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Submitted: 2/16/24 • Approved: 2/26/24 • Last Updated: 2/29/24 • R467467-G467467-S3
Robert
May 10, 1929 - March 15, 2017
Marilyn
July 27, 1927 - September 27, 2021
Dr. Robert C. Clawson died on Wednesday, March 15 after a brief illness of complications following a stroke. Born May 10, 1929 in Michigan, he is preceded in death by his mother and father, Gladys and Elmer Clawson, and his only brother, Clifford Clawson. Robert is survived by Marilyn Goetze Clawson, his beloved and devoted wife of 59 years, his sons, Michael Xavier and his wife Vicki of Panama City Beach FL, David Francis and his wife Polly of Wilmington NC, Thomas Joseph and his wife Laura of Bossier City LA, and his daughters Margaret C. Guarisco, MD and her husband Gene of Tuscaloosa AL and Theresa C. Snodgrass, JD, of Houston TX.
Robert and Marilyn have 10 grandchildren. Christopher and Kerah Clawson of Wilmington, NC, Rachel, Amanda, and Joseph Guarisco of Tuscaloosa, AL, Michael and John Snodgrass of Houston, TX, and Garrett, Carter, and Zach Clawson of Bossier City, LA.
"Now hear this, Now hear this!" Dr. Clawson is considered a legend in the medical community, having spent his life teaching young medical professionals. He touched thousands of lives as Professor of Anatomy at LSUHSC School of Medicine in Shreveport, LA since 1968.
He was born in South Haven, Michigan, but grew up in Tampa FL. There, he learned to paint, and had an art show of his work at the age of 11.
He graduated from Jesuit High School in Tampa in 1947, received his Bachelor of Science degree from Springhill (Jesuit) College in Mobile, AL in 1950, and his Master of Science degree in Anatomy from St. Louis University in 1953. It was there that he met Marilyn Goetze, a fellow graduate student whom he married on July 26, 1958 in Wheeling, WV after serving as a Lieutenant in the US Navy from 1953-57. In September 1957, he returned to school to obtain his PhD in anatomy at Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. After graduation, he joined the faculty in the anatomy department. He continued in the naval reserve for eleven years as a Medical School Liason recruiting medical students to become navy doctors.
In July 1968, Robert moved his family to Shreveport, Louisiana as a founding faculty member of the Anatomy Department of the newly formed LSU Medical School in Shreveport. While there, he taught Histology, Gross Anatomy and Embryology for over 40 years. He retired as a Professor in July 2008, accepting the position of Professor Emeritus, and taught Gross Anatomy for several more years. During his time at LSUHSC-S, Dr. Clawson taught over 4,000 students who became doctors, as well as many Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Allied Health students.
The most notable of his numerous teaching awards is the Copping Award for Excellence in Teaching, which he received in 1999 from the President of LSU. In 2003, he received a special award from the Shreveport Medical Society - a thank you from all the doctors in the community. He also received many, many awards from his beloved students.
He was published, not only in his field of medicine, but also had a paper published that covered the history of Boy Scouts of America Norwella Council. He was honored with the highest award given to a Scout Volunteer, the Silver Beaver award, in 1980, after many years of service as a Cub Master, a Scout Master, founder of a Medical Explorer Post (located at LSUHSC-S) and District Commissioner. He also received the St. George emblem, in recognition of outstanding service to the spiritual development of Catholic youth in the Boy Scouts of America.
Robert and Marilyn are members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. A mass will be held for him Saturday, March 18, 2017 at 10:30 am at St. Joseph's Church. Memorial Service to follow at Forest Park Funeral Home at 2:30 pm.
Contributed on 2/16/24 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 467467