Obituary: Dr. Jack Testerman – faculty member and administrator

Dr. Jack Duane Testerman, 90-year-old Marietta, OK resident, passed away on Sunday, September 29, 2024 at his home. Services will be at 10:00 AM on Friday, October 4, 2024, at the Flanagan-Watts Funeral Home in Marietta with Dr. David Lange and Richard Barker officiating. Interment will be in Lakeview cemetery following the services. Visitation hours will be observed on Thursday, October 3, 2024, from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM.

Survivors include his wife, Rosemary; son from a previous marriage, Kenny Ray Testerman of Greenville, OK; grandchildren, Stacy Briggs and spouse Will Briggs of Marietta, Brian Coble and wife Mallorie of Strafford, MO, Elise Testerman of Lafayette, LA, and John D Alexander Testerman and wife Rachel of Marietta; great-grandchildren, Emily Briggs, Ryder Briggs, Chloe Coble, Ember Gail Coble, Ashbye Testerman, Jameson Testerman, Annie Lou Testerman, Ava Alexander and Arya Alexander; stepdaughter, Stephanie Denton and companion Mike Meaux of Scott, LA; stepson, D’Wayne Denton and wife Tara of Holcomb, MS; step-grandson, Corey Hastings and wife Angie of Lafayette, LA; step-granddaughters, Victoria Pierce and spouse Joshua of Ramstein, Germany, Christina Ganier and spouse Mike of Spring, TX, and Elizabeth Martinez and spouse Nate of Holcomb, MS; step-great-grandchildren, Adele Hastings, Luca Hastings, Michael Pierce, Matthew Pierce, Christian Ganier, Nikolai Ganier and Maverick Martinez.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse Dutton and Lillie Ann Holt Testerman; brother, Kenneth Testerman and wife Dorothy Ann Hicks; sister, Aurette (Tootsie) Testerman Evans and spouse Trevenor; daughter, Sherri Gail Testerman Coble; and son, Jay Darrell Testerman.

Jack was born December 13, 1933, in the Greenville community of Love County OK. He received his high school diploma in 1951 from Greenville School. He then enrolled and graduated from Murray State College in Tishomingo, OK. After graduation he moved to Stillwater, OK, where he attended Oklahoma A&M College, now known as Oklahoma State University. In 1955, he completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics; and in 1957, completed his Master of Science degree in statistics at Oklahoma State University.

He then accepted a position in Tulsa, OK, with the Carter Oil Company which later became Jersey Production Research Laboratories. Here he worked in the research facilities until September 1962, at which time he began working in research for Phillips Petroleum Co. in Bartlesville, OK, until 1963.

In 1963, he accepted a professorial teaching position at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, which later became the University of Louisiana, Lafayette, LA. There he taught courses in statistics and computer science, while developing a Master of Science and a Ph.D. program in statistics. Both programs were approved by the Louisiana State Board of Regents and initiated by the University in 1967. During this time, Jack also did statistical consulting with area companies and industry. In 1965, he became the Registrar of the University, while continuing with his duties as a teaching Professor. He pioneered computer scheduling of classes so students could avoid long lines when registering for courses each semester. In 1969, Jack took sabbatical leave to pursue a Ph.D. degree at the University of Texas-Austin, completing coursework in 1970 and obtaining his Ph.D. degree in 1972. In 1970, Jack returned to the University of Louisiana campus to a new position of Director of Institutional Research. In 1972, he was selected for the position of Vice President of University Relations and served in that position until his early retirement in June 1984. Upon retirement, Jack returned to his Oklahoma home to help care for his mother who had Alzheimer’s, and his brother Kenneth who had cancer.

In 1986, Southeastern Oklahoma State University (SOSU) in Durant, OK, asked Jack to join the professorial faculty of their Business School. He accepted this position and began teaching management, marketing, entrepreneurship, and research courses on campus. He also taught night classes for SOSU at the Ardmore Higher Education Center. Jack served as Director of the master’s program in Business until his retirement from SOSU. Jack loved teaching and working with students.

After retirement from SOSU, Jack became a member of the Ardmore chapter of the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). SCORE is a national organization devoted to helping entrepreneurs go into business, and helping existing businesses improve. Jack was a member of numerous honor societies, served on academic committees, and was a member of the National Board of the American Statistical Association. He also served on the board for the Mercy Health Love County Hospital. As Chair of the board, Jack was instrumental in bringing telecommunications to the hospital through the initial use of Ham radios. He also spent countless hours on projects that brought the food pantry to fruition and another project that was responsible for the design and placement of two above ground F-4 rated storm shelters at the hospital, both of which were credited for saving numerous lives during the April 2024 tornado.

Jack partnered with his brother Kenneth and his son Ken in raising cattle on their ranch in the Greenville community from 1980 until they sold the cattle operation in 2010.

Regardless of professional activities, Jack’s family always came first. He enjoyed taking his children fishing and letting them help with cattle chores as well as with the myriad of activities on the ranch acreage. He also enjoyed taking his family on summer vacations to Colorado and New Mexico, where they visited his sister Aurette and family. All the family was delighted in exploring mountains, old mines, and ghost towns. He and Rosemary also liked to travel and sightsee. They would vacation by taking unplanned driving trips throughout the states, choosing routes and lodging at random. The highlights of these trips included visiting with friends and relatives and viewing museums and national parks.

Jack enjoyed sports of all kinds. He played basketball, baseball, and softball in high school. In college he took up the sport of tennis and excelled in playing snooker at the pool hall. He organized a volleyball league at his Tulsa research labs, and he participated in league bowling while at the University of Louisiana.

Jack was an avid reader of books, magazines, newspapers, etc. He instilled in his children the joy of reading. He had a large collection of books which ranged from technical to fiction, from the profound to the profane. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed life to its fullest.

Pallbearers for Jack’s service are Russell Bausch, Will Briggs, Jesse Evans, Lee Evans, Corey Hastings, and Mike Meaux. Online condolences for the family can be left at: www.wattsfuneralhome.com

Our condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Jack Testerman.
Peace, Ed Dugas Oct. 3, 2024