Dr. H. Ray Dawson
DISTINGUISHED RETIRED FACULTY
A Legacy of Excellence
Dr. H. Ray Dawson spent almost his entire professional life at ASU where he helped guide the Physics Department from a one-man faculty in 1966 to its current status as one of the outstanding undergraduate programs in the U.S.
For his almost 40 years of distinguished service, Dawson has been named this year’s Outstanding Retired Faculty member.
“I’m very proud of the development of the Physics Department and of the students who have graduated from the department,” Dawson said. “They have been fantastically successful. But, it was not a one-man deal. I had a wonderful faculty and some wonderful students, and we all worked together to achieve that.”
Head of the department from 1976-1998, Dawson helped develop courses in astronomy and physical science, initiated degree programs in applied physics and geology, and helped create dual degree programs in engineering with several other universities. He also chaired key administrative committees and was nationally recognized for his research in experimental atomic physics. But, to him, it was all about the students.
“I had almost a family relationship with the students and it was always fun to come in and see them grow and see them be successful,” Dawson said. “I was really fascinated by the different ways that students learned or tried to learn. I liked to see if I could find teaching approaches that would help them get around their obstacles. I spent 39 years in a college classroom and I think I was still learning the last year I was there.”
In 2003, the Texas State University System Board of Regents named Dawson Distinguished Professor of Physics Emeritus. He holds a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Arkansas and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of North Texas.
Dawson and his wife, Carolyn, have two daughters, Cheryl and Donna, who are also teachers.