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2005 Louise Way Eggleston Humanitarian Recipient
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| Evelyne Villines |
EVELYNE JOBE VILLINES HONORED FOR LIFETIME OF SERVICE
TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Eggleston Services honored Ms. Villines with the first Louise Way Eggleston Humanitarian Award at the 50TH year celebration on Thursday October 27, 2005.
Ms. Villines, a resident of Des Moines, Iowa was the keynote speaker for this event and delivered a reverting speech with illustrations from her life experiences and encounters with others along the way. At points she personalized her message reflecting conversations she had with many Eggleston representatives throughout her time in Norfolk. These personal reflections allowed one to see the essence and spirit of this truly wonderful person. She is amazing and those who attended the 50th celebration will forever have the footprint of Evelyne Jobe Villines stamped on their life.
A person with a disability Ms.Villines was diagnosed with polio at the age of three and spent seven years in a Cripple Children’s Hospital in Iowa City and persevered through 14 operations during her teen years to be able to walk.
In 1986 Ms. Villines joined the ranks of Helen Keller and Franklin D. Roosevelt by being inducted into the National Hall of Fame for Persons with Disabilities. Four years later she stood on the White House lawn when President Bush signed The Americans with Disabilities Act into law. Today Ms. Villines is a leading national spokesperson for people with disabilities and travels extensively throughout the country promoting programs to enhance the quality of life for such individuals.
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