An entrepreneur, an innovator and an advocate for higher education are just a few of the many ways one might describe Emporia State University alumnus Richard C. “Dick” Hawk.
A pioneer in every sense of the word, Hawk leads the way in helping current and future Hornets attend Emporia State through scholarships. Hawk’s generous gift to establish these scholarship opportunities is an avenue for him to support Emporia State University and honor his late wife, Sylvia Renner Hawk.
Hawk, a 2015 Emporia State Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, made the decision to become a Hornet back in the 1950s when the university offered him a $100 scholarship, “Which was a great deal of money at the time,” said Hawk. He wants to give future Emporia State students the same opportunities he had as a student.
The Richard C. “Dick” and Sylvia Renner Hawk Scholarship will be a renewable scholarship that provides assistance to Emporia State students who have financial need.
As an Emporia State student, Hawk was very active. He was the editor in chief of The Bulletin, President of Student Council and was one of 25 students chosen to represent Emporia State in the 1955-56 edition of “Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.” He was also a member of several student organizations, including Alpha Kappa Lambda, Xi Phi, Pi Omega Pi, Pi Kappa Delta, Phi Mu Alpha and Debate. Hawk earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and earned a master of science in business administration a year later. Right after graduate school, Hawk served as Emporia State’s director of field services.
Leading a very successful career, Hawk has had experiences in many different sectors, including higher education, finance, business ownership and upscale restaurant management.
Hawk started the Higher Education Loan Programs in Kansas, Tennessee, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. He was majority stockholder and chairman of Dean Financial Services, which founded Princeton Bank in St. Paul, Minnesota, in addition to owning seven other banks in the state.
At the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Education, Hawk served as assistant dean and became the first director of the Minnesota State Higher Education Board. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota. The Richard C. Hawk Sports Center was named in his honor at Alliant International University in San Diego.
Hawk built the Country Club Hotel and Spa in Lake Ozark, Missouri. His most recent hospitality project is the Gaslight Grill in Leawood, Kansas. Hawk resides in Leawood and is currently chairman and chief executive officer of Hawk Management and Financial Services.
To add to his list of talents, Hawk hosts the “Dick Hawk's Gaslight Jazz Show” on KXTR, 1660 AM Radio. Ingram's Magazine in Kansas City named Hawk one of its “Top 50 Kansans You Should Know” in January 2013.
On May 3, Gaslight Grill hosted a special bell-ringing event for Kansas City area alumni, donors and friends to celebrate Dick Hawk’s generosity and meet the 17th president of Emporia State University, Allison D. Garrett.
During the celebration, Garrett addressed the capacity crowd and encouraged all to be engaged in Hornet Nation.
Hawk commented, “Those of us associated with Emporia State University have lots to be proud of, it is a great institution indeed.”
For information about how you can be a part of Now & Forever, the Campaign for Emporia State University, please contact campaign manager Carol Cooper at 620-341-6463.