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The Franklin Park Park District has announced several staff additions and changes.

Donna Schimmel

DONNA SCHIMMEL assumed the position of senior/adult coordinator in May, 1984. She had previously worked with the Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association in Addison, IL, for two and a half years.

Ms. Schimmel has a master's degree in therapeutic recreation from Indiana State University. She is a current member of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS), Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA), and several local recreation organizations.

MICHAEL MIELKE was appointed to the position of ice arena assistant manager in October, 1984. Mielke is a native of St. Paul, MN, and has a B.S. degree in geography/ earth science and a secondary teaching certificate from Northern Michigan University.

Michael Mielke

His experience includes work with minor hockey in Marquette, MI, both as a clinic instructor and coach. He has also instructed at the Canadian Professional Hockey School and the Northern Michigan Summer Sports School. Mieike worked as an assistant coach at Northern Michigan University in 1981-82.

MARY BROSIOUS assumed the position of superintendent of recreation in December, 1984. She had previously worked for 11 years in the park and recreation profession.

Mary Brosious

Her experience includes a variety of positions with the North Berwyn Park District, Fitness Center in Champaign and Zion Park District.

Ms. Brosious has a bachelor's degree in recreation and park administration from the University of Illinois. She is a current member of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA), and several local recreation organizations.

JOANNE WAGNER of the Elmhurst Park District Board of Commissioners, a 26-year veteran, was recently reelected for a two-year term.

Her continuing term of office in Elmhurst is one of the longest served in the State. Earlier this year, she was honored at a recognition dinner by the park district board and staff for her silver anniversary.

Mrs. Wagner got involved with the park district when her children were young. She wanted to increase services for residents and ensure that residents got good value for their tax dollars.

Events

The IPRA Student Section will sponsor an AGENCY TRIVIAL PURSUIT TOURNAMENT at the fall conference on Friday, Nov. 22, from 8 p.m. to midnight in the Grand Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Teams will consist of four agency representatives and one randomly assigned student. There will be a maximum of 50 teams in competition on a first-come, first-serve basis. Agency team registration fees will be awarded to winning agencies along with prizes for their team members.

Watch for further information in upcoming publications. Registration forms will be provided in the September IPRA Minute Mailing.

Illinois Parks and Recreation                                 32                                                       July/August 1985


BETTY LOU JENKINS, a recreation supervisor with the Champaign Park District, retired on Feb. 28 after serving 35 years there and a total of 46 years in parks and recreation.

Betty Jenkins

Ms. Jenkins started work as a supervisor of athletics for women and girls with the Danville Recreation Department in 1938. She served with the East Alton Playground Commission, as director of recreation for Roxana, and as assistant director and acting director of recreation for the city of Belleville.

Ms. Jenkins joined the Champaign Playground and Recreation Commission in 1949 after attending the University of Illinois where she worked under Charles Brightbill and Al Sapora. With the Champaign Park District, she served as the director of Beardsley and Leonhard Recreation Centers and the Children's Prairie Farm. She also directed many city-wide programs. Many present park district directors served under Ms. Jenkins while completing fieldwork requirements as students at the University of Illinois.

Ms. Jenkins was honored by the park district's commissioners, staff and citizens at a special celebration on her last day of work. In honor of her long service, the recreation building at the Children's Prairie Farm was named the "Betty L. Jenkins Farm House."

DR. REGINA B. GLOVER, assistant professor in the Department of Recreation at Southern Illinois University (SIU), Carbondale, has been selected as the Outstanding Teacher within the College of Education.

The award is made by her peers within the College of Education, which reflects nine departments and more than 20 individual programs. Selection is based on outstanding teaching performance in the classroom, and a solid service and research commitment to support teaching responsibilities.

Jack Gensler and Jim Nelson, retiring commissioners at the Naperville Park District, were honored recently for their service on the board. Gensler, who was very supportive of the "Life. Be In It." program, displays some of the winning entries in the district's related grade school poster contest.

Dr. Regina Glover

Dr. Glover came to SIU in 1983 from the University of Maine at Presque Isle. She completed her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland in 1983. She holds a M.S. degree from the State University of Cortland and a B.S. degree from the University of Illinois.

