William “Bill” Andrew Conboy
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A Celebration of Life will be held for William “Bill” Andrew Conboy at The Smith Center at Brandon Woods on Sunday, September 29th from 2 to 4 pm. William passed away peacefully on August 27th at his home at Brandon Woods South.
Bill is survived by his two sons, Fred Conboy, William “Andy” Conboy, Jr. both of Lawrence; daughter, Connie Conboy (Flagstaff, AZ and Groton, CT); three grandchildren, Leroy, Lamar, Lindsay; and three great grandchildren, Thea, Kyra, Zyiah. His beloved first wife, Carolyn “Cari” Campbell, passed away in 2008.
Bill was born on October 16, 1924 in Omaha, NE, son of Raymond Phillip and Gertrude Martha (LaCoss) Conboy. Bill lived in Phoenix as a child before the family moved to Lawrence where he attended Liberty Memorial High School from 1940-1942. His mother was originally a school teacher in Cottonwood Falls, KS; his father worked for Ridenour-Baker Grocery Company out of Kansas City before establishing Conboy Real Estate in Lawrence. In 1942, Bill was elected Boy Mayor of Lawrence by the American Legion for Boys’ and Girls’ week and made a public address at the historic Eldridge Hotel.
In 1943, Bill joined the 625th Platoon of the United States Marine Corp, stationed in San Diego, in the middle of his undergraduate career at KU. He became a radar technician in Hawaii, Guam and later the occupation of Japan. Serving until 1946, he then returned to KU to complete his B.A. in English and Creative Writing (1949) and his M.A. in Speech (1951). Bill was a Summerfield Scholar and a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.
Bill met his future bride, Carolyn “Cari” Campbell, in a KU creative writing class in 1948. Bill was editor of the 1949 Jayhawker yearbook; Carolyn was assistant editor. After a mutual courtship, they married in June 1949.
After earning his PhD from Northwestern University in 1954, he was recruited to KU during the tenure of Chancellor Franklin Murphy to serve as Chair of KU’s Speech and Drama Department for the next 16 years. The Department flourished and became nationally prominent under his leadership. He served KU 42 years.
Bill built the foundation of the Speech and Drama Department by establishing its PhD program, expanding curricula in theater, speech pathology and audiology, and master’s programs in radio-TV-film. His scholarly expertise focused on the social influence of speech and the science of listening. He was a founding member of the World Future Society and advanced its global programs and scholarship. His books include: “The Challenge of the Future: Visions and Versions” and “Working Together: Communication in a Health Organization”.
Bill’s reputation for excellence as a teacher was rivaled only by his prowess as a dynamic softball pitcher. His talent for putting spin on the ball was famed, making home runs by opponents unhittable. During his pitching career, his teams won the 1952 and 1954 KU Intramural Championships for the Faculty Fossils, and the 1966-69 Championships for the Speed Rats.
In 1965, in celebration of KU’s Centennial, Bill conceived and helped organize a landmark seminar, The Inter-Century Seminar on Man and the Future. The Lawrence Journal World described the Seminar as a “World’s Fair of Ideas” uniting some of the world’s most creative minds of that time on KU’s campus to exchange their visions of the Future, including luminaries Arthur C. Clarke, Buckminster Fuller and Karl Menninger.
In 1990, Bill received The Chancellors Club Career Teaching Award from Chancellor Gene Budig in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding teaching for the benefit of KU’s students.
Bill’s sons, Fred and Andy, and daughter, Connie, his “Princess”, were his constant companions during his residency at Brandon Woods. They filled each day with family visits, music, ballgames, movies and musicals, and dining on special occasions at Mariscos, including a memorable celebration of his granddaughter Lindsay’s graduation from KU Law School in 2012.
Bill’s favorite musical was South Pacific, and he loved singing the longing song, Some Enchanted Evening. He maintained a lifelong inspiration for creative writing and made gifts of his original stories and verses to his children and grandchildren on Christmas Eve.
Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the “William A. Conboy Fund” established with Kansas University Endowment Association to benefit students. KU Endowment Association, Box 928, Lawrence KS 66044, or may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044. To post a condolence go to warrenmcelwain.com.
Thoughts and prayers to you and yours, Connie!
Bill was one of a kind! A caring and loving person to his friends and family. He was modest, highly intelligent and humorous. Always sociable and a lover of KU athletics of any kind. Doubt he missed a basketball or football game when he was teaching or for years after he retired. He also loved the theatre and spent time at live performances as well as movies. I feel privileged to have had him as my advisor in graduate school. Love and prayers to his extended family. He will be missed.
