Portraits of pioneers in therapeutic recreation, part 1. The portraits of pioneers in therapeutic recreation in this video offer glimpses into the personal and professional lives of some of the giants in the history of therapeutic recreation. The individuals whose lives are portrayed were selected by palaestra magazine in 1991. They represent some of the earlier pioneers in therapeutic recreation. Those selected by palaestra include Fred Humphrey, Ira Hutchinson, Gerald S. O'Morrow, Janet Pomeroy, Jean R. Tague, Fred Humphrey, advocate for therapeutic recreation. Sterling human being. Born in 1922 Fred Humphrey, was a young man when he was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge during World War II, while fighting for his country, he received shrapnel in his right shoulder. It was during his rehabilitation at the Denver VA hospital that he found recreation and sports in particular enhanced his recovery. From that point forward, Humphrey became a strong advocate for therapeutic recreation. Because Humphrey entered therapeutic recreation at the time it was having its inception as a profession. He was able to shape its development. He served as chair of the hospital recreation section of the American Recreation Society. In this role, he helped bring about the merger that resulted in the formation of the national Therapeutic Recreation Society NTRS in the 1960s. Humphrey served two terms as NTRS President. First during 1967 to 68, and then during 1988 to 89. During his career in higher education, Humphrey developed TR curriculum at the University of Iowa, Penn State, and Temple. He spent the last 15 years of his career at the University of Maryland. Here, Humphrey is shown with Jerry Hitzhusen, of the University of Missouri, during the NTRS reception at the 1986 NRPA National Congress. Humphrey also developed and conducted the TR management school held for many years at Ogleby park in West Virginia. The TR management school provided short courses for TR practitioners wishing to gain management skills. Here, Humphrey is pictured at the TR management school with Gerry O'Morrow, David Compton, Mick Stewart, and Jerry Fain. Former participants in the management school, Pamela Wilson and Sharon Nichols, have recalled their TR management school experiences. I remember Fred from TR management school was my very first experience. I have heard and read about Fred Humphrey for years. And it was so neat to get, to actually get a TR, management school for two years. And to sit in on his ethics class. That is something I will never ever forget. And my whole experience working in recreation therapy, Fred Humphrey, I had the good fortune of spending three or four years actually, I think it was four years at the therapeutic recreation management school. And so my opportunity to know Fred was really through that program. And Fred was really the key catalyst in that I had read some of his writings and also had been involved with Fred on the board of directors for the national Therapeutic Recreation Society. So I knew Fred as a gentle leader who's very impressive from that perspective, very knowledgeable and very much a true advocate of the profession, and also a true advocate of service to the profession. So I think I benefited in terms of some of that perspective in some of those values from under Fred's leadership. Here, Humphrey is pictured with Dr. Gerry O'Morrow, and Dr. Stu Schleien during the 1988 NRPA National Congress held in Indianapolis. More than anything, Fred Humphrey will be remembered by his colleagues as someone who's commitment to those who are underserved was unquestioned. He advocated for therapeutic recreation services for persons with disabilities and for educational opportunities for those from minority groups. He was honored by NTRS in 1971 with the Distinguished Service Award NTRS has highest honor. In 1989, he received the award for outstanding contribution to graduate education of minorities by the American Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. Professors Ann James, Marcia Carter, Glen Van Andel, Gerald O'Morrow, and David Austin had these recollections of Humphrey as a person. [Ann James] Fred Humphrey, I love Fred Humphrey. I can see him amongst therapists, therapeutic recreators yeah he would have his arms around people. be lad to see one another. Fred, I first heard him in 1968 probably the first conference I ever went to in therapeutic recreation. And he gave the keynote talk. And I'll never forget it because he said, recreation is a structure. Forget what you read in your one-on-one textbooks. Recreation is a neutral structure and good things can happen and bad things can happen. And it's up to the therapeutic recreator or two mold that experience so that the good, the positive things happen and that really hit me and my philosophy for the rest of my career, [Marcia Carter] Fred was a very stately character that worked diligently as a board member. And he was a very kind soul. I remember having opportunity in Iowa would go to the institution that he first worked at, which is real exciting because the institution is still there. So it made him come more alive. He, he was a very dedicated person and he cared a lot about the profession. And he he mentored many, many people. He seemed interested in everyone. He always had the time to say of supportive words and kind words and was very, very, very encouraging. [Glen Van Andel] Well, Fred was one of the first people that I met coming into the profession in 1966. And I always see Fred as gentleman. He was a consummate person of integrity. He always said what he believed, but at the same time was was always very consistent in his