Harold V. “Skip” Curtis, Jr. , ODU's Number One Fan?
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
With a license plate that says,1 ODU, Harold V. "Skip" Curtis, Jr. makes it clear that he wants to be ODU's number one fan. And, those who know Skip would tell you that his actions speak louder than his license plate.
Skip and his entire family are loyal supporters of the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation (ODAF) and, although ODAF's electronic records date back to only 1986, Skip's personal records indicate that he has contributed to ODU for over 36 years. Further, Skip doubles his donations through a corporate matching gift program and encourages all ODU fans to "optimize their contribution and make ODU stronger" by asking their employers to match their gifts to ODU.
Skip's history with Old Dominion goes far beyond his first donation 36 years ago. He started at ODU in 1968 as a junior varsity swimmer. Back in those days, athletic scholarships were rare, so Skip was swimming for the love of the sport. Swimming laps in the basement of the Old Administration Building, under the direction of Coach Joseph C. "Scrap" Chandler, helped to solidify Skip's Monarch Pride. Today, he, more than most, understands the amount of support that is required to maintain a successful athletic program at the university.
Skip is not alone in his love for Old Dominion University. His wife, Vicky, and daughter, Brittany, are all involved with ODU, as are his brother, Keith '83, and sister-in-law, Kim '82. Brittany, an MBA candidate at the university, is scheduled to graduate this year.
Vicky has been working in the Economics Department in the College of Business and Public Administration for over 33 years, during which time she has supported her department and athletics through the Campus Community Campaign. Vicky says that she "eats, sleeps, and drinks ODU." In 2010, ODU recognized that dedication with the Employee of the Year award.
"I will work here until they won't let me work here anymore," she says.
Skip and his family have watched ODU athletics grow. He credits ODU coaches for creating the strong sense of community surrounding ODU athletics today and for helping to fill the stands with neighbors and alumni alike. He says, "The games are about the entire experience of a fun, festive, family atmosphere, not to mention that the coaches convey great values to the crowd."
The Curtis family have season tickets to football and both women's and men's basketball.
Skip can be seen tailgating and cheering alongside his family at all the events. Together, they make it part of their strong family tradition "to sit through all the games until the bitter end."
