James Raymond Lawson

Physicist

James Raymond Lawson was born in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on January 15th, 1915 and is the Physicist. At the age of 81, James Raymond Lawson biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.

Date of Birth
January 15, 1915
Nationality
United States
Place of Birth
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Death Date
Dec 21, 1996 (age 81)
Zodiac Sign
Capricorn
Profession
Physicist
James Raymond Lawson Height, Weight, Eye Color and Hair Color

At 81 years old, James Raymond Lawson physical status not available right now. We will update James Raymond Lawson's height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, and measurements.

Height
Not Available
Weight
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Hair Color
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Eye Color
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Build
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Measurements
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James Raymond Lawson Religion, Education, and Hobbies
Religion
Not Available
Hobbies
Not Available
Education
Fisk University, University of Michigan
James Raymond Lawson Spouse(s), Children, Affair, Parents, and Family
Spouse(s)
Lillian Arcaeneaux
Children
2 sons, 2 daughters
Dating / Affair
Not Available
Parents
Not Available
James Raymond Lawson Career

Lawson was an assistant professor of physics at Southern University from 1939 to 1940, and an associate professor at Langston University from 1940 to 1942. He became an associate professor and chair of the physics department at his alma mater, Fisk University, in 1942. There, he established the Fisk Infrared Research Laboratory and, together with fellow physicist Nelson Fuson, began the Fisk Infrared Spectroscopy Institute in 1950.

The graduate students that Lawson mentored at Fisk presented their research at conferences of the American Physical Society and American Chemical Society, effectively integrating them.

From 1955 to 1957, he was the chair of the physics department at Tennessee A & I University, later known as Tennessee State University. He became a full professor and chair of the physics department at Fisk University in 1957, and the vice president from 1966 to 1967.

Lawson was the president of Fisk University from 1967 to 1975. He was the first alumnus to serve as president. Under his leadership, Fisk saw its highest number of enrolled students. Fisk's predominantly white donor base had been declining since the early 1960s, before Lawson's presidency, when many students participated in nonviolent civil rights demonstrations. As many students joined or were influenced by the Black Power movement during the late 1960s, donor support dwindled further, leading to "salary cuts of twenty percent and operational budget cuts of twenty-five percent". Fisk's endowment went from $10 million to $4 million. Lawson resigned due to "severe decreases in faculty, staff and student enrollment". However, his obituary in The Tennessean said he resigned "for health reasons".

Lawson subsequently worked for the Energy Research and Development Administration and NASA in Washington, D.C. He also served on the board of the Oak Ridge Associated Universities, and he was a member of the American Institute of Physics, the American Association of Physics Teachers, and the American Physical Society.

Lawson was awarded an honorary Ph.D. from Fisk University in May 1996, and was offered a place to live on campus during the last few months of his life.

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