Carol Gordon—A Pioneer for Women, Children, and Health
With a gift of $600,000 comes a story. Dr. Carol Gordon’s story is a legacy of leading. A pioneer for equality and health, the lives of women will forever be impacted by Carol Gordon.
Her recent contribution to Pullman Regional Hospital earns her yet another spot in the history books and perpetuates a legacy of making a profound and positive impact on both present and future generations.
“Carol’s lead gift for the Center for Women’s and Children’s Health provides the margin of excellence for Pullman Regional Hospital to provide more services in our community,” said Scott Adams, Pullman Regional Hospital CEO. “This investment in the program makes a statement to the community that women’s health is important. We are grateful for her leadership, thoughtfulness and generosity to set a pathway for our region.”
Pullman Regional Hospital’s Center for Women’s and Children’s Health includes health and wellness services for genetic counseling, pediatric medical services, mammography and physical therapy among many others.
A native of New Hampshire, Carol has lived in Pullman since 1962. She received her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Utah, and accepted a department chair job at Washington State University prompting a move to the Palouse. From 1962 to 1983, Carol served as chair of WSU’s Women’s Physical Education Department; she also held the role of Director of Athletics for Women from 1962 to 1975. Her legacy is one of trailblazing in the pursuit of gender equality in college athletics.
In 1968, Carol was honored as the WSU Faculty Woman of the Year. She coached the women’s field hockey and tennis teams until 1966, and was inducted into the WSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004. Carol also served as president of the Washington Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, and she chaired the construction committee and oversaw the design and construction of the 1970 Physical Education Building on the WSU campus.
Carol became a national inspiration through her 1973-74 presidency with the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), the then-equivalent of the NCAA for women’s intercollegiate athletics. As AIAW president, Carol played a crucial role in determining how the newly-enacted Title IX law prohibiting sex discrimination in educational institutions would influence women’s intercollegiate athletics. Historical accounts of this era document Carol Gordon’s impact and perseverance. In 1998, the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators honored Carol with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
“I’ve tried to live a life centered around helping women and solving problems,” said Carol.
Now in her late eighties, Carol said once estate planning became important, she knew the local hospital and women’s health were an area of need. “Mary Lou Enberg was a very important person in my life. The care she received at the hospital is one of the reasons I’m proud to support it.”
“This is a tremendous gift,” said Rueben Mayes, Pullman Regional Hospital Foundation Chief Development Officer. “Carol is a pioneer both in her leadership for women’s athletics—on a local and national level—and through her support of women’s and children’s health at Pullman Regional Hospital.”