The graduate student conference on communication went on as scheduled, despite the recent death of the University of Oklahoma Department of Communication's chair.
Michael Pfau, professor and chair of the department since 2001, died Thursday after a brief illness. Faculty and students, although grieving the loss, said Pfau would have wanted the student-run conference to take place.
"I know he wanted us to continue with this, and the faculty was very supportive of have this despite our loss," communication graduate student Shawn Snidow said Saturday at the Sooner Communication Conference.
The conference participants observed a moment of silence at lunch Saturday to honor Pfau.
Communication professor Dan O'Hair said it's been a struggle to move forward in the department.
"He was deeply loved and respected, and coming at such ... short notice it was pretty much a shock for all of us," he said.
There will be a memorial service for Pfau in Norman within the next month or two, but no definite plans have been made yet, O'Hair said.
Funeral services will be Wednesday in Bloomington, Minn., where Pfau's family lives. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Ginger Nelson Pfau; son, Michael and wife Amanda and grandchildren, Anika and Callan; daughter, Julie Pfau; and sisters Shirlene Merrill and Kelly Kuehn.
Julianna Parker Jones 366-3541 jparker@normantranscript.com
Local news
OU Communication chair dies
- Local news
-
-
Theater’s the scene for Norman marketing director
Nancy Coggins landed a job with a prestigious Oklahoma City advertising agency before the ink dried on her OU journalism diploma. The job was a first rung on her career ladder and she admits that it didn’t call for her creative talents. ...
-
New jail to install curtains
The F. DeWayne Beggs Detention Center, though still in its infancy, is getting a facelift: new curtains....
-
Businesses go the extra mile for Valentine’s Day
Among the various images the phrase “Valentine’s Day” might conjure in one’s mind, probably the most immediate is the iconic dozen roses and heart-shaped box of chocolates....
-
New rehabilitation, skilled care center will be next to HealthPlex
StoneGate Senior Living President and CEO John F. Taylor announced Friday that his company has completed the purchase of approximately 6.7 acres of land in the Norman Regional Health System’s Medical Park West project at NW 36th Avenueand ...
-
Mystery performance provides theatrical fatal attraction
James Briggs has a pretty steady day job with the city parks department, doesn’t live anywhere near Little River and probably never owned or slept in a hatchback. He doesn’t usually wear sport coats that are two sizes too small, either ...
-
'Get the Lead Out' annual children's art festival enters 10th year
Longfellow Middle School had a special “GLO” about it Saturday morning....
-
County prisoners moved to new jail
Cleveland County sheriff’s deputies began moving prisoners from the detention center adjacent to the courthouse to the new F. DeWayne Beggs Detention Center at Franklin Road and U.S. 77 early Saturday morning....
-
School board elections Tuesday
Voters go to the polls Tuesday in four Cleveland County school districts. Cleveland County Election Board Secretary Jim Williams said this will be the first election using the new voting system. Polls will open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on ...
-
Identity theft crackdown sweeps nation
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and the Justice Department recently announced a national sweep cracking down on suspected identity theft perpetrators as part of a stepped-up effort against refund fraud and identity theft....
-
Darry Stacy seeking county commission seat
Darry Stacy, a fifth generation Oklahoman and lifelong resident of Cleveland County, announced Friday that he will be a Republican candidate for the District 2 Cleveland County commissioner seat....
- More Local news Headlines
-
Theater’s the scene for Norman marketing director
