Professor Louis F. Twardzik, Founding Chair of the department for 13 years, began serving Michigan State in 1960 as Assistant Professor, Resource Development and Specialist, Cooperative Extension Service. He co-authored Elements of Park and Recreation Administration and authored about 250 papers, presentations and plans on parks, recreation and tourism. His teaching emphasis, both graduate and undergraduate, is public policy. Professor Twardzik is a Past-President, SPRE and a Past-Vice-President and Trustee, NRPA. He is a Founder of AAPRA and currently serves on its Board. He is a member of the Board and the Editorial Board of the World Leisure and Recreation Association, and he directed two of WLRA's International Conferences. He has received seven Distinguished Service or Merit Awards from NRPA, SPRE, the American Institute of Park Executives, U.S. Department of Interior, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Recreation Association, and Indiana University Alumni Association, and is a Distinguished Fellow of SPRE.

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