Joe Doud attended Buena Vista College from 1952 to 1954 and then served in the US Army until 1956. After an additional year at Buena Vista, he enrolled at the University of Iowa where he completed his BA. Doud then began his professional career as the Director of Parks and Recreation, Bettendorf Park and Recreation Department, Bettendorf, Iowa (1959-67), after which he became Executive Director of the Northbrook Park District (Northbrook, Illinois) and served there for 30 years until his retirement in 1997.
Doud held a number of offices in the State association in Illinois, including president, and chaired a number of committees. He was a member of APRS and served on the Board and then as President. As past president of APRS, he played a major role in its reorganization focusing on the fact that the park and recreation field has become more specialized, and in improving services to its members.
He was also a member of the Board of Trustees for the National Park and Recreation Association (1994-97). He and was involved in the NRPA Administrative advisory board, Midwest Regional Council, Great Lakes Regional Council. He presently serves as a Board of Trustee Member of NRPA. He is a strong advocate of continuing education and enjoys the opportunity to share his knowledge of parks and recreation with others.
He also served on the Board of Directors and Chaired both Revenue schools located at Olgeby Park and Colorado, and Professional Golf Management School held at Olgeby. He also helped create the annual Illinois Administrative Development School.
He has been the recipient of several local and national awards, the most prestigious being the IPRA Fellow Award, the Robert Artz Professional Award, the Great Lakes Region Professional of the Year, and the APRS President’s Award, NRPA’s C-BM Branch Professional Excellence Award, Illinois Park and Recreation Association Life Member, and the APRS Distinguished Fellow Award. He also received the lifetime membership award from the Northbrook Civic Foundation.
Joe has the distinct honor of administrating the first park district in the United States that was accredited for its management, programming, and operational proficiency. The Northbrook Park District received this prestigious award in January of 1994. In 1996 the District received the National Gold Medal Award from NRPA in Class IV. This award is presented to park and recreation departments for excellence in park and recreation management. It is obvious that Joe is dedicated to maintaining an outstanding park system and services for his community, and he continues his vigilance in supporting the quality of life for all those who take advantage of park and recreation offerings.
During his professional career he received a number of awards, including: the APRS Professional Award, The Bob Arnts Award for outstanding contributions to the Park and Recreation Field, The Professional Award given by the Citizen Branch of NRPA, the
Great Lakes Region Outstanding Professional Award, and the Administrators Section recognition award granted by the Administrators Section of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association.