O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West Oral History Project
Interviewer
Michael Larmann
Description
Doug Lawrence describes his 20-plus-year long career as a computer program specialist at the O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West. After reminiscing about his time as a computer science graduate student at the University of Montana, Lawrence explains how he found work at the O’Connor Center in the 1990s. Doug Lawrence then discusses his working partnership with Larry Swanson, the Associate Director for Regional Economics and the third director of the O’Connor Center. He details his work on the Regional Economic Assessment Database (READ) and explains how Larry Swanson used it to help local decision makers in Montana and throughout the United States. Doug Lawrence reflects on Larry Swanson’s leadership and outlines his directorship from 2006 until his death in 2019. Doug Lawrence describes other episodes in the Center’s history including the move from the Old Milwaukee Station to the University of Montana campus. Doug Lawrence also explains how he applied his technical knowledge to start his own business, CE4Less.
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Document Type
Oral History
Original Date
3-11-2025
Time Period
Twentieth century; Twenty-first century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West Oral History Project, OH 489, Archives & Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana
Digital Publisher
University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights
Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants and by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu
Oral History Number
OH 489-003
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
00:50:30 minutes
Local Filename
OH_489_003_audio_use.mp3; OH_489.003_transcript.pdf
Citation
Lawrence, Doug, "Doug Lawrence Interview, March 11, 2025" (2025). O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West Oral History Project. 3.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/oconnorcenter_interviews/3