Richard "Red" Lawhern

(also and later known as "Red", mostly outside school)

Occupation(s): senior systems engineer, technical writer and information miner. 21 years active duty Air Force completed as Lt. Colonel, 1988.

Spouse's name: Maren

Kids and stepkids: Katja (40) Mark (38) and Helene (30). Helene will be

with me for the dinner dance and picnic.

Honors: Meritorious Service Medal with Oakleaf Cluster, US Air Force. Elected to the Board of Directors for the Trigeminal Neuralgia Association, 1997-2000. Asculapius Award for excellence in web-based healthcare communications, 2000.

I don't recall my high school homeroom, though my favorite teacher was Ed Dietz.

High school stories: Hearing that Mr. Dietz once drove a cab in order to make ends meet on his teacher's salary, convinced me that teaching was NOT a career I favored, and may have reinforced my decision to study engineering.

Another story: most of the audience didn't know that I taught Jim Reece the hip-throw that he used to flip me on-stage in Arsenic and Old Lace. That move came in very handy for me a few years later, under much more stressing circumstances.

Girlfriends: I tended to date out of school, more often than at Ravenswood. Being physically and socially awkward and considered a bookworm didn't do much for my social life, I'm afraid. One rare exception to that trend was a thoroughly intriguing and delightful experience, but I won't embarrass the lady by revealing her name.

My extra-curricular activities during high school were limited by a need to work. I was on swim team the first two years but wasn't good enough to letter -- which was understandable, when you consider that I looked like a string bean (which is no longer my problem!). Thespians was a major trip. Did my turn in Key Club, and then there was Senior Class president ... and I'll be durned if I know how that happened.) Most of my spare time during high school went into odd jobs and work as a carpenter's helper to keep me in shoes and jeans, and to save money for college.

Regards and well wishes,

R.A. "Red" Lawhern, Ph.D.

Personal Homepage "Giving Something Back"