William Ross Carmack Jr.

Bill was a respected educator, author, consultant, and public servant. He earned a BA from Abilene Christian University, an MA from Florida State University, and a Ph.D. in Speech Communication from the University of Illinois.

Bill married Shirley Dennis in 1956 and they had two sons. He joined the faculty of the University of Oklahoma in 1958 as a Professor of Communication, also serving as the director of the Southwest Center for Human Relations Studies. The family moved to Washington, D.C. in 1964, where Bill served as Administrative Assistant to Oklahoma Senator Fred Harris, as well as leadership positions with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the National Council on Indian Opportunity.

Bill and Shirley returned to Norman in 1969 when Bill was appointed Chairman of the Department of Communication. During his academic career at OU, he was awarded the honor of David Ross Boyd Professor and Regents’ Professor. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in 2010.

Bill and Madelon Nebergall were wed in 1975, living between Norman and Harlingen, Texas. They were avid travelers and enjoyed many happy years together.

Upon retiring from teaching, Bill kept professionally active as an independent consultant.

His later years were spent with his loving partner, Mary Kay Eldridge, until her passing in 2019.

Bill was an avid reader and life-long learner. He loved listening to country and bluegrass music. He was a motor boating enthusiast and imbued his sons with a love of boating and water skiing, not to mention wry humor. Bill continued to play bridge through his later years and participated in book groups and weekly meetings with friends until his passing.

Bill was preceded in death by his sister, Sarah Watts. He is survived by his sons, Scott Carmack and his wife, Tracy Carmack, and David Carmack and his wife, Lisa Jobe-Carmack; his granddaughter, Matisse Carmack; his nieces, Peggy Piletere of Houston, Texas, and Nancy Martin of Georgetown, Texas.

There will be a memorial service at the Primrose Funeral Service in Norman, OK, on October 21, 2026 at 10:30am.