Oct. 27, 2025 | Laura Payne
RST alumni fondly remember a leader in the field
Ron Dodd, former director of the Joliet Park District and an RST alumnus, passed away on July 31, 2025, at the age of 84.
Dodd was a leader and educator in public parks and recreation and the embodiment of a true servant leader who cared about the communities he served and was instrumental in advancing the parks and recreation profession nationally and internationally.
“Ron was everywhere volunteering for anything that needed to be done within our profession and left a positive mark wherever he went coast to coast,” said Ken Kutska, a colleague and friend.
Dodd was an innovative leader who was creative and an adept problem-solver. His talent for organizational development, operations and service delivery was crucial to the decentralization of Dallas Parks and Recreation and the Chicago Park District. These reorganizations enabled staff to be more responsive to local community needs and resulted in programs and services that more effectively met residents’ needs and interests.
Later in his career, Dodd took his talents to the Joliet Park District, where he led successful capital project initiatives such as the Inwood Ice Arena and the Inwood Sports Complex. At a time when the property tax cap in five northern Illinois counties made it more difficult to issue bonds to fund facility development and improvements, he developed a successful diversified fundraising strategy that was key to improving park district facilities.
As a testament to his commitment to advancing the field of parks and recreation, Dodd held leadership positions in both state and national parks and recreation associations. He served on the Board of Trustees for the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and was the chairman of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association and the American Academy of Park and Recreation Administration.
His leadership and contributions to the field of parks and recreation was recognized with several prestigious awards including the National Cornelius Amory Pugsley Medal, the University of St. Francis Distinguished Professional Award and the NRPA Robert M. Artz Award for advocacy and outstanding efforts in advancing the field through education and activating communities to advocate for parks and recreation at local, state or at the national level.
Dodd was born and raised in Ottawa, Illinois, where he was active in the varsity band and competed on the varsity cross country and track teams. He was a skilled model builder and built many scaled dollhouses for his daughter, granddaughters and great-granddaughter. He enjoyed sports, especially golf and bowling, and he played in bowling leagues over the years. He loved spending time with friends and family and enjoyed traveling.
Dodd attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he earned Bachelor of Science degrees in political science and physical education. Inspired by public service, he embarked on a career in public parks and recreation and later earned master’s in Leisure Studies, with a concentration in recreation and park administration from the University of Illinois-Champaign.
Dodd mentored many students and professionals throughout his career. His passion for education led him to St. Francis University, where he taught courses in the Recreation and Sport Management Program for 30 years, educating and inspiring students. James Barkeley, an alumnus of the RST M.S. and Ph.D. programs and recipient of the Ronald Dodd Scholarship for Distinguished M.S. Students in Parks and Recreation, said, “Ron impressed on me that leisure services is a noble profession and that I could succeed. His message has stayed with me as I became a full professor in sport and recreation management driven by a belief in the importance and power of leisure services and that I could make a difference.”
Dodd’s contributions to the field and impacts on others can be summed up by Jason Genck, senior manager/practice lead at BerryDunn. Genck said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ Ron’s life was a shining example of this principle. Ron has been an inspirational beacon in my life and career. Our field is better because of Ron’s tireless work in parks, recreation, volunteer service, faith, mentorship, passion, love and education.”
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