Draft:Esther French

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Esther Louise French (April 29, 1908 – June 26, 1973) was an American professor of Physical Education for Women.

Early life

Dr. Esther French was born on April 29, 1908 and was from Indiana. She graduated from Illinois State Normal University in 1928 from its teachers' college. She then went to the University of Iowa and got her bachelors of science, masters, and PhD in Physical Education. Between 1937 and 1954, she wrote several articles, 6 books, and her dissertation on areas surrounding research, test and measurements, and administration, including Administration of Physical Education.

Life at Illinois State Normal University

From 1944 to 1957, Dr. Esther French was a professor and the head of the Department of Physical Education for Women. During this time, she has been credited with helping lay the groundwork to make sports more equitable for future generations, especially young women. As head of the department, she developed a strong extramural program. On October 3, 1944, there was a senate meeting where Dr. French was one of the newly appointed faculty members who was introduced as a new member of the senate. In 1949, the Women’s Health and Physical Education department was being honored, and through the efforts of French along with President Raymond Fairchild, Eleanor Welch, and Edna Pelkert, an exhibit from the American Association of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation in Boston, Massachusetts was going to be at Milner Library. Milner Library was the first place this historical exhibit by the AAHPER was visiting across the country, outside of Boston where it was first displayed. French also organized the first Illinois Sports Play Day, which was the first allowed competition in Illinois between women of different schools. During her time at ISU, she also coached four different sports teams.

Professional life after ISNU

From 1957 to 1968, Dr. Esther French was a professor and the Chair of Women’s Physical Education in the School of Kinesiology at the University of Michigan. Prior to working at the University of Michigan, she also supervised physical education in Illinois public schools and taught at several universities, including the University of Chicago, the University of Iowa, and the University of Minnesota. She also became the president of the National Association of Physical Education for College Women from 1959 to 1960. She also served on the governing board of the American Academy of Physical Education, along with being the chairman of the American Association of Health, Physical Education and Recreation research section. French also received many awards during her career and after she retired in 1968. Some of which include being awarded the Honor Fellow of the American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, was inducted into the ISU Athletics Percy Hall of Fame, receiving the M. Gladys Scott Award from the University of Iowa, getting elected as a fellow of the American Academy of Physical Education, receiving honorary life membership in the National and Midwest Association for Physical Education for College Women, and one of the first two recipients of the Illinois State University Alumni Association Achievement Award in 1971.

Death

French retired in 1968 and on June 26, 1973, she died in her home in Fort Myers, Florida.

Legacy

At the time of her death, she had helped to improve physical education for women and helped to lay the groundwork by bringing women's sports into society for future generations. Due to her work in improving physical education for women, it shows why she was inducted into the ISU Athletics Percy Hall of Fame, received the Honor Fellow of the American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation and received many other awards during her lifetime.