Odell - Deforest
Deforest O'DELL
Inducted
1976
DeForest
O'Dell was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 1, 1898. His parents were
Thomas Allen and Ella Elizabeth (Haywood) O'Dell. Thomas Allen was attending
medical school at Emory University at the time of his son's birth.
The
O'Dell family moved to Brightwood in the Indianapolis area when DeForest was
eighteen months old. Thomas Allen practiced medicine in this community for over
fifty years.
DeForest,
an only child, was educated in the Indiana public school system. He attended
IPS #51 and graduated from Shortridge High School in 1915.
Upon
high school graduation, O'Dell began college at Butler University,
Indianapolis, from 1915 until 1917. This educational pursuit was interrupted
when O'Dell was transferred from the Indiana National Guard to the United
States 139th Field Artillery. He served in the American Expeditionary Force in
this country and France during World War II. He was discharged as a sergeant in
1919 and later served in the United States Military Intelligence Reserve as a
second lieutenant from 1927 to 1935.
In
1919 O'Dell returned to Butler, where he was actively involved with the campus
newspaper, yearbook, the debating team, and dramatics club. He graduated with a
Bachelor of Arts degree from Butler University in 1921. O'Dell continued his
education at Columbia University in New York City, where he received a Masters
of Arts degree in 1922. During his college years, O'Dell worked for various
newspapers in Indiana and New York.
His
career in education began in 1923 when he became an assistant professor in
English at Lombard College in Galesburg, Illinois. In 1925, O'Dell returned to
Butler University. He was assistant professor, later professor of journalism,
and head of the department of journalism, and public relations director for
Butler University until 1931.
On
June 18, 1927, DeForest O'Dell married Margaret Caroline Godley from
Indianapolis. They later had two daughters, Mary (Mrs. John R. Adams) and
Natalie (Mrs. William J. Peeler).
From
1913 until 1932, O'Dell served on the copy desk of the Associated Press in New
York City as editor of the Southern wire.
O'Dell
was professor of journalism during 1933-1936 at Edgewood Park Junior College in
Greenwich, Connecticut. In 1933 he was also named director of the Drake School
of Journalism, New York City. He held this position until 1938.
After
graduate work at Indiana University, University of Chicago, New York
University, and Columbia University, O'Dell received his Doctor of Philosophy
degree from Columbia University in 1935. This degree followed completion of his
published dissertation History of Journalism Education in the United States.
From
New York, O'Dell moved to McComb, Illinois, where he became professor of
journalism and director of public relations at Western Illinois State College
until 1944.
He
was on the staff of the fund-raising counsels of Ketchum Incorporated,
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1944 and of Lawson Associates, Incorporated, New
York City in 1945. In these associations, he acted as director of campaigns for
several hospitals, schools, colleges, and universities. In 1945 he served as
Illinois State Supervisor of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.
He
then returned to Butler as head of the journalism department, director of
student contact work, and alumni secretary. He was on leave from Butler from
1954-1956 to serve as head of journalism at Osmania University, Hyderabad,
India.
O'Dell
remained as head of the journalism department at Butler until his death on June
19, 1958. DeForest O'Dell is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.
Journalistic
Contributions
DeForest
O'Dell's journalistic contributions began in 1915. After graduating from high
school, he began employment as a copy boy and reporter on the Indianapolis
Star, Indianapolis News, and Indianapolis Times.
From
1919-1920 he was city editor at the Crawfordsville
Review and reporter and feature writer with the Evansville Courier. He
worked as copy editor and reporter for the Richmond Item in 1923 and rejoined
the Indianapolis Star staff from 1925-1926 as a copy editor. O'Dell also wrote
for various New York newspapers and served as a copy editor at the Associated
Press in New York City.
O'Dell's
journalistic contributions encompass his educational contributions. He taught
and headed journalism departments at six colleges and universities: Lombard
College, Butler University, Drake School of Journalism, Edgewood Park Junior
College, Western Illinois State College, and Osmania University in Hyderabad,
India.
As
a professor in the central India University, O'Dell organized and directed a
department of journalism at Osmania. This course of study was offered to
editors and sub-editors of English language papers in India. The World Literacy
and Christian Literature Organization coordinated Dr. O'Dell's Indian trip.
Dr.
O'Dell was the author of the History of Journalism Education in the United
States, his doctoral dissertation published in book form. The book describes
the views of pioneers in journalism education up to 1902.
O'Dell
contributed articles to magazines in his field, including The American Mercury
and Journal of Higher Education. O'Dell also edited The Butler Alumnus, the
alumni magazine at Butler University.
Other
Contributions
DeForest
O'Dell was an active member of several national, as well as Indianapolis-based,
organizations.
He
belonged to Sigma Delta Chi, Phi Delta Kappa, Sigma Chi, Sigma Tau Kappa, and
Alpha Delta Sigma fraternities. He also held membership in the American
Association of University Professors, the American Legion, the Indianapolis
Literary Club, the Torch Club, The Indianapolis Press Club, the Indiana
Industrial Editors Association, and the Hoosier State Press Association.
At
Butler, O'Dell was alumni secretary of the university, where his
responsibilities included making arrangements for the annual homecoming
activities. He was also advisor for many campus organizations.
Politically
Dr. O'Dell was a Republican. He was a member of the Tabernacle Presbyterian
Church in Indianapolis and belonged to the Masonic Temple.
by
Vickie Sanders Benner
Ball
State University, Summer 1980
