Richard G. "Dick" Dawson
August 2, 1935 - April 20, 2021
Kansas City, Missouri - Dick Dawson was born in 1935 to Velma Gertrude Clatterbuck Dawson and Phillip Glen Dawson. He was a graduate of Southeast High School, earned a BA in Biology from Carleton College and an MS in Biology from U of Michigan.
For 42 years Dick taught Biology, Environmental Problems, and World Futuristics at Shawnee Mission North and South High Schools, and founded the Shawnee Mission Environmental Science Laboratory (SMESL).
He founded and directed the Camp Hope Environmental Science Camp in Swope Park for 18 years, and he and his family lived at the camp for 14. He was a founder of Lakeside Nature Center and the Missouri Prairie Foundation. He was a president of the Burroughs Audubon Society, which he joined in the 8th grade.
He leaves his wife, Eleanor Webster Dawson, daughter Dr. Carolyn Swope Halley, daughter Andrea Webster and her husband Jeff Emery, and granddaughters Bella Webster and Arlo Halley.
He and his wife Ellie have been members of All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church since 1963. Details on a virtual service will be posted on their site:
https://allsoulskc.org, under "Members"

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Published by & from May 8 to May 9, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Richard Dawson

Sponsored by Kansas City Star.

14 Entries

Dan Carlson

November 11, 2024

I'm sorry to hear of Dick's passing but I'm glad I stumbled across his obituary.
One spring day in 1967, a piece of paper blew across the front lawn of our house in Gladstone, Missouri. I intercepted it and discovered it was a flyer for a science camp in Swope Park. Though only about 10 years old, i convinced my parents to send me off to Camp Hope, where i continued as a camper every summer through 1971, and exited as a Junior Counselor in 1972.
Needless to say, I had daily exposure to Dick Dawson every year I was there, and that exposure changed my life.
I had been living near patches of woods in the northern suburbs of Kansas City, but had never before immersed myself in ecosystems the way we did at Camp Hope. My time at Camp Hope instilled a love of ecology, biology, botany, mycology, astronomy and paleontology that has never left.
Even at the semi-ripe age of 68, I still have so many amazing memories of Camp Hope: Our amazing field trips, the adventure of doing science projects born and developed in the woods, the songs after meals, capture the flag, the carnival, the camaraderie, the sassafras root we kept simmering in the hogan kitchen all one summer for medicinal purposes. Though Dick wasn't there for every one of these things, they all were part of his vision.
I was a handful for Dick. One time he had to drive me to the hospital because i stupidly cut the palm of my hand. Another time he decided to eject me from the camps altogether because myself and another male Junior Counselor (JC) had helped carry luggage into a girls camp after returning from a counselor canoe trip and we weren't supposed to be in the girl's camp under any circumstances. But while I was a JC, Dick loaned me his key to the observatory whenever i wanted, and i could take campers there show them all of the deep space objects i had learned from Dick.
Later in life, I ended up majoring in both Geology and Biology in college. I have hiked extensively, even backpacking the John Muir Trail in 10 days in my 40s. I'm an avid mineralogist and have trophied in competition at the prestigious Tucson Gem & Mineral Show. I continue to extol and support environmentalist causes and frequently try to get myself back to nature. And i continue to value and hold science in the highest esteem.
So much of how i look at the natural world found its roots in my years at Camp Hope and tutelage under Dick - and for that i am most grateful!

Steven Glover

May 1, 2023

I found Mr. Dawson's course description for his World Futuristics course in an old pile of stuff. It's a lovely epitaph. Here it is-
World Futuristics Shawnee Mission South High School

This course is, I hope, about Morals, about Ethics, about how we treat each other, about how we live with the other creatures of the planet, about how we learn to understand the interrelations of the biosphere and lithosphere and atmosphere and hydrosphere, and about how we apply that knowledge in the wise use of resources. I hope this semester will help us to be more conscious of how our actions today affect the future-our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren-and will help us consciously consider all life, now and in the future, when we make decisions. In the final analysis, what I am talking about is love- love for the life in us, and for the dynamic fabric of the universe that knits us all together through atoms and electrons endlessly circulating from star to cloud to soil to root to seed to leopard to limestone, the living breath that connects each of us to Socrates and St. Francis, Cro-magnon woman and Margaret Mead, Leonardo da Vinci and Abraham Lincoln, Nerfertiti and Nixon, Cleopatra and Marie Curie. Our greatest challenge is how to live so that our lives become one integrated song of love.

