Don Carlson , who died about a month ago, was sui generis, a small-town professor and pollster who had immense political influence that stretched far outside the confines of his beloved Carson City. We don't usually run obits in The Indy, unless they are major figures. But I wanted to give his son, Sev, a chance here to remember his father, who was a friend of mine since I began covering politics here nearly 40 years ago.

Here is Sev's remembrance of his dad, and I am still touched that he wanted donations to go to The Indy, which he believed in so much and encouraged me every step of the way:

Donald L. Carlson

July 16, 1941 – October 9, 2025

Donald L. Carlson, age 84, passed away peacefully on the evening of October 9, 2025, at his home in Carson City, Nevada. Born July 16, 1941, in rural Davis County, Iowa, he was the son of Clifford D. Carlson and Clarissa J. Murphy Carlson. Don graduated from Bloomfield High School, Burlington College (A.A., Liberal Arts), Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa (B.A., Political Science), and the University of Detroit (M.A., Sociology). Don would tell you that he owed his education to the GI Bill. He was honorably discharged from the United States Army in October 1963.

In 1974, Don moved west to Carson City to teach at what was then, Western Nevada Community College. He said Nevada was the land of opportunity, not only for others who migrated to the Silver State, but particularly for himself. He was a professor of sociology from 1974 through his retirement in 2011. During his tenure, he served on WNCC’s Faculty Senate, was recognized as an Outstanding Faculty Member (1991) and received the Nevada Board of Regents’ Academic Advisor Award (2003). Students might have loved or hated him for his 100-question true or false finals, often with the first answer being true and the last 99 being false – a true sociological experiment in his mind.

In keeping with his belief that teaching should include real life application of one’s education, Don also owned Survey Research Systems, a political opinion research company, to study and analyze what motivates voters. His private sector work started because of what would become a long-lasting friendship forged with the venerable political operative, Jim Joyce. Mr. Joyce’s success rate of running successful political campaigns was akin to Don’s ability to predict campaign results well within the margin of error.

Don’s politics were only partisan in that he was particular about who he chose to work with. Over his private sector career, he worked for Governor Pete Wilson of California and Governor Ann Richards of Texas. His focus, however, was Nevada. As a regular at Adele’s in Carson City, particularly during legislative sessions and campaign seasons, he would hold court and challenge elected officials as to whether their policy goals and legislation would actually benefit the Nevadans (voters) who gave them the job in the first place. The candidates he worked with, whether officially or behind the scenes, are too numerous to name. He was particularly proud of his work and friendships with one of his former students, Mark Amodei (Assembly, State Senate, U.S. Congress), along with Bill Bilyeu (Speaker of the Assembly), Dick Bryan (Attorney General, Governor, and U.S. Senator), Bob Cashell (Regent, Lieutenant Governor and May or Reno), Dean Heller (Assembly, Secretary of State, U.S. Congress, U.S. Senate), Tom Fettic (Carson City Board of Supervisors, Assembly), Pete Goicoechea (Assembly, State Senate), Oscar Goodman (Mayor of Las Vegas), Jackie Rosen (U.S. Congress and U.S. Senate), Marv Teixeira (Carson City Mayor), and Dina Titus (State Senate, U.S. Congress).

Survivors include one son, Severin (Lisa) Carlson of Reno, Nevada, three grandchildren whom he adored and always strongly encouraged to pursue their academic and extracurricular interests: Savannah Carlson of Sewanee, Tennessee; Wesley Carlson and Abby Carlson of Reno, Nevada; his former wife, co-grandparent, and long-time friend, Ursula Carlson of Carson City, Nevada; one niece, Cindy (Runnells) Gentz of Iowa; and one nephew, Mark Runnells of Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved elder sister, who always looked after him, LuRee Jeannette Runnells, and her husband, Charles Runnels, both of Burlington, Iowa.

According to Don’s wishes, cremation has been accorded, and a private inurnment will be in the Veteran’s Cemetery at the Lone Mountain Cemetery in Carson City, Nevada. A date will be set in the future for an “Irish wake” for friends and family to remember Don. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to The Nevada Independent to help support independent journalism in Nevada or to the St. Teresa of Avila Catholic School Capital Campaign in Carson City.