FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

National Association for Sport and Physical Education to Induct Indiana Dean David Gallahue into Hall of Fame

Dr. David L. Gallahue, dean emeritus and professor of kinesiology, Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation at Indiana University, will be inducted into the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) Hall of Fame for, among other attributes, his enthusiasm and commitment to meaningful and high quality movement experiences for children and youth. To be presented at NASPE's Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, April 11, at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas, other honorees that evening include the National Physical Education Teachers of the Year for Elementary, Middle School and High School, the National Physical Education Administrator of the Year as well as the Athletic Director of the Year Award. 

Past NASPE Hall of Fame inductees include University of Tennessee Women's Basketball Coach Pat Summitt, tennis greats Billie Jean King and the late Arthur Ashe, NFL Hall of Famers Nick Buoniconti and Anthony Munoz, Olympians such as the late Wilma Rudolph, Rulon Gardner, Dan Jansen, Rafer Johnson, Nancy Hogshead, Peter Vidmar, and Tony DiCicco, head coach of the 1999 Women's World Cup Champion Soccer Team, among others. Joining Dr. Gallahue will be other 2008 Hall of Fame inductees:  Dr. Daniel M. Landers, Regents' Professor, Arizona State University at Tempe, and track and field Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis.

According to NASPE President Craig Buschner of California State University at Chico, "The NASPE Hall of Fame honors outstanding individuals who have achieved new levels of excellence in sport and physical activity and inspired others by their example of what quality, physical activity and sport programs can do to make a better world."

The awards are given to honor outstanding individuals who 1) make significant contributions to maintaining sport or/and physical activity as an integral part of the total education program; 2) further the image of sport and healthy physical activity for all; 3) accentuate the integral relationships of sport and physical activity to the total educational process 4) encourage involvement in meaningful competitive sport or physical activity programs by influential educators and citizens in all walks of life, and 5) symbolize the educational and developmental potentials of sport and physical activity.

During his more than 40 years in the field of physical education, Dr. Gallahue has taught at the elementary and college levels. He began his career teaching in the public schools of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and taught at Purdue University and Temple University before joining Indiana University in 1970 as an assistant professor.  He rose through the ranks and became dean of the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation in 2002.  Through it all, he has been a lifelong advocate for high quality physical education and sporting experiences that meet the needs of all children.

Dr. Gallahue was one of the country's earliest leaders in the application of motor development.  One of his mantra's was "development is age related, not age dependent," and he would promote this message to anyone who would listen. He believed that all learners deserve movement experiences that were based on their need and not just their age.

An author, Gallahue has published extensively on the topics of developmental physical education, motor development and developmental movement experiences for children with 11 books, nine book chapters and 34 peer reviewed articles to his credit. He has delivered over 300 presentations at conferences and workshops at the state, regional, national and international levels.

Among his most recent awards are induction into the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education and North American Society of HPER Professionals.  In addition to serving as NASPE President, he served on the Motor Development Academy.

Dr. Gallahue received his bachelor's degree from Indiana University; his Masters of Science from Purdue University, and his Ed.D. from Temple University.

The preeminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and youth physical activity, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. NASPE's 16,000 members include: K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, athletic directors, athletic trainers, sport management professionals, researchers, and college/university faculty who prepare physical activity professionals. NASPE seeks to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high quality physical education, sport and youth physical activity programs through research, development of standards, and dissemination of information.  It is the largest of the five national associations that make the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD).  To assess whether your child is receiving a quality physical education program, visit www.naspeinfo.org/observePE  for an observation assessment tool.

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Contact:
Paula Keyes Kun
pkun@aahperd.org 
(703) 476-3461

The preeminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and physical activity, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. NASPE’s 15,000 members include: K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, administrators, researchers, and college/university faculty who prepare professionals in these areas. NASPE seeks to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high-quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs. It is the largest of the five national associations that make up the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD). For more information, visit www.naspeinfo.org.

The vision of AAHPERD is "Healthy People – Physically Educated and Physically Active!" Headquartered in Reston, VA, 25 miles west of Washington, DC, AAHPERD is the largest organization of professionals involved in physical education, physical activity, dance, school health and sport--all specialties related to achieving an active, healthy lifestyle. Its mission is to advance professional practice and promote research related to health and physical education, physical activity, dance and sport by providing its members with a comprehensive and coordinated array of resources, support and programs to help practitioners improve their skills to further the health and well-being of the American public. For more information, visit www.aahperd.org.