Barbara Chambers: From finances to freestyle
To students, Barbara Chambers is known as the woman in charge of giving them their work study checks, but her role changes drastically off Franklin’s campus.
On campus, Chambers works under Vice President of Finance Bryan Spetter, Vice President of Planning, Plant and Technology Lisa Fears and Director of Employee Resources Maureen Pinnick.
She also works with the U.S. Olympic swimming team.
Chambers first started officiating the U.S. Olympic swim meets because one of her sons swam for the team. Chambers has three sons, who were all involved in swimming. Her son Thomas became more competitive than his brothers and took his swimming career further.
Even though Chambers’ sons no longer swim, she said she still really enjoys the atmosphere that she has gotten so used to.
Often times Chambers would be at a meet for 12 hours to see her son compete in his four events.
But now, instead of watching meets from the bleachers, Chambers has been helping officiate at local meets and sometimes travels around the states as well. However, Chambers said she no longer travels as often as she once did.
“I hated always watching the swim meets from the benches,” said Chambers.
She has also been an official for the last four years at the Olympic trials. There are usually about 90 officials working with the swimmers.
She hasn’t been able to go to any of the Olympic games, but she always gets a good seat at the U.S. Olympic swim meets.
“It’s been a real joy to help out the teams,” Chambers said.
However, she recently slipped on a wet spot and broke her ankle. Chambers had to undergo a procedure where surgeons inserted eight bolts into her ankle. She’s had to stay off her foot for the past five months, but she is now able to get by with just wearing a boot.
“I can’t wait to get back and help at the meets,” Chambers said. “It keeps me busy, but I still enjoy it.”
One of Chambers’ favorite meets was an Olympic meet for those with disabilities. She said she was amazed that some of them didn’t have arms or legs, but they weren’t complaining and competed very well. After that meet, she told her son she never wanted to hear him complain about sore muscles again.
Since Chambers had to stay off her foot, she said it was hard to get a lot of her work done. Now that healing has begun, she said it’s getting easier.
She said she’s ready to get back to working and officiating swim meets without the hindrance of her broken ankle.
