Memories of Wilson T. Delamater. By James B. Delamater, circa 2008342
Ira B. was my father’s father. He was a blacksmith, born in 1855 and died in 1900 of “consumption” at the age of 45. My father was Wilson T. He was born in 1881, so you see he was 19 when his father passed away. He was the only remaining male member of the family-he had a mother and younger sister-and he never got to finish school. As I remember he and his father’s employees took over the blacksmith shop and I do not know how long they ran it. I know that at one time he had a butcher shop—all my life at home I remember him going to the butcher shop and doing the shopping for meats—he brought home some great meat. All the time we lived in High Mills, N.Y. (while I was up to about 13) he worked as a machinist at the General Electric plant in Schenectady, N. Y . I remember that he had to walk about a mile to catch a trolley car to get to work and back, and since we had really hard winters in upstate N.Y. many an early morning he trudged through heavy snow, ice, and cold. In the summer it was hot and humid.

In about 1925, when my grandfather Frances Benn died, my Mother inherited some money. My father left G. E. and they built a little general store with gas station- (We lived on the highway from Schenectady to Saratoga, N.Y. where every summer there was heavy traffic to the race tack in Saratoga) and we got a lot of tourist as well as local business.

That winter, I think in 1925-26, we went to Daytona Beach, Florida, where a cousin of my Father’s went each year and worked hauling choral rock for road construction. During that winter of 1926 my family and I lived in a tent in florida. We had a wooden floor. That winter there was a hurricane that washed dead people up on the beach. that was the first time I ever saw a dead person. I was amazed when I saw my first dead black man and noticed that the soles of his fee were white. My Father bought a dump truck and joined him. I remember that when we traveled back home I road in the truck with my Dad, while my brother, Wilson, helped our Mother drive the car back home. I remember that as we started home, we passed a car, and my brother said “That’s the first car I ever passed”. While we were in Florida, my Uncle Livingston was building our store and house. A store downstairs where we sold general merchandise, it also had a gas station out front. that's where I learned to changed tires. I changed many tires for people who had blow out and came to the store for help.

We had been living in High Mills in a big two story white house with a nice basement where my Mother stored mountains of canned fruit, vegetables, wild berries, and about everything she got her hands on. My Dad was an avid barrier. The house was next door to the store. They sold that house, and my Uncle Livingston Hess, who was a carpenter, built our store-house. The house was connected to the store, and it was a fine two storied structure with a basement. We lived there until the depression, when they hit hard times, and I guess we lost it. We moved to Schenectady for a short time. My brother was in high school by then, and Martha and I were in Junior high.

When a cousin of my father lost his wife, we moved to their farm house to help them with their children. My Mother had an Aunt Kate (Benn) living nearby in Amsterdam, N. W, and she drove there to care of her aunt. Eventually, her Aunt converted her big house into two apartments-upstairs and downstairs-and we moved into the upstairs apartment so that my Mother could be nearby and care for her. We lived in that house through high school, aand my Mother and Dad lived there until his death.

We children went to Amsterdam High School where we all graduated. During this period my Dad did all kinds of work. For awhile he worked for a realtor who was sending wealthy groups to Texas to inspect citrus groves as an investment. My Dad arranged the travel and escorted the groups. Later he worked in New Jersey, where the husband of one of my Mother’s sister’s daughters was vice president of the Simmons Mattress Co. Incidentally, that niece, my cousin, Gertrude Carlin, is credited with naming the famous “Beauty Rest” mattress.

My Father had a cousin who was a house painter, and Dad joined him for awhile, than went in the business by himself. He was a house painter all the while I was in college. I worked with him painting houses one summer. I learned an important lesson that summer. One time when I became impatient in finishing a job, and suggested that we hurry up and finish so we could get on with another job, he gave me some very good advice: “Jim, if a job is worth doing, it is worth doing right”. I believe that was his credo with everything he ever did.

His last job was as sextant in our church, the same church where my Mother was choir director for several years.. Needless to say he was excellent in that job. He died in 1954 at age 74 of prostate cancer. He died in Amsterdam.

