In over 30 years of the CIAU it can be said that UBC's Jeannie Cockcroft is the most successful female high jumper in Canadian university history. Not only is she the CIAU and UBC record holder, but she was three times CIAU national high jump champion - a national record yet to be matched. She also achieved gold medal victories at the Canada Games, the National Indoor and Canadian Senior Championships. This 1985 Sport B.C. University Athlete of the Year has the distinction of twice being awarded the Marilyn Pomfret Trophy as UBC's female athlete of the year.
One of the best all-round athletes produced at UBC, Haar during the 1960s was an outstanding T-Bird soccer, football, and baseball player. He set a goal-scoring record in soccer, led the 'Birds to the Pacific Coast Soccer Championship in 1968, was pursued by the B.C. Lions in football, and throughout played professional baseball in the Yankees organization. This 1968 Bobby Gaul Award winner is now considered a "father figure" in B.C. baseball, serving as coach of Canada's National Baseball Institute.
A mentor, provider, character-builder, and UBC's most recognizable campus figure between 1955 and 1976, Frank Gnup served as UBC's football, baseball, and golf coach over 18 years. Hired by Gordon Shrum, Gnup is revered for the pride he built in the UBC football program, including winning three Hardy Cups and sending 17 players to the pros. With his honesty, popularity, and entertaining nature, he not only bonded with his players but effectively promoted UBC and UBC Athletics.
The genesis of the "Golden Age" of rowing both at UBC and Canada can be traced to this 1954/55 Frank Read coached eight-oared crew. As 1954 Canadian champions they represented Canada at the British Empire Games, winning gold. The students then took on the world at the 1955 Henley Regatta where they recorded a shocking victory over the defending world champion Russians. With these international accomplishments, this UBC team was the talk of the campus and the province, jump-starting UBC's revered rowing tradition.