overall behavior and and leadership. Fred, I think, had a broad perspective of the field. He worked hard to communicate that perspective to a lot of different in a lot of different settings and a lot of different ways. [Gerald O'Morrow] Well, Fred, if you could keep up with him when he was walking, you could get some information from him. He was quite tall and as a result, he had large strides as he walked down the street. And you'd sort of run the keep along with him and talk at the same time. I was extremely impressed and Fred and I were very close throughout our professional careers together. Fred was a very energetic, enthusiastic person about the just the concept of leisure for people regardless if they had a disability or not. But certainly because his association with therapeutic recreation was certainly can more concerned with it as from the from working with those types of individuals. Fred brought a certain settling effect when he would talk to the profession or talk to the board of directors or whoever wanted at the listen, let's put it like that. If there was an argument or disagreement going on, people would get this, maybe hollering or talking loudly in that. And Fred with his, booming voice would have a very calming effect about helping them to look at all sides of the situation and not just take a particular focus and stick with that particular focus. So, you know, Fred was a very, very, very fine person. [David Austin] Fred Humphrey was a big fella and also just very caring and compassionate individual. I think what I remember most about Fred was that aspect that he really did truly care about people and about the profession, about advancing the profession. And he did a lot in that regard. He started the curricula at Iowa, Penn State, and Temple. And he did a lot to advance the cause of people from minority groups. Fred Humphrey was just, I think, a very nice man. {Narrator] Those who knew Fred Humphrey well recognized that he was most of all a sterling human being. You have heartfelt beliefs about his profession of therapeutic recreation and about humankind. General, Fred Humphrey was a caring person, kind to others and giving of himself. He died in 1994 following a remarkable career as a true pioneer in therapeutic recreation. Ira Hutchinson, African-American pioneer in Therapeutic Recreation. David Park, a highly regarded figure and therapeutic recreation, one stated, Webster's Dictionary defines the word pioneer as to open or prepare for others to follow. This word characterizes the career of Ira J. Hutchinson. Hutchinson completed his bachelor's degree from Kansas State University in recreation and physical education. He completed his master's degree in therapeutic recreation from Columbia University Teachers College. Hutchinson's pioneering work began during the 1950s and 1960s. At that time, he initiated some of the first professionally developed and operated recreation therapy programs in the United States. At Topeka State psychiatric hospital in Kansas. Early in the 1950s. He developed recreation therapy services that included an innovative community transition program. In this program, Hutchinson broke out of the mold of only conducting activities within an institution as his patients went out into the community to use community-based recreation resources. Also in Kansas, he organized the first recreation therapy program on a pediatric ward at the Stormont Vail General Hospital. In New York City. Early in the 1960s, Hutchinson establish the first text supported recreation therapy program for clients with drug addictions. Later in the 1960s, he administered the psychiatric recreation therapy program St. Vincent's Hospital in Harrison, New York Hutchinson's pioneering efforts continued as he helped the then young profession of therapeutic recreation to develop. Hutchinson first emerged nationally as a leader with International Association of recreational therapists in the 1950s. He's shown here as a member of the board of directors of the National Association of recreational therapists. Hutchinson was a prime mover within NART in bringing about the merger that created the national Therapeutic Recreation Society. In 1966, Hutchinson was elected as the first president of the newly created national Therapeutic Recreation Society NTRS, a branch at the National Recreation and Parks Association. In 1967, he became the first Executive Secretary of NTRS. This photo was taken during the period Hutchinson was serving as executive secretary for NTRS. Others pictured are John Loeb, a practitioner who followed Hutchinson as president of NTRS. Dr. Edith Ball, legendary NYU professor and Dr. Fred Humphrey, who would play a large role within NTRS throughout his career. Professors Bryan McCormick, Glen Van Andel, and David Austin commented on Hutchinson and his pioneering role with NTRS. [Bryan McCormick] Well, Ira Hutchinson is as the first executive director of the national Therapeutic Recreation Society. And one of the things that was most remarkable while I knew the name from coursework and things, It wasn't until I actually saw or Hutchinson a video that it occurred to me that he was an African American. And I thought that really for, for an organization that started in the middle 1960s to have its first Executive Director being an African American, I thought was that was this. It was a surprise to me, a pleasant surprise. [Glen Van Andel] Yes, Ira too was one of the early people that I met in the field. And I think when Dave Park and I first went to first forming of NTRS, I was struck by Ira's leadership already in that time period and his role then is the first Executive Director of NTRS. It