Performance in Motion, Volume 2, Number 2, Fall 1994

IN MEMORIAM - King J. McCristal - (1907-1993)

King J. McCristal died on October 1, 1993 in Urbana, Illinois. He was a former chairperson in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department at Michigan State University. His career was characterized by a concern and advocacy for students, compassion and generosity toward colleagues and by gifted leadership as a university administrator in his profession.

Dr. McCristal was born in 1907 at Peoria, Illinois. In 1929, he received the B.S. degree in physical education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He later completed the M.S. degree in physical education from the same institution in 1937 and the Ed.D. degree from Columbia University in 1953.

Dr. McCristal's professional career began in 1929 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with his appointment as instructor of physical education and later as coach of several sport teams. It was during this period that he was greatly influenced by his association with George Huff, Steward Staley and Robert Zuppke. In 1937, he was appointed assistant professor of physical education at Michigan State University and in 1953 rose to become Chairperson of Professional Education in Health, Physical Education and Recreation. During his 24 year career at MSU, he was widely respected as an able and innovative campus leader and administrator and as a statewide and national spokesman for his profession. It was during his tenure as an administrator at MSU that the department become known for its research and scholarship and for superb graduate student training. It was also during this period, in 1954, that he was named the University Distinguished Teacher. In 1961, King McCristal returned to the University of Illinois as Dean of the College of Physical Education. He retired as Professor and Dean Emeritus of the College of Applied Life Studies in 1975.

Dr. McCristal's primary area of research and scholarship was pedagogy. He was particularly interested in the elements of teacher training which most influenced success in teaching physical education. He was author and coauthor of numerous books and professional articles related to his research and the practice of teaching physical education and administering programs. Perhaps his most important academic legacy is associated with leadership of the Big Ten Knowledge Project in Physical Education. This project, largely orchestrated by King McCristal and Arthur Daniels of Indiana University, was an attempt to better define and organize the body of knowledge in physical education and to develop physical education as an academic discipline.

Dr. McCristal's professional service activities were legion. He was sought out as a leader as evidenced by the numerous offices he held in local, statewide and national professional organizations. As a result of his stellar leadership and unselfish service to the physical education profession he was accorded many honors and awards, among which was the Honor Fellow Award of the American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation in 1966.

Dr. King J. McCristal's influence lives on within the profession he so tirelessly and eminently served. He often said "the difference between good and great is extra effort." The 47 years of service he gave to his profession as a university educator, administrator, scholar and professional leader unequivocally reflects the wisdom of his words.

Prepared by: Richard A. Boileau and Michael J. Ellis, University of Illinois