Obituary: G. William "Bill" Carlson, 72, was Bethel University icon and St. Paul school board member

G. William "Bill" Carlson retired as a Bethel University history and political science professor in 2012, and to convey the impact of his life on and off campus, his colleagues created "Citizen Carlson," a short film spoofing a cinema classic.

That their blueprint was none other than "Citizen Kane" was a challenge. Yet it was reasonable enough, too, given the rich and varied elements of the Carlson story.

He served 44 years as a faculty member taking strong liberal stands at a conservative Christian institution. For 10 years, he was a St. Paul school board member. And he amassed a collection of books both at home and in his office worthy of Kane's mansion Xanadu.

Carlson, who continued to have a presence on the Arden Hills campus, died Feb. 12 after a stroke. He was 72. A celebration of his life at Bethel's Benson Great Hall on Feb. 28 came "as close as the Baptists would get to a state funeral," said Chris Gehrz, chairman of the Bethel history department.

Gehrz said 600 to 800 people attended.

Carlson, known as "G.W." on campus and "Bill" at school district headquarters, was an eager conversationalist known for his stated desire to present three points on an issue, yet continuing until he had made five, six or seven, "with footnotes," colleagues said.

He arrived at Bethel as a student in 1961, "a brash Easterner," according to the film salute. He identified then as Republican.

Roy Magnuson, a longtime friend, said that Carlson "loved local, person-to-person, politics." From 1986 to 1996, he served on the St. Paul school board. It was "tough times," Magnuson said, with the district implementing magnet schools and grappling with enrollment declines. At the same time, it was welcoming Southeast Asian immigrants.

"Bill saw these challenges as opportunities for St. Paul — through our schools — to make a better city for all," Magnuson said.

Carlson's religious faith was strong, but he was adamant about the separation of church and state.

In April 1991, while serving on the school board, he balked at signing a partnership agreement with a coalition of church congregations. That pact would have given the group a greater say in shaping a school-levy proposal that was to be put before voters. Carlson decried what he called bullying tactics.

"This process, in my mind, is an inadequate statement of biblical ethics and violates my perception of what it means to be a Christian in public service," he told the Star Tribune. Later that year, in an editorial endorsing his re-election bid, the paper wrote: "No board member is indispensable, but Carlson comes close."

Carlson had been a star on Bethel's cross-country team, Gehrz said, and knew what such activities could mean to family life, too.

In the film, "Citizen Carlson: A Tribute to the Career of G.W. Carlson," Deb Harless, executive vice president and provost, recalled how he would stop by at midday to ask her if she was going home to watch her children play soccer. She grew emotional at the thought.

"What that said was, 'Make sure you're paying attention to the things that are really important,' " Harless said.

Recently, she added: "I will miss our hallway conversations … I always left them encouraged by his kindness and support."

Carlson is survived by his wife, Cathy; son, Ian; daughter, Sara Koehn; sister, Bonnie, and five grandchildren.