Obituaries

National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Life Trustee RALPH C. WILSON, known to many simply as "Mr. Recreation," died May 20 following a long battle with cancer. He was 59.

Wilson, an ardent supporter of recreation in general and NRPA in particular, "leaves a legacy all of us should aspire for," said NRPA Executive Director John H. Davis.

A native of Oklahoma, Wilson devoted his entire working life to bettering the recreation field. Even before receiving bachelor and master of arts degrees from Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Wilson was preparing himself for a career in the recreation profession.

Throughout his career, Wilson's reputation was that of a leader. He was a member of the American Park and Recreation Society (APRS) branch, receiving the group's Distinguished Fellow Award in 1966 and serving as APRS vice-president in 1967. He was a long-time member of the California Park and Recreation Society, serving on its board of directors (1957-58) and as its treasurer (1957-58) and district president (1955-56). He was a member of the Virginia Recreation and Park Society, serving on its board of directors (1963) and its editorial advisory board (1966-67); and the International Recreation Association, where he was special representative for Europe, North Africa and the Near East (1959-62) and a member of the International Professional Advisory Board (1966-67).

But Wilson's real passion was the National Recreation and Park Association, which he had been a part of since 1947, when it was the National Recreation Association. During his 38 year affiliation with NRA and NRPA, Wilson served on various committees too numerous to mention. He was treasurer in 1964, first vice-president in 1965 and president in 1966. Additionally, Wilson was the U.S. representative for the International Federation of Park and Recreation Administration, president-elect of the American Academy of Park and Recreation Administration, and president of the National Water Safety Congress.

"Ralph Wilson's death is a tremendous loss to everyone connected with the recreation field," said Ted Flickinger, executive director of the Illinois Association of Park Districts.

"I had the honor of serving with him as a judge for the Gold Medal Awards, and he worked diligently to achieve excellence in recreational programs and services."

Illinois Parks and Recreation                                 33                                                       July/August 1985


WILLIAM EBERLEY and DR. JACK WEBB recently retired from the Sterling Park District Board of Commissioners after 43 years of combined service.

Eberley has served for 16 years as board president. He was appointed a commissioner in 1959 and was subsequently elected to four consecutive six-year terms for 26 years of service.

Webb has served as commissioner since April, 1968. He was elected to two terms on the board, serving a total of 17 years.

At a surprise party after their last board meeting in March, Eberley and Webb were presented with plaques citing them for their devotion and dedication. Both men were also presented with engraved lifetime passes to the district's facilities and programs, and special commemorative cakes.

The Sterling Park District Board honored two of its members for outstanding service. Participating in the ceremony were (from the left) Frank Duis, district director; Tim Austin, commissioner; Neal Wick, vice-president; William E. Eberley, retiring president; Dr. Jack Webb, retiring commissioner, and Jim Eshleman, commissioner. Eberley and Webb also received resolutions from the Illinois Association of Park Districts.

MICK POPE, Elmhurst Park District's director of parks and recreation, was recently honored by the University of Illinois' College of Leisure Studies with the Charles K. Brightbill Award for alumni achievement. He received both his master's and bachelor's degrees in leisure studies at the university.

Pope received the award for his work as president of the college's Alumni Association for the past two years, his involvement with course accreditation work and his participation as a guest lecturer for college classes.

In addition to his work at the Elmhurst Park District, Pope serves on the board of trustees for the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). He is also a past president of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA).

Pope received IPRA's Bob Artz Award in 1982 for achievement in the leisure and recreation field.

The Elk Grove Park District has announced the appointment of MICHAEL BROTTMAN as facility coordinator.

Michael Brottman

Brottman's responsibilities include coordinating activities for the district's innovative Pirates' Cove Theme Park. He will also serve as coordinator of the district's leisure and fitness center that's scheduled to open this fall.

Brottman is a 1982 graduate of Illinois State University and was employed as a program supervisor for the Villa Park Recreation Department prior to his new position in Elk Grove.

Illinois Parks and Recreation                                 34                                                       July/August 1985


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