Hitzhusen honored with Ratchford fellowship

Parks & Recreation, August, 2004

NRPA member Gerald (Jerry) Hitzhusen received the 2004 C. Brice Ratchford Memorial Fellowship from the University of Missouri in May for his leadership in providing mental health education to practitioners, educators and those with disabilities.

The award is given to a faculty member who displays the creativity and vision of the late UM president emeritus, C. Brice Ratchford. Representatives from the four campuses, off-campus extension and Missouri citizens comprise the judging panel.

Hitzhusen initiated Project LIFE (Leisure Is For Everyone), a project funded by the Missouri Department of Mental Health. Among his activities, Project LIFE helps children with neurobiological brain disorders cope with their mental illness and live healthy lives. Project LIFE has produced more than 50 publications on topics ranging from Alzheimer's Disease to Understanding Mental Illness.

He has coordinated the Midwest Symposium on Therapeutic Recreation since 1974, the largest conference in the country in its field. Through Hitzhusen's leadership with the National Council on Therapeutic Recreation, hundreds of professionals have been certified to work with people with disabilities.

He also works to develop public policy for those with disabilities, cooperating with governmental departments and state agencies, such as the Children's Service Commission. As a member of the New Basketball Arena Access Committee at the university, he is helping to ensure access to the university facility for those physically disadvantaged.

"He is the consummate professional--dedicated, committed and experienced," said C. Randal Vessell, chair of the MU Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. "The remarkable attributes that blend together within Mr. Hitzhusen are professionalism, adaptability and focused performance."