It is with deep sympathy that we share the news of the passing of Professor Emeritus, Dr. Donald B. Cleveland.

Dr. Don Cleveland joined the UNT Department of Information Science (formerly the School of Library and Information Sciences) faculty in 1977. During his tenure, Dr. Cleveland was instrumental in the development of new programs, including the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Information Science. He served as the program’s associate director from 1992 - 1998. In addition, he and his wife, Regents Professor and Sarah Law Kennerly Endowed Professor, Dr. Ana Cleveland, have both been influential in the development and success of the Houston program, which serves library and information science master’s students in the Houston area.

In a letter announcing his passing, his wife, Ana describes him as “a visionary when it came to the role of information sciences in our society. His degree in computer science allowed him to have a perspective of the synergy between IT and our discipline. During his tenure at UNT, our department (formerly School of Library and Information Sciences) had a truly information science focused curriculum including courses with a computer science content. In 1984, he created the first computer lab at the School, with support from the UNT administration. He was devoted to the concept of interdisciplinarity and the implications to our profession.”

Dr. Cleveland received his M.L.S. degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1962, an M.S. in computer science from Texas A&M University, and a Ph.D. in Information Science from Case Western Reserve University in 1973, where he taught for three years.

He began his career in 1961, when he served for two years as librarian of the Architecture Library at University of Texas at Austin. Before entering the doctoral program at Case Western Reserve University, he served an additional six years as professional librarian, first as director of the Howard Payne University Library, and then as head of acquisitions and later, public services at Sam Houston State University. 

Don was the author of several publications in leading journals in the field, ranging from information retrieval, indexing and abstracting, medical informatics, cartooning, books for young adults (on communication and the brain) and a novel. In 1982, he co-authored with Dr. Ana Cleveland, Introduction to Indexing and Abstracting, a textbook that became a staple for the LIS field.

In 2004, Dr. Cleveland received the Outstanding Information Science Teacher Award from the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T), an award that recognizes a distinguished teacher of information science. He also received the special president’s award for the design and implementation of the first interdisciplinary doctoral program in information science.

Upon his retirement from UNT in 2004, Dr. Cleveland who always had a love for writing and cartooning rekindled this passion, and began writing children’s books. His first children’s book “How do we know how the brain works” was published in 2005.

He served as a consultant to both national and international organizations, such as the World Health Organization, National Institutes of Health, Organization of American States, National Library of Medicine, American Heart Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rockefeller Foundation, Texas Library Association, Texas Instruments, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Electronic Data Systems (EDS) among others. An interesting and challenging project for Don was developing a science and technology network for 17 African countries out of Senegal, a project funded by The World Health Organization that also included a health component.

Dr. Cleveland was also actively involved and committed to the Denton community. Most recently, the Denton Health Community Clinic renamed their Community Health Achievement Award, the Don and Ana Cleveland Community Health Champion Award. This honor is to recognize the Clevelands’ for the support that they have provided to the organization over a number of years, and their willingness to participate in projects and activities that promote the goals of the clinic.

“Not only was Don my colleague, professor, mentor, coauthor, my best friend, but my husband of 52 years,” said Ana. “He lived with cancer for 40 years. He managed the condition with dignity and courage and served as an inspiration to many who had the disease with his positive and realistic attitude.

“I will miss him more than I can express. His sense of humor and sound advice throughout the years will guide me in the years ahead.”

For those who have asked, a memorial donation page has been created in honor of Dr. Donald Cleveland.

Professor Emeritus Don Cleveland was a visionary when it came to the role of information science in our society.

Your support of the endowed scholarships that Ana and Donald Cleveland created will honor Dr. Cleveland's legacy of teaching and service.

Thank you for your generous support.