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Kothari Gift Connects Sports Complex

In August 2005, the University of Northern Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame Meritorious Service Award was renamed the Dr. Jitu D. Kothari Meritorious Service Award. The prestigious award honors individuals who offer extraordinary service and dedication in support of UNI athletics.

That connection has been strengthened with a $500,000 gift from the family of Dr. Kothari, who served as the Panther football team’s orthopedic surgeon from 1981 until his death in 2003.

Tejus Kothari delivered a moving address prior to announcement of the Dr. Jitu D. Kothari Meritorious Service Award at the UNI Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet in October.

As a tribute from Dr. Kothari’s family, the Kothari Concourse is to be a permanent reminder of his dedication to UNI. The Kothari Concourse will connect the new McLeod Center and the UNI Dome, making the two facilities the largest sports complex in the area. The Kothari Concourse will house the UNI Athletics Hall of Fame, showcasing the versatile talents of UNI’s winning athletes.

“We feel deeply connected to UNI and its athletics,” said Dr. Kothari’s widow, Harshida. “We are honored by his legacy of generosity and dedication and are very proud of his commitment to the Waterloo-Cedar Falls community. We are excited to continue his goodwill with this gift to the UNI athletic programs. While he devoted so much of his time and effort to the UNI sports programs, it was so much more than that to him. He truly enjoyed all his interactions with the UNI athletes and always spoke fondly of them. We know he would be very pleased with his family’s continued support of the Panther athletic programs.”

UNI Athletics Director Rick Hartzell and the family of Dr. Jitu D. Kothari display the award given annually in honor of the orthopedic surgeon who served UNI Athletics for more than two decades.

Dr. Jitu and Harshida Kothari have three adult children, Neelay, Neerali and Tejus, who all took part in the 2005 UNI Athletics Hall of Fame activities during Homecoming weekend.

This year’s recipient of the Dr. Jitu D. Kothari Meritorious Service Award is Sandra Williamson, who played a leading role in UNI women’s athletics for 26 years and retired in 2004 as associate athletics director for administration and students.

Hall of Excellence

Flanked by the founders of the Elinor A. Crawford and William R. Thrall Hall of Excellence, 2005 inductee Patricia Geadelmann ’70 enjoys a moment at this year’s induction ceremony that preceded the unveiling of the new Hall located in the Wellness Recreation Center.

More Dome Magic!

With the air in the UNI-Dome still electric from the Panther football team’s comeback wins over Southern Illinois and Eastern Washington, Mac’s Maniacs kicked it up a notch as the UNI men’s basketball team beat the Iowa Hawkeyes in overtime, 67-63.

(below) Former Panther (now Kansas City Chief) Benny Sapp made it to the Dome for the UNI-Iowa basketball game and joined Panther radio play-by-play man Gary Rima for a chat at halftime.

Maintained by the UNI Alumni Association
Last Modified: January 25, 2006