Professor Campbell R. “Mac” McConnell, Lincoln, was called to that great faculty lounge in the sky on January 5, 2019. He was born on June 2, 1928 to James and Jessie (Sommerville) McConnell in Harvey, Illinois.
Campbell received his bachelor of arts degree from Cornell College in 1950, a master of arts degree from the University of Illinois in 1951 and a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in 1953. He taught economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln from 1953 until his retirement in 1990. He received a Distinguished Teaching Award from UN-L in 1962, the James Lake Academic Freedom Award in 1991 and the Distinguished Faculty Award in 1994. Cornell College granted him an honorary Doctor of Law degree in 1973 and a Distinguished Achievement Award in 1994.
McConnell authored a widely used principles of economics textbook and co-authored a labor economics textbook. He also edited readings books for those two disciplines in addition to publishing some thirty research articles and book reviews. Campbell served on the executive committee and as president of the Midwest Economics Association and was on a national committee to revise the Graduate Record Examination in economics. He also served a term on the American Economic Association’s Committee on Economic Education.
He was a proud admiral in the Nebraska Navy. Mac was an avid collector of jazz recordings and enjoyed reading jazz history.
His wife of 55 years, Marilyn, preceded him in death. Survived by: daughter Lauren Davis of Alexandria, MN, son Curtis and daughter-in-law Carolyn McConnell of rural Denton, daughter Elizabeth McConnell of Leverett, MA, grandchildren Holly Davis (fiancé David Policard), Ben Davis (Grace), Aiyana and Mariah McConnell-Beepath, brother and sister-in-law John and Kathie McConnell of Long Beach, CA.
Private graveside service for immediate family; no visitation or public service.
Memorials to McConnell/McGraw-Hill Scholarship Fund, University of Nebraska Foundation, 1010 Lincoln Mall, Suite 300, Lincoln, NE 68508.