Former Western Illinois U Athletic Director Helen Smiley '60 to Enter School's Hall of Fame

September 6, 2010

September 6, 2010, Greencastle, Ind. — Helen (Lockhart) Smiley, the former athletic director for Western Illinois University and 1960 graduate of DePauw University, will be among five individuals inducted into Western Illinois' Athletic Hall of Fame.  The ceremony will take place Friday, September 24. Dr. Smiley and the other new members will be honored during the Leathernecks' football game on September 25 against Indiana State.

"Once again the 2010 Hall of Fame Inductees are a superb group of individuals who have in one way or another positively impacted Western Illinois University and our athletics department," says Tim Van Alstine, director of athletics at WIU. "While we acknowledge their contributions during their time here, we also celebrate their personal and professional successes."

Dr. Smiley came to Western as director of intercollegiate athletics for women, a position she held from 1985-88. When the men's and women's department merged, Smiley served as the director of athletics for operations until 1994, when she became WIU's athletics director, and served in that capacity until her retirement in 2001.

Smiley began her professional career as a teacher and coach at Northwestern High School (Kokomo, Indiana) and Western High School (Russiaville, Indiana) before being appointed the director of women's recreational and intercollegiate sports programs at the University of Iowa. She became the first women's athletic director for the Hawkeyes, and also served as associate athletics director at the University of North Dakota.

"Named NACDA/Continental Airlines AD of the Year in 2000, Smiley was honored by the Mid-Continent Conference (now Summit League) by having the Women's All-Sports Award named after her," states an announcement. "The prestigious award is given at the end of the academic year to the Summit League member that collects the most points in relationship to placement in league-sponsored sports."

After graduating from DePauw, where she majored in physical education, Smiley earned her master's at Ball State and a doctoral degree from Iowa.

Dr. Smiley now lives in Bella Vista, Arkansas, where "she volunteers her time doing community service for several groups, and is involved with three music groups: Perfect Harmony Women's Barbershop Chorus, Natural Sound Barbershop Quartet and Bella Vista Women's Chorus."

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