It is with deep gratitude and sorrow that we mark the passing of George Conklin, an innovative media scholar, visual storyteller, and longtime faculty member at Pacific School of Religion. George died July 24. He was 93.
George served on the PSR faculty for 15 years, ultimately holding the title of Associate Professor of Media and Culture Studies—a then-nascent field he helped shape. Through his teaching, mentoring, and tireless creativity, George opened up new ways for theological education to engage the power of media and the urgency of social witness. Many of his students went on to shape the global landscape of religious media, including PSR alumnus Stewart Hoover, now a leading scholar in the field.
George gained significant acclaim for his iconic 1964 photograph of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speaking at the Cow Palace—a singular moment of prophetic leadership as Dr. King addressed more than 15,000 people. The image remains one of the most compelling visual records of King’s presence in the Bay Area and reflects George’s lifelong commitment to justice through the lens.
But George’s impact at PSR extended far beyond a single photograph. He was a visionary producer of the Earl Lectures, the school’s historic lecture and leadership series founded in 1901. As producer in the years leading up to the U.S. Bicentennial, he brought unparalleled creativity to the 1975 theme, “We Covenant and Combine”—a sweeping multimedia portrayal of religious faith in American history. Long before digital tools were available, George orchestrated a complex, student-driven production across three screens and two live readers’ theaters, involving calligraphy, photography, scripting, and storytelling across traditions.
George also left an indelible mark on PSR’s Bade Museum. Fascinated by the museum’s archaeological legacy, he made multiple trips to Israel/Palestine to produce videos for the Episcopal Diocese of California. He once recalled standing atop the remains of ancient digs—recognizing the spiritual and historical layers embedded in the land and the archives. With his background in photography and chemistry, George is credited with rescuing and preserving original nitrate-based film footage from William F. Bade’s 1920s excavations, discovered sealed in canisters deep in the PSR library. He personally ensured their safe duplication with the help of UC Berkeley technicians and even recorded oral commentary from Mrs. Bade, whose recollections gave voice to the silent reels. That rare combination of curiosity, care, and technical skill was vintage George.
President David Vásquez-Levy reflected: “George Conklin helped PSR understand the importance of bearing witness—through story, through image, and through courageous curiosity. His life invites us to remember not just what we have seen, but how we choose to see. I have been blessed over the last ten years to be in conversation with George. I am particularly grateful for his visit to campus earlier this year, which was followed by a visit at his home with three of the ‘Wholly Mackerals,’ a group alumni whose lives he helped shape.”
Rev. Michael Bausch, an alumni who was part of the Wholly Mackerals, said, “George encouraged us to engage directly with the world around us—training students in emerging video technology not for its own sake, but as a tool for prophetic ministry. Under his guidance, we documented the Wounded Knee uprising, captured conversations with Cesar Chavez, and brought the voices of justice into our classrooms. He shared his skills generously and challenged us to think critically about the power of media in service to the Gospel.”
We give thanks for the remarkable life of George Conklin—storyteller, scholar, mentor, and witness—and for the creative legacy he leaves woven into the history of Pacific School of Religion and beyond.
We will share memorial plans as those become available later in the fall.