Memorial Statement
Dr. Lynn Wade McCraw, Professor Emeritus at The University of Texas at Austin, passed away on June 15, 2004 at the age of eighty-nine. He was born on October 26, 1914, in Bonham, Texas. He graduated from Austin College in 1937 where he was an all-conference football player and captain of the team his senior year.
After graduation, he taught English and directed the Intramural Sports Program at Schreiner Institute in Kerrville, Texas. In 1941 he joined the United States Army, advancing from 1941 to 1946 from Private to Major. He served in the United States Army Reserves from 1946 until his retirement in 1974 as a Lieutenant Colonel.
He received his Master’s Degree from The University of Texas in 1946. Armed with a college background strong in mathematics and English, and financially supported by the GI Bill, he was able to spend full time on his doctoral studies, finishing in two years. He was one of the very first physical educators in the nation to use the newest statistic, factor analysis, as a tool in his dissertation: "A factor analysis of motor learning."
Dr. McCraw’s student career was so impressive that he was appointed Assistant Professor of Physical and Health Education at The University of Texas. He quickly advanced through the academic ranks, serving as Professor and Chairperson of the department from 1958 to 1973. and as Graduate Advisor from 1960 to 1973. He taught courses in the Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral programs and supervised 60 Master’s theses and 18 Doctoral dissertations. In the classroom and in independent research supervision, his teaching was highly organized, current, and inspirational. Many of his students published the results of their work, which was not common at that time in the development of the profession. He published over 40 professional articles and delivered more than 70 invited lectures on his research, which focused on measurement, strength development, and motor learning. Even though he was one of the first in the field to depart from publishing exclusively about professional issues, publishing on disciplinary topics such as strength training and motor learning problems, his heart was largely focused on the professional development of future physical educators.
Dr. McCraw was active in many professional associations and served as Vice-President of the American Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) and as President of the Texas Association (TAHPERD) from 1953- 1954. It was, however, in his role as Executive Secretary-Treasurer, and as Editor of the TAHPERD Newsletter that he made his largest professional impact. For 30 years he guided the state association, providing a strong, ethical, forward-looking perspective that focused on building the association enrollment and financial resources. He strongly contributed to the development of a mission for the association, and assisted incoming annual presidents in understanding and fulfilling that mission. When he completed his last year as Executive Secretary-Treasurer, the association was one of the three largest state associations for health, physical education, recreation, and dance in the country. So powerful was his influence, and so keenly was this influence recognized by the association leadership, that they later named the association’s keynote annual lecture the Lynn Wade McCraw Lecture.
His professional influence extended far beyond TAHPERD and The University of Texas, however. Many professional groups sought his leadership, wisdom, guidance, and counsel, including AAHPERD; Southern District AAHPERD; Travis County Board of the American Cancer Society (21 years); State Executive Committee of the University Interscholastic League (32 years); The Office of the Governor of the State of Texas; the Texas Legislature; American Heart Association; Texas Medical Association; State Board of Education; Texas Education Agency; Governor’s Commission on Physical Fitness; and The University of Texas Men’s Intercollegiate Athletic Council. Because of his extraordinary success with the TAHPERD, numerous state professional associations comprised of school administrators, parents, teachers, and coaches and groups working on improvements and standards in Texas education at all levels sought his advice. Dr. McCraw received many university, state and national awards for outstanding contributions to his profession.
Perhaps due to many of these contributions and awards, he was elected into the American Academy of Physical Education in 1967.
In 1984, the students in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education created the Lynn W. McCraw Excellence Award to be given annually to the outstanding student in the department. The department also honored him by naming several recognitions and scholarships for him, including the Lynn W. McCraw Lecture Series, the Lynn McCraw Fellowship, and the Lynn McCraw Scholarship.
In 1985, Dr. McCraw was appointed as Professor Emeritus. His impact on the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, which included a strong sense of professionalism, integrity, and intellectual rigor, has shaped and will continue to influence the department for many years to come.
Written in fond memory by
Waneen W. Spirduso
Former student, colleague, and friend.
