THE BOX
TODAY'S WORD
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April 30,1945
Bonnie Thompson / staffer, 05 • 07
TODAYS #
1993
Lindsay Hodges / staffer, 04 ■ 07
YOU ARE INVITED!
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The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity' institution.
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dailyeditor@ou.edu
The year Jack Willis arrived at
The Doily. For 14 years, Jack has
been the editorial adviser at The
Daily.
Jack has always been great about passing on
praise and encouragement. One of my favorite
journalism moments from my first year at The Daily
was the day Jack put a note in my box telling me I was
Imagine the nicest man on the face of the planet.
Then, imagine him telling you how horrible your story
is. That's Jack. He is never afraid to offer his words of
constructive criticism. I blame him for my drive to be
all I can be as a journalist.
Jerry Wofford / reporter, 06 - 07
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to work with me, Jack pulled me aside.
“Finish writing, then punch him in the face, he
said with a wink.
Breanca Thomas / reporter, '06 • '07
An education with Jack is something special. His
lessons extend past the classroom into values that can
be applied to everyday life.
Tiara Etheridge / reporter, 06 - 07
Whoever takes over his position has huge boots
to fill.
There is a lot to say about the one person who
could convince me to switch my major from psychol-
ogy to journalism.
Jack has brought more wisdom to the newsroom
than we could have ever achieved on our own.
It is said that journalism is best learned through
You can't do anything but love Jack. Even when he
gives you a SO percent for putting "them" instead of
"the" in a story, you still love Jack.
Victoria 0. Williams / staffer, 04 ■ 07
On a Saturday morning last year, Jack called and
woke up a very hungover me. He said, "Tres, what are
1: Performed as a routine duty;
hasty and superficial.
2: Lacking interest, care or en-
thusiasm; indifferent or apathetic.
Adolf Hitler commits suicide in
a bunker under his headquarters
in Britain by swallowing a cyanide
capsule and shooting himself in
the head. Soon after, Germany
surrendered to the Allied forces.
German military officers had tried
to assassinate Hitler numerous
times in previous years, causing
Hitler to execute 4,000 country-
men in response.
I think that as long as he's been at OU, Jack has
been the soul of The Daily's newsroom. Enlivening
excitement in his students and constantly pushing
Jack was on that little boat with George Washing-
ton when they crossed the Delaware River to surprise
the British in the Revot juonary War, and he had the
presence of mind to get G-dub to stand triumpha»'t Iv
at the front so it would make good dominant art for
newspapers across the colonies.
Then, centuries later, he helped me realize I was
good enough to do whatever I wanted in journalism
asl
nobody whose advice I trust more than Jack's, and I
can t imagine having "grown up" as a reporter without
him.
No matter how much you want to get mad at him,
you just can't. Jack is amazing.
Tiffany Stockton / Jack's Class, spring 07
Source Wetotrrs Owd New International DKttonar»
Perfunctory (adj.)
Jack has a way of not saying anything and yet
telling you everything you need to know about life in
that very moment.
Grant Slater, managing editor, fall 06
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TODAY'S HISTORY
Source History com
Jack has an open-door policy about his office in
the newsroom. Daily staffers know they can go in
whenever Jack is around to ask him about stories
they're writing, conundrums they're facing, jobs they
want or anything that's happening in their lives.
During my three years at The Daily, I've come to think
of Jack's office as the best place to go for advice,
encouragement or just a sympathetic listener.
Sarah Waldrop/suffer, 04 '07
© 2007 OU Publications Board
9
experience, but my experiences with student media
would've been meaningless without Jack's "write up’
to follow each one.
Annie Gasparo / managing editor, fall 2005
never forget the advice and wisdom you have passed
to me all these years. You are truly an inspiration to
me, you will be missed and Student Media won't be
the same without you.. One love!
Scooby Axson / staffer, '04 • '07
Groundbreaking Ceremony
Gaylord Hall Phase II
I
Jack once tried to explain to me why I should take
a particular course of action that I didn't want to take.
He explained it one way, but I had a counterpoint. He
explained it another way, but I had another counter-
point. He tried again to explain it logically, but I still
felt that my course of action was correct.
