VANDALIA, Ill. — Former Illinois State Director of Women's Intercollegiate Athletics Laurie Mabry passed away on Friday, Oct. 16, in Vandalia, Illinois, at the age of 86.
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Mabry led Illinois State's women's sports from a low profile women's recreation association to a major national program as Director of Women's Intercollegiate Athletics from 1960-80 and was also a professor of physical education at Illinois State, retiring in 1985. She served as president of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), the national governing body for college women's athletics from 1975-76. During that tenure, she played a key role in authoring and sponsoring the Title IX regulations for equality in women's sports, which were enacted by Congress and signed into law by President Gerald Ford.Â
"Laurie was a big part of Illinois State Athletics and was particularly instrumental in progressing the cause of women's athletics," ISU athletic director Larry Lyons said. "She was on the front lines back in the day. She was a strong advocate nationally, and one of the reasons Illinois State has had such a strong presence in women's athletics is because of the foundation Laurie set here."
After retirement, Mabry moved back to Vandalia in 1991, where she loved playing golf and was a member of the Vandalia Country Club. Over the years, she also enjoyed playing cards in various bridge and poker groups. Laurie was also known for being a loving companion to her cocker spaniels and driving around town in her Cadillac. For the past two years, she had been a long-term care resident of the Vandalia Rehab and Health Care Center. "Dr. Laurie," as the nursing staff often called her, was well cared for in her final days.
"She was definitely a leader," said former ISU women's basketball coach Jill Hutchison. "It was during a time when women were starting to assert themselves in the sports world. For her to be president of the AIAW during that time … those were all such formative years. She really had an impact on a lot of people."
Laurie was born Aug. 31, 1929, in Vandalia. She was preceded in death by her father, J.E. "Cotton" Mabry; mother, Margaret F. Eller Mabry; sister, Margaret A. "Marcy" Mabry Reeter; and brother-in-law, Victor E. "Vic" Reeter. She is survived by her three nephews, Charles "Chuck" Reeter, Michael "Mike" Reeter and Scott Reeter, and niece, Amy Reeter Opfer. Laurie had five great-nieces, three great-nephews; and 10 great-great-nieces and -nephews.
Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.millerfh.net.
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