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Richard J. LaRue, D.P.E., Professor and NAS Fellow in the Department of Business, College of Arts and Sciences, was recognized by the Council on Facilities and Equipment with the Lifetime Achievement Award.  The award was presented at the 2013 National Convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), in Charlotte, North Carolina, on April 25, 2013.

The award recognizes the scholarly achievements of a professional who has contributed to facility design and management over his/her lifetime. Consideration for the award is limited to individuals who have made a significant impact in enhancing theory and scholarly application of venue design and management in physical activity and sport and who have a substantial scholarly record in venue design and management. One need not be an AAHPERD member to be eligible.

First awarded by the Council in 2006, LaRue is one of only a handful of recipients of this prestigious award.  A member of AAHPERD and the American Association for Physical Activity (AAPAR) and the American Association for Active Lifestyles and Fitness (AAALF) for over 30 years, he has served in a number of leadership roles including, president (president-elect and past president) for five years of AAPAR; AAALF representative to the AAHPERD Board of Governors for six years; and chair (chair-elect and past chair) of the Council for Facilities and Equipment for seven years.  Additionally, he has served on numerous association and national committees, including: the AAHPERD Social Justice Committee, the AAHPERD School and Community Committee, the AAHPERD Finance Committee, the AAPAR Awards and Nominations Committee, and the AAPAR and AAALF Executive Committees.

LaRue is a Fellow of the North American Society for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance (NASPE).  He has served on the NASPE-NASSM Sport Management Program Review Council (SMPRC) both as a reviewer for six years and as a member of the council for three years.  While involved with the SMPRC, the council was responsible for reviewing applicant Sport Management Degree Programs (undergraduate, graduate and doctoral) in the United States and Canada.

Over the years of his involvement with AAHPERD, LaRue was awarded the AAPAR Pathfinder Award in 2012, AAALF and AAPAR Honor Awards, two AAPAR Presidential Citations, and several council-level awards for leadership, recognition and/or service.

LaRue is completing his 15th year at the É«ÏãÊÓƵand his 31st year of teaching in higher education.  He began his career as a professional director with the YMCA of the U.S.A. (in four locations over five years); and has taught internationally for both É«ÏãÊÓƵ (Israel College) and the United States Sports Academy (USSA) in Hong Kong, Singapore, Aruba, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as Abu Dhabi and Dubai (both in the United Arab Emirates).  The USSA courses were delivered to selected sport leaders; with courses typically sponsored by their respective Olympic Committee or Governmental Sports Organization.