struck me as as remarkable, visionary, always a fun-loving, enjoyable personality to be around. Ira enjoyed life. And it also had a great vision for therapeutic recreation and it's especially its role within The National Recreation Park Association at the time. So Ira was a person who provided a great deal of leadership in the early stages of therapeutic recreation. [David Austin] Ira Hutchinson was a true pioneer within recreation therapy. He emerged, I believe, with the leadership, with the old NART, the National Association of recreational therapist. And from there, he became the first president and then first executive secretary of the national Therapeutic Recreation Society. I first met. Ira in 1969, in chicago at a conference and was so impressed there that he was interested in a young professional and talking with me. [Narrator] After two years in the position of NTRS executive secretary, Hutchinson was named the Director of Urban Affairs for the National Recreation and Park Association. In that position, he focused his efforts on the role of parks and recreation in meeting the needs of those in the inner cities of the nation. Following his career with NRPA, Hutchinson move to the National Park Service. There as Deputy Director in 1979, he spawned another pioneering effort, creating a special office to address the issue of equal accessibility for persons with disabilities. The National Park Service Accessibility program not only caught hold, but has flourished under the direction of David park. The park service accessibility program that Hutchinson initiated is today recognized as one of the premier programs of its type in the world. In 1983, Hutchinson was named Director of the Office of historically black colleges and universities in the US Department of Interior. He remained in this position until his retirement. In 1990, Hutchinson received the Department of Interior's highest award, Distinguished Service Honor Award, for his leadership of the Office of historically black colleges and universities. Ira Hutchinson has been a true pioneer who has opened the way for others to follow. David Park has written this about his long-term colleague, Hutchinson's accomplishments made a measurable contributions to the emergence of therapeutic recreation as a vibrant and viable profession. Much of the success and recognition enjoyed by the therapeutic recreation profession today, as well as the increased opportunities for recreation participation by disabled and disadvantaged populations is a direct result of the efforts and contributions of IRA J. Hutchinson, Gerald S. O'Morrow, practitioner, educator, national leader and author. Gerald S. O'Morrow received the first of his three degrees and therapeutic recreation from Sacramento State University in 1957. He completed his master's degree at the University of Minnesota in 1959. In 1969, O'Morrow was graduated with his EDD from Columbia University Teachers College, where he studied under Professor Elliott Avedon. The picture was taken in Elkhart, Indiana in 1968. O'Morrow's practitioner experience was in Psych, Mental Health, initially in California and later in Indiana. Following serving and several state hospitals in 1966, he was named the Director of activity therapy for the Indiana Department of Mental Health. Here, O'Morrow is pictured with members of the Board of Directors of the Indiana Park and Recreation Association. O'Morrow's practitioner background served as the foundation for his highly successful career as a university faculty member and as a textbook author. He assumed his first faculty position in 1968 at Indiana State University. While at Indiana State in 1970, O'Morrow organized and hosted a national workshop directed at developing a definition of therapeutic recreation. Participating in the workshop where TR, luminaries such as Elliott Avedon, on Doris Berryman, Virginia Fry, Gerry Kelly, Marty Meyer, David Park, Martha Peters, and Arth Ruben. Here, O'Morrow is pictured with NRPA executive director, Dwight Rettie, and other dignitaries during a function at Indiana State University in 1974. One of Professor O'Morrow graduate students at Indiana State was Marsha Carter. [Carter] Walked into graduate school at Indiana State University. I had applied to Indiana for my master's, but had an opportunity to get a scholarship graduate assistantship because the gentleman, two gentleman that had these scholarships assistantships had been drafted to go to Vietnam. So I was one of Doctorow O'Morrow's first graduate assistantships in his first year of teaching in 1968 and 69 at Indiana State University. And he said to me, Are you sure you know what you really want to do? And I, I said, well, I'm not quite sure. And he said, Okay, this is what we'll do. We'll send you to do some volunteer work at a nursing home and at a daycare program for severely involved individuals. And if you can make it through these two settings and enjoy what you're doing, you probably have the right profession. In 1976, O'Morrow joined the faculty at the University of Georgia. 