The Drake University athletic department mourns the loss of former Drake University Physical Education Department Director and trailblazer for women's athletics in the state Iowa, Ione Shadduck, PhD.

As she was completing her PhD in 1967, Shadduck was chosen to head the Women's Physical Education Program at Drake. She was one of the professionals that lobbied and advocated for the transition to five-player girls basketball in Iowa.
 
Shadduck hired the first women's basketball coach and the first women's athletic director in Drake history. While at Drake, she sponsored athletic competition in women's tennis, softball, gymnastics, modern dance, badminton and women's swimming.
 
Later, Shadduck enrolled in Drake Law School and passed the Iowa Bar exam the first time she took it in January of 1977 to embark on a successful career as lawyer.
 
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 17, 2022 at Grace United Methodist Church, Des Moines.