The Field Loses a Great Man - Jack Arthur Culbertson

CULBERTSON Jack Arthur Culbertson, 89, of Columbus, died Saturday, December 8, 2007. He was born on July 16, 1918, in Nickelsville, Va. He was the son of the late Otto Cecil and Lola Kate Culbertson. Jack is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Virginia; daughters, Karen and Margaret; grandson, Mark; sisters, Mabel Sinclair of Lynchburg, Va. and Betty Wayne Godsey of Weber City, Va. Jack began his educational career as an elementary teacher in the Scott County Schools in his native Va. Jack also served as a secondary teacher in Calif. and N.C., and as a school principal and superintendent in both Va. and Calif. He graduated from Emory and Henry College, with a A.B. degree, in 1943.Jack completed his M.A. degree at Duke University in 1946, and attained his Ph.D. in 1955, at the University of California, Berkeley. Following an assistant professorship at the University of Oregon from 1955-59, he joined the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) as Executive Director. For over 22 years from 1959 to 1981, he worked to improve the quality of leadership in educational administration.

Jack linked people with ideas; mentored and influenced the careers of countless professors and practitioners; and molded a national organization which assumed a leadership role in both shaping and articulating the movements, trends and developments in the field of educational leadership. His work with professors led to the development of well over 100 books, articles, essays, simulation training materials, and other published works. He helped to establish the Journal of Educational Equity and Leadership, which facilitated the career paths of women and minorities in his field. He also delivered invited addresses from Nigeria to Germany, Brazil, England and Australia. Following his tenure at UCEA, he held the position of adjunct professor of educational administration at Ohio State University through 1984. Jack was included in Who's Who in Education; Who's Who in America; Who's Who in The World; and The 2000 Outstanding Scholars of the 21st Century. The Jack A. Culbertson Award was established by the UCEA Associate Directors, to annually recognize unusual research and development achievements of talented young professors. Jack also established a yearly scholarship fund in his name through the College of Education at the Ohio State University. He was the recipient of three of his field's top honors. Jack was named Commonwealth Nations Fellow for 1978. The Roald F. Campbell Life-Time Achievement Award was presented for distinguished service, superior scholarship, and recognized leadership on October 30, 1993. The National Conference of Professors of Educational Administration recognized Jack with the "Living Legend" Award in 2000. In lieu of flowers, friends who wish may contribute to Emory and Henry College, Development Office, P.O. Box 950, Emory, Va. 24327. Friends may call Wednesday, December 12, from 5-7 p.m. at the WEIR-AREND FUNERAL HOME, 4221 N. High St., (3 blocks S. of Henderson Rd.) Service will be held Thursday 11 a.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church, 700 High St., Worthington, where friends may call 1 hour prior to service. Inurnment will be held in the church cemetery.

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