Distinguished Service Award

Stanley D. Ross and Joan H. Ross

Stanley D. Ross graduated with a BA in English from The Ohio State University in 1962 and with his JD from the University of Michigan Law School 1965. Mr. Ross was drafted into the United States Army in 1966 and opened a private law practice with his brother when he was discharged in 1970, where he worked until his retirement in 2015.

Throughout his career, Mr. Ross served on non-profit boards and committees including for the Ohio State Foundation Board, Creative Living, the Ohio Historical Society Foundation Board, Opera Columbus, the Columbus Bar Association, and the Tasman Indy Car Team, of which he was part owner. 

Joan Hendry Ross was born in Columbus, Ohio where her father worked in sales for Jeffrey Manufacturing. Her father’s job took the family across the country including to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and she graduated from Westminster College in 1967. Her family moved back to Columbus where Mrs. Ross taught 2nd and 4th grades for the Worthington School District and volunteered at Childhood League Center serving children with developmental delays. Mrs. Ross sang for Opera Columbus from 1982-1992, performing in 26 operas.

In addition to Mr. Ross’ service on the Ohio State Foundation Board beginning in 2015, Mr. and Mrs. Ross have made transformational commitments to the Neurological Institute to establish the Ross Center for Brain Health and Performance and the Stanley and Joan Ross Endowed Chair in Neuromodulation. They served as co-chairs of the Brain and Spine Hospital campaign as part of the ‘But for Ohio State’ campaign. Their support of the Pelotonia Research Center’s Stanley and Joan Ross Gene Therapy Neighborhood, The James, and the Heart and Vascular Center have been critical to facilitating the lifechanging research and work that each conduct. Their commitment to Ohio State Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital after their son Malcom received life-saving care there has helped pay forward to other patients and families.

Mr. and Mrs. Ross have two children, Malcom and Jennifer, and four grandchildren.

Lawrence Williamson, Jr.

Lawrence “Larry” Williamson, Jr. is the retired director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Frank W. Hale, Jr. Black Cultural Center at The Ohio State University.  He is a native of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of Montgomery County Community College and Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Williamson pursued graduate work at The Ohio State University where he was employed in the Office of Minority Affairs, now the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Mr. Williamson worked directly under the supervision of Dr. Frank W. Hale, Jr. as a graduate administrative associate. He was selected as the assistant director of the Frank W. Hale, Jr. Black Cultural Center in 1989 before being promoted to director in 1993, where he helped coordinate educational, social, cultural, leadership and group activities on campus.

Under Mr. Williamson, the Hale Center established itself as one of the finest black cultural centers in the country thanks to programming featuring academic and cultural components as well as strong community support that facilitated two major renovation campaigns during his tenure. Mr. Williamson helped curate a nationally recognized art collection for the Hale Center, one of the largest in the country, which was named in his honor. He has served on the boards of the Columbus Breathing Association, Columbus Art League, Ace Gallery, and the National Board of the Association for Black Culture Centers. 

For his work, Mr. Williamson received the 2015 Ohio State Distinguished Staff Award as well as recognition from the City of Columbus, the King Arts Complex, the Ohio State African American Heritage Festival, and the Ohio State African American Alumni Society among many others before his retirement from Ohio State in 2022. 

Mr. Williamson’s legacy at Ohio State includes scholarships and awards named in his honor, as well as implementing several signature campus events, including the annual Thanksgiving Dinner for students and pre-Kwanzaa celebration. 

Larry Williamson, Jr. is married to Dr. Pamela Burdette-Williamson (a former tenured associate professor at Ohio State) and has a son, Larry Williamson III.