Louis Macias Grado Ph.D.

Grado, Louis Macias PhD
86, of Charleston, IL passed away on July 16, 2010. Dr. Louis Macias Grado was born in El Paso, TX on February 11, 1924, the son of Carlos Gallegos and Guadalupe Macias Grado. Louis served in the New Mexico National Cavalry before enlisting in the Navy in 1943. While in the Navy, he served in the Pacific in WWII achieving the grade of 2nd Class Petty Officer. Following his military service, Louis enrolled in and graduated from New Mexico State University where he served in the Army Infantry Reserves, was recognized as a Distinguished Military Graduate, and achieved the rank of Captain. He then completed his post graduate work at Northern Colorado University and the University of Iowa where he obtained a Master's and PhD degrees. He taught in the public schools in the state of Washington, at the University of Northern Iowa and at Eastern Illinois University. At Eastern he taught for 39 years as a full professor and served as the Chairman of the Department of Elementary, Junior High, and Special Education for 25 years. He served on many university committees as well as the Illinois State Board of Education's Spanish Speaking Committee and Bilingual Advisory Board, and taught English as a second language in a program he started In Central Illinois. He married Lucille Huibregtse on April 13, 1952. Dr. Grado and his family spent two years in Nicaragua for the U.S. State Department in the program "Alliance for Progress" ugrading teacher education, writing children's textbooks, and developing and producing educational television programs for preschoolers. He was active in the Mattoon Presbyterian Church, serving at various times as an elder and trustee. His volunteer work included serving as a counselor to inmates at the Vandalia Correctional Center, constructing homes for Habitat for Humanity in Phoenix, serving meals at various soup kitchens and greeting visitors at St. Luke's Hospital. He enjoyed visiting with his children and grandchildren, going to the theater, traveling, reading, and keeping up with the news. He also helped in the design of two cancer centers in Chihuahua and Aguascalientes, Mexico, the latter dedicated to both he and his wife, The Louis and Lucille Grado Center for Radiation Therapy. He is survived by his five childre, Dr. Gordon Grado (Mary) of Scottsdale, AZ, Dr. Charles Grado, (Ruth) of Cedar Rapids, IA, Dr. Rebecca Surber (Jim) of LIsle, IL, Jana Richards (Paul) of Vandalia, IL, and Abigail Grado of LItchfield, IL. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Lucille, as well as his parents and older brother Carlos.