From collection Member List
Claire Waters Ferguson (Beta Beta-Michigan State) is a pioneer in women's athletics, with a career that includes many significant firsts in the sport of figure skating.
Claire learned to skate in her hometown of East Lansing, Michigan, when she was 10 years old. She was coached by Montgomery (Bud) Wilson, a member of the 1961 U.S. World Skating Team. She served as team leader for the United States at the 1980 Winter Olympics and the 1979 and 1981 World Championships, which meant that she was responsible for the care of the skaters and coordination of the team’s participation in the events.
Claire’s career as a figure skating judge began at 18, when she started as a low test judge. By age 26, she was judging at the national level, and in 1977, she moved to the international level. She served as a judge at the 1984 and 1986 World Championships, as well as the 1988 Winter Olympics. Claire earned her 50-year judging pin in 2011.
In 1992, Claire became the first woman president of the United States Figure Skating Association, a role she held until 1995. She was also the first woman elected to the International Federation of Figure Skaters and the first U.S. woman to serve on the International Skating Union Council. For her career accomplishments, Claire received the 1994 Frances E. Willard Award from Alpha Phi and an honorary degree of arts from the University of Rhode Island in 1997.
Claire learned to skate in her hometown of East Lansing, Michigan, when she was 10 years old. She was coached by Montgomery (Bud) Wilson, a member of the 1961 U.S. World Skating Team. She served as team leader for the United States at the 1980 Winter Olympics and the 1979 and 1981 World Championships, which meant that she was responsible for the care of the skaters and coordination of the team’s participation in the events.
Claire’s career as a figure skating judge began at 18, when she started as a low test judge. By age 26, she was judging at the national level, and in 1977, she moved to the international level. She served as a judge at the 1984 and 1986 World Championships, as well as the 1988 Winter Olympics. Claire earned her 50-year judging pin in 2011.
In 1992, Claire became the first woman president of the United States Figure Skating Association, a role she held until 1995. She was also the first woman elected to the International Federation of Figure Skaters and the first U.S. woman to serve on the International Skating Union Council. For her career accomplishments, Claire received the 1994 Frances E. Willard Award from Alpha Phi and an honorary degree of arts from the University of Rhode Island in 1997.
