Donna Williams Meinecke

Donna Williams Meinecke was one of the many young girls who were inspired by All Around Gold Medal gymnast Olga Korbut in the 192 Olympics in Munich. Fayetteville schools had added gymnastics to the physical education program. Donna’s mother owned Williams Dance Studio so Donna had a background particularly suited to floor exercise. She added balance beam, vault, and uneven bars to become the first Fayetteville gymnast to compete all around in a state meet. As an FHS cheerleader, she was the first to perform a round-off, back handspring, back flip combination in competition. The enthusiasm and cheerful attitudes of Donna and her teammates put FHS in position to be in the top five schools in Arkansas in the ‘70s.

Donna was one of FHS’s first two women to be awarded a college athletic scholarship. She competed on one of the early U of A gymnastic teams. Donna has taught and coached many gymnasts who surpassed the skill level she attained in those early years.

Donna was considered a competent gymnastics judge even before she gradated from FHS in 1974. She continued judging high school, USGF, and college meets and eventually qualified as a National USGF judge. She was much in demand in regional, national, college, and USGF meets.

Many young people have beeb employed as instructors at the Williams Center over the years and countless children have learned cheerleading and gymnastics skills at a level not reached by the early Fayetteville gymnasts. The children and parents formed an early fan base for the University of Arkansas Gymbacks and that support continues today. Donna and husband, Jim Meinecke, have unselfishly made their facilities available when needed by FHS or the University team.