1980, he left Georgia to become the chair of the department of recreation and leisure studies at Radford University in Virginia. O'Morrow remained at Radford until his retirement. Here in this 1978 photo, He's pictured at the TR management school that was organized by TR pioneer Fred Humphrey. Humphrey is second from the left. Throughout his career, Gerry O'Morrow always found time to serve his profession. Here he is pictured in this group photo of past presidents of the national Therapeutic Recreation Society. He also served on the Council for the advancement of hospital recreation for his outstanding service contributions NTRS presented O'Morrow It's highest award, the Distinguished Service Award. O'Morrow also was heavily involved in the national accreditation of university curricula. Graduate student Janet Funderburk had these recollections of Dr. O'Morrow out during one accreditation visit. [Funderburk] Because I've heard a lot about him. And I actually got to meet him at an accreditation visit that he did at our university when I was working on my master's degree. But he just was just so wonderful, just very, just very kind. You just felt like You'd known him forever. I was on the student board and he asked us some of the questions during the visit to get some feedback. And I just felt like he really listened, you know, and just, he was just such a nice person. [Narrator] Here in this photo taken in 1970, O'Morrow is pictured with TR great Janet Pomeroy, founder and director of the recreation center for the handicapped in San Francisco. Because he had lived much of the history of the profession. A mile was always interested in the history of therapeutic recreation and seeing that history maintained. I think that Gerry O'Morrow has played an important role in keeping track of our history, in writing it, and also conveying it to other people. He is well-known, and willing to share. And he always has something wonderful to tell you about something that happened early on in the profession or how this correlates with something else. And and I'm always fascinated by what he's telling us. General O'Morrow, close to my heart because he's another historian of course and he appreciates all of our founding mothers and fathers and the work that's gone before. And he certainly has added to that work as a leader in therapeutic recreation from back to World War 2, Almost 1948, eight the beginnings of our organization. [O'Morrow] I think one thing that I always like to give myself credit for, if I may do that from that standpoint, is doing the initial research as it relates to the development of recreation counseling, which eventually turned into what we call leisure counseling though it was going on the same time. But the early pioneer benchmark studies dealing with recreation counseling, what it incorporated, et cetera, et cetera. I would say I'd like to think of myself as the first person to give some attention in detail or in depth to the process itself, the TR process, what was involved in doing the assessment, what was involved in doing planning, evaluation, and implementation. One profound contribution O'Morrow made to the profession came in the form of his professional writing, and particularly in his textbook writing. During his career, O'Morrow authored eight books. This photo of O'Morrow appeared in the 1966 issue of the journal titled recreation for the ill and handicapped. In 1966, his first book titled The administration of activity therapy service, became a classic in the field. The book helped to bring O'Morrow into national attention. His most influential book may have been his 1976 book titled Therapeutic Recreation, a helping profession. In this book, he helped to define the field of therapeutic recreation with the introduction of the therapeutic recreation process involving assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation. One of the most important contribution that I think in TR that he made was a PIE process that he introduced a PIE assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation. I think his introduction of a PIE process in TR set the stage for the TR application in clinical setting, I can say that there can be sort of paradigm shift in therapeutic recreation practice. And then back then, according to literature, it didn't really influence early stage, but an influence a lot in the later part of the therapy recreation practice. For example, I use it in my class extensively. And without a PIE process in my class, I can not really focus on discussing the clinical practice in TR. [Dave Compton] But I think his greatest contributions probably are in the area of writing, scholarship. O'Morrow Really never did research, but he did more historical, declarative writing that gave Field, a sense of who we are and what we ought to be. And while people may have deviated from that, it was O'Morrow's writing early on that, especially in the early days of writing about activity therapy, where it fit that anchored us. This TR leaders Gary Robb and David Austin, have each commented on the significance of not only O'Morrow's writings, but he's international efforts to take TR to other countries as well. [Robb] I think the biggest thing about Gerry, that two things maybe I recall about Gerry's contributions was one his work internationally. I always thought it was great that he traveled and brought therapeutic recreation to countries, particularly in the southern hemisphere. And also his textbooks. I remember Gerry's textbooks were one of the first books that I read as a student. And always felt that he covered the literature very well. [David Austin] I first knew Gerry O'Morrow when I was a young practitioner and Indiana, Gerry was the activity therapy coordinator for the Indiana Department of Mental Health and I was a practitioner at one of the state hospitals. My relationship with the Gerry O'Morrow goes back a long, long time. Certainly Jerry's contributions in terms of textbook writing have been immense for the field. And I think also his international contributions and taking therapeutic recreation, the concepts of therapeutic recreation than other countries has been very meaningful. In terms of a singular contribution. I would say that the, bringing the TR process into the literature of therapeutic