The Knox-Lombard Athletic Hall of Fame
Debbie L. Jack graduated in 1990, leaving behind her an outstanding example of leadership, hard work, and enthusiasm for everything she touched. It is worthy of note that Debbie is the first Hall of Fame inductee other than the charter members to be inducted in her first of eligibility.
While at Knox, Debbie earned a total of twelve athletic letters, including four each in basketball and volleyball, three in softball, and one in track and field. During her junior and senior years, she was elected team co-captain by her fellow teammates on the basketball team. She was voted to the Mid-West Conference All-Conference basketball team in 1988. That year the Knox women’s team had a record of 18 wins and four losses. Throughout her entire basketball career, in large part due to Debbie’s leadership, the women’s team had an overall mark of 62 and 29. Debbie was also the recipient of the Jill Zurawski Award, named after one of her best friends and given to the woman basketball player with the greatest display of leadership and unselfishness. This was a fitting title for Debbie, because in her senior season of Knox basketball, she suffered what appeared to be a season ending injury to her shooting wrist. Debbie, who was already the third all-time leading scorer in Knox basketball, returned in two and a half weeks with an air cast on her wrist and proceeded to make five out of five three pint shots, 17 points total, in her first game back. In her next game, Debbie hit her first two- three-pointers to establish a new school record.
Outside the classroom, Debbie was an active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a member of the I-M Board, and served the Athletic Committee as a student representative at the time of the planning for the new fieldhouse. While majoring in English Literature at Knox, she also won the Evelyn Bieldefelt Award, and her appearance on the Dean’s list capped an outstanding career as a Knox student and athlete.
Following graduation, Debbie earned a master’s degree as a certified trainer at Illinois State University. She is currently employed in her field at St. Margaret Mercy Rehabilitation Services in Scherervill, Indiana.
