Page 156 - Demo

146The fi rst attempt to organize the high schools of Indiana in a single organization for the purpose of handling athletic activities was made in a meeting of the Northern Indiana Teachers%u2019 Association held at Richmond in April, 1903. At this time there was a conference of high school principals, and the conference ended with a body of suggested rules and regulations, called the Richmond Agreement. Due to the fact that there was no central organization having executive power, the Richmond Agreement did little more than point the way toward something better.Principal J. B. Pearcy, of Anderson, issued a call for a meeting of high school principals interested in a state athletic organization for December 5, 1903. At this meeting, a provisional constitution was adopted. At a similar meeting on December 29, 1903, a fi nal constitution was adopted and a Board of Control of three members was chosen to administer the aff airs of the IHSAA.The fi rst Board of Control was made up of Principal George W. Benton, Shortridge High School, Indianapolis; Superintendent Lotus D. Coff man, Salem; and Principal J. T. Giles, Marion. These men thought and planned well, and we are enjoying the fruits of their vision.There were fi fteen high schools belonging to the IHSAA, March 1, 1904. The membership had a gradual growth through the years, and now includes almost all of the high schools in the state. The peak membership of eight hundred twenty (820) was reached in 1942, the year that private, parochial and institutional schools were admitted to the Association.In the beginning, one member of the Board of Control served as Secretary but it soon became very evident that this offi ce furnished enough work for a special man. It was also seen that the future of the organization demanded that the offi ce of Secretary be made more permanent than the offi ce of Board Member. Accordingly, at the annual meeting in 1906, the offi ce of Permanent Secretary was established, and Principal J. T. Giles of Marion was chosen by the principals to be the fi rst Permanent Secretary. Principal Giles resigned on December 26, 1912 and Principal Isaac E. Neff , South Bend, was chosen by the principals to succeed him. Principal Neff resigned March 15, 1913, and the Board of Control appointed Principal Arthur L. Trester from Alexandria to serve as Permanent Secretary until the next annual meeting in December, 1913. At this meeting, Principal Trester was chosen by the principals as Permanent Secretary.The Board of Control consisted of three members, chosen by the principals in their annual meetings, until the annual meeting of October 27, 1916. At this meeting, it was decided to divide the state into fi ve districts for administrative and representative purposes, and that each district should have one representative on the Board of Control, chosen by mail ballot from his own district by the principals of his district.In September, 1925, by a referendum vote, the principals passed a legislative body proposal calling for four members from each of the fi ve (5) IHSAA districts. The fi ve members of the Board of Control, serving ex offi cio, and the fi fteen other members elected by the principals in a mail vote constituted this legislative body. Prior to this plan, all legislation was done at the annual meeting or by referendum voting by mail. This Legislative Body of twenty members passed on all proposals submitted by the high school principals. It was the law making body of the Association. The plan was considered an advance in state administration and legislation in athletic activities.On December 13, 1930, the Legislative Body considered and passed without a dissenting vote the provisions for an Athletic Council. The plan in full continued the fi ve IHSAA districts in the state and arranged for fi ve representatives on the Athletic Council from each district by classes determined by enrollments in the high schools, thus making the Athletic Council a body of twenty-fi ve members representing all sizes of high schools and all districts of the state at all times and elected by the high school principals in the membership. A provision was included for the selection of a 5-man Board of Control from the membership of the Athletic Council by the members of the Athletic Council. The Athletic Council took over the duties of the former Legislative Body and was considered the law making body of the Association.The title %u201cPermanent Secretary,%u201d established in 1906, was changed to %u201cCommissioner of History of IHSAA