Hartley D. Price

Hartley D. Price was a gymnastics coach and innovator in the field of Physical Education. He created Gymkana, which made a profound impact on the P.E. program at the University of Illinois, alongside many other schools.

Hartley was born on September 8th, 1902 in Brisbane, Australia. Twenty-one years later, he moved to the United States to attend Springfield College, Massachusetts . While studying there, he was influenced by Leslie J. Judd, a great pioneer in the field of gymnastics who also happened to be from Australia. He would graduate in 1927 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education.

Shortly after this, he went to work at the University of Illinois Circus, directing their gymnastic events. In 1929, Hartley was recommended to coach the gymnastics team by a superior and  a year later, he was the head coach. His job, however, turned out to be harder than expected as the Great Depression struck America. The athletic association, now lacking funds, was forced to make serious budget cuts, including Hartley’s gymnastics team.

Unable to pay for the team’s conference trip, Hartley came up with an idea to solve the crisis using the knowledge he attained from his previous work in the circus: Gymkana, a gymnastics exhibition that showcased all sorts of talents and interests. Some activities included tap dance, high bars, tumbling, acrobatic and rhythmic dancing, flying rings, living bronze statues, and springboard leaping. Anyone was welcome to perform in Gymkana, they did not have to be a gymnast. 

Gymkana’s first show was held in the Kenney Gymnasium in 1934 , and alongside the now re-funded Varsity Gymnastic team, would continue holding exhibitions throughout the state for the rest of the decade. It moved to George Huff Gymnasium with its third show. Gymkana grew so popular that one year there were over 3,000 attendees at the Urbana shows. In 1939, under Hartley’s leadership, the gymnastics team claimed victory in the Big Ten Gymnastics Championship.

Hartley not only saved the gymnastics program itself, but also mentored several students who would go on to continue his legacy by starting Gymkana Troupes. David A. Field, a prominent member of Hartley’s gymnastics team, would go on to found a Gymkana at the University of Maryland. Other students of his include Ray Weiss, who founded one at Cortland State University and Jim Baley, who founded one at Duke University.

In 1942 the Illinois Gymkana Troupe disbanded after the University Senate voted to limit Gymkana’s activities, including stopping the traveling shows. Hartley accepted a position with the Navy after this decision. He served as Lieutenant Commander and ran a gymnastics program at a Navy Pre-Flight School in Iowa City, with training regimes he developed at Illinois with the war effort in mind.

After the war, Hartley returned to Illinois  in 1946 for a short time before moving to Florida State in 1948, where he founded a new gymnastic team and Gymkana Troupe. At this point he was renowned nation-wide, and led his team to many championships, pushing it to new heights of success.

 While at Florida State University he received two Fulbright professorships, one to India and one to Columbia. He wrote over 60 articles during his career and contributed to several books. Hartley retired in 1971 and passed away 6 years later.