In Memoriam: Richard Talbott

Dr. Richard Talbott, PhD, one of the Academy founders, passed away on Memorial Day weekend. Dr. John Ferraro, PhD, a colleague and friend of Dr. Talbott, writes:

The profession of audiology lost an outstanding leader, educator, scientist, clinician, mentor, and university administrator over the Memorial Day weekend. Dr. Richard “Rick” E. Talbott, PhD, passed away at his home in Mobile, Alabama. Rick, along with James “Jim” Jerger, PhD, and Fred Bess, PhD, helped to lay the foundations of the American Academy of Audiology and served in many leadership roles within the Academy,

as well as the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), including the ASHA Foundation, the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions (the last three of which he was an honors recipient).

His numerous academic appointments included chair/head of the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Programs at the universities of Oklahoma, Georgia, and Virginia, and associate dean of Administration and Research at the University of Central Florida. He was appointed as the dean of the College of Allied Health Professions at the University of South Alabama in 2003, and held that position until his retirement a few years ago. On a personal note, Rick was my “brother from another mother” (and father). We were the closest of friends and spent myriad good times together sitting in committee meetings, enjoying breakfast and dinner (he didn’t eat lunch), and playing lots of golf! I have lost a beloved friend, and the profession has lost an outstanding leader.

Dr. Talbott’s fellow Academy founders, Jerry Northern, PhD, and Brad Stach, PhD, remember Dr. Talbott as:

One of those “behind the scenes” persons who had a significant and major impact on the Academy and the profession. He served on the first Board of Directors and was an all-around dynamite guy. If there was such a thing as a Hall of Fame in audiology, Rick would most certainly be there. Dr Talbott’s substantial contributions to the formation of our Academy were significant and numerous. He was the person who submitted the proposal and chaired the panel discussion at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) meeting in 1987 during which Jim Jerger declared audiology’s independence from Speech-Language Pathology. Rick was an important part of the original 1988 Audiology Study Group that formed the Academy and was elected to its first Board of Directors. Rick Talbott approached the formation of our Academy and the promotion of audiology’s autonomy with a clear vision and a steady hand. He was a truly gifted leader and remarkable colleague and friend.