Carl Dean Sullivan
September 6, 1936 - July 6, 2022
The legend that was Carl Sullivan
Carl was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma on September 6, 1936. He was by far the youngest child of Maudie and Frank Sullivan. He had five half brothers. However, the closest brother was almost 2 decades his senior.
Carl grew up mostly in Chickasha Oklahoma, But, in grade school, his father sold everything and moved the family to California. The principal in California thought that Carl was too smart for his current grade, so he moved him up a year. In the middle of the school year, Carl's father chose to move back to Chickasha. When he enrolled in school thePre, they looked at what he had learned and then moved him up another year. Consequently Carl graduated from Chickasha High School in 1953 at the age of 16.
As Carl's father had passed away in 1952, Carl set out on a path of self-sufficiency which was admirable for a kid from a small town in Oklahoma.
Carl was fortunate enough to have five great half brothers. Bill Sullivan, Lester Sullivan, Woodrow Renfro, Arthur Renfro and David Renfro had scattered all over the country. His brother Bill Sullivan lived in East St. Louis where he owned a diner. Carl moved to Missouri after school and began his love affair with the St. Louis Cardinals. He'd always been a baseball fan. However, this was his first Major League experience. A few years later, Carl finally returned to Oklahoma.
After a number of of years of single life, Carl went on a double date with a friend of his, a woman named Mary Elizabeth Stotler and a friend of hers. Carl was convinced that he'd found the woman that he could spend the rest of his life with. (Even if she was on a date with the other guy.)
He and Mary began dating and their love for each pther blossomed quickly. They were always sure of the direction that they wanted to go so they married July 15, 1961. They were a great fit and remained married until her death in 2016.
Carl was always a sports-minded person. He played tennis, softball, basketball and a hole lot of golf. He was a lifetime fan of the University of Oklahoma and closely followed their football and softball programs. He coached baseball, softball, soccer, and football. His teams didn't always win, but they always learned something and had fun.
Before he and Mary were married, Carl had already started a lifelong career as a civilian employee of the US Air Force. Carl worked jobs from loading planes to eventually even running the air terminal for the largest Air Force Base in the country. He worked at Tinker Air Force Base for many years. During that period, Carl managed to find the time to get his bachelor's degree in business from Central State University in Edmond. After gaining his degree and working many high profile projects he caught the eye of a director for the Air Force Mobility Division in the Pentagon. He was asked to move to the nation's capital and he accepted a position in Washington DC. While he and Mary were living in the DC area, they made many lifelong friends.
In Washington DC, Carl became the president of his condominium complex. This set the stage for major accomplishments after he retired to Oklahoma City.
When he retired, he had planned on traveling. However, the family that had adopted him as one of their own (The Stotler clan) was experiencing an issue at that time. Their patriarch was dying. So, he and Mary retired to the same part of town that they had raised their kids in. His brother-in-law Ed Goodhue found him the last house that he would ever live in.
Carl started working with the Parkview Neighborhood Association. From there he was asked to start many other associations. He eventually founded the South Oklahoma City Council of Neighborhoods. That caught the eye of the movers and shakers of Oklahoma City. Carl was asked to sit on the initial MAPS oversight committee. This committee served to make sure that the money's allocated to the Metropolitan Area Projects and Services funds were spent wisely. Carl worked with mayors Ron Norick, Kirk Humphreys, and Mick Cornet. The plan produced the cornerstones of downtown Oklahoma City.
Carl lived to serve. He was an active member of the South Oklahoma City Kiwanis Club for a number of years and loved the fact that his efforts helped children. He was elected to lieutenant governor and was a vice president of Oklahoma City's region. He even worked as the Head of Del City's Chamber of Commerce. He participated in parades for many years and worked the neighborhood watch for almost 20 years.
Carl is preceded in death by parents; his beloved wife Mary Sullivan and five half brothers. He is survived by his daughter Kathy Sullivan of Virginia, his son Jim Sullivan and wife, LaRita of Iowa, granddaughters Caytlin Sullivan and Erin Hurdle and husband Steven, grandson Sean Sullivan and 4 Great grandchildren, Calin Johnson, Conner Johnson, Zackary Hurdle and Madolyn Hurdle. He is also survived by countless other extended family as well as many friends all over the world.
Carl has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The South Oklahoma City Kiwanis Club's charity (Checks payable to the "Katey Pruett Foundation," SOKC Kiwanis Club P. O. Box 95541 OKC, OK 73143) or the Youth Apostles Institute of McLean, Virginia.
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