Sheila M. Immel
Bill was a wonderful man and one of the best professors at the University of Kansas. I was blessed to have him as a professor and a friend. His contributions to the world were endless and Bill will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this very difficult time.
With Sincere Sympathy,
Nancy Hedrick
Dr. Conboy was my favorite Communications Studies professor. He had a way of relating to the students that made you feel like you mattered to him. I knew him even better as a customer at Owen’s Flower Shop. He loved to send flowers to special friends across the US. This past week I was thinking of him and wondered how he was and to my surprise, his obituary was in the paper. To his family, I will keep you all in my prayers as you go through this difficult time. Please know he touched a lot of lives and will be remembered fondly.
Fred and family: Faith joins me in extending our deepest sympathy on the passing of your beloved father, grandfather, and other most meaningful relationships of this kind man. We have been so aware of Fred’s close relationship over the years, and know what all others must be feeling at this time. God be with all of you.
Jack and Faith Greenwood
Fred, Any and Connie,
My deepest sympathy on the loss of your father.
Regina (Wells) Strout
I got to know Bill when I worked briefly at Brandon Woods. He made my job enjoyable. I have never met a nicer man in my life! He will be missed greatly. So sorry for your loss.
Marilyn Amyx
Fred and Andy: I am very sad having learned of your father’s death. He was one of the great faculty members that I had the pleasure and honor of knowing and working with at KU. Bill was a faculty member for all seasons; besides being an excellent teacher in his discipline, he had a love and commitment to higher education and particularly KU that made him very valuable to the University in so many ways. For years, Bill sat in front of Mary Kate and me at football games and whether the game was good or not so good, he entertained us with his marvelous sense of humor. I shall miss him. Mary Kate loved Bill and she joins me in extending our sympathy to you and all of your family.
Fred, I’m so sorry for your loss and hope you and your family we be able to share wonderful stories about your dad’s meaningful and productive life, both personal and professional. I remember when my husband George was first introducing me to Kansas, and specifically KU, that your father’s name was spoken with awe as one of the people most important in passing on the wonderful teaching, research and writing tradition of the KU faculty. So I know first hand that he will be fondly remembered by all, even those beyond your close family circle.
Judy Heller
Fred, my deepest sympathies and sincere condolences at the loss of your father. I know how close you were to him. My thoughts are with you and your family at this difficult time.
So sorry for your loss. . My prayers and thoughts are with you at this time. Glenda Lewis .
Dear Fred,
Please accept my sincere condolences for the passing of your father. I know that in several respects, he was one of your heroes. My father was one of mine as well.
I’m glad to know that you were together enjoying those things he loved so much: watching the Royals and favorite old films.
I wish you and your siblings much joy and laughter as you celebrate his life and his love for all of you.
Respectfully,
Chris Redo
Fred, family and friends
Sincerest condolences, my heart goes out to all. Wish you peace and comfort.
There are no words to describe Bill Conboy as he was one of a kind. I met him in the summer of 1966, when I enrolled for summer school at KU. He taught my first class in a trailer and what a class it was! I loved that class and in the process met a friend and mentor that was my constant shadow for 53 years. Without him in my life I would not have had a 30 year teaching career at North Carolina State University. Semper Fi, my friend, and rest in peace.
Fred, I’m so sorry to hear about your father’s passing. He was so dear to your heart and daily activities. Your dad lived a long and wonderful life, well cared for by you in his later years. Please let me know if I can help in any way. My heart goes out to you and your family. Peace be with you.
Pam
Dear Fred:
I know you are hurting because you lost more than a father, you lost a dear friend. You truly are the best son and friend a father could ever have.
Much much love and respect,
your Amargosa sister, Sandy
Dearest Fred,
Thinking of you. Sending love and blessings to you and yours. You are a most honorable, dedicated and loving son.
What a wonderful photo of him. His light shines bright.
Always your friend,
big hugs,
Lizette
Dear Fred – My most heartfelt prayers and condolences for you and your family during this sad time. Your father was a wonderful man, who was blessed in so many ways – especially in having a loving family and in you a steadfast light to help him through his later years. What a gift you gave him, Fred, and how dear you were to him. May you find peace in this and in his life well lived. Much love, Caleen
Dear Fred,
Thinking of you and your family at this difficult time. May you find comfort in the beautiful memories shared of his beautiful live and the time, care and attention you so generously gave him to make his life enjoyable till the end.
Sincere condolences.
