-decade teaching career. Dillahunt won the Springfield women's golf title eight times, and she was a renowned fastpitch softball pitcher who played in seven world championships and hurled 14 no-hit games in a 25-year career. She was also a top field hockey player who earned all-star status while competing in 19 national tournaments. In her career, she coached nine different sports at Wittenberg and founded the field hockey program.

When given the opportunity, Dillahunt can spin many a tale about her 60-plus years as a Wittenberg Tiger. In a 45-minute interview that touched on as many aspects of her career as possible, Dillahunt spoke easily and modestly of a lifetime of Tiger memories. A seven-minute excerpt of that interview is now online.

Dillahunt's life story may be an important part of Wittenberg's rich athletic heritage. To her, though, it simply makes for good conversation.

Written by Ryan Maurer and John Strawn '07
Photo by Robbie Gantt

Ryan Maurer
Ryan Maurer
Associate Director of Athletics for Communications, Web Strategy & Content

About Wittenberg

Wittenberg's curriculum has centered on the liberal arts as an education that develops the individual's capacity to think, read, and communicate with precision, understanding, and imagination. We are dedicated to active, engaged learning in the core disciplines of the arts and sciences and in pre-professional education grounded in the liberal arts. Known for the quality of our faculty and their teaching, Wittenberg has more Ohio Professors of the Year than any four-year institution in the state. The university has also been recognized nationally for excellence in community service, sustainability, and intercollegiate athletics. Located among the beautiful rolling hills and hollows of Springfield, Ohio, Wittenberg offers more than 100 majors, minors and special programs, enviable student-faculty research opportunities, a unique student success center, service and study options close to home and abroad, a stellar athletics tradition, and successful career preparation.

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