Beech Tree News Network

Carlton Jackson's life began on January 15, 1933, in Blount County, AL, on Sand Mountain.  He passed away at his home in Butler County, KY, on February 10, 2014.  The youngest of nine siblings, he was the son of Luther Harrison Jackson and Winnie Lee Forester Jackson.  A high school dropout at the age of 18, he had never left Alabama.  He longed for travel and adventure, whether it was the world or within the US.  His journey began on February 10, 1951, after enlisting in the United States Air Force.  His service took him from New Mexico to New Jersey to England to California. He has been to every state in the Union, for which he was very proud. "I owe everything I have to the US Air Force," he would say. His adventurous spirit and love of travel enriched the lives of his entire family. His children benefitted from experiencing different cultures and seeing many wondrous places while in the process receiving an education second to none.

Carlton Jackson was always interested in talking to people. "Everyone has a story, and I want to know what it is," he would say. This love of stories started early on as a reporter for the Birmingham Post Herald in Alabama and ultimately led to him earning Baccalaureate and Masters degrees at Birmingham Southern College on the GI Bill and a PhD in History at the University of Georgia. Having been awarded four senior Fulbright grants, he and his family travelled to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Finland among other places.  He lectured extensively throughout Europe, Asia and South America.  Dr. Jackson wrote well over thirty books on topics as diverse as a World War II song, The Great Lili, and the Greyhound bus company, Hounds of the Road.  He also wrote textbooks and a few novels.  He was a prolific biographer as well, writing of J.I. Rodale, Hattie McDaniel, and Joseph Gavi amongst others. Everyone has a story, “you see?”

Education was paramount in Dr. Jackson's life despite him being a high school dropout. He would say that he dropped out of school because he didn't like math, and the first thing the Air Force did for him was send him to math class. He would brag, "almost no one graduates high school in one day." He did just that, earning his GED whilst in the US Air Force. He was a lifelong learner and expected the same from his children. Much to their dismay, at the time, and gratitude later, all of his children "were going to get a Bachelors Degree."  He was the first in his family to graduate college and went on to enjoy more than a half-century as a professor at WKU.  He was the first professor at WKU to be selected as the Honorable Mace, was a Western Kentucky University Emeritus Distinguished Professor of History, a Kentucky Colonel and an honorary US Marine.

Even though he treasured education and travel, there was nothing more important to him than his wife Pat and his children, grand children, great grandchildren, sisters, brothers, nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.  He is survived by his beloved wife Patricia Ann Dow Jackson, daughters Beverly Ann Jackson Berry (Steve), Hilary Lea Jackson Mosley (Arthur), sons Daniel Dow Jackson (Ling) and Matthew Forester Jackson (Elaine).  Grandchildren are Travis Luther Jackson, Colleen Rose Berry Becker (Chris), Dr. Megan Grace Jackson (Chase James), Stephen Patrick Berry (fiancée Beth Milograno), Austin Cooper Jackson, Katharine Ann Berry, Liam Horatio Arthur Bleys Jackson, Rowan Patrick Harrison Karol Jackson, Carlton Oliver Li Ding Jackson, Henry Aaron Jackson Mosley, Gwennyn Brigid Mindora Nicole Jackson, Isaac Jacob Alexander Mosley, Cranley Dow Ding He Jackson, Ciara Katarina Amaris Vernell Jackson, and Alec Jaks.  Great Grandchildren are David Daniel Jackson, Finley Patrick Becker, Kellan Michael Becker, Cora Katherine James and her upcoming brother or sister.  He is also survived by his loving sister Vernell Payne, several cousins, nephews and numerous “favorite” nieces.

Visitation will be held Friday, 14th of February at J.C. Kirby Funeral Home on Lovers Lane in Bowling Green, KY, between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.  Funeral services will be Saturday, 15th of February at 2 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in Bowling Green, KY.  In lieu of flowers and gifts please consider donating to the Carlton Jackson Memorial Award through the WKU Foundation.