Luxon, Norval Neil, 1899-

Norval Neil Luxon (1899-1989) was a journalist, professor of journalism, and Dean of the School of Journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1953-1964. Born in London, Ohio, he served in the Navy, 1917-1919, before earning a B.S. in journalism (1923) and M.A. in history (1931) from Ohio State University and Ph.D. in history (1940) from UCLA. Luxon held a variety of editorial posts on several newspapers and taught journalism and served in administrative capacities at Ohio State until 1953, when he was appointed Dean of the School of Journalism at the University of North Carolina. As a member of several national journalism organizations, Luxon wrote and spoke widely on the importance of maintaining high standards in journalism education and of a solid background in the humanities to practicing journalists. Luxon was married to Ermina Munn in 1928, and the couple had one son, Norval Neil Luxon Jr. Luxon died in Chapel Hill, N.C., in 1989.

From the description of Norval Neil Luxon papers, circa 1930-1989. WorldCat record id: 36004772

Norval Neil Luxon (1899-1989) was a journalist, professor of journalism, and dean of the School of Journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1953-1964. Born in London, Ohio, Luxon served in the Navy, 1917-1919, before earning his B.S. in journalism and M.A. in history from Ohio State University in 1923 and 1931, respectively. In 1940, Luxon received a Ph.D. in history from UCLA after completing his dissertation on the history of the Niles' Weekly Register, a nineteenth-century news magazine. Luxon held a variety of editorial posts on the Columbus Citizen, Canton Daily News, Oteen (N.C.) Skylight, and the El Paso Herald . Luxon taught journalism and served in administrative capacities at Ohio State until 1953, when he was appointed Dean of the School of Journalism at the University of North Carolina. During his tenure at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the school added a Master's program in 1954 and an interdisciplinary program leading to the Ph.D. in mass communications research in 1964. As a member of several national journalism organizations, Luxon wrote and spoke widely on the importance of maintaining high standards in journalism education. He insisted that a solid background in the humanities was critical to the success of practicing journalists in addition to practical and vocational training in the rudiments of journalism.

Luxon was married to Ermina Munn in 1928, and the couple had one son, Norval Neil Luxon Jr. Luxon died in Chapel Hill, N.C., in 1989 at age 90.

From the guide to the Norval Neil Luxon Papers, circa 1930-1989, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)