Jerrold A. Lawless

Former Tulsa resident Jerrold Lawless, 82, passed away on June 25, 2016. He was born May 15, 1934 in Fort Scott, KS to Clarence and Virginia Lawless. Mr. Lawless married his high school sweetheart, Kathryn McElroy on August 28, 1954. Kathryn passed away on August 31, 2008 and Jerrold went on to marry Georgia Mobly. In 1956 Jerrold was drafted into the U.S. Army and played clarinet in the Sixth Army Band stationed at the Presidio in San Francisco. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1956 and 1960 where he received a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master's degree in Wind Instruments. Jerrold was the instrumental music conductor at Central High School for eight years and developed award-winning high school marching and concert bands as well as an outstanding orchestra. For 14 years, Jerrold was director of the Young Tulsans, a group of Tulsa area high school musicians outside the regular school programs. In 1968 he was voted Tulsa's Outstanding Young Man of the year by the Tulsa Downtown and Southeast Jaycees, for his work with the Young Tulsans band. In August 1970, the Young Tulsans participated in the Sixth World Music Contest in Kerkrade, Holland. The Senior Band won three first prize gold medals in Concert, Marching, and Show Competition in the First Division and won the Grand Prize Award for the highest total points for the weekend. Jerrold was director of instrumental music at Tulsa Community College (TCC) from 1970 to his retirement from full time teaching in 2000. Upon his retirement he was one of only 20 original staff and faculty members who had been with TJC/TCC since its creation in 1970. He led three different groups at TCC: the UltraSonics in the 1970's; the TCC Community Band from 1978 to 2008 and the TCC Orchestra from 1981 to 2008. In 1989, the TCC Band became the first Oklahoma Band ever selected to perform at the 11th annual National Convention of the Association of Concert Bands in Salinas, CA. He was inducted into the Sandite Hall of Fame at Charles Page High School in May 2004. In 2007, Jerrold was selected into the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame. His major hobbies were woodworking, reading and watching football and basketball. Jerrold is survived by his wife Georgia Lawless; brother, Lyndon Lawless; sons, Alan, Jeff and Sean Lawless, daughter Mimi Blanchard; seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He also leaves behind a host of colleagues and students who played very important roles in his life. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association. Memorial services will be at First Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, 709 S. Boston, Tulsa, OK, on Thursday, June 30, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233

Jerrold A. Lawless

May 15, 1934 - June 25, 2016