James E. Lawson
December 27, 1938–August 4, 2008
Links
Booklet with biographical information from memorial service
Article from Tulsa World, August 5, 2008
Oklahoma observatory keeps watch on Earth's seismic pulse (Tulsa World, Jeff Billington, 7/28/2008)
Jim's work with the Red Cross (Tulsa World, May 10, 1987)
Lawson confers with Bob Perkins, chief engineer of the U.S. Geodetic Survey, about a bronze plaque located on the OGO grounds in August of 1987 to exactly locate the spot so that movement of the earth's crust could be monitored in the future. |
Jim poses with the drum recorders at Leonard in a photo from the late 1980's. |
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Randy Keller, OGS Interim Director, Larry Grillot, Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy Dean, and Jim Lawson, OGS Chief Geophysicist, stop for a photo on a recent tour of the OGS Observatory. Photo from May 23, 2008.
Jim sifting through records at the Observatory.
As a former resident of Leonard and schoolmate of Adrianna Lawson, I am deeply saddened to hear about the death of Jim Lawson. I remember when I first met him in the early 1990’s. I had moved from Bristow to a pecan farm at the base of Leonard Mountain in my fourth grade year. My then step-father told me about the exciting work that went on at the OGS and about the man who made it happen. Mr. Lawson introduced me to the science of geophysics and showed me that even though I was now living in a small town in Oklahoma, I could connect to the rest of the world through seismic research. I was fascinated on that visit and on every other visit I made with my classmates at Leonard School.
Today, I work in the news media in southwestern Oklahoma. I’ve longed for the day when I would get to return to my neck of the woods and do a story with Jim. He would not remember who I was, but that would not matter. The fact is, just like with school groups, Jim was always willing to talk with the media. He could make national and international events feel closer to home. Even since I’ve been gone, I’ve always looked forward to seeing Jim’s interviews cross our news wire. I will truly miss them in the future.
Please express my condolences to the Lawson family.
Monte Brown
Lawton, OK