Dr.
Richard Bishop
Class of 1989
Background:
Richard W. Bishop was born June 27, 1915, and died August
24, 1981. He graduated from Manor High School in Millersville,
Pennsylvania, U.S.A. He received his B.S. in Education from
Millersville State Teachers College in 1937, his master's
in Education from Pennsylvania State University in 1941, and
his Ed.D. from New York University in 1960.
Professional
Experience:
An outstanding high school and college athlete, Bishop moved
from participating in sports to teaching and coaching. During
World War II, he served as an aviation physical and military
training officer. After the war he returned to Millersville
College to become a successful coach and the college's first
driver education instructor. In 1956, he joined the original
staff of Michigan State University's Highway Traffic Center.
In 1962, he moved to the Florida Institute for Continuing
University Studies in Tallahassee. Appointed in 1965 to the
rank of associate professor in the College of Education at
Florida State University, he became a full professor in 1973.
While he was in Florida his reputation rose to its zenith.
Career
Highlights:
Dr. Bishop was in frequent demand as a keynote speaker, workshop
trainer and meeting planner. He served in a consulting capacity,
on advisory panels and on the boards of many governmental
and policy bodies in highway safety and driver education.
One of his most important contributions was as director and
principal writer of the project, supported by the Automotive
Safety Foundation, which produced "A Resource Curriculum
in Driver and Traffic Safety Education." Published in
1970, this work introduced concepts which influenced teachers
and driver education programs throughout the United States.
Probably the most significant highlight of his career is the
inspiration, guidance and leadership he provided to undergraduate
and graduate students and colleagues. They considered him
a masterful, inspirational teacher. A prolific writer, he
authored or coauthored over 40 professional articles, books
and other materials. Much of his writing reported research
he and others had done.
Dr. Bishop
is honored annually by the Richard Bishop Forum, a forum for
traffic safety issues, during the conferences of the American
Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association. This organization
honored him again in 1989 by presenting his family with the
Dr. Richard Kaywood Award. Other awards came from the National
Safety Council and the Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania
Driver and Traffic Safety Education Associations. He was awarded
professor emeritus status by Florida State University in 1979.
