Show Professor Griffiths Dies Of Lingering Illness j Death Ends 31 Years of Continuous ServiCe In U Physical Education Department j Associate Professor James Ruel for 31 years 4 member of the University of Utah physical education staff m a life-long of sports died Tuesday at at a local hospital of a lingering He A man who made physical education and recreation an intensive field of study and Professor Griffiths was head of the men's physical education department at the university until il health prompted his withdrawal from that position last Born December he was the son of Brigham and Jane He married Ethel May in the Salt Lake Ho graduated from Snow and obtained his AB degree from the University of Utah in He obtained his masters degree from New York university in and was at work for his until this He entered the faculty of the University of Utah in and until his death was one of the oldest professors at the from the standpoint of Professor Griffiths promoted the skiing sport long before the general skiing- craze swept this Twenty-five years ago he led the first group of skiers from the university to Park and Subsequent skiing made with primitive were made to Big Cottonwood canyon by university students under the tutelage of Professor He was generally regarded as the leading authority in Utah in the field of having served as the first president of the Utah Physical Education Association of Utah and as first supervisor of recreation for Lake Salt Lake Tribune J. R. Griffiths Served 31 |