recreation is perhaps the most important one contribution that Gerry O'Morrow has made. [Narrator] In 1997 O'Morrow joined Dr. Marsha Carter in offering his most recent contribution to the literature, effective management in therapeutic recreation service. Like O'Morrow's earlier contributions, this book filled a void in the TR literature by providing relevant management information for the profession. Gerald S. O'Morrow was a true pioneer in therapeutic recreation. Is leadership provided a strong hand to help guide the profession during its formative years in the 1960s and 1970s. Certainly his contributions to the literature of therapeutic recreation were meaningful during the early professionalization period of therapeutic recreation. His textbooks helped to define and direct practice in the profession. Janet Pomeroy, an elegant lady. Janet Pomeroy was one of a kind in a class by herself to meet Janet Pomeroy for the first time was to be impressed with her modesty, thoughtfulness and concern for others. These qualities endeared her, to colleagues, friends, and acquaintances. At times, these same qualities may have concealed her importance and the degree of her contributions and making growth, promoting recreational opportunities available to persons with disabilities. Pomeroy's quiet. Concern for others resulted in much more than being warm and welcoming when meeting strangers. Pomeroy is genuine concern for others in 1952 spawn San Francisco's nationally recognized recreation center of the handicapped, later known as RCH. One author, Scott Ostler has related the story of how Pomeroy initially developed her interest in recreation for persons with disabilities. He writes in 1951, as a teenage Red Cross volunteer. Pomeroy signed up one day to work at a school for children with cerebral palsy, spastic, they were called. This was the very worst job on the volunteer job list. Five minutes into the day, Janet couldn't wait to get away from these hopeless kids. By lunchtime, she was on her way to changing their world. Ostler goes on to say that was the birth of the recreation center for the handicapped or RCH, where thousands of kids and adults play with huge delight. The games they don't know, they can't play. They play Bingo and basketball. They swim and act in plays and create art and plant gardens. They go whitewater rafting and to the movies and the mall. It was the world's first Rec Center for Persons with Disabilities. And it's still a model of the world. Pomeroy, a kid then herself, started it in 1952. with no money, no training, no facilities or equipment, no connections, and a painfully notable lack of public support. Finally, Ostler writes in 1952 RCH was one drafty room in the long abandoned Fleishhacker pool building. Thanks to a $12 thousand grant from a friend she just met. Pomeroy had a station wagon, two years of operating capital, and six kids. From those humble beginnings, RCH has become nationally and internationally recognized as a pioneer program and a model for developing community therapeutic recreation services. For persons with disabilities. Professor David Compton has commented on insignificant role Pomeroy played as a pioneer in the news meant to provide community recreation services for persons with disabilities. Janet was a, was this incredibly passionate person about about her kids. And they were her kids about the emancipation of people with disabilities. And she felt strongly that through recreation, through opportunity, that every one of her kids was capable of freeing themselves from the burdens of the disability. And it was so fascinating because metaphorically you could see it in her pools that were constructed in, in the basements of the buildings and, and the activity areas that she created for drama and music. Where this sort of emancipation, the liberation of not only your physical self but your, your basic soul. And parents would track across the city to bring kids there. And she convinced the schools that that this was an important thing to do. And I think as any deep and abiding and passionate leader, Janet went forward with her ideas. She was able to reach people of influence in the city. The mayor and in some very, very influential people could give her support by providing the room and by providing money. And, and I think she created a landmark with the San Francisco recreation center or from the handicapped. The RCH program philosophy emphasises the personal development of the participants. By taking part in recreation activities, participants have opportunities to acquire, maintain, and improve physical functioning, social skills, community integration and leisure skills. Activities are planned according to the needs and interests of the participants. Janet Pomeroy herself related her program philosophy when she said, it is central to our philosophy that community residents who have disabilities are first and foremost human beings. They may be people with physical, mental, emotional, or social limitations, but they have the same basic needs and desires as people who do not have those disabling conditions. RCH program supervisor, cindy Blackstone has proclaimed. Participants are eager to see their friends. They loved the staff. They are excited about the full rich variety of recreation programs they can choose from. And they feel they belong as a part of the RCH family RCH program director, Ronald Hamilton, has stated, the enjoyment of recreation comes from more than activity. It's the joy that comes from fully experiencing oneself. At RCH, We provide that opportunity for persons with disabilities, often for the first time in their lives. Janet Pomeroy's philosophy