Roy Rowland, Ph.D., J.D.: The passing of a friend.

(February 23, 1933 - May 10, 2003)

Dr. Roy Rowland will be greatly missed by both audiologists and speech-language pathologists. He was dual licensed and was passionate about his work in both professions. As a founding member of the Academy of Dispensing Audiologists, he was a warrior and a tireless worker that helped advance audiology's mission for several decades. Even to the very end, he was prepared to serve both professions when he was lying in the hospital hoping to accept a position on the Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. He even filed a complaint to the board with regard to the quality of our profession as late as a few weeks prior to his death.

He was a great friend, leader, and visionary. Dr. Rowland was one of few who led the charge into audiology private practice and hearing aid dispensing long before most audiologists realized this as a possible career path. He was instrumental in writing ADA's bylaws as well as helping draft Oklahoma's Licensing Laws for audiologists and speech-language pathologists. He also served on numerous professional boards and associations at state and national levels. He served as a professor and consultant for 19 years at the University of Central Oklahoma's (UCO) Speech-Language Pathology Department, where 100's of speech-language pathologists considered him the mentor who taught them to really think things out and make a difference in the world. His dual licensure combined with his law degree made him uniquely qualified to teach a variety of topics, including those dealing with forensic and ethical issues.

His academic achievements include the following:

B.A. University of Oklahoma, 1955, Audiology/SLP

M.A. Stanford University, 1960, Audiology/SLP

Ph.D. University of Oklahoma, 1966, Audiology/SLP

J.D. Oklahoma City University, 1979, Law

Memorial donations to honor Dr. Rowland may be directed to the UCO Hearing Impaired Preschool (for which he was founder in the early 1980s). Checks may be made out to UCO Speech-Language Pathology (noted to Dr. Rowland's memorial) and sent to Dr. Scott McLaughlin, UCO Speech and Hearing Clinic, Box 176, 100 N. University, Edmond, OK, 73034.