Austin, TX - Carl Gene Stephenson, Ph.D., died on July 5, 2026 in Austin, Texas. Dr. Stephenson ("Gene") was born in Allen, Oklahoma, Oct 28, 1936, in the home of his grandfather, Dr. C.M. Means. He was the eldest child of Wayne Wyatt (W.W.) and Leila Reid (Billie) Stephenson, who both preceded him in death. He graduated from Ada High School, Ada, OK in 1954, enrolled at the University of Oklahoma in the fall of 1954, and graduated with a B.S. degree in Geology in 1959. He married Lynda Carol Adkins on June 8, 1963 in Shamrock, TX. In 1964 Gene received a Master's Degree in Mathematics and in 1972 a Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics Education from OU.

Gene started his professional career as a math teacher and coach at Shamrock High School. In 1963 he received a National Science Foundation Academic Year Scholarship to attend OU, and upon receiving his master's degree he joined the faculty at East Central State College as an Assistant Professor in Mathematics. In 1975, three years after completing his Ph.D., Gene was named Dean of Arts and Sciences at East Central. In 1980, he was promoted to Vice President of Academic Affairs. In 1990, he left Ada to take the position of Chief Operations Officer at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, AR, where he later became President. He retired from the Ozarks in January 1997 to become President of the Oklahoma Independent Colleges Association.

While in the ECU administration, Gene guided the beginning of several new academic programs as well as revising the general education curriculum. He was instrumental in ECU receiving continued accreditation in the North Central Association as well as national accreditation in other fields. He instigated the restructuring of the academic administration. Following a Department of Labor review, Gene developed a faculty salary schedule that equalized salaries among the male and female faculty and various departments. While at ECU, he acquired the name "Mean Dean Gene." However, when he and Lynda left for Ozarks, there was a retirement dinner attended by over 300 faculty, staff, and Ada residents.

During his tenure at Ozarks, Gene was successful in improving the standing of the faculty. Prior to his arrival, thirty percent of the faculty had doctorates; when he resigned, eighty percent did. In addition to changing the academic atmosphere, Gene dramatically changed the physical image of the campus. In November 1996, the university dedicated five new buildings on campus.

While serving as President of the Oklahoma Independent Colleges Association, he successfully worked through the Oklahoma legislature a bill that provided a tuition grant, the Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant (OTEG), for Oklahoma students who attended Oklahoma private colleges. Gene served on many boards, including as an elder at the three Presbyterian churches where he was a member. He served on the Valley View Hospital Board of Trustees in Ada, OK, the Foundation of Independent Higher Education, and the Synod of the Sun of the Presbyterian Church.

In his retirement years, he spent many days playing golf at the Oak Tree County Club in Edmond, OK. For several years, he was the Director of Gold (DOG) for the East Oak Gold Group where he arranged the tee times daily and printed the handicaps.

Gene is remembered as a person of deep commitment to family, friends, and community. In addition to golf, he loved OU football, traveling, playing poker, and telling family stories to his grandchildren. A gregarious person, he loved jitterbugging with Lynda and socializing.

Gene is survived by his wife Lynda; his daughter Amy Patterson, her husband Neil and their daughters Sophia and Isabel; his son Tom Stephenson and his wife Pauline; his sister Suella Mayes and her husband Wayne; and his brother Jon Stephenson and his wife Cheryl.

The family requests that memorials be donated to the C. Gene Stephenson Scholarship Fund at the University of the Ozarks or the East Central University Foundation.