People, Places N' Things

DR. WILLIAM E. O'BRIEN is retiring as the Chairman of the Recreation Department at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. O'Brien, who has received his Bachelor of Science degree from SIU-C, later earned his Ph.D. plus four advanced degrees — a double Masters and two six-year degrees — from the University of Indiana.

O'Brien received many honors, both athletic and academic, during his career as a student — later coach, teacher and department chairman — at S1U-C from 1941-1983:

• football, track and basketball letters at SIU-C — most valuable baseball player, 1947 (his education was interrupted— 1943-46— during World War II).

• member of SIU-C Sports Hall of Fame — plaque in Student Center cites his abilities as a player, coach, teacher and National Football League official.

• awarded the SIU-C Alumni Association's Great Teacher Award in 1977.

• received the first Lindell Sturgis Memorial Service Award for outstanding service to SIU-C and to the community.

• occupant of the honorary Glen "Abe" Martin Chair in the College of Education.

The retirement dinner honoring Dr. Bill O'Brien is planned for August 26, in Carbondale. For detailed information, readers may contact George Whitehead at the Carbondale Park District, P.O. Box 1178, Carbondale, IL 62901 or call (618) 529-4147.

(Reprinted, with permission, from the Wednesday, June 1, 1983 edition of the Southern Illinoisan newspaper.)

JEFF BOUBELIK of the Dolton Park District has been installed as President of the South Suburban Park and Recreation Professional Association for 1983-84. The Association is an affiliate of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association. Others installed as officers were Chuck Szoke of the Channahon Community Park District, President Elect; Jill Bartholomew of the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District, Secretary; Donna Andrasco of the Special Park and Recreation Region of Worth Township, Treasurer, and John W. Wilson of the Chicago Ridge Park District, Past President.

PAT HECHENBERGER joined the Champaign Park District in June as the first coordinator of volunteers for the Park District. The new position was established because of the many volunteers working with the Champaign Park District and the importance the District has placed on the involvement of volunteers. Pat Hechenberger is a graduate of Southern Illinois University with a degree in parks and recreation. She has worked with year-around camp programs and as executive director of a YMCA in Atlanta, Georgia. During her work with the YMCA she had extensive experience working with volunteers.

KATHLEEN L. SULLIVAN, Champaign, has been selected the Tom and Ruth Rivers scholar for 1983-84 by the World Leisure and Recreation Association. This annual award offers to two recipients a six-week residency program at recreation sites of varying locations outside the United States. Miss Sullivan will work with the director of recreation of Manchester, England on a self-designed project from July 1-August 15,1983.

Miss Sullivan is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Leisure Studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and a research and teaching assistant to Dr. Joseph J. Bannon, department head, and Dr. Lynn Barnett-Morris, director of research. She received a B.S. degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Science degree in leisure administration from Illinois. Miss Sullivan was formerly a recreation supervisor for the Montgomery County, Maryland, Department of Recreation and a teacher of the academically gifted and talented for Montgomery County Public Schools, Rockville, Maryland.

DENISE HAACK is the new Recreation Supervisor for the Addison Park District. She fills the position of Dan Herring, who will undertake the new responsibility of Sports and Ath-

Illinois Parks and Recreation 31 July/August 1983

letics Supervisor. Ms. Haack received her associate degree from the College of DuPage and bachelor of science degree in park and recreation administration from Western Illinois University. While attending the College of DuPage, she was involved with the DuPage gymnastic team, dance troupe and weight lifting team. At Western Illinois, she was a member of the recreation society and the university honor society. Her experience includes leadership training at the Elmhurst Park District, and administrative programming and instructional training at the Glen Ellyn Park District.

Three students with diverse backgrounds are working with the Peoria Park District this summer to meet field service requirements.

ROBERT F. O. UKACHUKWU of Azia, Nigeria, is completing his requirement for graduation from Western Illinois University in August. He has a major in Recreation and Park Administration and a minor in Natural Resources Conservation. When asked by a park board member, "Why would someone from Nigeria be interested in parks and recreation?", Ukachukwu responded with a humorous, but eloquent statement of his philosophy:

"Some people over there have their own headaches you know, as here — life stresses. There are various remedies you can apply to those headaches and stresses, and I recommend parks as the best medicine."

Ukachukwu earned a Grade Two Teaching Certificate from St. Charles Teachers Training College in Nigeria. His student work experience has included an assignment as day camp counselor with the Champaign Park District and volunteering with the City of Macomb.

KENNETH R. COOLEY of Peoria Heights is the first business intern to work with the Peoria Park District. Already a C.P.A., he is completing the last semester of work towards a Bachelor of Arts degree at Sangamon State University in Springfield. The Peoria assignment is a part of the University's applied studies program which requires a student to find 320 hours of work to earn eight hours of credit. The requirement stresses the learning aspect of work experience.

MOSES (MARK) PRAUL has a 16-week assignment to complete work for graduation from Illinois State University. His major is Park and Recreation Administration with emphasis on athletic supervision. Praul was born in Lebanon, but came to the United States as a young child. He attended Peoria public schools, graduating from Woodruff High School. Working with the Peoria Recreation Department, Praul is getting experience in supervising track, softball, and other programs. He is also interested in the promotional aspects of recreation programming and will spend some time with the Public Relations Department.

FOUR OFFICIALS of the Champaign Park District were honored at the May meeting in recognition of their many years of service. Pictured (left to right) are Dr. Morgan Powell, President, IAPD, who presented plaques to the four; French Fraker, Secretary of the Board, 25 year plaque: Jim Welch, Treasurer, 12 year award; Don Bresnan, Commissioner, 20 year award; Bill Helm, Commissioner, 10 year award; and Newton Dodds, President of Board. Absent was Patricia Leonhard, Commissioner, who received a 22 year award. Both Powell and Dodds have served for 9 years on the Board.

TONY JOHNSON (left) and TYRONE WOODS (right) have been selected to compete in the Special Olympics International Games to be held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in July, 1983. They will represent the Special Recreation of Joliet and Channahon. Woods has been chosen to be a member of the International Basketball Team. He was selected on his performance at the 1982 Illinois State Special Olympic Tournament. Johnson will be competing in the high jump. He won a gold medal at the 1982 Illinois State Special Olympic Track and Field Meet.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 32 July/August 1983