Wayne & Priscilla Faris
'70 J.D. and "65 B.S.

Full Court Press

Support women's athletics is something of a family tradition for Wayne, '70 J.D., and Priscilla Faris, '65 B.S. "My father was on a case concerning girls who wanted to join the boys' tennis team," says Priscilla. "I thought girls should be given more opportunities, and my daughter, especially."

Federal judge Miles Lord, Priscilla's father, ultimately decided for girls. "Shortly after that, Congress passed Title IX," says Wayne.

A passion for women's sports drives this husband and wife legal team because, according to Wayne, "they still play for the love of the game."

He founded the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission and worked with the U.S. Olympic Committee to develop regional talent. His programs produced eight winter Olympians, mostly women. He was also instrumental in starting women's hockey in Minnesota high schools.

When Wayne stepped down from the University Women's Athletics Advisory Council after 12 years, Priscilla took his place. Although they originally had misgivings about merging the men's and women's programs, they are pleased with the result. "The University has done an excellent job with the merger," says Wayne. "Today they have the best overall women's facilities, coaches, and athletes in the country." Part of that quality is thanks to Wayne and Priscilla, whose most recent major gift was for the renovation of the women's basketball locker room.

Published in University of Minnesota Foundation