University Of Alabama: 10 Facts To Kick Off Women's History Month

Press release from the University of Alabama:

Caroline Gazzara-McKenzie, Strategic Communications, caroline.mckenzie@ua.edu or 205-348-0825

March 1st, 2022

March is Women’s History Month. The University of Alabama community is celebrating the contributions women have made to the University and beyond with special events and feature stories all month long. 

In 1992, Lena Thomas Austin became the first woman to portray Big Al. Austin, who was a sophomore when she auditioned, portrayed Big Al from 1992 to 1994. She graduated in 1994. 

Marie Hale Losey was appointed the first dean of women at the University in 1913 by President George H. Denny. Losey was also the state secretary for the Suffrage Association and led a campus suffrage group. 

The University first opened in 1831, but it wasn’t until 1893 that women were allowed to attend classes. The first female students were Anna Adams and Bessie Parker. 

The Capstone was once home to two all-female football teams. The Hummingbirds and the Bumblebees played games for charity. Marie Carastro played quarterback in the 1948 Honey Bowl for the Hummingbirds. At 92, she is technically the Capstone’s oldest living former quarterback.  

Women’s tennis coach Jenny Mainz is the longest-tenured coach at UA, serving 25 years with the Crimson Tide. Mainz celebrated her 300th win over Texas Christian University this February.

There are 15 academic, athletic and activity buildings named in honor of UA women: Martha Parham Hall, Autherine Lucy Hall, Julia Tutwiler Hall, Mary Hewell Alston Hall, Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library, Russell Hall, Shelby Hall, Stran-Hardin Arena, Mary Burke Hall, Mary Harmon Bryant Hall, Rhoads Softball Stadium, Hewson Hall, Rodgers Library, Helen Osband Hall and the Roberta Alison Baumgardner Indoor Tennis Facility.  

After being elected vice president of UA’s Student Government Association in 1943, Libby Anderson Cater became the first female president to serve when the acting president resigned. In 1989, Lynn Yeldell became the first female to be elected SGA president. 

The Capstone Men and Women program was originally the Crimson Girls, an all-female student organization founded in 1962.  

Dr. Judy Bonner was the first female president of the University. From 2012 to 2015, Bonner led the University to academic and athletic accolades. 

Dianne Kirksey-Floyd was the founding member of the Afro American Association, now known as the Black Student Union. In 1968 Kirksey-Floyd became the first Black Bama Belle and in 1969 the first Black member of the UA homecoming court.

Learn more about women’s history at UA on the 125 Years of Women website.

This press release was produced by the University of Alabama. The views expressed here are the author’s own.