Hall of Fame
Sara Staff Jernigan played for, and then later coached, the tennis team at Stetson. She is credited with helping pioneer Olympic Sports for women in the 1960's for which she received the Medallion Service Award from the International Olympic Academy. Jernigan was also chairman of the Women's Board of the U.S. Olympic Development Committee from 1961 to 1969 and served as president of the Southern Affiliate of the National Association for Physical Education of College Women. She also had a knack for music and dancing, playing the trumpet and cornet. While a student at Stetson Jernigan played the first trumpet in the Florida Symphony Orchestra. Jernigan was chairman of the Women's Board of the U.S. Olympic Development Committee from 1961 to 1969 and served as president of the Southern Affiliate of the National Association for Physical Education of College Women. She received the R. Tait McKenzie Award in 1987 from the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance in honor of her lifetime achievements. Jernigan was a recognized public speaker and author who published more than 40 magazine articles and wrote the book Playtime: The World Recreational Handbook, published by McGraw-Hill in 1972. Jernigan was inducted into the Stetson Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 1975 inaugural class.
