Charles Lawson Crowe

Tennessee, to parents Charles Victor Crowe and Reita Lawson Crowe. He

attended public schools in Charlotte, NC and when his father’s business

took the family to Richmond, Virginia in 1943, he attended Thomas

Jefferson High School. His senior year he was student body president and

was voted most likely to succeed. And he did.

He received a full scholarship to attend Duke University (Trinity College),

graduating with a BA degree in 1950. In 1951 he married Ann Glenn of

Aniston, AL , mother of his two sons Thad and Glenn. Meanwhile, Lawson

served with the United States Army in Germany from (1951-1953). Upon

his return, he was accepted for a combined degree from Union Seminary

and Columbia University where he received his PhD in Philosophy of

Religion. During those years, he was Assistant Director of Graduate

Admissions, Columbia University, 1955-56 and later taught philosophy and

ethics at Sweet Briar College from 1956 -1964. While at Sweet Briar, he

initiated racial integration of Sweet Briar College. Civil Rights, ethics and

values became a central part of his professional life. He finished his Ph.D.

in 1961. From 1964-1967, he became National Representative and

Director, Dissertation Fellowship Program, Woodrow Wilson Foundation,

Princeton, NJ.

While speaking at a Graduate Dean’s conference in 1967, he was invited to

come to the University of Colorado, Boulder as Associate Dean of the

Graduate School. From there he became Dean of the Graduate School,

the first to hold the position of Provost, Vice President for Research. In

1974 he was appointed the first Chancellor of the Boulder Campus,

University of Colorado from 1974 - 1976. During those years, Dr. Crowe

had an appointment in the Philosophy Department as Associate Professor

1967-1971 and Professor of Philosophy 1971-1993.

Lawson is survived by his wife, Margot Crowe, his son Thad and wife Linda

and granddaughter Libby, son Glenn and wife Isabel and grandchildren,

Christine, Penelope and Josh Crowe, his sister Carole McCloud and

husband John McCloud, stepson Kip Hunter and his mother Harriet Barker,

his step children Michael, Thomas, Mark Hartmann and Patrice Altmark

from his marriage to Margot and her step-grandchildren: Ryan, Lauren,

Cole, Hunter and Jack.

Throughout his life he was the consummate host, storyteller and friend. To

the last week of his life, he was still making new friends. He had loyal,

lasting relationships. We were all better for knowing him.

A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. on December 4 in Old Main Chapel

at CU Boulder. It will be followed by a reception in the Heritage Center on

the third floor in Old Main.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Lawson Crowe

Memorial Fund to support the College of Music Adopt-A-Student Program,

payable to the CU Foundation, College of Music, 301 UCB, Boulder, CO

80309. Thoughts and condolences can be shared at

www.cristmortuary.com.