Jim Killackey

Killackey joined the newspaper in January 1973 and earned more than 60 local, state and national writing awards during a distinguished 35-year career. In 2005, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame. Killackey is well remembered in education circles for his coverage of the 1990 teachers’ strike that culminated with the passage of House Bill 1017, a school reform measure that resulted in smaller class sizes and expanded early childhood education opportunities for 4- and 5-year-olds. “Jim approached writing with a passion and was particularly enthusiastic about any story that had the potential to protect Oklahomans from harm,” said Kelly Dyer Fry, editor and vice president of news and information for The Oklahoman. Killackey won awards for writing about the dangers of prescription drug abuse, long before it reached the epidemic levels of today, and for informing readers about kicking the tobacco habit.

His passion for protecting Oklahomans didn’t end with his October 2008 retirement. After leaving the staff, Killackey continued to write contract stories for The Oklahoman that often focused on protecting senior citizens from scams. A Ford Foundation fellow in education reporting in 1976, Killackey was president of the National Education Writers Association in 1987-1988. He also served as president of the OU Journalism Alumni board. A native of Chicago, Killackey served as managing editor of the Oklahoma Daily while working on his master's degree at the University of Oklahoma. He began his journalism career with the Tulsa Tribune in 1971 and served in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Survivors include: wife Karen; sons Ryan and Regan; sister Rita; brother Robert and six grandchildren.

Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at First Christian Church in Edmond.