The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) in partnership with the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) announced the latest inductee to the Recreation and Park Hall of Fame. Dr. H. Douglas "Doug" Sessoms was nominated for his service to parks and recreation.

 

During the last four decades, Dr. Sessoms helped create educational institutions that helped propel the industry into a profession. His work also helped establish the NRPA and AAPRA and the establishment of the Society of Park and Recreation Educators under the umbrella of NRPA.

Sessoms also brought awareness to the right to access of recreation and worked to preserve the profession's history through the establishment of the Academy of Leisure Sciences historian position. He went on to write the NRPA history professional preparation in parks and recreation.

Dean Tice, former Executive Director of NRPA, staid that "few people were better qualified than Doug to detail this history."