December 8, 2003
Ronald W. McGraw, current principal at Knoxville High School, and former member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors, was named today (Dec. 8) to be an assistant executive director of IHSA by the Board. He will join the IHSA staff July 1.
Appointed to the Board in 2001, McGraw was elected to a three-year term in the fall of 2003 and resigned from the Board in late November.
A teacher, coach and administrator in Illinois schools since 1984, McGraw will become the 27th person to serve on the IHSA administrative staff in the 104-year history of the organization. He will join the staff following the retirement of IHSA Assistant Executive Director Jim Flynn this summer. His areas of responsibility will be determined when the administrative staff reorganizes later this school term.
"We are fortunate to be able to add to our administrative staff one of the state's outstanding educators," said IHSA Executive Director Dr. Martin L. Hickman. "Ron McGraw brings to our staff a fire and a deep commitment to serving young people, and a clear vision of the mission of our Association. His presence on our staff will help IHSA continue to provide strong, positive leadership for our member schools and the students who attend them."
McGraw graduated from Oneida (ROVA) High School in 1975, and was a member of the school's 1975 Football Playoff team. After earning an associate degree in architectural building construction from Morrison Institute of Technology in 1978, he earned a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Education and graduated with high honors from Western Illinois University in 1983, a Master's in Industrial Technology in 1984, and a Master's in Education Administration in 1992.
His career in education began in 1984 at Sherrard High School where he was an industrial arts teacher and coached wrestling and golf. He was on the staff at Sherrard until 1991 when he became assistant principal and athletic director at Monmouth (H.S.). In 1994, he became principal at Knoxville and was named the Illinois Principal's Association Western Region Principal of the Year for the 1997-98 school term.
McGraw has served the IHSA in many capacities. He previously served on the Golf Advisory Committee, was a selector for three of the All-State Academic Teams, and was elected twice to represent District 16 on the IHSA Legislative Commission.
Ron and his wife, Rosemary, are parents of teenagers, Mallory and Mike.