Incidentally, though my father never finished ‘school, he became quite well educated. He read everything he could get his hands on—you can say that he was a self- taught man, remarkably fluent. While we lived in High Mills, for example, he served several terms as school Trustee for our school district—well respected by all who knew him.342

Researcher’s note: When a cousin of my father lost his wife, we moved to their farm house to help them with their children. According to personal interviews with James Delamater and Howard F. Reed, this farm was the Harry Reed farm on McQuade Road, Town of Amsterdam, NY (above Cranes Hollow Road.) Howard’s mother, Bertha, died when he was 13. Both Howard and James remembered the Wilson Delamater family living on the Reed family farm for an unspecified period of time, although Howard told the story a little differently. Howard said his father had the Delamater family move in because they needed a helping hand at the time.88,2

1941:
James Delamater graduates from Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts with a Bachelor degree.557

ca 1942-ca1945:
James Delamater spends four years during WWII stationed in the Hawaiian and Midway Islands as part of the Naval physical fitness program, training recruits for combat and directing recreational and athletic activities.557

1946:
Delamater earns his Master degree from Columbia University, New York City.557

1951:
Delamater earns his Doctoral degree from Columbia University in higher education administration, specializing in the planning of college physical education facilities.557

1954:
Dr. James Brownell Delamater and family live in Socorro, New Mexico where Delamater is head of the Physical Education department at New Mexico Tech.339,557

1958:
Delamater and his family move to Las Cruces in 1958 where he beccomes head of the department at New Mexico State University.557 The following excerpt from his obituary, written in 2009, describes his tenure at NMSU:

“When he arrived, the facilities comprised William's Gym (now the art department located on University Avenue), an unfiltered and unheated outdoor pool, a quarter-mile dirt track, and unimproved areas under the old stadium. Most activity classes met wherever they found space, including in the parking lots. He and his faculty drew up a master plan for growth. The merits of the plan landed them a 25-acre tract of prime University land where the physical education complex exists today. One by one the many facilities that now are available to students, faculty, and community members were built and now attest to his career and commitment to making physical fitness a way of life. In 1959 he was especially proud of an arrangement he made with the students where they agreed to be assessed a $5.00 activities fee each semester for the purpose of funding what became the Natorium. Outstanding instructional and intramural programs also resulted. He was always quick to credit the students' support along with that of the University administrators who listened to his dreams and helped make them a reality. His faculty and staff were also heavily involved in all the development that took place. Some of the facilities he was instrumental in developing include the NMSU golf course, the aquatic center, Rentfrow Gym, the Activity Center (except for the recent addition), tennis courts, rubberized track and field area, and extensive turf fields for various sports. Many of these were funded through the student activity fee at no cost to the taxpayers. In addition to the facilities development, the curriculum in his department grew throughout his 23-year tenure. Besides the preparation of future teachers and leaders in the area of physical education, he developed new course offerings in health, lifetime fitness, athletic training, an expanded dance program, and community recreation. He helped to introduce adaptive physical training for students with disabilities and increased women's programs. One of his favorite activity classes to teach was beginning tennis. He also served as volunteer Varsity Tennis coach for the first four years at NMSU. Students fondly called him "Dr. D."One of the most treasured honors he received was when the newly renovated Activities Center was re-dedicated in 1996 and now bears his name. In prominent letters across the front it reads "James B. Delamater Activity Center." It was gratifying to him that friends, especially Gerald Thomas and Henry Lasche, headed the movement. Many former students and co-workers wrote letters in support of the honor. Dr. Delamater was gratified and humbled by this award. when he was asked to speak at the Mesilla Valley Oral Historical Society in 2006, he realized the history of the department had never been documented. He undertook a project to research and write the history. He subsequently published "The Development of Physical Education, Health, Recreation, and Dance at New Mexico State University." This document is available to those interested at the University library.Besides his leadership at NMSU, he was active in community programs and projects. He was a member of the Board of Directors for United Way; Board Member and State Director of the American Legion Boys State program; Board Member of the Las Cruces Boys and Girls Club; Board Member and President of the Dona Ana Chapter of the National American Red Cross; Board Member of the Dona Ana Volunteers for Literacy; President of the Las Cruces Rotary Club, as well as a Paul Harris Fellow; President of the Las Cruces Country Club for four terms; voluntary Rules Official for the Sun Country Amateur Golf Association; President of the NM Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; member of the National Council for Equipment, Facilities, and Supplies of the American Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports; and numerous other State, Southwest District, and National professional services. Dr. Delamater had an optimistic approach to life and a grateful attitude. He believed in the "Greek Ideal" where people are sound in mind, body, and spirit. He wanted people to have good quality in their lives and believed they attained it through education and staying fit. He emphasized sports that could be played throughout people's lives. He was often heard espousing his favorite saying, "Exercise is the fountain of youth." He not only taught this, but also lived it in his very active life. He loved the game of golf, fishing, reading, and exercising. He was fortunate enough to have five holes-in-one throughout his life.”557

