As Professor Bill Crawford was wrapping up the final class of his 53-year career at LSU Law on Wednesday morning, dozens of faculty and staff members streamed into the classroom to applaud and thank the retiring professor.
“No one has ever been more dedicated to your—the students’—wellbeing than our friend Bill Crawford,” Dean Tom Galligan told the Louisiana Torts class, who presented Crawford with a signed and framed portrait they had taken with the professor days earlier.
“It’s been a wonderful class. It’s been a wonderful 53 years,” said Crawford, who was clearly surprised by the gesture from his colleagues and students. “Thank you so much.”
Crawford, 92, enrolled at LSU after being drafted into the Army during World War II. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees at LSU, and was in private practice in New Orleans for 10 years before returning to LSU Law to teach.
