First Woman President of U.S. Figure Skating, Claire Waters Ferguson of Jamestown, Dies at 88

First Woman President of U.S. Figure Skating, Claire Waters Ferguson of Jamestown, Dies at 88

Claire Waters Ferguson, 88, of Jamestown, R.I., passed away surrounded by family on Friday, January 12, 2024. She was the beloved wife of the late Dr. George Howard Ferguson. Born in Ames, Iowa, in 1935, she was the daughter of the late Dr. Nelson and Claire Waters. In 1957, Claire graduated from Michigan State University. She married George later that year.

 

Claire Waters Ferguson blazed a trail for women in the field of sports leadership. In 1992, she became the first female president of U.S. Figure Skating, and in 1994, Ferguson was the first American woman elected to the International Skating Union Council and International Federation for Figure Skaters.

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In her roles, Ferguson was a progressive leader through tumultuous times for the sport. She led the organization through the much-publicized 1994 attack on Nancy Kerrigan, which put a white-hot spotlight on the sport and coincidentally paved the way for lucrative television contracts. Following the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, under Ferguson’s reign, U.S. Figure Skating signed a multi-year contract with ABC that allowed the organization to sell its TV rights rather than bear the responsibility of producing its own events.

 

During her term, the International Olympic Committee loosened its eligibility rules regarding professionals and amateurs, prompting Ferguson to take the controversial position that skaters had the right to earn money. In response, U.S. Figure Skating developed international "pro/am" competitions, which sanctioned skaters and brought more televised events for figure skating. Dozens of skating shows competed with U.S. Figure Skating for these dollars, and at its height, 30 skating-related shows were televised in the U.S. between September 1994 and April 1995.

 

Other highlights during Ferguson’s four-year term include the restructuring of U.S. Figure Skating headquarters’ operations and staff; abolishing athlete trust funds in favor of athlete contracts; developing and implementing Moves in the Field; and the creation of the U.S. Adult Championships.

 

Prior to her presidency, Ferguson was an Olympic Team Leader and longtime judge. She received her 50-year judge’s pin in 2011, and is one of only 14 Honorary Members of the International Skating Union. She was a board member of the Rhode Island Sports Council and Newport, R.I., Hospital. Ferguson was also a former elected member of Jamestown, R.I., Town Council and was named “Best of R.I.” by Rhode Island Monthly Magazine. Rhode Island Monthly, Providence Journal and the Rhode Island Women’s Commission have recognized Ferguson for her pioneering work as a woman in sports.

 

Ferguson was also one of the first female cheerleaders in the Big Ten (where cheer squads had been all-male) at Michigan State University. She is a member of Daughters of the American Revolution, and has received an honorary doctorate from the University of Rhode Island.

 

In her personal life, Claire spent many years by the water and on boats, exploring the New England coast with her husband George and their family. They were longtime members of the Conanicut Yacht Club in Rhode Island. In 1987, the arrival of grandchildren began and she became affectionately known as “Mema” (and George “Poppy”). Mema and Poppy’s home in Jamestown was the central point for many of the Ferguson family activities.

 

Claire is survived by her daughter Christine Ferguson (Frederick Glomb), her son Scott Ferguson (Kimberly Brown), and son Gregory Ferguson (Kimberly Palmer); her grandchildren, Kirsten Ferguson Lingerfelt (Christopher), Sydney Ferguson Clapp (Eugene “Jay”), Gregory Glomb, Nicholas Ferguson (Caroline), Connor Ferguson (Ashlin Gillis), Caroline Ferguson, and Taylor Ferguson; and her great-grandchildren, Olivia and James Lingerfelt, Cecilia Ferguson and Margot Clapp.

 

A memorial service celebrating Claire Waters Ferguson’s life and career will be held in the spring in Jamestown, R.I. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the U.S. Figure Skating Memorial Fund, which supports skaters in pursuing their goals, both on and off the ice. The fund awards skating and academic scholarships to those athletes who demonstrate excellent competitive results, academic achievements and show potential in national and international competitions.

 

100% of donations go to skaters.