John S. Laycock - Obituary

ohn Stanton Laycock, Jr., 93, of Dagsboro, DE, passed away on June 6, 2016 at his home. Born on January 28, 1923 in Washington, DC to the late Ruth and John Stanton Laycock, Sr., John attended Bowen Elementary School, Jefferson Junior High School and Eastern High School where he graduated as an honor student and lettered in baseball. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Wilson Teachers College where he majored in Social Studies and Physical Education and lettered in football and baseball. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Administration from the University of Maryland and a Doctor of Education Degree from Lawrence University. While earning his degrees, John worked at Union Station for the Pennsylvania, C&O and B&O Railroads. During World War II, John served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps with the 87th and 101st Airborn Divisions, airlifting troops from England to France, Germany and Italy. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge and invasion of Italy. He received a Presidential Citation, and the European, Italy, Marksman and Good Conduct medals. Dr. Laycock began his teaching career in 1951 at Simon Elementary School where he taught 5th graders and initiated the Laycock Lunch Period Roller Skating Program. He transferred to Annapolis Junior High School where he advanced to Vice Principal and was the Coordinator for five Annex Schools for Overcrowding. In addition to his administrative duties, Dr. Laycock directed the Saturday morning recreational YMCA Basketball League that included 75 teams. He was nominated by Governor J. Millard Tawes to serve on the President’s Council on Physcial Fitness, a position he continued to hold until his retirement in 1986. In 1961, Dr. Laycock joined the faculty of the newly opened Anne Arundel Community College when it was located at the Severna Park High School. He was appointed Dean, Department Chairman and Director of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Intramurals and Athletics after expanding the size of the faculty from one to twelve. Dr. Laycock coached the baseball, basketball, cheerleading and wrestling teams and hosted tournaments in wrestling, lacrosse, baseball, cross-country, tennis, track and field, and swimming. He also introduced programs in archery, badminton, bowling, dancing, fencing, handball, ice skating, sailing, and self-defense. Under his direction, the school developed 22 varsity athletic programs for men and women and achieved membership in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). He managed the construction of a multi-purpose gymnasium and the construction of 15 tennis courts, a 5,000-seat outdoor football, soccer and lacrosse stadium, and the school’s baseball, soccer, softball and lacrosse fields at the school’s new complex in Arnold. Dr. Laycock started a sailing program for the faculty and students and initiated the Anne Arundel County Life Guard certification program. He also implemented continuing education programs for older adults including bicycling, rowing, aerobic dance, swimming and resistance training. During his tenure, Dr. Laycock served as Grand Marshall for the AACC Academic Procession. In 1990, four years after his retirement, Dr. Laycock was inducted as one of the first two honorees of the AACC’s Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1999, he was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame in Hagerstown, MD During the 1970s, Dr. Laycock developed exercise programs for the Police and Fire Departments. He also implemented the PACE (Prescribed Active Cardiac Exercise), Handicapped Swimming, Executive Fitness, Adult Fitness and Senior Fitness programs. Dr. Laycock was the recipient of House Resolution #40 of the Maryland State Legislature for Outstanding Contributions to Health and Physical Education and a Commendation from Governor Spiro T. Agnew for Service to Physical Education in Anne Arundel County. His accomplishments were also recognized with the Dartmouth Award for Outstanding Leadership. In his spare time, Dr. Laycock enjoyed boating, sailing, tennis, bowling, baseball, and softball. He served on the Anne Arundel County Police Commission Advisory Board and as Past President of the South River Beach Association. He was a member of the Board of Directors for 5 years at Trinity United Methodist Church and superintendent of its Sunday School. He was a scout master and counselor for the Boy Scouts in Woodland Beach, and was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Annapolis Elks Club #622, Annapolis Fleet Club and Annapolis Yacht Club. Dr. Laycock attributed his longevity to his life motto, “Give them one sport a day and let them play.” In addition to his parents, Dr. Laycock was preceded in death by his son, Donald. He is survived by his loving wife of 20 years, Joan Laycock; two children, Joan (John) Moskus and Ronald Laycock and their mother, Betty Laycock; a stepson, Michael (Lisa) Anderson; one sister, Ruth Neiderstrasser; seven grandchildren, Andy (Tina) Hodges, Tami Apple, Carey (Shawn Cheri) Laycock, Jennifer Rafiq, Robert Mullaney, Jonna and Kian Anderson; and four great-grandchildren, Kayla Snyder, Harrison and Jonathan Rafiq, and Travis Apple-Cooksey. Friends are invited to celebrated Dr. Laycock’s life with his family from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 9 at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 10 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1300 West Street, Annapolis. Interment Lakemont Memorial Gardens. 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