Margaret Gisolo
Margaret Gisolo, considered the "Babe Ruth" of her time, enjoyed playing baseball for fun. She did not realize that her participation on the Blanford Cubs American Legion team would lead to a national controversy over girls participating on boys' athletic teams. Despite the controversy, she continued playing baseball and the Blanford Cubs won the Indiana American Legion championship in 1928. As a young adult, Margaret played on girls' traveling baseball teams that enabled to her to earn money for college and graduated from Indiana State University (ISU) in 1935. After graduation, Margaret became the first full-time executive director for the Covered Bridge Girl Scouts Council in Terre Haute, Indiana.
During World War II, with a desire to serve her country, she joined the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services (WAVES), became a lieutenant commander within the U.S. Navy. After World War II, Margaret was driven by a passion for movement and dance, and turned her attention to modern dance. In 1954, she moved to Arizona State University (ASU), and developed the modern dance program from a few dance classes to a full-fledged department which offered bachelors and masters degrees. After retirement from ASU in 1980, and with a desire to be active, she participated in competitive tennis tournaments in the senior division. When she retired from active competition in 2000 at the age of 86, she was nationally ranked first in doubles and second in singles competition.
