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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Donna S.
4 Phillips, who passed away on January 10, 2010; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Donna Phillips was born in Decatur to Howard and
6 Evelyn Phillips, who preceded her in death; she earned her
7 bachelor's degree in physical education from Eastern Illinois
8 University in 1964, her master's degree in physical education
9 from Western Illinois University in 1967, and her Ph.D. from
10 Ohio State University in 1977; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Donna Phillips had a long and distinguished career
12 at Western Illinois University; she began her career at WIU in
13 the fall of 1967 as an instructor in physical education;
14 throughout her career, she taught activity, theory, and jazz
15 dance courses; in 1973, she was promoted to assistant
16 professor; in 1979, she was promoted to associate professor; in
17 1987, she was promoted to professor; and
 
18     WHEREAS, In 1985, when Western Illinois University's men's
19 and women's physical education departments combined into one
20 department, Donna Phillips became the department's
21 undergraduate program coordinator; she served as department
22 chair from July 1, 1993 until her retirement on March 31, 2004

 

 

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1 after 37 years of service; and
 
2     WHEREAS, Donna Phillips has been credited with starting
3 Western Illinois University's fitness education program (now
4 called the exercise science program), which was featured in the
5 October 1988 edition of the Journal of Physical Education,
6 Recreation and Dance (JOPERD); during her tenure, the athletic
7 training education program received a letter of initial
8 accreditation from the Commission of Accreditation of Allied
9 Health Education Programs (1999), becoming one of less than 100
10 accredited programs in the U.S. at that time; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Throughout her career at Western Illinois
12 University, Donna Phillips served on numerous departmental,
13 college, university, State, and national committees; she was a
14 member of several North Central Accreditation teams; she served
15 the Illinois Association of Health, Physical Education,
16 Recreation and Dance (IAHPERD) as chair of the physical
17 education state curriculum committee and as a past president;
18 she was an active member of the national American Association
19 of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD);
20 and
 
21     WHEREAS, Donna Phillips was the recipient of numerous
22 accolades for her service at Western Illinois University,
23 including the former College of Health, Physical Education and

 

 

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1 Recreation Outstanding Teacher Award in 1989 and the IAPHERD
2 Service Award in 1992; she was also a recipient of WIU Faculty
3 Excellence Awards during both of those years; in 1992, she was
4 named to Who's Who in American Education; in 1994, she was
5 initiated into Western's chapter of Phi Kappa Phi; she was one
6 of 45 women who were featured in the "Women of Western
7 Centennial Photographic Exhibit" during Western's Centennial
8 celebration in 1999-2000; in the fall of 2002, she was
9 presented with the AAHPERD College and University
10 Administrators Council's (CUAC) Honor Award, based on her
11 professional involvement at the State, district, and national
12 levels; she was cited for her service to the profession through
13 CUAC and her leadership on the American Association for Active
14 Lifestyles and Fitness (AAALF) executive board and awards
15 committee; she was a recipient of the IAHPERD service award;
16 she was also the recipient of the 2004 WOW Achievement Award
17 from the Western Organization for Women; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Donna Phillips was one of the first 2 women
19 inducted into the WIU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989; she was a
20 highly successful badminton coach from 1971 to 1983, guiding
21 WIU's teams to 8 of 9 Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
22 for Women (AIAW) national tournaments; she coached Western to
23 3rd place nationally in 1972; from 1975 to 1983, she led more
24 than a dozen competitors to the quarterfinal rounds in AIAW
25 national tournaments; she served as host and tournament

 

 

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1 director for 2 AIAW nationals in Macomb in 1975 and 1981; she
2 was also active in the National Collegiate Badminton Coaches'
3 Council, where she served a term as chair; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Donna Phillips was a member of the Board of
5 Directors for Western Illinois University's State University
6 Annuitants Association (SUAA), where she had served as past
7 president; she was also a member of Small Paws Rescue Inc., a
8 rescue organization for Bichons; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Donna Phillips enjoyed skiing, playing tennis,
10 and riding her horse; she was a member of the Macomb Road
11 Runners and Western's Harry Mussatto Golf Course; therefore, be
12 it
 
13     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
14 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
15 mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Donna
16 S. Phillips; and be it further
 
17     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18 presented to the family of Donna Phillips as an expression of
19 our sympathy.