IATE Life Membership Award Recipients

The Awards Committee of the Illinois Association of Teachers of English accepts nominations for the Life Membership Award. IATE members may nominate other members of the organization who, throughout their career in education, have contributed to the advancement of the mission of the Illinois Association of Teachers of English by their advocacy for the organization or by their exemplary teaching practices. Recipients of the Life Membership Award are recognized at the awards dinner at the annual fall conference and given lifetime membership in the organization.

2025
Kim Musolf, Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire
  • District 2, Northwest Suburban District Leader, 2008 – 2011
  • 2nd VP (Conference Chair), 2013-14
  • 1st VP, 2014-15
  • President, 2015-16
  • Special Projects, 2018-25
2024
Jennifer Gouin
, Lincoln Community High School, Lincoln
  • District 13, Central District Leader, _-present
  • President, 2022-23
2023
Gary Anderson
2022
Dianne Chambers
2021
Michelle Ryan, Lincoln Community High School, Lincoln
  • District 13, Central District Leader, _-present
  • President, 2012-13
2020
Pandemic Year
no award
2019
Carol Medrano
  • District 3, Western Suburban District Leader, _-present
2018
Elizabeth (Betsy) Kahn
, DeKalb
  • President, 2008-09
2017
Deborah Althoff Will
, Zion-Benton Twp. High School, Zion
  • Intellectual Freedom Chair
  • President, 2021-22 and 2009-10
2016
Angelo Bonadonna
, St. Xavier University, Chicago
  • Webmaster
  • District 5, Metro South District Leader, _-2025
  • President, 2011-12
2015
Cheryl (Simonds) Staley
  • President, 2013-14
2014
Marilyn Hollman
2013
Donna Binns
, Charleston
  • District 17, Eastern District Leader, _-present
2012
Norman Boyer
, St. Xavier University,  Chicago
  • District 5, Metro South District Leader, _-present
2011
Jean Black
  • President, 2007-08
2010
Barb Fuson
  • President, 2002-03
2009
Tom McCann
2008
Claire Lamonica
  • President, 2005-06
2007
Richard Pommier
  • Secretary
2006
Herb Ramlose
  • Treasurer
2005
Betty Jane Wagner
2004
Jean Wallace
  • President, 2000-2001
  • District Leader
2003
George Shea
  • President, 1995-96
  • Convention Sites Committee
2002
Donna Blackall
  • President, 1986-87
2001
Kay Parker
, Normal
  • President, 1993-94
  • District Leader
2000
Wendell Schwartz
, Chicago
  • President, 1990-91
  • Treasurer
1999
Janice Neuleib
, Normal
  • President, 1990-91
  • Executive Secretary, 2000-2020
1998
Sue Howell
, Carbondale
  • President, 1991-92
  • S.L.A.T.E. Representative
  • Publications Committee
1997
Kay Jacob
, Romeoville
  • District Leader
  • President, 1989-90
  • Honorary Awards Chair, 1985-86
1996
James Stottlar
, Urbana
  • Executive Secretary, 1986-96
1995
Ken Holmes
, East St. Louis
  • District Leader
  • President, 1987-88
  • Honorary Awards Committee
1994
Lydia Martin
, Roxana
  • District Leader
  • Local Arrangements Chair, 1985
  • Honorary Awards Committee
1993
Rachel B. Faries
, Alton
  • District Leader
  • President, 1984-85
  • Honorary Awards Committee Chair, 1987-97
1992
Robert Workman
, Evanston
  • District Leader
  • Audit Committee Chair
  • Local Arrangements Chair, 1990
1991
Lee Mulcrone
, Hoffman Estates
  • District Leader
  • President, 1979-80
  • Illinois Curriculum Council Committee
1990
David Briggs
, LaGrange
  • Program Committee
  • Local Arrangements Committee
1989
Marti Swanson
, Fox Lake
  • District Leader
  • Secretary 1977-1989
1988
Mildred Largent
, Carbondale
  • District Leader
  • Honorary Awards Committee
1987
Beth Stiffler
, Macomb
  • District Leader
  • President, 1985-86
  • Secretary, 1975-77
1986
Dorothy Matthews
, Urbana
  • Treasurer, 1970-74
  • Editor, Illinois English Bulletin, 1975-87
1985
Raymond Hollmann
, O’Fallon
  • District Leader
  • President, 1972-73
1984
Mary Sasse
, Carbondale
  • District Leader
  • President, 1980-81
  • Legislative Liaison Committee Representative
1983
Glenn Grever
, Normal
  • President, 1978-79
  • Illinois Curriculum Council Representative
1982
Jeanne Claeys
, Rockford
  • District Leader
  • Secretary, 1969-71
1982
Eldonna Everts
  • Elementary English Committee Chair
  • Illinois Alliance for the Arts Education
1982
Tom Kent
, Peoria
  • President, 1988-89
  • District Leader
  • Local Arrangements Chair 1972, 1973, 1981
1981
Addie Hochstrasser
, Paris
  • President, 1950-51
1981
Taimi Ranta
, Normal
  • Articulation/Intellectual Freedom Committee
  • Honorary Awards Committee Chair
  • Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award Representative
1981
Norman Stewart
, Decatur
  • District Leader
  • President, 1976-77
1980
Mary Brinkmann
, Glen Ellyn
  • District Leader
  • President, 1973-74
  • Honorary Awards Committee Chair, 1980-84
1980
Margaret Crowe
, Carbondale
  • District Leader
  • President, 1975-76
1980
Glen Rittmueller
, Hillside
  • President, 1974-75
1979
Margaret Ann Cummings
, Mt. Vernon
  • President, 1961-62
1979
Mary Ellen
Poorman
, Mattoon
  • District Leader
1978
Wilmer Lamar
, Decatur and Urbana
  • President, 1953-54
  • Co-editor/Editor, Illinois English Bulletin 1954-74
  • Executive Secretary 1967-78
1977
Paul Jacobs
, Urbana
  • President, 1971-72
  • Executive Secretary, 1978-84
  • Special Projects Chair, 1967-71
1976
John Heissler
, Normal
  • President, 1969-70
1976
Roy Weshinskey
, Carbondale
  • President, 1962-63
1975
Stanley Gritzbaugh
, Rockford
  • President, 1970-71
1975
Catherine Hudson
, Mt. Carmel
  • District Leader
1974
Clarence Hach
, Evanston
  • District Leader
  • President, 1977-78

1973
F.P. Armstrong
, Rochelle

  • District Leader
1973
Wilbur Hatfield
, Chicago
  • President, 1913-14
1973
Dorothea Trump
, Naperville
  • District Leader
1972
Jessie Frederick, East Moline
  • District Leader
1972
J.N. Hook
, Urbana
  • President, 1960-61
  • Editor, Illinois English Bulletin, 1949-59
1972
Melba Wixom
, Waukegan
  • District Leader

 

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