By Patty Miller and James Coburn

EDMOND — University of Central Oklahoma Vice President Emeritus Joe C. Jackson, 97, of Edmond, died Monday of natural causes.

Jackson worked at UCO for more than 50 years, serving 25 of them as vice president of Academic Affairs and Dean of Students, creating several graduate programs, recruiting faculty and improving academic standards.

Jackson spent more than 70 years in education, first as a high school and junior college teacher. He joined Central State College in 1948.

“When I enrolled in college I took a history class with Dr. Jackson as my instructor,” said Georgia Sparks, retired teacher from Orvis Risner Elementary.

“I love history and Dr. Joe had the most interesting class in college,” Sparks said. “Dr. Joe knew just about everybody in Edmond at one time. Edmond was a small town when Dr. Joe came here.”

Retired art professor Kathryn Kunc was counted in Jackson’s circle of friends.

“He was the greatest in everything that we accomplished at UCO when he was on the staff,” Kunc said. “In fact, I think he made the graduate program a success. He instigated the graduate programs.”

Kunc said Jackson was a leader from the beginning as well as a kind, nice, perfect gentlemen.

“He was one of the finest at UCO, and a marvelous leader,” Kunc said. “The greatest, greatest. I just wish we could have 100 Joe Jacksons on our faculty.

“I believe he was the greatest educator in Oklahoma history.”

From 1951 to 1976, he was Central’s vice president of academic affairs and dean of students.

He was instrumental in the push to move what was then Central State College to Central State University, often saying that the biggest moment in his tenure was when Gov. David Hall approved the name change in 1971.

“With his leadership, Central created graduate programs, recruited faculty and raised the educational standards,” said UCO President W. Roger Webb. “He prepared Central for its change to university status in 1971, then did the work afterward to make it more than a university name.

“Jackson loved to teach,” Webb said, “and even after his retirement from administration, he continued to do what he loved best — teaching part-time at Central; at his church, St. Luke’s United Methodist; and at Epworth Villa, the retirement village where he lived the last few years,” Webb said.

“When he taught his final class at Central in 2004, he had more than 90 students come to hear him speak about the Five Civilized Tribes. Such was the love and respect for this man who gave so much to those he most enjoyed leading — his students.”

The UCO community was saddened to hear of Jackson’s death, with Webb calling him a respected educator and a valued university leader.

“Dr. Jackson’s life exemplified so much of this university’s life, its call to make learning a lifelong passion and to teach through example and leadership,” Webb said. “He certainly contributed in a major way to making this university what it is today, and all of our lives are richer because of him.”

In 1999, Jackson established the Enid L. Jackson Graduate Scholarship in Elementary Education at the UCO Foundation in honor of his wife, Enid. A Central graduate herself, she taught elementary school for 29 years. She died in 2002 and was married to Jackson for 68 years.

At the time, Jackson said he thought elementary teachers were the most important part of the school system. “That’s where students learn to read and to get along with each other — where children learn how to learn.”

In recognition of Jackson’s contributions, UCO named the Joe C. Jackson College of Graduate Studies and Research in 2002 after the educator.

He fully retired from UCO in 2004 as an adjunct professor, having retired from administration in 1976.

Of his father, Vic Jackson said, “He was a great guy. He was a marvelous individual, historian and a debate coach.

“He enjoyed most of all helping students pursue their education, pursue their goals. He was a wonderful father, grandfather and good friend.”

Services for Jackson will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Baggerley Funeral Home in Edmond with burial to follow at Memorial Park.

Webb extended thoughts and prayers to Jackson’s family on behalf of the entire UCO community and expressed appreciation for their allowing Jackson to share his life with UCO.