University of Wyoming, Athletic Dorm Reunions collection, 1984-2020

The University of Wyoming, Athletic Dorm (also known as the “APE Dorm”) housed scholarship student athletes from 1950-1963 in the Men’s Residence Hall, which later became McWhinnie Hall. It housed athletes from all UW sports and allowed the athletes to develop friendships that lasted long past graduation. In 1984, a group of former residents of the dorm, and their spouses; Stan Popeck, Raymond “Bugs” DiFelici, George Johnstone, and Vince Zimmer organized a UW Athletic Dorm Reunion in Lander, Wyoming. The reunion was so successful that they continued to reunite until August 2019, when the last reunion was held.

In 1928, the Men’s Residence Hall was constructed as the first men’s dormitory on campus. Designed by Wilbur Hitchcock, it had room for approximately 102 students. It became the Athletic Dorm in the early 1950s and was used for that purpose until 1963, when the NCAA discouraged separate housing for athletes. It then became Graduate Hall before becoming an office building for the College of Education. In 1981, the building was renamed McWhinnie Hall, in honor of long-time UW Registrar, Ralph McWhinnie. McWhinnie also was the first Men’s Residence Hall Director, and he was a long-time scorer for UW athletics.