___

Bloomington, IN- Richard W. Lawson, 85, went to be with The Lord on Friday, November 15, 2013 at Bell Trace Health and Living Center, Bloomington, IN.

He was born October 5, 1928.

An Associate Professor Emeritus, at Indiana University Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department, he retired in l992 after 37 years of teaching. He received an Associate degree from North Park College; Chicago, IL (1949); Bachelor’s (1951), Master’s (1954), and PhD (1970) degrees in Park and Recreation Administration from Indiana University School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation in Bloomington, IN. His primary teaching responsibilities were in the area of administration, philosophy, and programming. He was known as a pioneer in the analysis of fees and charges for public park and recreation services as well as an advocate for continuing education for park and recreation practitioners in the field. Prior to becoming a member of the HPER faculty at Indiana University he served as Rural Youth Extension Specialist at the University of Illinois; Director of Parks and Recreation at Evergreen Park, IL; and Superintendent of Parks and Recreation in Amarillo, TX.

He served for 25 years as Director of Indiana University Great Lakes Park Training Institute. The Institute is a premier model of how a university can share its research with professionals in the field. He was a Distinguished Life Member of Indiana Park and Recreation Association, after serving for many years as executive secretary of the organization. He was a 50+ year member of Indiana University I-Men’s Association, Past President of the Indiana University Alpha Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa, and a member of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Helen Lawson; daughters Nancy Giebel (Don) and Susan Shanel (William); Grandchildren Ashley and Will Shanel; Sister-in-laws Colette Lawson Fairfield Bay, AR; Marian Reinhart, Beason, IL; Myrna Wilson; Beason, IL; and Marilyn Wilson, Washington, IL; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Miriam Lawson, and his brother, Alan.

Private graveside services will be held at Harmony Cemetery in Beason, IL. Memorials may be given in his memory to IU Health Bloomington Hospice, P.O. Box 1149, Bloomington, IN 47402. Services are entrusted to Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln, IL.