So he told me, "Jarrel, basically, you are screwed."
Then I understood.
i
Monday, April 30 2007
Jack Willis is journalism at OU.
James Nghiem / staffer, 05 ■ '07 shour(d practjced'
Josh McBee / night editor, 06 - 07
Jack, you hold a special place in my heart and I will you dojng? | need some help lifting furniture."
I rolled out of bed, put on a smelly shirt and drove
across town. I did it because I know he would do 10
times as much for me.
William W. Savage III / current editor in chief
I
3 p.m.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
North of Gaylord Hall
Corner of Lindsey Street and the South Oval
Taking design criticism from Jack Willis, a veteran
journalist and someone I respect and hope to impress,
has been like slowly getting tattooed: Each comment
and suggestion he makes leaves a mark on my brain
that will remain probably forever.
And I am better for it (despite the pain).
My regard for Jack renders the marks he gives me
permanent. His words have left in me an intricate,
composite knowledge of the way the art of journalism
I always thought I was scared of disappointing my
parents. Then I met Jack.
Jack is one of the only professors on campus who
them to reach their highest potential are just some of holds unquestionable authority and respect without
Jack's many ext raordinc. y qualities that have blessed     being scary or unkind. I would be more devastated
OU Student Media over the years — so much so that I   about disappointing him than anyone else I know,
can't imagine it without him.                              As a mentor, teacher and friend, Jack will leave a
Sara Ganus/editor in chief, 05-'06 gaping hole on campus when he leaves
after-hours scene you'll hear a designer or editor in
the newsroom ask "What would Jack say?" or say "I
know what Jack will say but I'm doing it anyway."
But they learn. Amid so many things he teaches in
this paper, he teaches you to think twice.
I wouldn't be writing with any sort of clarity
without him.
Danny Marroquin / staffer '05 - '07
Jack has always been the quiet, guiding force at
The Oklahoma Daily and in our lives. His subtle hints,
calm reactions and inquiries that helped us question
ourselves and our decisions have shown so many of
us the way. He never told us what to do He simply
showed us how to ask ourselves what was right.
Thank you for donating your time and energy. We
are truly grateful. I am truly grateful. Thank you, Jack
Andrea Heister / Daily staffer, 04 06
For additional information or accommodations on the basis of disabliry, please call the Office of Special Events at (405) 325-3784.
He doesn't make it easy, but he makes you good.
Jarrel Wade / managing editor, spring '07 And he's good at letting you know when you've failed
and when you've succeeded.
I think all of The Daily's recent alumni would say
Jack is the reason they are where they are today (the
successful ones, anyway). I can say with certainty that
any success I meet in journalism will be thanks, in
doing a good job. That meant the world to a freshman large part, to Jack.
reporter.
Meredith Simons / assistant ME, spring 07
Jack is the grandpa everyone needs, even if they
already have one. He encourages and empowers,
long as I worked hard (and passed his class). There's develops and disciplines. He sharpens and trains
every student he encounters.
And there has never been any situation in which
he hasn't had the most logical answer. Never. Jack
Michael Kimball / sports editor, Spring '07 is a great, great man and I wouldn't be a journalist
without him. Words can't express how much I, and
everyone who has ever met Jack Willis, will miss him.
Baxter Holmes / reporter, 05 • 07
Jarrel Wade, managing editor
dailynews@ou.edu
phone: 325-3666
fax: 325-6051
Fueling hub.ou.edu
) J
Talkin' about Willis HI
Jack not only commands tremendous respect from
the whole of The Daily staff, but is also the warm-
est and most welcoming person to set foot in the
newsroom. A simple "Good Job" from Jack makes you
feel like you accomplished something at a very high
standard. The Daily won't be the same without him.
Ashiq Zaman / opinion editor, spring '07
Jack's class was the first I'd taken where the grades
I earned truly did not matter. I was forced to grow
journalistically and accept and learn from the mis-
takes I made. But while observing me write a story on when the light goes out in Jack's office, his home
deadline as a fellow reporter ineffectively attempted phone is at the ready. This is comforting. In a typical