Awards

National Academies - 1960

American Association for the Advancement of Science

About J. Keogh Rash

J. Keogh Rash, professor emeritus and former chairman of the Department of Health and Safety Education at Indiana University, died in Bloomington, Indiana, on November 5, 1981.

Keo was born and reared on a farm near New Providence, Iowa, and attended a one-room school. Rash received his B.A. degree from William Penn College of Iowa in 1928, his M.A. degree from the YMCA Graduate School in 1933, the Director's degree in Health and Safety from Indiana University in 1948; and he was the first person to receive the Doctor of Health and Safety degree from Indiana University in 1949. In 1957, he received a post-doctoral M.P.H. degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Rash served on the faculties of Berea College of Kentucky, William Penn College of Iowa, Pikeville College of Kentucky, and Wilmington College of Ohio. He also served as a physical director for the YMCA, as a public health educator, and as a college business manager prior to joining the faculty of Indiana University as chairman of the Department of Health and Safety Education--a position he held for 20 years. A pioneer in the area of curriculum development in health and safety education, Rash was a staunch supporter of the philosophy of health and safety education as an autonomous discipline.

He authored numerous articles, monographs, and books--including The Health Education Curriculum. His record of professional service includes serving as chairman of the research committee of the School Health Section of the American Public Health Association, chairman of the Committee on Professional Education and Certification in Health Education of the American Public Health Association, chairman of the Health Education Section of the American College Health Association, and chairman for Health Education of the Professional Education Section of the American Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. In the American School Health Association, he served as president, vice president of membership, chairman of the Committee on Study Committees, and chairman of the Distinguished Service Awards Committee. During his final appointment as chairman of the Historical Committee, he directed and compiled a complete history of the American School Health Association's first 50 years.

Rash was also active in community affairs, including the Lions Club, Public Health Nursing Association, and the Friends Meeting. Rash received outstanding service awards from Phi Delta Kappa; the American School Health Association; the Indiana Public Health Association; and the Indiana Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. In 1974, he received the first Honor Award from Eta Sigma Gamma; and he was elected to fellowship in the American School Health Association, American Public Health Association, the American Academy of Political and Social Science, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Rash received the Howe Award, the highest honor bestowed by the American School Health Association, in 1969.