James Pete Pappas

James P. (Jim) Pappas, beloved husband, father, papou (grandfather) passed away on August 2, 2025, surrounded by his family. He was born June 30, 1939, in Price, Utah to Pete S. and Constandia Metrakos Pappas, who had immigrated from Greece. James carried the strength, warmth, and pride of his Greek heritage throughout his life. He attended Carbon High School and Carbon College in Price, where he was active in student activities, participating in debate, drama, served as valedictorian of the high school and student government president of the combined school. He went on to attend the University of Utah, graduating with a bachelors in psychology. Active again in student government, he held numerous leadership roles Union Board Chairman and serving on the Student Government Executive Council. There he met his love and life partner, Peggy Kunz.

Jim completed his master’s degree in counseling psychology at Ohio University. He then went on to enter a doctoral program in Clinical Psychology at Purdue University. He and Peggy were married August 30,1964 and she accompanied him to Purdue while he finished his degree after an internship and fellowship with the VA hospital and clinics at the Indiana University Medical School. He received his doctorate in 1967 and they returned to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he started his career as a psychologist in the counseling center and professor at the University of Utah. They were blessed with two children, Jennifer, born 1969 and Peter, born 1972. Together, they built a life full of laughter, devotion, travel and purpose, celebrating 60 years of marriage.

Jim worked 20 years at the “U,” advancing to serve as Associate Director of the Counseling Center, Director of Academic Advising, Associate Dean of General Education, earned a full professorship and became Associate Dean of Continuing Education. He then accepted a position to become Vice Provost of Continuing Education and Public Service at the University of Oklahoma, and the family moved to Norman. He went on to serve 30 years at that institution in various roles, retiring as Vice President of Outreach and Dean of the College of Liberal Studies. He retired as the longest serving Dean in the history of the University.

As Vice President of Outreach, Jim administered programs that had significant impact on the state and nation. His units managed several state and federal grants. As Dean of Liberal Studies, he supervised a college for working adults and mature students. Under his administration Liberal Studies increased enrollments 500 per cent, developed five new degree programs, integrated and pioneered online learning, developed a full-time faculty cadre as well as part time instructors and moved the college into its own building. During his tenure, the College was ranked as the third best of its kind in the nation. He also administered an armed forces program that delivered master’s programs to over fifty bases worldwide. His academic administration included re-establishing the aviation program at OU.

Active in national professional groups, he served as president of the University Professional Continuing Education Association and the Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Programs, receiving outstanding service awards and fellow status. He also served on the national boards as an officer for the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities, the Association of Continuing Higher Education, the Association of Academic Administrators and the American Personnel and Guidance Association. Active in community affairs, he served as chair of the state Humanities board and the Salt Lake Mental Health board, In Norman, Jim chaired the Convention and Visitors Bureau and Norman Arts and Humanities. He also served on the Norman Economic Development Coalition, the Red Cross board and the campus United Way. Along the way he received many awards and recognitions including being inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame and the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame.

A devout Orthodox Christian, Jim served as President of the Salt Lake Parish Council and on the Council of the St. George church in Oklahoma City. For his service, he received the St. Paul medal and was made an Archon of the International Patriarchate, the highest honors awarded to lay members of his church.

Jim is survived by his wife of 61 years, Peggy Kunz Pappas; daughter, Constance Jennifer Smart; a son Peter Theron Pappas (Shelley); and two granddaughters, Ella Rae and Lilly Ann Pappas. Also survived by brother-in-law Gary Kunz (Beverely) of Tucson, Arizona along with several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, brother John Pappas and his wife Jean.

A Trisagion Service will be held Friday evening at 7:00 pm, August 8, 2025, at Hahn Cook Funeral Home, 6600 Broadway Ext., Oklahoma City. The funeral service will be at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 2101 NW 145th St, Oklahoma City, 11:00 am, August 9, 2025. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the James P. Pappas scholarship fund at the International Adult and Continuing Hall of Fame.

To contribute to the James Pappas Scholarship, please go the following website and follow these steps:

https://halloffame.outreach.ou.edu/Pappas-Scholarship

1) Go to the top of the webpage and select Gifts and Contributions,

2) Select make a gift to the operations of the Hall of Fame.

3) Select Designated Gift and click on Edit

4) Check Other Fund not listed and specify – Pappas Scholarship