Cornell University Athletics

The Treman family has been a towering influence on Cornell sports. Charles E. played football on his class team, and as an alumnus was the godfather of Cornell's rowing program during Coach Charles Courtney's highly successful 37-year tenure, 1883-1920. Treman raised the funds for crew and succeeded by patient persuasion to keep the temperamental and much sought-after Courtney content to stay in Ithaca. His most lasting contribution was his sole personal inducement of the New York state governor, Martin Glynn, to approve and to sign a bill in April 1914 to construct what became Barton Hall on the Cornell campus as a cost of $350,000. Its principal purpose was to be a drill hall for military purposes, and it was originally so named. It was later named in honor of Colonel Frank Barton, an 1892 Cornell graduate. Treman made sure that it was made available for recreational purposes as well, and that was specified in the bill, and Cornell basketball, track, wrestling, fencing and tennis were the beneficiaries.