Tom Wilkerson, former Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department assistant director, was posthumously inducted into the Kansas Recreation and Park Association’s Hall of Fame at the association’s annual awards banquet, which was part of its state conference held in Overland Park, Kan., earlier this month. Wilkerson passed away in August 2022.
Wilkerson becomes the fourth person to represent the City of Lawrence Parks and Recreation in the KRPA Hall of Fame, joining Larry Heeb, Fred DeVictor and Ernie Shaw.
Wilkerson worked for the City of Lawrence for 18 ½ years, being named assistant director for Parks and Recreation in 1989. Wilkerson oversaw the department’s largest capital improvement project at the time – the Indoor Aquatic Center opening in 2001. Throughout his tenure, he developed awards for department employee teamwork and provided overall leadership to the operations of the department.
Previously, Wilkerson had worked for the University of Kansas after arriving in Lawrence in 1973 as the director of recreational services. He also became an assistant professor and taught classes in recreation administration.
Prior to KU, Wilkerson worked for the State of Missouri’s Interagency Council of Outdoor Recreation and was responsible for the review and funding of grant monies provided by the U.S. Department of Interior. He has also worked at Southwest Missouri State University in recreational services and served four years in the U.S. Air Force.
Wilkerson had served on several civic boards and organizations within the Lawrence community including the Boys and Girls Club and the Achievement Place for Boys. He served as a member of Kiwanis and the Kansas Recreation and Parks Association, serving as president of both in 1990. He was also a longtime Master Mason of the Acacia Lodge No. 9 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Lawrence.
He received the Buford M. Watson, Jr. Public Service Award in 1995 from the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and received the Distinguished Professional Award from the Kansas Recreation and Parks Association in 1990.
Wilkerson received a bachelor’s degree in recreational administration from Southwest Missouri State University and a master’s in physical education with an emphasis in recreation administration from the University of Kansas.
His wife Vicki, of Lawrence, and daughters, Melissa and Maegan, accepted the award from the association, presented by Fred DeVictor and Ernie Shaw, both former leaders of Lawrence Parks and Recreation.