Donald W. CARSON

CARSON, Donald W. a newsman, professor emeritus, world traveler and basketball and theater enthusiast, passed away February 1, 2018, at the age of 85. Don taught hundreds of students during his nearly 30 years at the University of Arizona School of Journalism, keeping in touch with many even after he retired in January 1997. He also was a reporter and associate editor for the Arizona Daily Star from 1957 to 1961 and 1967 to 1968, and was a newsman for the Associated Press in Washington, D.C., and Phoenix from 1961 to 1966. While he freely gave his time to students and diligently worked to integrate newsrooms and for other causes, his family was the most important aspect of his life. He took care of his wife of 61 years, Helen, during the last several years of her life. Following her death in March 2016, he enjoyed spending time with his three grown children and their spouses, grandchildren, and long-time friends and former students. The son of Tucson homesteaders, Marian and Francis "Kit" Carson, and brother of Virgil Carson, Don was a native Tucsonan who graduated from Tucson High School and the UA. At the UA, he served as head of the Journalism Department from 1978 to 1985. During those years and as professor from 1966 to 1996, he initiated many programs and publications, including the Pretentious Idea, Community News Service and a student exchange program with the Autonomous University of Guadalajara. He also was involved with the Maynard Institute, the nation's top minority-oriented news organization and sponsor of the Editing Program for Minority Journalists, a summer program that was housed at the UA for 20 years. His work to diversify newsrooms was recognized by such organizations as the Hispanic Professional Action Committee, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the National Conference of Editorial Writers. He received other honors. His most recent was as an inaugural member of the UA Journalism School Hall of Fame. He is also in the Arizona Newspaper Association Hall of Fame, the Arizona Daily Wildcat Hall of Fame and the Tucson High School Hall of Fame. In retirement, he went from a lifetime of observing politics to being an activist. Beginning in 2002, he volunteered for more than a decade for Democrat Congressman Raul Grijalva. Don helped other candidates throughout the years and was part of the effort to eliminate the payday loan industry in 2006. He also served on the board of the Little Chapel of All Nations, as a public member of the Arizona Supreme Court's Disciplinary Commission and on the State Bar's Board of Governors. In those latter two roles, he fought to make disciplinary records available online. With friend and fellow journalism professor, James W. Johnson, he co-authored a biography on Arizona Congressman Morris K. Udall, Mo: The Life and Times of Morris K. Udall, which was published in 2001. Don and Helen were long-time season ticket holders to UA basketball games. They also loved the theater, attending all types of performances, from the UA to community and professional productions. They were world travelers, with Don using his skills on many occasions to teach others about journalism. He was a visiting lecturer /professor in Sweden, Mexico, Bolivia and Costa Rica, and was a three-time Fulbright Scholar to Quito, Ecuador. Married in 1954 after meeting at the UA, Don and Helen had three children, Theresa Fortney (Robert), Mike Carson (Leah) and Susan Cormier (Craig); five grandchildren, Jennifer Rucker, Brian Rucker, Laura Rucker, Christina Hope and Nathan Carson; and two great-grandchildren. A Memorial Mass will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 23, 2018 at St. Odilia Catholic Church, 7570 N. Paseo del Norte. A celebration of life begins at 1 p.m. at Hacienda del Sol, 5501 N. Hacienda del Sol Road. Consider donations to the Donald W. Carson Concerned Media Professionals Endowment through the UA Foundation/Journalism or Don's favorite charities: Casa Maria, Community Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity and Interfaith Community Services.