Dr. William Keith Ickes

Dr. William Keith Ickes, Professor Emeritus, Texas Tech University, known to his friends as Bill, died April 24, 2012 at 86 years of age. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on February 4, 1926 to William B. and Lucile Christenson Ickes. Following his 1943 graduation from West High School in Salt Lake City he enlisted in the Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet. His military training was cut short with the termination of World War II and he received an honorary discharge. Bill married Shirley Hallman in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on August 27, 1946. They were blessed with four children. He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees at the University of Utah in 1948 and 1949 respectively. He earned his PH.D. at Southern Illinois University in 1960. His academic studies included speech pathology, psychology, and audiology in which he was an early pioneer. His career began as an audiologist for the Detroit Hearing Center and the Michigan Association for Better Hearing. In 1954 he was the Executive Director/Audiologist for the Des Moines Hearing and Speech Center. In 1962 he moved his family to Lubbock where he taught audiology and directed the Texas Tech Speech and Hearing Clinic. In 1969 he became Department Chair of Speech and Theater Arts, which, at that time, included Radio and Television. Throughout subsequent reorganizations he played a key role in re-focusing the department, re-naming it the Department of Communication Disorders, and relocating it to the School of Allied Health within the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center. Dr. Ickes’ elective offices included President of the Iowa Speech and Hearing Association, Vice-President of the Iowa Rehabilitation Association, Vice-President of the Texas Speech and Hearing Association, and President of both Lubbock and Texas Rehabilitation Associations. He served as a board member on several Lubbock Community agencies. Bill was active for several years in local community theatre playing principal roles in the plays “Life with Father”, “Auntie Mame”, “Mr. Roberts”, “All The King’s Men”, “The Mouse That Roared”, and “Romeo and Juliet”. He also restored antique cars and was a member of the West Texas Antique Car Club. Ickes was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Monterey Park Ward. As a member of the Lubbock Stake High Council, he traveled extensively throughout West Texas to speak and counsel members and leaders of local church units. Ickes is survived by his beloved wife Shirley, son William John Ickes (Mary Jo) of Arlington, daughters Bonnie Jean Tanner (Robert) of Saratoga Springs, Utah, Patricia Lynn Mitchell (Duane) of Lubbock, Joy Marie Denison (Brent) of Fort Worth, 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Viewing will be held from 9:00 to 9:30am Saturday, April 28th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3211 58th Street, followed by funeral services at 10:00am. Burial will be at Resthaven. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the William K. Ickes Scholarship Fund, Department of Communication Disorders, and Texas Tech University. Condolences may be offered at www.resthavenfuneralhome.com