The Chicago Tribune marks the passing of Bonnie Sue Mayhew.

More than 40 years ago, when Bonnie Sue Mayhew began teaching with Chicago Public Schools, girls who wanted to play sports were not given the same opportunities as boys.

But Ms. Mayhew and other physical education teachers worked to ensure that their female students had those equal possibilities even before Title IX prohibited discrimination in school sports programs.

"She made sure that her girls were treated equal, that they weren't shoved aside for some other thing," said Margaret MacLeod, a friend and former physical education teacher in Chicago schools.

"There were other coaches who did what she did, but she was like the top of the rock. Bonnie would not like to say that she was the only one who did that. Together they pushed," MacLeod said.