Mildred "Millie" Gene Lemen

Dr. Mildred “Millie” Lemen, Millie was born on June 7, 1931, to Charles E. and Lillian A. Lemen. She graduated from Howe High School in 1948, Hanover College with a B.A. in 1952, University of Northern Colorado in 1956 with an M.A., and from the University of Iowa with a Ph.D. in 1962. Millie was a charter member of Phi Omicron chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi and served as president her senior year. She was also president of the Panhellenic Council and the Women’s Athletic Association. Millie played on the field hockey, basketball, and volleyball teams. Her teaching career began in Goshen, Indiana, teaching physical education and health at both the junior and senior high schools. She returned to Hanover College where she taught until 1963. Millie then moved on to Indiana State University until her retirement in 1993. During her time at ISU, she served as chair of the women’s physical education department which had 22 faculty members, the physical education major program, the required activity program, three gyms, the Sparkette dance group, cheerleaders, and 13 women’s intercollegiate teams. While at ISU, Millie served on many university committees, the board of the credit union, the Covered Bridge Girl Scout Council, the allocation committee of United Way, and as a voting precinct chairperson. Millie was very active in the early stages of women’s sports and served on the first board of directors of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), the regulatory group for women’s sports for ten years prior to merging with the NCAA. She was responsible for organizing similar groups at the district and state levels before Title IX. She has received many awards, including outstanding senior award from Hanover College, the Hanover alumni achievement award, induction into the Hanover College athletic hall of fame, the legacy award from the IAHPER, and the quarter century outstanding faculty award from the ISU school of health, physical education and recreation. Millie has travelled by car, bus, river boat, cruise ship and airplane throughout the world including all 50 states, Europe, Russia, China, Japan, Australia, and Cuba. She also enjoyed knitting, making greeting cards, playing her electric organ, and playing many card and board games. Millie lived most of her life with faithful dogs beside her. Millie is survived by a sister, Lillian Leonard Beavers, several nieces and nephews, and many great and great-great nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Monday, October 21, 2024 from 12:00 p.m. until the time of service at 2:00 p.m. at Shirley Brothers Washington Memorial Chapel, 9606 E. Washington St. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Indiana State University Foundation (30 N. 5th St., Terre Haute, IN 47809), Hanover College (517 Ball Dr., Hanover, IN 47243), or Irvington Presbyterian Church (55 Julian Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46219).

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Mildred "Millie" Gene Lemen

June 7, 1931 - October 15, 2024