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8 | June 1, 2017 | The New Lenox Patriot news newlenoxpatriot.com Late New Lenox resident receives geography award James Sanchez, Editor Donald Tolen may have passed away months ago, but his contributions to the Illinois Geographical Society were never forgotten. Tolen received the 2017 Distinguished Geographer Award for his efforts with the organization for close to three decades before he succumbed to stomach cancer in November 2016 – a bout he battled for more than three years. His wife, Phillys, daughter, Dianna Perrico, and friends traveled to Champaign to receive the award on his behalf in late April during the IGS’ annual conference. “I was very surprised,” Phyllis said. “I didn’t expect [the IGS] to be calling.” IGS member Ani Thompson-Smith presented the award during which she opened her speech by saying it was bittersweet. Tolen attended the annual conference for 28 consecutive years before being too ill to attend in 2016. “He was known by most IGS members and if one were unknown, this gentleman would typically introduce himself first and start a conversation,” Smith said in her speech. The annual conference is more than just a gathering of geographers. It’s hosted at a different site in the state every year, partly because of the field trip that coincides with it. The IGS sponsors these educational trips for the public to join for free. IGS member and Tolen’s friend Joseph Kubal recalled a time when they went on a field trip to Charles Mound in Jo Daviess County where the highest peak in Illinois is located. Kubal said it was a tumultuous two-mile hike that Tolen endured, despite his age and health. Kubal said Tolen represented everything the Distinguished Geographer Award stood for. It is given to a prominent geographer in the organization who has given up themselves and has been dedicated to promoting geography. Kubal was part of the decision process for the award. Although it is given annually, he viewed Tolen’s recognition as a lifetime achievement award. “It was a longstanding contribution where he was always there to help, and he helped promote geography any way he could – from writing political letters to teaching students and helping out at meetings,” Kubal said. Broker - Management Team “10” The IGS has about 150 members in the group, mostly comprised of teachers. The IGS’ efforts are becoming more important with the shift in some schools deviating away from having geography as its own class. “[Don] would be astounded and petrified that there was a report last week that only 36 percent of the U.S. population knew where North Korea was,” Kubal said. “Don wanted to make sure that geography was promoted in the state, even with the funding cuts and the movement of geography into many history departments.” Finding a passion Tolen initially majored in engineering at Eastern Illinois University until he took a geography class at school that changed his career path. Phyllis said he was drawn to the teacher and the students in the field – one of whom became his best man at his wedding. He and Phyllis spent a lot of their early married life traveling across the U.S., countries in Europe, Philippines, Cambodia, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia for their enjoyment and also for Don to learn about each destination’s geography. Phyllis remembered a time when they went to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, and instead of going in it, Don went on top of the cave to study its formation. “When we went on a vacation, we didn’t get to look at the things you usually look at.,” Phyllis said with a laugh. “He was just geography all over.” Tolen used those experiences from traveling and applied it as a teacher at Joliet West and Joliet Central from 1968-1994. He used the pictures he took from those trips and turned them into slides for learning material in his classroom. The use of images (Left to right) Illinois Geographical Society member Ani Thompson-Smith, Phyllis Tolen, Dianna Perrico and IGS member Michael Cornebise pose for a picture with the 2017 Distinguished Geographer Award, which was awarded to Tolen’s husband, Donald, who died in 2016. Photos Submitted Phyllis and Donald Tolen were married for 52 years. Phyllis received a recent IGS award on Donald’s behalf. left constant reminders to his students, Phyllis said. “He made geography interesting, I think,” she said. “And he made students think. One student recalled when she went to the Grand Canyon, it was like stepping into his classroom again because all those [pictures] came back.” Extending his passion to the IGS Tolen joined the IGS as an avenue to spread the importance of geography and pick the brains of other educators. Kubal was one of many he befriended. Kubal said most geographers specialize in one area within the realm, but Tolen was interested and knowledgeable in nearly all disciplines. Aside from geography, Tolen was also generous with the bounty of crops he grew in his garden and Please see GEOGRAPHy, 11
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