Richard L. Ash, Jr. is the Director of Parks and Recreation in St. Charles, Missouri. Previously he was the Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation in St. Charles, Missouri (1979-80). He received his B.S. from the University of Missouri at Rolla. Richard is involved in many societies including the Missouri Parks and Recreation Association which he served as President in 1996-97; Great Lakes Regional Council of NRPA (1996-present); NRPA 1996 Congress Program Committee; and Council of Affiliate Presidents (1995-present). He was the author of Parks and Recreation in the 21st Century, Chapter Two; edited and copyrighted in 1993 by Tony A. Mobley, Indiana University and Robert F. Toalson, Champaign Park District; published by the National Recreation and Park Association. Since 1974, he has presented many presentations. Honors and Awards include the MRPA’s Fellow Award (1994); NRPA’s Aquatic Section’s Excellence in Aquatics Award (1994); and Missouri University’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism’s Partnership in Excellence Award (1996).