The University of Nebraska Athletic Department has announced that Gary and Janet Latimer are the recipients of the 2016-17 Dr. Barbara Hibner Trailblazer Award. Gary and Janet were presented with the award at the Nebraska-Iowa volleyball game on Nov. 25, 2017, shown above.
The Trailblazer Award was first given in 2000 to honor outstanding support and generous contributions to women's athletics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In 2007, following Dr. Hibner's death, the prestigious award was renamed the Dr. Barbara Hibner Trailblazer Award in honor of the longtime member of the Nebraska Athletic Department and the inaugural recipient of the award.
Past winners of the award, in addition to Hibner, are the Raimondi family (2001-02), Ione Bowlin (2002-03), the Betty Geis family (2003-04), Carol Frost (2004-05), Pinnacle Sports Productions (2005-06), Dr. Joanne Owens Nauslar (2006-07), current head softball coach Rhonda Revelle (2007-08), the Stephen Rohman family (2008-09), former NU volleyball head coach Terry Pettit (2009-10), Tom and Mary Hendricks (2010-11), Dick Herman (2011-12), JoAnn Martin and Ameritas (2012-13), Linda Olson (2013-14), Sid and Hazel Dillon (2014-15) and Bill and Ruth Scott (2015-16).
Gary and Janet established the Latimer Family Volleyball Scholarship that is awarded annually to a candidate who has demonstrated a high level of athletic and academic achievement, effective leadership skills, integrity and a commitment to excellence in all endeavors. Additionally, they have supported the Nebraska Student-Athlete Experience Fund and are proud supporters of the Nebraska football and men’s and women’s basketball teams.
“When it comes to being supportive and true friends of Nebraska Athletics, Gary and Janet Latimer are at the top of the list,” Executive Associate Athletic Director of Administration and Nebraska’s Senior Woman Administrator Pat Logsdon said. “We are so appreciative of their ongoing commitment and generosity in support of our women’s athletic programs. This is a well-deserved award and we’re honored to recognize them.”