March 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 13

James 'Jim' Peterson Passes
Away December 2020
PHOTO COURTESY OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES

J

ames " Jim " Peterson, who passed away Wednesday, December
30, 2020, was instrumental in shaping the park and recreation
profession through his joint appointment at Indiana University
(IU) and Purdue University; his initiation and leadership of IU's
Executive Development Program; and his presidency and trustee work
at NRPA. He remained active for most years post retirement as a commissioner with World Urban Parks (formerly International Federation of
Park and Recreation Administration), an advisory board member for the
Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands, a coauthor of a risk management text and a participant in many other activities.  
Peterson was born in Elkhart,
Indiana in 1925. After graduation
from high school in 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and
served a three-year term during
World War II.
In 1947, Peterson enrolled at
Hanover College, where he earned
" Little All-American Honors "
in football during the 1948 and
1949 seasons before graduating in
1950. He immediately enrolled in
the Department of Park and Recreation Administration at IU, earning
a Master of Science degree in 1951,
which kickstarted an outstanding
career in the park, recreation and
conservation field.
After spending two years as a
recreation center director and senior recreation supervisor in the

His journey was
completed with
purpose and an
overflowing legacy
of service, fortitude
and light that will
forever shine in
treasured memories. 
	

Kansas City, Missouri Department
of Recreation, Peterson spent the
next eight years as the first superintendent of recreation in Emporia,
Kansas. In 1960, he was employed
as superintendent of recreation
in Evansville, Indiana, a joint position between the City of Evansville and the Vanderburgh County
School Corporation.
After five years in Evansville, Peterson was asked to fill a newly created position between the Cooperative Extension Service at Purdue
University as park and recreation
specialist and a professor of parks
and recreation at IU. Peterson said,
" It was the opportunity of a lifetime to work with the Extension
Agents in the 92 counties of Indiana in addition to teaching at Indiana University. "
Peterson had distinguished himself by authoring Recreation Use
of Airport Lands, coauthoring Recreation and Leisure in the Changing
Scene, and Risk Management for
Park, Recreation, and Leisure Services,
now in its seventh edition. Peterson
was once asked, " How is it possible
to work for two great universities
at the same time? " He replied, " If
you love what you are doing, no

James " Jim " Peterson was instrumental in shaping the park and recreation
profession.

task is impossible. "
Other highlights of Peterson's
career include implementing and
serving as director of the executive
development program for park and
recreation professionals at IU; serving as president of the Kansas and
Indiana park and recreation associations; induction into the Kansas
Recreation and Park Association's
Hall of Fame; serving two terms
as board member for the American Recreation Society; serving as
program chair for the first NRPA
Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.; receiving the NRPA National Distinguished Professional
Award; and many more.
Peterson was one of the giants in
the park, recreation and conservation movement locally, nationally
and internationally. His journey
was completed with purpose and
an overflowing legacy of service,
fortitude and light that will forever shine in treasured memories. He
had a large-than-life-presence and
will be missed by all who had the
pleasure of knowing him.

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Parks & Recreation

13
March 2021 - Parks & Recreation

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