1920-2011
AZA Executive Director 1972-1975
Margaret Dankworth (Peg) was born in Bellaire, Ohio, on July 22, 1920. She received her B.A. degree from Ohio Wesleyan University in Business Administration and Economics and an M.A. degree from New York University.
Peg had been the Office Manager for the National Recreation Association in New York, as well as its Field Representative in the Great Lakes District (1948-1958). She then became the Assistant Executive Secretary of American Institute of Park Executives (AIPE) and then the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) (1958-1970). In this capacity, she handled the affairs of the AZA for both parent associations. After 1970, she remained with the NRPA at the Oglebay Park office in Wheeling, West Virginia. This had been the location of the AIPE office (1957-1966) and then the NRPA office (1966-1970). In the spring of 1970, the NRPA opened their Washington, D.C. office. Peg remained at the Oglebay office handling AZA affairs until NRPA consolidated with other affiliates in Washington, D.C. office.
When the AZA separated from NRPA and became an independent association in January 1972, Peg was chosen as its first Executive Secretary (later in Peg's tenure this position title was changed to Executive Director). After handling Association affairs during its crucial early years, and being instrumental in establishing the AZA Management School, she retired from AZA in March 1975. In her retirement, Peg was active in historic preservation organizations and activities.