not only has influenced programming at RCH, but has extended across the country. Professor Marsha Carter related this personal example of how Pomeroy philosophy impacted on a program in Cincinnati, Ohio. [Marcia Carter] I did not know Janet at all, but I worked at a facility. My first true position in the field was at a facility called Stepping Stone Center for the disabled. And they had just had a team that had returned from visiting Janet's place in San Francisco. And as a result of that visit, they created the position that I received. So I felt close in that respect. So we emulated some of her philosophy at, at the center and organized many of our services around her guide lines in a sense. In the early seventies, a permanent or CH center was constructed. This photo was taken of Pomeroy, the mayor of San Francisco and others during the groundbreaking ceremony. Today, each week over 2000 community residents with 77 different disabilities attend RCH's Programs. The Center continues to operate on a site located on 5 and a half wooded acres adjacent to a lake and near the ocean and the San Francisco Zoo. In addition to a therapeutic swimming pool, centers, facilities include a main hall, recreation rooms, gymnasium, stage, computer lab, kitchen, playground, garden with a greenhouse, and a day camp. In addition to programs conducted on the main campus. Since 1970 RCH has operated outreach programs for citizens who cannot participate in programs at the center. Glen Van Andel, Gary Robb, and David Austin comment on Janet Pomeroy as a person. [Glen Van Andel] I think I always envision Janet as a visionary person as well in our field, mainly for the contribution that she is given in that particular area. She was a doer. I think. She just actually did things that oftentimes you'd look at and say, wow, that person really had a vision for what therapeutic recreation could really do in, in a community setting. [Gary Robb] Janet was just a wonderful woman. Janet was involved long before I got involved in the profession, but my recollection of Janet was that she was just a wonderful woman and really ahead of her time in terms of what she was doing. She started the She's a founder and president of the I think it was called Recreation Center for the handicapped in in San Francisco. And long before anybody was doing that kind of work. And and I just always enjoyed visiting with Janet and she had a true feeling for the real meaning of therapeutic recreation. [David Austin] Janet Pomeroy was just a dear lady, a really classy lady, and someone that had a dream and a vision for community recreation services for people with disabilities. And what she did and and establishing the recreation center for the handicap. And San Francisco served as a model for all who would follow in terms of providing community services for people with disabilities. [Narrator] For over half a century, Janet Pomeroy has truly been an advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities to have full inclusion in community life so they can enjoy growth promoting lifestyles. Pomeroy's great skills as a pioneer in therapeutic recreation. Were her vision of the future and her ability to rally people to work together on behalf of persons with disabilities. Her qualities were modesty, thoughtfulness, and concern for others, and she used them well. Jean R. Tague advocate for TR in long-term care. And a true professional. Jean Tague passed away on October 23rd 2000. Following a long and distinguished career in therapeutic recreation. Tague will be remembered as an outstanding educator and advocate for the provision of therapeutic recreation services in long-term care, and as a passionate supporter of the National Recreation and Park Association and the National therapeutic recreation society. But perhaps Dr. Tague will be remembered most for humor, generosity, and kind and loving nature. Tague was graduated from Drake University in 1950 with an education degree. She obtained her master's degree in therapeutic recreation from the Teachers College, columbia University in 1955. Her doctorate was completed at the University of Southern California in 1968. Dr. Tague began her distinguished teaching career at California State University at Northridge and 1970. She remained at Northridge until 1979 when she joined the faculty at Texas Woman's University. Tague long tenure at Texas Woman's University. TWU spanned the years of 1979 to 1994. While at TWU, she helped to build the reputation of the university and the area of therapeutic recreation. Professors Marsha Carter and Don Rogers each had recollections of Tague during her days at TWU, [Marcia Carter] I've been very fortunate in many of the people in our field that were instrumental early on have been my my supervisors and Jean Tague was one of them. I worked under her at Texas Woman's University. She early on in our field and in the first actually therapeutic recreation journals, had articles on the purpose of activity per se for individuals in long-term care facilities. So I had of course, you read those articles but never had the opportunity to work for her. I worked for her at the time. She was publishing a magazine programming trends. in bringing, in therapeutic recreation maybe or just programming trends. So I had the opportunity to start my writing career because she was producing that magazine. [Don Rogers] Jean was a wonderful woman and one who was very much missed in the profession. I was studying my undergraduates in therapeutic recreation at University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. And Gene was a faculty member at Texas Women's University in the same town. And Jean and I just