A recently released oral history episode in the ongoing Ozarks Voices oral history project brought together a group of women involved in establishing and developing the women’s athletic program at Southwest Missouri State College or SMS (now Missouri State University). The interview took place on Monday, July 10, 2017, in the Keeter Center at The College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri.

List of participants:
• Reba Sims – retired SMS/MSU head coach of women’s basketball, softball, and field hockey teams; retired instructor
• Linda Dollar – retired SMS/MSU women’s volleyball coach and instructor; SMS alumna
• Cheryl Burnett – retired SMS/MSU women’s basketball coach
• Mary Jo Wynn – retired SMS/MSU coach of women’s volleyball, tennis, swimming, and track; director of women’s athletics; senior associate director of athletics; SMS alumna
• Nancy Hodson – retired high school coach and SMS alumna
• Marilyn Moore – retired high school coach and SMS alumna

Topics discussed include genesis of women’s athletic program at SMS; building early teams from SMS physical education majors; Mary Jo Wynn’s creation of the first volleyball team at SMS; growth of volleyball program under Linda Dollar; establishment of the women’s athletics department; transportation for teams; playing in early state, regional, and national championships; early athletic scholarships; participation in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW); beginning the Gateway Conference; media coverage for SMS women’s athletics; promoting women’s athletics in the community; building the fan base for women’s sports at SMS; administrative support; racial diversity in SMS women’s athletics; alumni athletes and reunions; and the importance of the history of the program for current athletes.