Dr. John Jefferson Seaberg, Jr., spent over 40 years in education and 22 years at the University of Oklahoma, retiring from the University Of Oklahoma College of Education in 1991. He received his BA degree from Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado, his master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley and his Doctorate in Administration and Supervision from the University of New Mexico.

Dr. Seaberg was inducted into the Oklahoma Educator’s Hall of Fame in 1993 where he is recognized as teacher, educator, mentor, role model, consultant, researcher and leader. He was the recipient of numerous professional awards and was the founder and developer of Oklahoma Project LEAD (Leadership in Educational Administration and Development).

Dr. Seaberg held numerous leadership positions at OU and received multiple national recognitions in his field of expertise. His true legacy, however, is the manner in which he helped his students complete their doctorate degrees and achieve their career aspirations. He worked tirelessly to make his students feel supported and set them up for life success not only as students, but as teachers, administrators, and leaders, so their impact could in turn leave an expanding leadership legacy in the educational community.

This strong interest in student success resulted from his upbringing, where he lacked significant professional mentorship and wanted to provide that to others. He came from the small town of Alamosa, CO, experiencing childhood poverty during the depression. From age 11, after his mother died, he helped raise his little brother in a boarding school as his plumber father was forced to work on distant construction projects, as plumbing supplies were in short supply due to the defense effort and economic conditions.

John was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting and fishing, first with his father and brother, and later, with his sons. He played high school and college sports and lettered in basketball, football, baseball and track. He credited his athletic pursuits with keeping him engaged in his education. Not surprisingly, he brought this love of sport to his early education career, often serving first as a coach and teacher, and later, as administrator. He built on his real-world teaching and administrative experience to obtain his Doctorate later in his career.

He became a professor to achieve the dual aspiration to not only progress professionally, but also through teaching other committed educators in their graduate programs, to have the broadest possible influence on students through helping others learn practical aspects of how to lead and educate. This endowed scholarship perpetuates his ideas. Rather than have students throw early morning papers prior to their master’s or doctoral classes as he did, perhaps these funds can help those graduate students with the best leadership potential pay for their graduate programs, so they can increase their focus on learning to become the best educational leaders possible.

John was a true servant-leader. His family knew him as “husband and Dad.” When his kids got into sports, he became their coach. When the Scouts needed camping oversight, he got out his tent. When his kids forged ahead in various careers, he mentored them with professional articles and personal leadership stories. He was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, serving in the Bishopric and Stake Presidency for over 20 years.

He served as High Priest group leader and was a faithful volunteer and disciple of his Savior, Jesus Christ. He was a dedicated husband, father, educator, grandfather, and friend who leaves behind a legacy of not just love of others, but of his foremost attribute and what he most wanted his students to learn and live: leadership.