College recognizes Mr. OCC, Jim Carnett
Mr. OCC is back.
Jim Carnett became a part of campus history Thursday when he was inducted into Orange Coast College’s Alumni Hall of Fame, having a plaque bearing his likeness mounted in the library.
The former OCC director of community relations, and current Daily Pilot columnist, will also be formally recognized at the college’s 68th commencement Saturday at the Pacific Amphitheatre.
Before beginning his 36-year career at Orange Coast, Carnett started there as a student.
After growing up in Newport-Mesa, he came to the college in fall 1962, took three years off to serve in the Army, returned to Orange Coast and then graduated in 1969.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in communications from Cal State Fullerton and a master’s degree in education from Pepperdine University, he came back to Orange Coast to fill the role as an assistant in the school’s public information office. Carnett later became director of public information and then of community relations.
His time spent as a master of ceremonies for campus activities and an announcer for sporting events, eventually helping him build up a name of his own on campus: Mr. OCC.
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“I got this rep for being the guy who’s out front on behalf of the college, and I had a friend who was dean of the OCC library, and he called me Mr. OCC,” Carnett said. “He’d stop by my office and say, ‘Hey, how’s Mr. OCC doing?’ ”
The name caught on.
“I never consciously encouraged it, but I was always very, very honored by it,” Carnett said.
Mary Hornbuckle, who’s been on the Coast Community College District board of trustees since 2005, had never met Carnett until Thursday’s induction, but said she still knew him by his reputation.
The moment the two finally met in-person, Hornbuckle knew what she would say to him.
“I said, ‘Hello, Mr. OCC,’ ” Hornbuckle said. “In spite of never meeting him face-to-face before, I felt I knew him very well. He’s very honest, caring and devoted to OCC.”
At Orange Coast, Carnett not only found his career of 36 years, but also his wife of 42 years, Hedy. The two met in 1973, when she was working as a campus telephone operator.
The couple has three daughters, two of whom currently live in Orange County and attended the Alumni Hall of Fame induction, and eight grandchildren.
“I’ve had the chance to meet many people inducted [in the Hall] who’ve achieved wonderful things and just to be honored with a group like that is overwhelming,” Carnett said.
Twitter: @AlexandraChan10
