Author of 'Children of a Lesser God,' Dramatist and educator Mark Medoff dies at 79

Medoff taught at NMSU for 50+ years, headed the Theatre Arts department, co-founded NMSU's American Southwest Theatre; taught at Florida State University, Houston, Oklahoma U. During his NMSU years, Medoff wrote "When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?" and won a Drama Desk and Obie award in 1974. 

This was followed by "Children of a Lesser God," which won the 1980 Tony award about employees at a school for the deaf: a deaf custodian and a hearing speech teacher, whose conflicting ideologies on speech and deafness create tension and discord in their developing romantic relationship, adapted into film starring actress Marlee Matlin for which she won an Academy Award, the only deaf actress to receive the honor.

“He insisted and fought the studio that the role be played by a deaf actor; I would not be here as an Oscar winner if it weren’t for him,” Matlin tweeted in tribute. “RIP Dear Mark.”