Emerson L. Hazlett

Emerson Hazlett passed away on June 18, 2023, Fathers’ Day. He was born on October 25, 1924, in Longford, Kansas, the son of Everett and Lois Davis Hazlett. His parents moved to Lawrence in 1926. Everett and Lois ran a dairy farm outside of Lawrence. The farm was located at what is now 6th Street and Lawrence Avenue. Milking cows before and after school caused Emerson to decide that he wanted to be the first Hazlett to attend college.

Emerson’s wife, Betty Hazlett (Ewing), passed away on May 30, 2023. The couple would have celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary on October 7, 2023. It was apparent to Emerson’s family members that he died of a broken heart. Life was not tolerable for him without Betty. They were constant companions and in retirement spent their summers in Estes Park and every March in Destin, Florida. They were avid KU fans and attended home and away football and basketball games until they were physically unable to do so. They relished the national basketball championship in 2022. Affectionate to the very end. (See picture above taken a month before Betty passed away.)

Emerson graduated from Liberty Memorial High School in Lawrence. He received BS and MS degrees in business from the University of Kansas and later obtained a PHD in economics from Kansas State. He also did graduate work at Purdue University and the University of Minnesota.

Emerson was a twenty -year- old attending Kansas University when he was drafted into the United States Army in March of 1943. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and remained in the Army until shortly after the Germans surrendered on May 7, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart and was honorably discharged. He was reluctant to discuss his service because it brought back memories of the deaths of soldiers with whom he knew and fought. He was the honored veteran at halftime of the Kansas- Kansas State basketball game in 2019. Of course, Kansas easily won the game.

After an early career in finance, Emerson taught at Capper Junior High and Highland Park High School in Topeka. He served as the Executive Director of the Kansas Council of Economic Education while on the faculty at Kansas State University. He finished his education career at the place he loved, the University of Kansas, as the Director of the Center for Economic Education. He received an award as national Economic Educator of the year from the Joint Council of Economic Education. He was proud to have been an educator in the public schools as well as at the college level.

Emerson was a member of the Topeka Lions and Cosmopolitan Clubs, Lawrence Rotary Club, president of the Topeka Jayhawk Club and president of Shawnee County KU Alumni Association. In retirement he volunteered for Meals On Wheels and Lawrence Memorial Hospital where he served two years as president of the Hospital Auxiliary. He also volunteered as a Youth Friend and teacher aide at East Heights and Prairie Park Elementary Schools in Lawrence. He could not give up being an educator.

He is survived by two sons, Allan A. Hazlett and Stanton A. Hazlett, six grandchildren, Christopher Hazlett, Rob Hazlett, Ryan Hazlett, Jessica Wood, Jocelyn Gunter, Elizabeth Boschma , ten great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, with another on the way.

Emerson was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Betty and his daughter-in-law, Peggy Hazlett.

Presently, there is no service scheduled. Friends and relatives will be contacted to get together soon to honor and celebrate the lives of Betty and Emerson.

For more information or to post a condolence go to www.warrenmcelwain.com.