Dr. Laurie Mabry a pioneer in women’s sports

A look back at the 1947 Vandalia High School yearbook will give an accurate picture of Dr. Laurene Mabry as you review her credits, accomplishments and awards, and the assessment of the staff and fellow students of her character, integrity and abilities.

The words under her senior photo, “She works for you, the students,” describe her as they knew her then, and also indicated the woman she would become and the things she could, and would, accomplish in the future, through the same outstanding traits of dedication, ability, commitment and integrity … serving others in her efforts to make a difference, by making things better.
Meet Dr. Laurene “Laurie” Mabry, a very successful graduate of Vandalia Community High School class of ’47, a class that yielded several other citizens who have attained success in their life’s works and have made a difference.
The High School Senior
It is documented in the Vandalois yearbook that she graduated from high school with honors and awards, including DAR Award.
The valedictorian of her class and one of three senior girls elected by the senior class, Laurene was chosen by the faculty to represent VCHS as their “Good Citizen.” Qualifications for this honor include excelling in dependability, service, leadership and patriotism.  
She was in many extra-curricular activities and also served as an officer in many. She served as president and vice president in G.A.A. (Girls Athletic Association) and was co-editor of the Vandalois, and was involved in Glee Club, student council (secretary and treasurer), Vandalite (assistant editor) and camera club (secretary and treasurer).
She received the basketball intramural award and ping pong award; was class vice president; participated in the junior class play as prop manager; and was in the high school band and orchestra. She was always was very active in sports.
She was deemed an outstanding member of the senior class because of “her cooperative spirit, pleasing personality and efficient leadership … and that was just the beginning. She was also chosen as the most ambitious of her class by her peers.
After Graduation
Laurie first attended Northwestern University, then went to college at Illinois State University in Normal, where she was honored several years ago for her contributions to women’s athletics.
Laurie was at ISU from about 1960-85, remembers Jo Morrison.
“I was on her golf team in the late 60s and a PE major. She was professor of health and physical education, women’s golf and basketball coach, and athletic director for women’s sports.
“She was one of the pioneers who passionately worked to bring about women’s equality in sports for women through Title IX,” Morrison said.
“She was inducted in ISU’s Hall of Fame and given a number of other honors. She was most recently honored at ISU with the raising of a banner at ISU’s Redbird Arena.
“Laurie is truly a remarkable person,” Morrison said.

Always active in sports, she studied physical education and desirability in sports and graduated with a doctorate.
She continued to enjoy sports and was first chosen as championship commissioner and national commissioner of championships, then president of championship, and continued onward
Fighting for, and Making a Monumental Difference, with Title IX
(Title IX in part includes the following: Section 1681. Sex (a) Prohibition against discrimination; exceptions. No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal assistance.”
“I went to Title 1X hearings and we were interviewed for instigation of girls and women’s sports, and the rules regarding them,” she said. “It was an honor.
“The football coaches were fighting it.  They thought it would take away some of their money. We went to a hearing, and I have a university copy of the hearing.
“We met in Washington, D.C. and it involved the questions of what it was going to do to men’s athletics. The president (Lyndon Johnson) met with the football coaches, but he did not meet with the women,” she said.
“But we did have a meeting with the national committee about the development of sports for women and the rules and regulations. They wanted us to give us their bottom basement for our office, but we weren’t interested.”
“We developed an organization and went ahead with it,” she said. “The president of the United States finally accepted that we were going to go on with it. We began to have women’s national championships.”
Dr. Laurie Up Close
She liked music, as she played piano, was a member of the high school band for four years, was in the school orchestra for two years, and said she liked to dance. She took tap dancing lessons when she was young.
She doesn’t watch much TV, but does like to watch golf tournaments, and she is a St. Louis Cardinals fan.
She is now confined to a wheelchair and resides at Vandalia Rehab. She has pretty eyes that light up when she smiles or laughs. She held an interesting and sometimes humorous, conversation, and recalled her past career events clearly.
Family Ties
Laurene’s parents were “Cotton” and Margaret (Eller) Mabry.
“My uncle Frank, who was a dentist here in town, taught me golf in the back yard,” she shared, “And I played in the championship here in Vandalia when I was in high school.
“My dad taught me softball, and he coached softball.
She said that she has a poster her students made for her, showing her two favorite sports.
“I had a sister, Marcy Reeter, who passed away early,” she saod. “She liked sports, but not like I did.”
“My best friend was June Squibb,” she said. “We lived down from the alley from each other.”
Squibb is another 1947 graduate who followed her dream, that becoming an actress, and is currently making some headlines as she has been nominated for both a Golden Globe Award and Academy Award for best supporting actress for her role in the popular movie, “Nebraska.”
“I fell and broke two ribs about a year ago, so my back is bad,” Dr. Laurie said.
She likes and has always cocker spaniels, and has photos of  “Zoie” and “Shelly”  spaniels in her room. She said that she found good homes for them when she moved to Vandalia Rehab.
She recalled one cocker spaniel her parents had named “Dewey,” She said that her parents took the dog to Washington, D.C. with them, and the dog wet on President Truman’s lawn (the White House lawn). “So they named him ‘Dewey,’ she said with a smile.
Highlights in her Life
• Mickey Wright, woman pro golfer in St. Louis. Laurie had just received her degree and entered a golf tournament in St. Louis, where Wright was also entered and Laurie met her, one of the biggest highlights of her life.
• She shared Title IX was passed when she was in her 20s.
• A forerunner – they held the first Women’s National Basketball at Vandalia before women’s sports were really recognized.
Summing Up
Dr. Laurie is a remarkable lady, who has had a remarkable career and life, and who really has made a difference in the world of sports. When we are watching the women athletes in the Olympic Games, remember that one of our own VCHS graduates and hometown girls diligently spearheaded the drive to get Title IX in effect, to allow women the same opportunities and recognition in the world of sports … an inspiration to all young people today.
Dr. Laurie’s rule for life – “I believe in a fair game and rules that stand for that.”
 

Dr. Laurie Mabry

A banner honoring Dr. Laurie Mabry hangs in the Illinois State University gym.

Dr. Laurie Mabry, seated, looks over a quilt given to her at Illinois State University that includes photos representing her accomplishments that benefitted women’s athletics.