we hit it off and. She used to have me come over to her class at Texas Woman's University. And primarily liked to have me talk about risk recreation. That was something that I was very much involved with at the time and at the undergraduate level, I was still developing my knowledge around things in the field. And, but that was one area that I had done some some research and writing on. And I think she liked having me over there. Yes, we've put we'd always have lunch and have a good time over there. And her classes were always a lot of fun. And and I actually went over once and was honored by Texas Women's University as a speaker at a prominent luncheon. And that was certainly do to doctor Tague's influence. Dr. Tague was dedicated to improving therapeutic recreation services in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. She was particularly concerned about the preparation of activity directors and their relationship with the therapeutic recreation profession. As evidenced in her 1974 article that appeared in therapeutic recreation journal. [Marcia Carter] At times, she created an environment that ask us to question our own, forward progress in the profession. And one of the challenges in that was looking at certification and alternative certification because there was a very strong concern on her part that were we moving in the right direction. Were we going to be able to include the people that had served many, many years on the front lines because her heart was in long-term care. And and now I would say we would call those folks activity directors in many instances. And she really wanted US and questioned us in detail about including people with their background in our certification program. So at one point, she was my superior and then when she was my advocate and then when she was my adversary. But the bottom line where she she always came out of the discussion in a very professional manner and and did appreciate the work we were doing for the profession. Tague was particularly active in the national Therapeutic Recreation Society NTRS, a branch of the National Recreation and Park Association. She became president of NTRS in 1973. Her NTRS presidential inauguration address appeared in the first quarter 1974 issue of therapeutic recreation journal. Her message was one of unifying all therapeutic recreation professionals under the banner of NTRS. Because of her years of national leadership. NTRS recognized Tague with it's highest award, the Distinguished Service Award. Professor Glen Van Andel had these recollections of Tague and her strong, support of NTRS. [Van Andel] Well, Jean I knew well too. Jean was on the board of NTRS when I was on board of NTRS and that probably cemented our relationship and our role. Over the years. Jean had a great sense of humor and was always fun, loving, and, and yet had a very strong philosophical perspective, which I think was very helpful as we went through the turmoil, tumultuous years of NRPA and then NTRS, I remember Jean working within NRPA. She was a great supporter of NRPA and particularly the meeting in Kansas City where we were really struggling with should NTRS continue to develop a relationship with NRPA. And she was one who believed firmly in that relationship and argued very, very strongly for that continuing relationship with NRPA. And she did that throughout her career and worked very hard to try to maintain that close relationship. She was very honest in, in her views here, that's where she and I deferred in some of the areas of of how we saw the potential for the national Therapeutic Recreation Society. But Jane expressed herself well in those meetings. And she too was a, a person who provided a great deal of leadership, I think, to therapeutic recreation over the many years that she served. Here, Dr. Tague is pictured with other past presidents of the national Therapeutic Recreation Society NTRS. In the 1970s when the seeds for a new professional organization who are being planted from which the American Therapeutic Recreation Association would Spring Tague held firm to her ties to NTRS. Some did not share Tague vision for the future of therapeutic recreation. Nevertheless, even her adversaries have to speak positively about Tague. [Gary Robb] My best memory of Jean Tague is the times that we served on the national Therapeutic Recreation Society's Board of Directors together. And while Jean and I were somewhat adversaries on some of our positions at that time. The thing I remember most about Jean is that she was the consummate professional. She was always very up front, very professional. And I always enjoyed about that that about her even though sometimes we didn't always agree take continue to give to her profession even following her retirement. IN 1994. Southwest Texas State University lured her out of retirement to teach in therapeutic recreation and to give direction The TR curriculum. Tague was teaching at Southwest Texas at the time of her death. Faculty, students and colleagues will remember Gene take as a caring and nurturing individual, gave so much to others and to her profession. Professor David Austin had this to say about Dr. Tague. [David Austin] Jean Tague I got to know through involvements with NTRS. And when she was president of anti RS. And the Jean was a true professional. And someone that worked at consensus building, someone that worked on really advancing the profession, have utmost respect for Jane Tague. Dr. Jean Tague will be remembered for her devotion to her profession, for commitment to the betterment of therapeutic recreation in long-term care. Her kindness and generosity to others, and her wonderful sense of humor.