Linda Meyers-Moore

September 12, 2022

In 1960 Richard and Ellie Dawson changed my life by teaching me I could do anything with my own abilities. These people are the heart of saving the people and the planet from mindless acts of destruction. God Bless both of them and their family. Linda Meyers-Moore, SM North HS Class of 1960-62 (graduated at 15). Millionaire by 40 by using my God gifted talents they inspired within me.

Jim Niekamp

August 6, 2021

I had Mr Dawson at SMS and he is one of the few teachers I remember as he recognized Earth Day the first year it started Rest In Peace.

Jason Bengel

June 15, 2021

I didn't have Mr. Dawson as a teacher, but he did lead the sponsor environmental club at SMS. He was passionate about science and it was contagious. His legacy of knowledge sharing will be passed on for generations.

Gretchen Haberkorn Merdian

May 21, 2021

Mr. Dawson was an amazing teacher. He knew how to engage his students, something that is quite rare. It was always a great day when we got to go out to the SMESL. My sister also had him and was a member of the SMESL group. The name escapes me right now. Thank you for making learning fun. My heart goes out to his family.

Chris Schweiger

May 20, 2021

I graduated SMS in 1973. Mr. Dawson was one of only two teachers I remember in the three years I attended school there. He made Biology Class interesting. I'd say that very significant.

JoAnn Farb

May 19, 2021

So sad to hear of Dick's passing! He was my friend/mentor for 50 years starting with when I attended his Swope Park Science Camp and came back year after year. That camp was one of the most character building/values shaping experiences of my life -- and among my fondest childhood memories. I only much later learned that many of the songs (which I still love singing today) came from his UU roots. Dick inspired my deep love of science from an early age, and conveyed his view of me as capable and smart. It was because of him that I transferred to SMS high school -- so that I could take his classes. His AP Biology was one of the very best learning experiences I ever had -- he really taught students to be deep critical thinkers. He treated us all with such respect and I really appreciated how willing he was to engage on ANY subject and always seemed just as interested in hearing my perspective as in sharing his own. Once I hit adulthood, Dick invited me to speak to his whole class multiple times on subjects I was passionate about -- he encouraged both my intellectual and moral growth. He was always warm and caring. He was eccentric too -- blasting a wide variety of music, that most of us had never heard before -- from his classroom into the hallway during period passing times. He said things no other teacher would ever say -- and made it ok for students to talk openly and honestly with him about anything. He set an example of being there to help others, work to build community and volunteer when needed, and for standing up for what you care about, being true to yourself and not caring if others found you strange. The world is clearly a better place because of Dick Dawson. I miss him.

Ashley Gundacker

May 19, 2021

I am sorry for your loss. I had Mr. Dawson in Biology at SMS and remember his energy and passion for both science and explaining it to students. My thoughts are with you and your family.

Molly McCue

May 19, 2021

Mr Dawson taught me genetics with fruit flies in AP biology in 91-92. Fast forward to today and I have a PhD in genetics and have a huge research lab wheee I study genetic disease in horses and dogs everyday. I have told my graduate students stories of breeding fruit flies in Mr. Dawson´s class many times over the years. His legacy will live one. My deepest sympathies.

Jennifer Nicklas

May 18, 2021

Mr. Dawson was the teacher that impacted me the most. He sparked a passion for a subject I had previously believed I was not "good at". More than that, he was a valued member of the community and worked so much to help make this world a better place. I am so sorry for your loss and sending your family my thoughts and prayers.

Tim Turner

May 18, 2021

I was a student at Shawnee Mission North in his first year of teaching and he ranks as my most memorable teacher. A great loss to his profession. My sympathy for your loss of a remarkable man.

Andi Plotsky

Planted Trees

Diane (Maxey) Baumgartner

May 8, 2021

So sorry for your loss. I enjoyed his high school science class. I was in his class in 1981 at Shawnee Mission South High School. It was a long time ago but I remember he made us laugh often during our class.

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