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Lenore Wilcox - Wheaton Central and Wheaton Warrenville South High Schools
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| Visionary. Provider. Pioneer. Lenore Wilcox served 16 years as athletic director at Wheaton Central/Wheaton Warrenville South High Schools and is named to the 2010 IADA Hall of Fame. Lenore also served as the IADA membership chair, presented frequently at Association and ISHA conventions and created the IADA’s first web page. Her commitment to the IADA and student-athletes was honored with being named an Outstanding Athletic Director of the Year and being inducted into the Women’s Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Wheaton Warrenville South High School Hall of Fame. Other significant contributions were quietly and tirelessly made during her Wheaton years. Her passion as a physical education teacher of multi-needs students was visible through a school secretary’s window. She created a babysitting service allowing women coaches to continue their efforts. Lenore’s fundraising provided signage and display cases that could not have otherwise been purchased. A memorial garden for student veterans who gave their lives thrives, because she created it. A colleague colorfully captured another tireless effort: when Lenore realized the school’s vending machines could be used to bring revenue for the extras, she did what might be the unthinkable to others in her position—made weekly runs to discount food clubs and brought back in her old car cartons of items to stock these machines. Numerous fields were built, refurbished or irrigated through Lenore’s efforts. Wheaton thrived under her directorship. Her former principal said, “Under her leadership the athletic program at South/Central was elevated to topics not just about winning, but about equity, sportsmanship, and commitment. It would be easy to characterize Lenore’s contribution as part of the larger issue of equal opportunity for women because Lenore was one the first female athletic directors in the state. That, however, would be demeaning to her and what she accomplished. Lenore was not about creating more opportunities for female athletes—she was about creating more opportunities for all athletes, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or socio-economic background. She was an advocate for all, and everything else built from that foundation.” Clearly Lenore Wilcox is deserving of 2010 Hall of Fame membership. |
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