Inducted January 27, 2006

Barbara Wilcox Thuesen was a pioneer in girls' sports at IHS. New York State did not recognize inter-scholastic sports for girls until 1971. Before then, female athletes like Barbara were limited to intramurals. In Barbara's day, IHS had a point system for girls: 200 points earned a "numeral," and 500 points earned a "letter." Points were earned for extracurricular activities, not credit-bearing courses. Barbara earned a numeral in 1948 and a letter in 1949, making her one of the first women to earn a letter at Ithaca high. Having won her letter as a junior, Barbara began working in the athletic office as a senior and helped administer the IHS sports programs. She gained skill in managing teams by ordering uniforms and equipment, scheduling practices, and managing time. Barbara put her skills to work after high school, managing dance companies and schools and serving on various boards and commissions.