Solomon Blatt Physical Education Center

1971, 1975; Department of Physical Education, Cardiac Rehab Center, Campus Recreation, Swimming Pool

The Center not only houses classrooms and activity areas of the Physical Education Department but also is used for intramurals and recreational sports by students, faculty, and staff.

Indoor and outdoor sports at the facility include archery, basketball, badminton, boxing, dance, golf, gymnastics, tumbling, handball, squash, shuffleboard, table tennis, tennis practice, wrestling, weight lifting/body building, football, golf practice, horseshoes, rugby, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball.

A three-story addition doubling the size of facility was completed in 1975. The addition features an Olympic-sized swimming pool and diving towers, two gymnasiums, handball and squash courts, offices, and classrooms.

The Center was named for Solomon Blatt (1895-1986, Class of 1917 Law, 1962 Honorary), a member of the S.C. House of Representatives from Barnwell County for 54 years. He was speaker of the S.C. House from 1937 to 1947 and from 1951 to 1973, or a total of 33 years. He was also a member of the USC Board of Trustees from 1935 to 1947. At the time of his death, he was the oldest active state legislator and held records for longest continuous state legislative service and the longest tenure as House speaker. The University of South Carolina was one of his great loves, and his influence helped to direct its development.