John Guy Carlton

J.G. Carlton, a longtime Tucson teacher who helped turn Catalina High School’s journalism program into one of the best in the country, died June 11. He was 79.
Under his guidance from 1960 to 1989, Catalina’s weekly newspaper, The Trumpeteer, became scholastic journalism’s all-time national award-winner. It captured a then-record six Pacemakers, the high school equivalent of a Pulitzer, and the highest awards from the National Scholastic Press Association and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

Over his nearly three-decade teacher career, in which he taught not only journalism but English as well, Carlton formed a deep bond with his students. That connection continued after retirement.

The rapport Carlton established with his students varied, altering between roles of father, friend, counselor and mentor. Above all, he drove home the importance of esprit de corps and the pursuit of truth.

Born in Washington, Iowa, John Guy Carlton Jr. grew up in Dubuque and attended elementary school and high school there. At Dubuque Senior High School from 1950-54, he carried a 96.1 GPA; was sports editor of the school paper; lettered in baseball, basketball and track; and helped the school win the Iowa State baseball championship.

As a college student, he freelanced for national sports magazines and worked for The Telegraph-Herald in Dubuque, writing stories, columns, editorials and taking photos.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Dubuque in 1958 and a Master of Science in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1960. At UW, he fused his love for wildlife and geology and developed his own course of study in ecological journalism.

He moved to Tucson with his wife in the summer of 1960 and began teaching beginning journalism, advanced journalism and sophomore English at Catalina during the fall semester. In just two years, he transformed The Trumpeteer into a powerhouse.

In 29 years of teaching, Carlton missed just half a day. That occurred in the early 1960s when he took his mom out on her birthday.

John Carlton is survived by his wife of fifty-six years, Muriel Carlton nee Larson, and his sister, Suzanne Mellichamp nee Carlton (husband: Duncan) of Santa Barbara, Calif. No

services are planned but a Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, June 28, at 3:00 PM at Tucson Osteopathic Medical Foundation, 3182 North Swan Road, Tucson, 85712.

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