WILLIAM E. O'BRIEN, a 28-year veteran of the recreation and physical education faculty has received the 18th annual Great Teacher Award at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

William E. O'Brien, 54-year old professor and chairman of the recreation department, wears a variety of hats including those of the U.S. Marine Corps Colonel (reserves), coach, and National Football League official. He was honored for his classroom teaching excellence and received the $1,000 cash award and plaque at the Homecoming luncheon.

Chosen by a vote of University alumni, SIU-C Great Teachers are honored for their inspiration, enthusiasm and attention to students in and out of class. The cash award is composed of contributions from alumni.

O'Brien, a Ziegler native who graduated from the University in 1947, began teaching at SIU-C the following year as physical education instructor and assistant coach. In 1950, he left for 18 months to serve with the Marines as stateside company commander during the Korean War.

O'Brien served as head football coach at SIU-C from 1952-55 and officiated major college football contests until being tapped by the NFL in 1967. Since then, football season finds O'Brien dividing time between teaching duties and professional football fields across the country as a game official. He has officiated at the NFL-All-Star game, conference playoffs and the 1976 Super Bowl.

Chairman of the recreation department since 1970, O'Brien holds two master's degrees in recreation and guidance, two director degrees in physical education and recreation, and a doctorate in outdoor education from Indiana University. He is author of numerous articles on officiating, coach-official relationships, student athletes and football rules.

In 1973 he was named Teacher of the Year by the SIU-C College of Education. O'Brien also holds membership in a variety of recreation and athletic associations including the Illinois High School Association, National Park and Recreation Association, National Society of Recreation Education and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association.

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DEBORAH BAKER has been appointed to the position of Recreation Coordinator / Leader for the West Chicago Park District. She will be involved with the supervising, leading and planning of seasonal programs and special events. Deborah received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois in 1976. Previously Deborah worked for the Division of Campus Recreation in the IMPE Building at the U. of I. She has also been employed by the Champaign Park District and the YMCA.

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The Lake County Forest Preserve District announces the hiring of ARTHUR GILL as its new Ranger Supervisor. His Position includes managing the efforts of the ranger department and working toward building the present part-time ranger staff into a more professional force, according to George R. Bell, Forest Preserve District President. Art received his Bachelor's degree in Recreation and Park Administration from Western Illinois University in 1971. He also attended the Police Training Institute at the University of Illinois in 1975, where he received the Ervin H. Warren Award for Excellence. Before making his transition to the Lake County Forest Preserve District, Art held the position of Park Ranger Policeman for the DuPage County Forest Preserve. Art's wife Barbara, shares her husband's interest in parks and recreation, as does his father who was a Park District Policeman in Oak Park for thirty-eight years. Art and his wife are presently residing in the Wauconda area.

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DAVE WHITE recently assumed the position of Director of Park and Recreation for the city of Des Peres, Missouri. Prior to that appointment he servedas a graduate assistant at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in the Department of Recreation. His background includes employment as Recreation Supervisor at Homewood-Flossmorr Park District and Assistant Program Director for the Carbondale Park District. He has a B.S. in Recreation from SIU-C, and is finishing requirements for a M.S. in Recreation Administration from SIU-C.

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VERNON ALEXANDER has been appointed to the position of Executive Director of the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association.

The newly formed Association will be responsible for community recreation program and activities for the special population in the Aurora, Geneva, and St. Charles Park Districts. Prior to his appointment he was the coordinator of Therapeutic Recreation at Longwood College in Virginia. Alexander, also has professional experience in Community Mental Health, researched in the area of Gerontology, and worked with the mentally retarded and physically disabled.

He has a B.S. degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from Indiana University and a Masters in Education in Therapeutic Recreation from the Pennsylvania State University.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 24 November/December, 1977

JAMES R. NOWICKI has been hired to fill the position of Business Manager of the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District. Nowicki, who has a B.S. degree in Accounting from Illinois State University, was formerly with the public accounting firm of Wilkes, Besterfield and Company of Olympia Fields.

His responsibilities at the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District will include overseeing the District's finances and business matters. He is also responsible for maintaining a complete system of financial reporting so as to supply all segments of management with the information required to make informed business decisions. Furthermore, his position involves the forecasting of revenue, operations and cash flow, preparation of budgets, and investment of Park District funds.

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DONNA GRUNINGER has been appointed to the position of Recreation Supervisor for the Salt Creek Rural Park District on Friday, September 9, 1977. She began her duties on Monday, September 12, 1977. Ms. Gruninger is a 1975 graduate of Western Illinois University with a degree in Park and Recreation Administration.

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DENNIS E. STREETER has been named a full-time recreation leader with prime responsibilities for programming the new Men's Activities Addition to Levy Center, an Evanston Recreation facility devoted mainly to senior citizens activities. He holds an AAS degree from Rock Valley College (Rockford, IL.) where he majored in recreation leadership and a BS degree from Southern Illinois University where he specialized in outdoor recreation and environmental education. Previously Streeter held positions with the Green Lake Center, an American Baptist Assembly resort at Green Lake, Wise., the Rockford Park District and Rockford YMCA.

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Commissioner James Eshleman, holding 1976 Finalist plaque; President William Eberley, holding 1977 National Gold Medal Award; Commissioner Neal Wick, holding 1977 Finalist plaque; Commissioner Dr. Jack Webb, holding Nomination plaques for 1976 and 1977. Standing, left to right: Richard Cox. Superintendent of Recreation: Frank Duis, Director of Parks and Recreation; and Frank Astary, Superintendent of Parks. Absent from picture was Vice President James Frasor.

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Governor James R. Thompson announced recently that he has signed legislation transferring 417 acres of state land to the Kankakee Valley Park District.

At a press conference in Kankakee, Governor Thompson said that he and the bill's sponsors, Rep. Edward McBroom and House Minority Leader George Ryan, both of Kankakee, had pledged during the campaign to work toward transferring the land to the district.

In signing House Bill 2052, Governor Thompson said that the transfer of the land from the Illinois Department of Conservation to the Kankakee Valley Park District would give the area its largest park.

The Department of Conservation acquired the land from the Kankakee State Hospital in March, 1966. The park district currently leases the land for parks and recreational purposes.

"Wherever possible, the state is interested in using available land for parks and recreation," the Governor said. "The addition of this land to the Kankakee Valley Park District will mean that more people will have parks and recreational facilities to enjoy."

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VIRGIL L. GILMAN recently retired as Director of Parks and Recreation for the Fox River Valley Pleasure Driveway and Park District of Aurora, Illinois.

A World War II Navy Veteran, Gilman began his career as Executive Secretary for the Park District since its formation in April of 1947, and was appointed Director of Parks and Recreation in 1963.

In 1977 he announced his retirement after 30 years of service in coordinating the Board of Trustees' plan and directives for the development of parks and the coordination of recreational programs. Gilman was active in the Midwest Institute of Park Executives, in the Illinois Park and Recreation Association, and was instrumental in the development of the Districts's Pioneer Park in Aurora.

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MARLEN AFFET recently joined the staff of the Division of Grant Administration, Illinois Department of Conservation in Springfield. A graduate of Illinois State University where she received her B.S. degree in Parks and Recreation Administration, Ms. Affett will serve as Program Manager for the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation's Land and Water Conservation Funds Program and is responsible for the administration of the program in the 47 county region.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 25 November/December, 1977