Mike McCarville
It is my unfortunate duty to inform you that our friend Mike McCarville is no longer with us on Earth. After struggling with an illness, he has gone to his deserved rest. That familiar laugh and smile are now part of Heaven’s domain. It is the image of that twinkle in Mike’s eyes and his quick offer of a cup of coffee that haunt me as I write this piece to stay goodbye to the man who was my boss, my mentor and best of all, my friend.
Of course, many know and respect Mike’s story. He’s a long-time journalist and commentator. It was no secret that Mike was a proud Republican who would always keep an open ear for opposing points of view. He didn’t need to devolve a conversation into the partisan screaming matches so familiar on today’s cable and radio talk shows. He worked for the likes of Dewey Bartlett. He provided content for The Daily Oklahoman, The Oklahoma Journal, The Oklahoma City Times, The Tulsa Tribune, The Norman Transcript and The Oklahoma Courier. His broadcast career included Assistant News Director for KWTV in the early 1970s. Radio, well, radio was Mike’s forte. He often referred to himself as the “man with a face for radio.” KOSU, KGWA, KTOK and Sirius XM’s NRA News show all carried the sound of Mike’s voice to listeners. He was the guy who “never had a bad day” on the radio. And, of course, there is his beloved The McCarville Report. It continues to cover Oklahoma politics in his name.
Mike had a great and fruitful career, but what he loved most was his family. He loved his wife, Ann more than any man should love a woman. Every time he mentioned her name, a grin was on his face. His children, grand-children, and great grand-children brought him such joy. Above all Mike was a family man.
Looking back over Mike’s life, I think I really understand now why he said he never had a bad day.
Goodbye, my friend. Thank you for everything you’ve done for us. You’ve earned the rest.
July 21, 1940 – March 8, 2017
Rest in peace Mike. You grabbed the gusto. Rá hello chun na bhflaitheas.
mbh
Thanks, Mike, for giving me my on-air nickname, “Roadking”. I’m proud to have known you and worked with you. Your legacy of professionalism will live on in those of us who carry on.
Rest in Peace Mike. My prayers go out to both him and his wonderful family. In forty years of working Oklahoma campaigns I always found him to be one of the top “GO TO” voices of Oklahoma.
Mike will be missed. I’m sorry that I did not know he was sick. I pray for his family.
Thanks, Mike, for your generous advice and excellent example. You gave so much to so many. Godspeed and God bless.
We appreciated you more than we usually said. You were a great ‘mentor’ for us in the early days of our involvement in GOP grassroots. A major source for what was going on….you will be missed Mike. Georgia and Bill Williams
[…] Mike is No Longer with Us Mike McCarville It is my unfortunate duty to inform you that our friend Mike McCarville is no longer with us on Earth. After struggling with an illness, he has gone to his deserved rest. That familiar laugh and smile are now part of Heaven’s domain. It is the image of that twinkle in Mike’s eyes and his quick offer of a cup of coffee that haunt me as I write this piece to stay goodbye to the man who was my boss, my mentor and best of all, my friend. […]
Mike was the genuine “Real Deal”. They don’t make many journalists like him anymore, and he will be sorely missed. Rest in Peace, Mike McCarville, I will miss your one-of-a-kind voice, your wit and political intellect and above all, your humor.
I will be missing Mike McCarville for a long time. Not many knew we were friends and that was fine by both of us. We shared interest in fields where it is common that “those talking don’t know and those who know aren’t talking.” Now Mike can get the inside story in Heaven and I bet he’ll share the news when we join him there.
I went to school with Mike’s daughter, Cheryl, and used to hang out at their house some in junior high.
He was always friendly, smiling and ALWAYS in a good mood. I remember watching him on the news. Very neutral in his reporting, something that is hard to find these days.
My thoughts and prayers to his family.
Having served as Middle East Editor at The Christian Science Monitor and its bureau chief in Chicago and Austin, I have a journalist’s appreciation for Mike and his excellent work product. I noticed when the e-mails stopped coming recently, and kept trying to resubscribe. They were essential to me. No question, his shoes will be hard to fill.
God Speed, Mike. Another bright light is gone, but what a wonderful legacy you leave. us. Humor, kindness, professionalism to the “nth” degree. But most of all, integrity. It was an honor knowing you.
Mike was one of my early political mentors and he and I shared a common bond in that we both served as gubernatorial press secretaries, albeit about 30 years apart. He was a fine journalist and political consultant and an even better guy. He was affectionately known as “Mr. Media Man” which was truly deserving.
[…] March 8, 2017 0 Mike McCarville, legendary Oklahoma journalist and political commentator, passed away early this morning after a lengthy illness. A legend in his field, McCarville had a storied media […]
The history of my joy and laughter greatly involves my Uncle Mike ~
Mike was a partisan Republican long before he went back to the media jobs. Electing Governors and US Senators and then being part of the amazing partnership with Herb Johnson to elect Republicans. Herb and “Fonducci” dug the water wells the modern GOP today enjoys water from. It was hard work with a band of like-thinking conservatives, and it eventually paid off. If Henry Bellmon was the father of the modern Republican Party in Oklahoma, Mike was the loving Uncle that helped change Oklahoma. God bless you Mike, God bless your family, and tell Herb we’ll have coffee when we meet again in Heaven.