Christine
Dear Fred, Andy, Connie and family,
Your father [my Uncle Bill], has peacefully departed our domain to perhaps reunite with other family and close souls on their respective journeys. Although you feel the loss of separation and the love he bestowed, the loss will be transitory by knowing we are eternal as realized through your dreams and found memories. My first fun memory as a child was when your family came to visit us in Chicago for an outing in your camper-tent. Later at K.U., memories include his wisdom as a life-coach to me. Your father exemplifies that he, along with our fore-parents, have been blessed with the best of humanity and gifted it to us so we might pass it on.
My love and warmest sympathies to all of you in found remembrance of Uncle Bill,
Cousin Randy
It was my great benefit to have learned from this wonderful professor. Deepest sympathy from a most grateful student.
Fred: My truly profound sympathy at your loss…. your dedication and care over the years speaks volumes for the love and devotion and the incredible bond which is so evident. How fortunate your dad was to have you as a genuinely caring son, and how fortunate are you to have had the opportunity to share his life, and his end of life. Your lofty character is a touching compliment to both of your lives and at his passing. I had the opportunity to be holding my father’s hand and telling him he was much loved, and was doing a ‘good job Pop’, as he ‘crossed the river’, and wouldn’t have missed a second of that shared sacred time…. I can only surmise that you too will always feel the blessing that passed between you in those special last moments, especially following the years of caring which preceeded. Bless and rest his soul, and bless you for your caring. Best, Hank
Fred, Andy, and family,
May good memories of your dad enrich your lives for many years to come.
It was my pleasure to visit him at BW 3 weeks ago and have a good chat about some significant times we had shared, particularly the fact that it was he that had brought me to KU as a faculty member many years ago. It was a time of great growth in the department, and I appreciated his expansive outlook.
Bobby Patton
Fred, Andy and Connie and Family
Bill became known to me in the early summer of 1959 when I entered the graduate program in Speech and Drama at KU. In the class I took from him and started what became a 60 year friendship. Bill became my mentor, my close friend and confidante, my supporter and always a source of sound advice. He influenced me to join the faculty at KU and supported my promotions and early administrative efforts.
His 16 years of leadership as department chair served to raise the status of the department both locally and nationally, develop three doctoral programs, attracted a strong faculty and greatly expand the department’s enrollment and visibility. He decentralized the department into four divisions and promoted a collaborative cohesion. His leadership was characterized by his good ideas, his good and often great sense of humor, his humility and optimism.
Together we celebrated in memorable times of happiness and consoled one another in times of grief and loss. I have now lost one of the most significant persons in my life.
I never met Dr. Conboy but I’ve known Fred for years. It was so special that Fred moved home to Lawrence and spent so much time with his father in these past several years. Both his father and Fred are blessed for this wonderful time together. Bill had a long and successful life.
Fred and Andy
So sorry to hear about your dad. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Dear Fred and Family:
What a beautiful face…so honest ,,kind and open….He obviously was a
beautiful Father and human being.
God rest his SOUL.
God Bless the Conboy Family….
To the family of Bill Conboy:
Our deepest sympathy and condolences may he rest in peace and always remember the good times.
Fred, Connie, Andy,
My heart goes out to you. My brothers and I had the great pleasure of having Bill in our lives for over 50 years as a very close friend of the family. He is remembered as a truly wonderful person; kind, caring, fun, and loyal friend. Not to mention the biggest KU fan! I’m especially grateful for his close friendship with mom all these years. His generous history of finding Bunny cards and gifts of books is legend. Always a smile and a hug every time we saw each other. We shall keep smiling every time we think about him and all the special ways he impacted our lives.
Stephanie, Steve, and David Dart
Aaahh. Bill. He was always so warm and kind. So many academics are not. With a few words he could brighten and warm up the character of a room. I was 3 when i met Bill and Fred and their family. At a Department picnic. I still remember it – I was too short to see over the tops of the tables. But, I remember when the Conboys came – and I looked up to see his smile – and his nice talk with me. Rven then his kindness carved a niche in my memory. I am so happy they are my family. I imagine Bill is skipping rocks with St. Peter and singing with Angels. He and my Dad are probably playing poker and drinking Scotch in Heaven. I hope for my Dad’s sake – that there is Scotch in Heaven. Bill’s kindness and warmth and humor made and are still making a huge difference in my life. Poignant moments. True quality time. We will see him again. Forever and ever. Many prayers and blessings to you, Fred, and all the family. Much love always. -Kit
Fred, May the love of God surround you during this time of sorrow.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
With heartfelt sympathy, Ferie Phillips
Fred and Connie,
Sending thoughts and prayers your way. Very sorry for your great loss. Hoping you can find peace as time passes.