Peg Grey

Peg Grey
Born
Margaret Ann Grey

May 15, 1945
Chicago, Illinois
DiedFebruary 24, 2007
Hinsdale, Illinois
Occupation(s)Physical educator, sports organizer

Margaret Ann "Peg" Grey (May 15, 1945 – February 24, 2007) was an American physical education teacher and sports organizer based in Chicago. She was the first female co-chair of the Federation of Gay Games. She was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 1992.

Early life

Margaret Grey was born in Chicago, the daughter of Lawrence C. Grey and Dorothy Blyth Grey. Both of her parents were also born in Chicago; her father was a teacher. She graduated from Maria High School in 1963,[1] earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Chicago Teachers College, and a master's degree in physical education from Northern Illinois University.[2]

Career

Grey taught physical education at elementary schools in the Chicago Public Schools for 35 years. She was active in the Gay Games, serving as first female co-chair of the Federation of Gay Games,[3] and on the international board of the governing body. She worked for increasing participation by athletes from non-Western nations, and by older athletes. She organized women's softball, basketball, volleyball, bowling, racquetball, and tennis teams and leagues under aegis of the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association.[2][4][5] She was also one of the organizers of Frontrunners Chicago, a running and walking club for the gay and lesbian community.[6]

Grey raised funds for causes including AIDS and cancer research. She competed at Gay Games events in San Francisco (1982), Vancouver (1990),[7] and Chicago (2006),[8] in various sports, including marathon, softball, volleyball, and track and field.[2] She was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 1992.[9] She was posthumously inducted into the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Authority Hall of Fame in 2007.[5][10]

Personal life and legacy

Grey was survived by her partner of 40 years, Grace Leudke,[11] and her companion of 17 years, Pam Hulvey,[12] when she died from multiple myeloma in 2007, aged 61 years, in Hinsdale, Illinois.[2] Her papers and memorabilia, including trophies, t-shirts, and photographs, are in the Gerber/Hart Library and Archives.[13] There is a Peg Grey Women's Sport Tournament held annually in Johannesburg, named in her memory.

References

  1. ^ Maria High School, Maria (1963 yearbook): 138; via Ancestry
  2. ^ a b c d Baim, Tracy. "Sports Pioneer Peg Grey Dies" Windy City Times (February 28, 2007).
  3. ^ Symons, Caroline (2010-04-26). The Gay Games: A History. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-02789-7.
  4. ^ D'Emilio, John. "Chapter 33. Building Community: Peg Grey and the Power of Sports" in Queer Legacies: Stories from Chicago’s LGBTQ Archives (University of Chicago Press 2020): 157- 161. ISBN 9780226727677
  5. ^ a b Baim, Tracy. "The Gay and Lesbian Sporting Life" in Out and Proud in Chicago: An Overview of the City's Gay Community (Agate Publishing 2009): 179-181. ISBN 9781572846432
  6. ^ "About Us – Frontrunners Chicago". Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  7. ^ "Exuberant Welcome for Gay Games Athletes". Bay Area Reporter. August 9, 1990. pp. 38–39. Retrieved June 10, 2021 – via Internet Archive.
  8. ^ "5K Road Race". Chicago Tribune. 2006-07-14. pp. 33–14. Retrieved 2021-06-11 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Peg Grey" Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame (1992 inductee).
  10. ^ "Hall of Fame". Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  11. ^ "PASSAGES Grace Luedke". Windy City Times. 2008-09-03. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  12. ^ Brigham, Roger (February 28, 2007). "On the Passing of an Icon". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  13. ^ "Archive Collections – Gerber/Hart Library and Archives". Retrieved 2021-06-11.