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In her nomination letter, Dorothy Harper Watson, ’52, wrote, “Dean
Larrick is the best of what we lived and learned at Park…He enriches the
lives of others quietly, with no fanfare, and with no expectation of
reward.”
Larrick’s professional career was spent in human resources
management, specializing in recruitment and staffing. Over a period of
30 years he served with the Department of the Army, Internal Revenue
Service and the Office of Personnel Management. He advanced to the
Senior Executive Service (highest career service ranking), serving as
the director of the Washington, D.C. area office, managing a staff of
300, and director of staffing operations, overseeing the federal career
service recruiting and examining system. After leaving Park, he earned a
master’s degree in political science from Washington University, St.
Louis, Mo., and graduated from the Federal Executive Institute,
Charlottesville, Va. He served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany.
Larrick “has demonstrated throughout his adult life his ability to
recognize people in need and to help them,” Watson said. Before and
after retirement, he has been an active volunteer in his community and
church. He has been active in Boy Scouts as a scoutmaster, merit badge
counselor and camp leader. He taught Sunday school and served as church
deacon in Virginia.
Now a resident of Columbia, Mo., Larrick provides his services to the
mid-Missouri area. He has served as president and on the board of
directors for the Boone County (Mo.) Council on Aging; and president of
the Advisory Council, Retired Senior Volunteer Program for Boone County.
Currently, he volunteers at two cancer clinics at Ellis Fischel Cancer
Center and writes articles for the RSVP Program (connecting seniors with
volunteer needs); serves on the RSVP Advisory Council; sorts clothes at
a local clothing closet and is a pen pal for two third graders at an
inner-city school. He volunteers with Rainbow House’s blood drives, AIDS
Outreach, United Way, officiates at the Show-Me State Games and
coordinates “55 Alive” driver safety programs.
In his list of volunteer jobs and accomplishments, it is apparent
that Larrick chooses to be closely involved with those he helps. His
friends share stories where he unexpectedly stepped in as the “best man”
in a hospital wedding, took a patient from the Veteran’s Hospital on a
fishing trip, winterized homes and assisted low-income seniors with
Christmas shopping.
Between all his community activities, Larrick enjoys painting. He has
won numerous art show prizes and is experiencing commercial success.
Even in the art world, he combines his management skills with his
natural tendency to help others. In addition to exhibiting his work with
the Columbia Art League, he helps the organization by coordinating
community art exhibits. Larrick’s devotion to community service has been
recognized by others. Among his awards, he has received the Lieutenant
Governor’s Service Award from the Missouri Services Community and RSVP’s
Jane Brinton Award “for service and advocacy on behalf of older adults”
in 2007.
Larrick and his spouse, Charlotte, have been married for 46 years.
They have two children, Rick and Lee Anne, and two granddaughters. |
