September 29, 1932 - May 28, 2024

James Conrad Carroll, Dean Emeritus and Distinguished Professor in the University of Central Arkansas College of Business Administration, died on May 28, 2024. He was born in Stone County, Arkansas on September 29, 1932 to Aubrey James and Emma Hinesley Carroll (now deceased). He was also preceded in death by one brother, Frank Carroll. Survivors include his wife of more than 65 years, Theda Stuckey Carroll; daughter, Constance Michele (Connie) of New Haven, Connecticut; son, James Christiaan Carroll (Chris) and wife, Kristine of Houston, Texas; grandson, Travis Christiaan Carroll of Dallas, Texas and granddaughter, Aubrey Elizabeth Carroll of Houston, Texas.

Dean Carroll grew up in Benton, Arkansas. After discharge from the U.S. Air Force, he graduated cum laude from Ouachita Baptist University and earned his MBA and Ph. D degrees from the University of Arkansas. He also attended the University of California and Little Rock University. His first teaching position was at Ouachita Baptist University where he taught Economics, Marketing, Labor Relations and Statistics. He then taught at the University of Arkansas and Texas A&M Commerce (formerly East Texas State University) before coming to the University of Central Arkansas (formerly Arkansas State Teachers College) as Chairman of the Business, Economics and Sociology Department. He served for thirty years, through the transition of the Department into a College, AACSB accreditation of the Bachelor of Business Administration degree and later, the Masters in Business Administration. After retirement, he served as Interim Vice-President for Academic Affairs at Central Baptist College.

Conrad was a long-time Bible Study teacher and deacon at Second Baptist Church and Antioch Baptist Church in Conway. After retirement, he was able to devote his time to a favorite pursuit, mission work, making 18 missions to Romania (3 construction and 15 medical) and other single trips such as Guatemala and Czech Republic. He enjoyed serving as a consultant for Winrock Enterprises in Sakhalin, Russia; Nicaragua and Ukraine, as well as Visiting Professor in Moscow, Russia and Teeside, England. He still had time for his favorite recreational visits to the Holy Land and Ireland.

During a long career, Conrad served in various positions in numerous academic/professional organizations; but his most cherished was that of ''Grampa C'' to Travis and Aubrey. His favorite service organizations were Gideons International and the Conway Kiwanis Club.

He joined the local Kiwanis club in 1966 and for 58 years had served in various positions, including President and Board Member. On a District Level, he served the Missouri-Arkansas District as Lt. Governor over the Central Arkansas clubs. He was named a Distinguished Lt. Governor and Club Builder of the Year. Conrad was honored by his local club as Kiwanian of the Year, by the District with a Governor's Award for Dedication and Service and on the International level, as a recipient of the George F. Hixon Fellowship Award. He was also proud to be a member of the founding committee of the Arkansas Military Veterans Hall of Fame and served as its Treasurer.

Funeral Services are planned for Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 2 p.m. with visitation one hour prior to the service at Antioch Baptist Church, Conway, Arkansas with entombment at Crestlawn Mausoleum, Conway, Arkansas. Serving as pallbearers are Morris Lamberson, Richard Plotkin, Gene Bartley, Joel Hawkins, Mickey Prince and Mike Carroll. Honorary pallbearers are the men of Antioch Baptist Church Pathfinders Bible Study Class, Gideons South Faulkner County Camp, Conway Kiwanis Club members and the Department Heads of the College of Business University of Central Arkansas who served with Dean Carroll.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to (1) UCA Foundation, Buffalo Alumni Hall, UCA Box 4986, Conway, AR 72035 or online at uca.edu/give. (Please indicate that the gift is to the Dean Conrad Carroll ''In Pursuit of Excellence'' Fund in memory of Conrad Carroll); (2) Antioch Baptist Church Senior's Ministry, Conway, AR 72032; (3) Lifeword Romanian Gypsy Ministry, BMA Foundation, P. O. Box 6, Conway, AR 72033; (4) Ouachita Baptist University, 410 Ouachita St., Arkadelphia, AR 71998; (5) Central Baptist College, 1501 College Avenue, Conway, AR 72034 or (6) any of the children's programs sponsored by the Conway Kiwanis Club.

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