Farewell to KD Lawson
November 13, 2007
Our friend and colleague KD Lawson passed away suddenly Monday morning away as the result of a heart attack.
KD Lawson led the photography program at Pellissippi since the 1980s, originally teaching at Lakeshore, before moving to Division Street and finally to the main campus on Pellissippi Parkway. For 13 years KD taught part time, working together with adjunct faculy member Fred Draper to build a program by recruiting students, borrowing equipment, and conducting classes in spartan conditions for a modest salary.
In 2000 Lawson was hired as full-time faculty, and his drive to build a world class photography program continued. He was instrumental in securing a substantial grant that added a full-time faculty member and purchased lights and equipment. In 2007 he organized a workshop with National Geographic photographer Jay Dickman, obtaining scholarships for students so that they could participate.
When ground was broken in the Spring of 2006 for a new building, KD planned the photography studios. Completed this fall, the Bagwell Center is equipped with professional equipment and facilities he had always dreamed of for his students. Always available to talk to students, KD seemed to live in his office, often keeping late hours on the phone and internet. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his two daughters Christie and Heather, and grandson Jon Jon.
Memorial services will will be Saturday at 11 am at Fellowship Church on Middlebrook Pike, with receiving of friends and family at 10 am. Cards may be sent to Heather and Jay Willard, 601 Catalpa Street, Seymour, TN 37865.
November 13th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
KD was a kind soul who always had a smile on his face no matter how many questions I came to him with from the compuer lab outside his door. I feel greatly cheated not to have gotten the opportunity to know him better. He was an incredible asset to PSTCC and his name had been mentioned several times among professionals recommending the school to me. My sincerest condolances to his friends and family. Even those of us who only got to know him for a little while were blessed by his kindness and dedication as a professor.
November 13th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
I had KD for an online photoshop course. He still knew who I was and welcomed me into his office to see my work, much of it non-school oriented and most of it after the course was over. He didn’t have to be enthusiastic about my work, his job was over as far as he and I were concerned he had assigned my grade. He was still very supportive and glad to offer expert advice. Thanks for being there in the best way.
November 15th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
My office was next to KDs in the Goins building, and I noticed right away that KD was always relaxed, easygoing, and very open to conversation with students and others. I was a manic adjunct and wondered how he did it.
When he set up a visiting artist workshop with Jay Dickman, I was quite impressed. It reminded me of the visiting artist program at Cranbrook Academy of Art when I was in grad school there.
Also, KD always pushed for great equipment and student access to it. The rail lighting system he purchased promises to be quite state of the art Our students are lucky to have had an educator like KD.
November 16th, 2007 at 9:16 am
i only had the pleasure of being graced with KD’s presence once.
he was kind enough to be a sit in for Fred Drapper’s Intro to Photography course on Thursday November 8th.
KD taught our class that day better than ever.
he was full of useful information as well as mass amounts of humor.
he spoke of the use of special-kay and frogs, mushrooms and toothpicks, and the concept of photography being genuine rather than arranged.
individuals who feel the same as i on the topic of photography are few and far between, yet KD seemed to sum it up better than i ever could.
even though i only experienced one of his lectures, KD had an impact on my life without a doubt.
Fred always referred to KD as the “fearless leader” of the photography department and that is exactly what he was.
though KD is no longer with us, his legacy never die.
November 16th, 2007 at 9:33 am
KD you touched and changed the lives of so many people. Whether they were students, faculty, friends, family, or just acquaintances your personality and southern charm has surely left indelible images within the psyche of many.
You guided me when I first arrived @ PSTCC to start teaching. No one was better qualified than you to show me the ropes. Your sense of humor was golden, your attitude sharp with a twinge of healthy cynicism, your laugh priceless. Thanks dude – I know you will always be with me.
November 16th, 2007 at 10:08 am
KD taught and led by example, as your remembrances of some of them have shown. The examples he left with each of us will remain to show us how. Thank you KD for showing us how to do so many things so well.
November 16th, 2007 at 10:40 am
I knew K.D. from Divisions Street. He was always a kind friend and humorous colleague who helped make D Street the kind of place where teachers love to teach and students love to learn. We hated it when he left but were glad that he had finally succeeded at making the photography program the exceptional experience it is for students. I’ll miss his smile and generous nature.
November 16th, 2007 at 10:55 am
I work at Pellissippi State as the Maintenance Scheduler, and I only met KD when we moved the studio from Division Street to Hardin Valley.
The first thing I THOUGHT I learned about KD was this – he was not organized and he functioned according to his schedule.
But as I became more acquainted with him through the Bagwell move, his motivations became more apparent to me – KD loved people and he loved his work. Other things fell into place as he could manage them. I learned that he was organized – according to his own conscience and purpose. I believe he understood why he was here and that’s a rare quality.
KD had the opportunity to be arrogant. But he was a kind and pleasant soul – never arrogant or condescending to me or anyone else that I ever witnessed. I think he lived a very influential life and I liked him very much. My prayers and sympathies to his family.
November 17th, 2007 at 12:15 am
I will miss your amazing creativity and vision, your sense of humor, your patience, your intelligence, your remarkable breadth of knowledge on seemingly every subject, and your enjoyment of life. Media Technologies depended on and was greatly enhanced by your spirit and energy. It will be a long time adjusting to daily life without your presence.
November 17th, 2007 at 10:35 am
I never had an opportunity to know KD beyond “the photography teacher to go to for all the answers”. I know he was so much more than that to those that did know him well. He was a father, a friend, etc. I do understand the pain of loosing someone without warning, however. People leave us sooner than we want them to, but of course our love for and memories of them never do. My sincere sympathies and condolences go out to his family and friends.
November 18th, 2007 at 10:09 am
K D inspired so many people including myself. K D not only inspired my photography but pushed me to continue my education in photography. He was a friend and a teacher to me. I will miss his conversations, his wise and understanding words, his art, his constant ability to want to learn more, his passion for life and most of all I will miss him. K D’s work touched the world and in the world of photography his skill will be uncomparable for the rest of the world that he touched with his warm smile and bad jokes he will be missed beyond words.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:43 am
KD seemed to know everything about photography, and he seemed to know something about everything else. It may sound cliché, but knowledge means nothing without heart–and KD had a lot of heart. I remember asking KD to pinch-hit on a photography shoot when the college’s contract photographer was too busy. He didn’t blink before accepting. All said and done, he got on the job faster, provided a much more creative shot, and made the shoot a lot more fun. That was the kind of experience I had with KD every time I approached him for help or advice. There’s nobody that can take his place, and I miss him already.
November 19th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
I had the priviledge of having KD for 2 classes last semester and was looking forward to some next semester as I had to take this one off. I was stunned and hurt when I heard. He was more than just a teacher. He was kind, and funny and he always answered your questions no matter how silly they seemed, (not that he did not laugh at them too ) but with such good humor. My heart goes out to his family. He will be sadly missed. PSTCC will never be the same. So long KD, and may you be eternally happy.. I will miss you
November 19th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
life is short. i first met kd at tva and he would always have a kind word when we crossed paths over the years. i was shocked and saddened to see news of his passing and wanted to offer my condolences to his family.
December 23rd, 2007 at 3:30 pm
KD is one individual who will be missed. I had the pleasure of working with him on the Pellissippi/FirstLight Workshop in 2007, I would call KD or he’d call me, and we would end up spending an hour or so working on ideas for the event, or discussing photography and/or life. His excitement for building this workshop was amazing, and I know that it reflected what he was hoping to instill in his students; that same passion for the process of capturing that moment. To those of you who never had the opportunity to take a class from KD, you missed a special time.