IN MEMORIAM
JACK L. WHITEHEAD
Jack Whitehead, former associate dean, College of Communication
and associate professor, Department of Communication Studies,
died May 18, 2004, in Austin, Texas. He was born June 30, 1943.
Professor Whitehead received his B.A. from Louisiana State University
in 1965 and his M.S. from the University of Southern Mississippi
in 1966. He was awarded a Ph.D. from Indiana University in 1969.
That same year, he joined what was then the speech communication
faculty at The University of Texas at Austin, where he taught
for twenty-eight years. Professor Whitehead was an excellent
teacher and administrator and led his department and college
toward technological modernization, such as using the computer
for managing student records. In recognition of his interest
in campus life, Jack was chosen by students in 1991 to be an
honorary member of Golden Key, a campus honor society that recognizes
academic excellence.
Jack was the author of a number of articles and technical reports
on small group and linguistic communication. He, along with Frederick
Williams and Leslie M. Miller at the Center for Communication
Research, worked on a major grant in 1971 from the U.S. Department
of Health, Education, and Welfare entitled, Attitudinal correlates
of children's speech characteristic. The next year, he,
along with Dennis F. Blosser and Benjamin W. Barnes, published
a technical report through the Center for Communication Research
entitled, Nonauditory effects of noise: a selected annotated
bibliography II. Jack co-authored a textbook in 1979 with
Robert Hopper entitled, Communication concepts and skills.
In 1984, Jack edited a book entitled, Readings for business
and professional communication. Jack's strongest belief
was in the power of individual motivation, which is apparent
in his originating a course on communication and salesmanship
that remained a significant part of the undergraduate curriculum
at the time of his passing.
Jack took particular joy in making his expertise available to
the public and was a consultant to a number of Texas organizations
over the tenure of his professorship. His consultation focused
on how to use communication to accomplish tasks, such as managing
organizational difficulties, increasing sales, and improving
customer service. His clients included such diverse groups as
the Texas Nursing Home Association, Texas Land Title Association,
The Texas Association of Realtors, U.S. Civil Service Commission,
Texas Electric Cooperatives, Texas Department of Public Welfare,
Menswear Retailers of America, Austin Presbyterian Theological
Seminary, ALCOA Corporation, and Southern Union Gas Co.
Early on during his time in Austin, Jack established himself
as an avid fisherman and a shucker of oysters. Jack's wide ranging
interests led to his involvement in the world of commerce, and
this meant that his friends and students were always hearing
about investments and had access to antique furniture and new
and used cars. Jack loved buying and selling, and he was generous
with the opportunities that passed his way.
<signed>
Larry R. Faulkner, President
The University of Texas at Austin
<signed>
Sue Alexander Greninger, Secretary
The General Faculty
This memorial resolution was prepared by a special committee
consisting of Professors Larry Browning (chair) and John
Daly.
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