Walter Ryle
Athletics Director/Faculty Athletics Representative
Truman (1955-99)
Ryle chaired Truman’s athletic committee starting in 1973, and has held various offices in the MIAA over the course of his 26 year career in college athletics. Ryle was the president of the MIAA during the league’s biggest expansion period, as he served from 1988-1991 and was vice-president from 1985-88, he was a member of the long-range planning committee, chair of the eligibility committee, the infractions committee and the finance committee during his tenure.
Ryle served as chair of the search and screen committee that hired the league’s first full-time commissioner, Ken B. Jones. Ryle, a history professor on campus since 1955, became the Director of Athletics in 1994 and oversaw the department’s 21 sports until his retirement in 1999.
One of the biggest accomplishments during his leadership as athletic director was the project to bring an all-weather track to the Kirksville community at Stokes Stadium.