By Magdalena Stuehrmann, Class of 2015
When Robert Laycock retires from the George Washington University School of Business in December, he’ll be leaving behind 50 years of GW memories.
Robert Laycock, B.B.A. ’65, M.B.A. ’68, first came to George Washington as a college freshman studying accounting in 1961. Mr. Laycock, who was born in Washington, D.C., felt a connection to GW when considering undergraduate universities.
“When we were visiting colleges in high school, we made a visit to GW, and I just really loved the feel of the campus,” said Mr. Laycock.
Within a week of his first accounting class, Mr. Laycock knew it was the right field for him.
After receiving his Master of Business Administration in accounting from GW in 1968, Mr. Laycock began teaching classes in various levels of accounting, both financial and managerial, at Montgomery College in Rockville, Md. In 1984, Mr. Laycock was hired by GWSB as an adjunct professor, where he taught similar accounting classes.
“Because of my attachment to GW, I always wanted to teach here,” said Mr. Laycock. “The thing I love most about teaching is interacting with the students. My goal is to try to get my students to love accounting and to convince those with the knack for it to major in it.”
One of those students was Jeff Goldfond, M.B.A. ’11.
When Mr. Goldfond first began his M.B.A. at GW, he wasn’t sure which concentration he wanted to pursue. But after taking two of Mr. Laycock’s classes, he decided on accounting.
“Professor Laycock is one of the best professors that I had at GW. He is extremely knowledgeable in the subject area and presents the information that he teaches in the clearest possible manner,” said Mr. Goldfond. “Professor Laycock is fully dedicated to his students and is always available and willing to help both inside and outside the classroom. Looking back, taking his class was one of the best decisions of my academic career.”
In 1999, Mr. Laycock received the Professor of the Year award from Beta Alpha Psi, the international honorary organization for financial information professionals. In addition to teaching financial and managerial accounting at GWSB, Mr. Laycock serves as the accounting department’s assurance of learning coordinator, a position necessary to helping the department remain accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. And when he retired from Montgomery College six years ago, he was awarded emeritus status from the college.
To honor his retirement, the GWSB Department of Accountancy is displaying several pictures and mementos of Mr. Laycock’s 50 years at GW, including his 1967 graduation yearbook. The yearbook is on display in Funger Hall, Suite 601.
“The department hopes to collect as many student and faculty signatures and remembrances of Bob as possible and welcomes his friends to stop by and sign the book. Bob has been a wonderful contributor and supporter for GW,” said Frederick Lindahl, associate professor of accountancy and of international business.
GW students may also know Mr. Laycock as the faculty adviser to the George Washington equestrian team, a position he has held since the team was created about 25 years ago. Mr. Laycock, who has been riding horses since he was a child, plans to continue with this hobby, among others, in a busy retirement.
He’ll have a few other things to keep him busy too. Mr. Laycock is the treasurer for two civic organizations in Georgetown: the Citizens Association of Georgetown and Trees for Georgetown. Mr. Laycock is also the treasurer for the Washington Bridle Trails Association, a group that organizes two three-day horseshows each year and donates the proceeds to charity.
“When you’re an accountant, you’re always asked to be the treasurer,” said Mr. Laycock.
Although Mr. Laycock is ready for retirement, he said that he will definitely miss being at GW.
“The interaction with the students is really what I’ll miss. I love teaching,” he said
As much as Mr. Laycock will miss GW, his students and colleagues may miss him even more.
“I think I speak for everyone when I say that the GW School of Business and the accounting department will miss one of their most valuable assets,” Mr. Goldfond said.