The following is the text from the 1997 plaque displayed inside the Dr. James B. Delamater Activity Center at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM:

“James B. Delamater spent his early childhood in rural upstate New York where he received his public school education and first recognized his love for physical education and athletics. He received his undergraduate degree at Springfield College in Massachusetts. Upon graduation in 1941, he enlisted in the Navy and joined the newly formed Naval Physical Fitness Program where he served in a variety of assignments in physical fitness, athletics, and recreation from July 1941 until May 1946. Upon release from active duty from the Navy, he immediately enrolled in the graduate program at Columbia University where he earned the Master of Science degree (1946) and the Doctor of Education degree (1951).

In 1946 Dr. Delamater accepted a faculty position at the New Mexico Institute of mining and Technology in Socorro, New Mexico. During his tenure there, he promoted outstanding programs in physical education basic instruction, recreation, and intramurals. He also promoted and supervised the construction of field areas, tennis courts, an outdoor swimming pool, and a 9-hole golf course at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. While living in Socorro, he served as a consultant to the architect at New Mexico Set University in the designing of Rentfrow Gymnasium. Prior to the construction of Rentfrow Gymnasium in 1959, the Department of Physical Education and Recreation, together with the Department of Athletics, were housed in what is now Williams Hall, the university’s art gallery..

Dr. Delamater accepted the position of Department Head of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance at New Mexico State University in July 1958. When Dr. Delamater arrived in “Aggieland,”, he inherited the most meager of programs and facilities. Working with Executive Vice President William 0’Donnell, his desire was to develop university physical education and recreation programs second to none in the United States, with appropriate facilities to support these programs. During the early period of Dr. Delamater’s service at New Mexico State University, an ambitious and comprehensive master plan for the Department of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance was developed. Under his leadership, the department emerged from mediocrity to national prominence, receiving special recognition for (1) its voluntary programs of basic instruction in physical education for all students, (2) its professional preparation in physical education, (3) its recreation/intramural activities for students and employees, and (4) its superior facilities. The facilitates constructed as a direct result of Dr. Delamater’s leadership include the Activity Center (excluding the recent addition), Rentrow Gymnasium, the Natatorium, 20 lighted tennis courts, and a track and field area. In addition to these accomplishments, he initiated the planning which resulted in the construction of the university’s golf course. Dr. Delamater recognized the collaboration among students, faculty, and the administration as essential to the development of the outstanding physical education, recreation, and intramural programs and facilities at New Mexico State University. Dr. Delamater served NMSU until his retirement in August 1981. In April 1994, Dr. Delamater and his wife Peggiy established the James B. and Peggy M. Delamater and Friends Student Scholarship for Physical Education Recreation, and Dance. “556

2008:

In 2008 the following was posted on the New Mexico State University website:
“Dr. Delamater served with distinction as professor and head of the Department of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance for 23 years from 1958 through 1981. During that period the Department emerged from mediocrity to national prominence with special recognition for its voluntary programs of instruction for all students, its program of professional preparation in physical education and recreation; its outstanding program of intramural activities and campus recreation for students and employees, and its superior facilities.

At the beginning of his tenure the entire Department together with the Department of Athletics were housed in what is now the Williams Art Center. Under his leadership, the 25 acre site for the entire complex, which includes Rentfrow Gymnasium, The Activity Center, both swimming pools, the track and field facility, 20 tennis courts, and the extensive turf areas available for instruction, intramurals, and campus recreation were planned and constructed. Dr. Delamater always was proudest of the superior support provided the departmental effort by great students, and student leaderships. This together with superior faculty colleagues and administrative leaderships were the ingredients essential to the development of these outstanding programs and facilities. The James B. and Peggy Delamater Scholarship is in honor of his dedication and commitment to the students in Physical Education, Recreation and Dance at New Mexico State University.”558 559,560

James B. Delamater enlisted in the United States Navy in 1941. He joined the “newly formed Naval Physical Fitness Program” where he served until discharged in 1946.556 He spent the four years conditioning recruits for combat and directing recreational and athletic activities.557