Fredrick D. Shults Papers

Fredrick Davis Shults was born February 7, 1932 in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Ward William (d. 1977) and Ruth Rebecca Shults (d. 1983). Following graduation from public school in Alma, Michigan in 1950, where his father was the high school principal, he enrolled at Oberlin College, where his brother Robert Ellis, O.C. ’51, attended. Like his brother, he participated in soccer, baseball, and basketball. He captained the soccer and baseball teams as a senior and received All-American recognition in soccer in 1953-1954.

After graduation in 1954, with a double major in physical education and history, he spent two years (1954-56) in the U.S. Navy (Naval Security Agency), stationed in Washington, D.C. Fred ran and played on the naval base’s baseball team. One year he was enrolled at Wesleyan University, Middleton, Connecticut, where he took history courses related to an M.A. in teaching.

During academic year 1958-1959 Fred Shults returned to Oberlin College. Named Instructor of Physical Education (temporary), he headed the Intramural Program. During this period he began graduate study at The Ohio State University for an M.A. in physical education, earning his degree in 1959 under Bruce L. Bennet ’39. His thesis focused on Oberlin’s Fred E. Leonard (d. 1922), who was director of men’s gymnasium and professor of physiology. In 1960 he accepted a full-time position at Oberlin as Assistant Professor in the Physical Education Department for Men. Courses he taught included: “Methods and Techniques in Physical Education” and “History of Physical Education”; and, in 1972, he added a course, “The Competitive Ethic,” and divided the “Methods and Techniques” course in two parts, “Sports Leadership Workshop” and “Methods and Directed Teaching”; then, in 1979, “Competitive Ethics” became “Sociological Perspectives in Sport.” He coached varsity soccer, junior varsity basketball, and varsity lacrosse. In directing the Saturday morning recreation program for town boys ages 8-12, he used College athletes as instructors.

During his early years on the faculty, Shults also pursued graduate work at Indiana University, from which he would complete a Ph.D. degree in Physical Education and Recreation in 1967. His dissertation focused on “The History of Physical Education and Athletics at Oberlin College.” He obtained tenured status in 1964, became a full professor in the Physical Education Department in 1981, and received a sabbatical leave to conduct research in sports sociology at the University of South Florida.

As a faculty member, Fred Shults made the case that the physical education major was a vital part of a liberal arts curriculum. He took Oberlin’s motto “Learning and Labor” at face value, stressed "Mind, Body, Harmony," and he believed striving for excellence should be a physical goal as well as an intellectual goal at Oberlin. Professor Shults argued that, in organized sports, winning and losing “must not erode the spirit of play…. The name of the game is participation, and there is a place for all people.” In the campus debate over whether the physical education major should continue at Oberlin, he strongly urged policies to up-grade the quality of the program.

As a soccer coach at Oberlin, his teams compiled a 212-154-50 record. In 1988 he won a second consecutive Men’s soccer coach-of-the-year award in the North Coast Athletic Conference, having completed his 28th season as head soccer coach with a career win/loss record of 175-110-42. To his credit, two players of his received All-American recognition, and two were also recognized as Academic All-American. He earned leadership roles in the Ohio Conference. Numerous coaching articles written by him appeared in professional journals, such as Scholastic Coach and Athletic Journal. As a lacrosse coach, his teams achieved a solid record of 96-94-6. He has participated actively in conference leadership. Shults also published in academic professional journals, such as Quest and Journal of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. His articles in the professional literature primarily focused on philosophy of athletics, sport sociology, sport ethics, and history. A number of these were first presented at professional meetings. He has written an unpublished book/manuscript entitled “The Competitive Ethic,” centered around the topics covered in his academic course of the same title.

He was married in June 1964 to Sharon Rae Fairchild of Oberlin from whom he was divorced in 1980. They have two children, Jennifer Marie (b. Oct. 29, 1967) and Jeffrey Fairchild (b. Feb. 21, 1970).

Fred’s achievements both as a student athlete and as a coach at Oberlin were honored by his induction into the Oberlin Heisman Club Hall of Fame in 1992. His brother and fellow Hall-of-Famer, Robert (Robi), introduced him at the presentation.

Following his retirement in February 1994, Shults devoted a good deal of his time to playing golf and engaging in other forms of outdoor recreation. He spends the winter months in Florida where he and his brother Robi compete in the friendly game of golf.

Sources Consulted

Former Faculty File of Fredrick D. Shults (RG 28).

Student File of Fredrick D. Shults (RG 28).

Oberlin College Observer.

Oberlin News-Tribune.