• Chair of the department and dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation (1972-90).
• Assistant coach and co-coach of the Bears basketball team (1965-67). Co-chair of the FISU Conference during the 1983 Summer Universiade and chair of the Commonwealth Games Conference in Edmonton (1978).
• The R. G. Glassford Award was established in 1985 to honour outstanding coaching and contribution to University athletics.
• Received the Students Union Gold Key award for outstanding contributions to the University of Alberta.

A native of British Columbia, Gerry Glassford was a faculty member at the University of Alberta from 1965 to 1994. He served as Assistant and Co-Coach of the Golden Bears Basketball team between 1965 and 1967, guiding the team to a conference championship and a fourth place finish at the national championship in his final season. His contributions from 1972 to 1990 - as Chair and then Dean - left an indelible mark on the evolution of the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation. Gerry took a special interest in the athletics program, tirelessly working to ensure that student-athletes had a positive sporting and academic experience, thereby instilling a sense of professional balance in staff and students alike throughout his career. In 1985, the Department of Athletics established the RG Glassford Award in recognition of Gerry Glassford’s superior coaching and outstanding contribution to the University’s athletic program.

Gerry was heavily involved in academic administration, serving as Chair of the Department of Physical Education from 1972 to 1977, Associate Chair of the Department from 1978 to 1981, Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation from 1981 to 1990, and Acting Vice-President (Development and Community Affairs) in 1990 and 1991. He also made many important contributions to the overall direction of the University, including membership on the University of Alberta Senate (1986-1989), as a member of the Senate Task Force on Health and Wellness (2002-2003), as a member of Alumni Council (2005-2008), serving as Acting Dean of the Faculty of Extension (2001-2003), co-founding the Centre for Health Promotion Studies, and service on the Board of Directors of the Bob Steadward Centre.

During his years at the University of Alberta, Gerry was appointed, nominated and selected to serve on 57 major University, provincial, national and international committees, including the FISU/CESU Educational Committee from 1984 to 1987; he co-chaired the FISU/CESU Conference during Universiade 1983 in Edmonton. Gerry served as the Chair of the Organising Committee for the 1978 Commonwealth Games Conference in Edmonton.

Gerry Glassford’s research output – mainly focused on the areas of physical education/sport history and cultural/anthropological aspects of sport - included one book, 49 articles in journals, and 131 presentations (several were keynote addresses) made at conferences around the world. His graduate student supervision record was extensive: supervisor of 25 completed PhDs and 33 Master of Arts/Master of Science degrees, and member of the supervisory committee for 51 PhDs and 75 Master’s degrees.

Glassford received numerous local and national awards during his career. He was named as an Associate Fellow of the American Academy of Physical Education in 1977. In 1984 he was presented with the Robert Tait McKenzie Honour Award from the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (CAHPER), the highest recognition bestowed in Canada in the field of physical/health education and recreation. In 1991, the Students’ Union gave Gerry its Gold Key Award, presented for outstanding contributions to the University of Alberta. Gerry was one of twenty-five individuals to receive the Citation for Citizenship presented by the Government of Canada for outstanding services to the nation in 1993. The University of Alberta Board of Governors’ Professoriate Award of Distinction was presented to Gerry in 2002, and he received the Province of Alberta Centennial Salute Award for Sport and Recreation in 2005. Gerry was the recipient of a University of Alberta Alumni Honour Award in 2008.

Following his retirement, Glassford served as the Chair of the Selection Committee for the University of Alberta Sports Wall of Fame from 1997 to 2011. He also was a member of the organizing committee for the Green and Gold Society Annual Sports Wall of Fame dinner from 1997 to 2008. He served as a mentor to countless undergraduate and graduate students, academic colleagues, University athletes and coaches. The University’s athletics and academic programs have benefitted immensely from his vision, wisdom, generosity, energy and commitment to excellence.