Nancy Harelson Dow
Birthday: 1915
Nancy Harelson Dow of Phoenix graduated from the University of Arizona in 1937 with a bachelor of science degree in education. She was a member of Delta Gamma Sorority Phi Lambda Theta Associated Women Students and the Women's Athletic Association. For her outstanding contributions to women's athletics she received Best Sportswoman of the Year in 1937 from the Physical Education Department. She was also a member of Desert Riders an honorary horsemanship organization for women. She was a member of Spurs Rattlers and Mortar Board the sophomore junior and senior honorary organizations. She was President of Mortar Board her senior year. She also received the Freeman Medal for Outstanding Woman Graduate in 1937. After graduation Nancy taught riding at Hacienda del Sol in Tucson a private girls' school at the time. She also taught physical education in Flagstaff and Alhambra and North Phoenix high in Phoenix. She received her master's degree in the late 1960s. Nancy was an avid supporter of the Arizona Wildcats and she and her husband attended numerous games and events over a period of many years. They also attended many alumni functions. Nancy volunteered in her later years at the Heard Museum gift shop Arizona Highways magazine and the Phoenix Assistance League. Nancy Harelson Dow was listed in Who's Who in American Women. Nancy Harelson Dow is being honored in the Women's Plaza of Honor for many reasons. She contributed greatly to women's athletics with her leadership and involvement. She also showed her leadership by serving as an officer in many of the organizations to which she belonged. Her academic success earned her many awards on campus. She and husband Herbert Dow established an ROTC scholarship at the University. We are privileged to have had her in our lives and would like to honor her at this time. Nancy passed away this past May 2006.