Leonard Steward Laws

WINFIELD - Laws, Leonard Steward, 92, passed away September 8, 2010. Born Dec. 29, 1917 in Poasset, OK., he was the son of Samuel M. Laws and Ruth O. Laws. A graduate of Salem High School and Willamette Universtiy in Salem, OR., he obtained a Master of Arts degree in Mathematics from Stanford Universtiy in Palo Alto, CA. He took further graduate work in Educational Pyschology at the Universtiy of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN., before competeing a Doctor of Education degree at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI. His teaching career started at Stanford University where he taught algebra and trigonometry for two years. He then moved to the University of Minnesota where he taught mathematics for ten years and became an Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Mechanics in thir Institute of Technology. While in Minneapolis and serving as Presidnet of the Wesley Foundation, he met, fell in love with and married Janet Owen of Springfield, MO. She rpeceded him in death January 19, 2008. Their union produced three sons and a daughter. Upon receiving his doctorate, Dr. Laws accepted the position of Dean of Men at Southwestern. Dr. Laws was the Professor of Mathematics and Statistics, and in addition, at various times, held the title of Director of Teacher Education, Director of Summer School, Acting Registrar, Chairman of the Social Science Division, Chairman of the natural Sience Division, Trustee, and occupied the John Phillips Chair of Mathematics. He was named "Outstanding Teacher" by the S.C. Studnet Council. he received a National Science Faculty Fellowship and took the Laws family to Stanford University for a year of doctoral study in Statistics. During a four summer period, Dr. Laws was bemployed by Boeing Wichita in the Systems Analysis and Reliability Groups as a Research Engineer. Since then, he as presented short courses in Statistical Quality Control at 3M Corp. in St. Paul, MN., and for many years, served as an Associate in the management consulting firm of Me Elrath and Associates, Inc., of Minneapolis, MN., serving lients ARMCO Steel Corp., Kaiser Aluminum Corp., United States Steel Corp., Hamilton Cosco Corp., and Hormel Packing Company. Dr. Laws was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Winfield, KS., where he served as Chairman of the Education Commission, was a member of the Building Committee, and was teacher of the Open Door Class. Leonard is survived by sons, Greg, Owen, Kenneth Ivan; and daughter, Rebecca. Memorial services 10:30 a.m., Monday, Sept. 13, 2010 at the First United Methodist Church, Winfield, with private inurnment. Memorials to Southwetern College Leonard Laws Endowment Fund, started by Ted & Florence Metcalf. Swisher-Taylor & Morris Funeral Home.