July 9, 2003
Word has been received of the death of former Executive Director Harry L. Fitzhugh, June 29, 2003, in LaJolla, CA. Mr. Fitzhugh, 90, was the Executive Director of the Illinois High School Association from 1968 to 1978.
Private family services were held July 8 in Auburn, where Mr. Fitzhugh was raised and attended high school. Rev. Kevin Laughery officiated. Burial was in Horse Creek Cemetery, Pawnee.
The IHSA Board of Directors named Mr. Fitzhugh Executive Director on Feb. 22, 1968. He had been an assistant executive director for two years prior to the appointment. He had a 32-year career as an educator in Illinois and in IHSA governance. He served on the Legislative Commission for two years before being elected to the IHSA Board of Directors in 1948. He was a member of the Board for 18 years prior to joining the IHSA staff. He retired as Executive Director on July 1, 1978.
During his tenure as Executive Director, IHSA implemented the two-class system of competition in its state series, and launched the girls interscholastic program, and saw the boys sports program expand. When he retired, IHSA conducted state series in 11 sports for boys, 12 sports for girls, music, speech and chess. Mr. Fitzhugh oversaw the construction of its present headquarters building in Bloomington and the move of the IHSA Office from downtown Chicago in the summer of 1974. Mr. Fitzhugh also guided the IHSA through a complete revision of its Constitution and By-laws in a process that began in 1974 and was ratified by a vote of the membership 584-29, June 8, 1976
Mr. Fitzhugh, a 1934 graduate from Charleston Teachers College (now Eastern Illinois University), received that school's Distinguished Alumni Award in 1974. While in college he was a standout football end and baseball pitcher. Later, Mr. Fitzhugh received his Master's degree from the University of Illinois and did further graduate work at Columbia University and Illinois.
Mr. Fitzhugh began his teaching career at Bushton Elementary School in 1934, and was employed at Franklin High School in 1937 as a history teacher and coached basketball and baseball. Three years later he was named principal at Franklin and his involvement in IHSA activities began in earnest.
He was recognized by the Chicago Sun-Times as one of the most influential men in Illinois. For many years Mr. Fitzhugh was a member of the United States Olympic Committee.
Mr. Fitzhugh is survived by his wife of 25 years, Dorothy, of LaJolla; two daughters, Judy (husband Alex) Kornfeld, of Indianapolis, IN, and Nancy (husband William J.) Zloch, of Fort Lauderdale, FL; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.