Louis "Louie" Arthur Greenwald, PT, a former member of the APTA Board of Directors, has died at age 78.
Greenwald graduated with a bachelor's degree in physical therapy from Ithaca College in 1968. Upon graduation, he entered the U.S. Army Medical Specialist Corps as a second lieutenant stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. As a PT, he worked with many injured soldiers returning from Vietnam.
His career in physical therapy was diverse. He started a private practice in a nursing home and an outpatient clinic. He also served as director of physical therapy at the Community Hospital in Indianapolis. For 50 years, he also volunteered at local high schools and colleges serving student athletes. At various times, he was a member of several APTA academies: APTA Geriatrics, the APTA Academy of Leadership & Innovation, the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, and the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy.
Greenwald helped establish two PT education programs: one at the University of Indianapolis and one at Clarke University. He also established the Indiana Community Hospital's Center for Sports Medicine and treated, at various times, national figure skating champions, NHL great Wayne Gretzky, and former mayor of Indianapolis William Hudnut. Hudnut proclaimed April 26, 1983, as "Louis A. Greenwald Day" in recognition of Greenwald's contributions to the city. During Greenwald's farewell party, Hudnut proclaimed Greenwald was "a man whose enthusiasm, goodwill, dedication and friendship will long be remembered and respected as a vibrant part of our community."
A 57-year member of APTA, Greenwald was a member of the association's Board of Directors from 1982-1985. While serving on the Board, he was liaison to the Standards and Quality Assurance Committee and the Task Force on Uniform Terminology. At different times he also served as president of both the Indiana and Iowa chapters of APTA. For 13 years, he served as a delegate to the APTA House of Delegates. He was involved, along with APTA staff, in helping to secure the purchase of the original APTA headquarters building in Alexandria, Virginia. In 1983, he was awarded the Indiana chapter's Frances C. Ekstam, PT Award for his contributions to the profession.
