8 minute read
In Memory
James Edmund Halligan, 86, of Stillwater, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, in Oklahoma City.
Halligan was born on June 23, 1936, in Moorland, Iowa, to Raymond and Ann (Crawford) Halligan. He graduated in 1954 from Moorland High School and later enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served as staff sergeant until 1958. He met the love of his life, Ann Halligan (Sorenson), and they were united in marriage on June 29, 1957. James and Ann were happily married for 65 years. To this union they had three sons, Michael, Patrick and Christopher Halligan.
Halligan attended college at Iowa State University obtaining a bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate in chemical engineering. James served at Texas Tech University, the University of Missouri-Rolla, the University of Arkansas and New Mexico State University. Following this, he served as the 16th president of Oklahoma State University from 1994-2002.
During his time at OSU, Halligan encouraged the investment of nearly $200 million for student facilities on campus, including multimedia classrooms in a crucial time at the start of the internet age. He also oversaw OSU’s first capital campaign, which raised more than $260 million. Halligan saw Gallagher-Iba Arena double in size during the “Raise the Roof” campaign.
Halligan also led OSU through one of the university’s most trying times, when 10 members of the Cowboy basketball team and crew died in a plane crash on Jan. 27, 2001.
As an educator, he loved his work and spending time with his students.
Following his time as president, Halligan ran for state senator for District 21 and served two terms. A highlight of his time in the legislature was authoring a bill to ban the use of tobacco on campuses.
Although Halligan obtained many accolades throughout his personal life and career, he was described as having a very humble spirit by many.
Halligan was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Patricia Cooper; and three brothers, Sidney Halligan, Raymond Halligan and Bill Halligan.
He is survived by his wife, Ann Halligan, of the home; three sons, Michael Halligan and wife Glenna of Houston; Patrick Halligan and wife Tracey of Little Rock, Arkansas, Christopher Halligan and wife Sarah of Charlotte, North Carolina; He was blessed to have eight grandchildren; four greatgrandchildren; and many friends.
A rosary was held on Oct. 28 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Stillwater, where a Mass of Christian Burial was held on Oct. 29. A private inurnment followed at Fairlawn Cemetery.
Ray H. Mann, ’51 dairy science, died Sept. 15, 2022, in Owasso, Oklahoma. He was born Dec. 13, 1928, on a family farm in Happy, Texas, to Ira and Pearl Mann. He was proud to be onequarter Choctaw and a member of the Choctaw Nation. Mann grew up on the farm in Bradley, Oklahoma, and graduated high school in Alex, Oklahoma. Following graduation, he served in the Army as an air defense artillery troop and a military policeman of the 738th Military Police Battalion during World War II. Following college, he received a commission into the Army Reserve and was raised to the rank of captain. Mann married his wife, Geraldine Denson, in Wichita Falls, Texas, on July 18, 1949. He received his undergraduate degree from Oklahoma A&M in 1951 and then a master’s degree from Kansas State University in 1965. Ray spent most of his career in Garden City, Kansas, as the KSU Area Extension Service Director for southwest Kansas, until his retirement in 1991. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Builders Sunday School class. Mann was an active member of Sunrise Kiwanis and volunteered many years preparing taxes through RSVP and the Garden City Senior Center. He served on many boards and committees such as Garden City Senior Center, Emmaus House, Mosaic of Garden City and First United Methodist Church Pastor Parish Council. He also delivered thousands of Meals on Wheels and maintained lifetime memberships with the Freemasons, the American Legion and Epsilon Sigma Phi. Mann was a devoted husband, father and granddad. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and Cowboy football. Above all, he cherished time with his family.
Jack H. Cole, ’58 mechanical engineering, ’63 master’s degree in mechanical engineering, ’68 doctorate in mechanical engineering, passed away Aug. 22, 2022, at age 88. He was born to Louis Howard and Lillie Reamey Cole on June 7, 1934, in Tulsa. After one year of college, Cole joined the Army and was ready to leave for Korea when the Korean Armistice Agreement was announced. Cole then returned to Oklahoma
and married Carol Sue Smith. They moved to Stillwater where Cole continued his education at Oklahoma State University. After receiving his doctorate, Cole served as a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he received the Arkansas Blue Key Alumni Award for Outstanding Teaching and Research. One of Cole’s unique qualities was his love of mentoring students. At the end of 1981, he left teaching to join the Exploration Research and Development Division of Conoco Inc. (now ConocoPhillips) in Ponca City, Oklahoma. In 1994, when Conoco ended its research efforts, the company transferred its research program to the University of Arkansas, under Cole’s direction. In 1999, Cole established his own business, Cole Engineering Inc. and later co-founded Cal-Zark, a small business in Farmington, Arkansas, where he served as the director of Advanced Research and Development. His years of research led him to work at the Idaho National Laboratory reactor, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and even at NASA for the first moonlanding project. Cole has over 30 patents, several were pioneering inventions that enabled Conoco to establish itself as a world leader in subsurface diagnostics and imaging in wells. After his wife died in 1998, Cole took up ballroom dancing as a diversion from work. Through dancing, he met Joyce Stafford, who became his loving partner for more than 20 years.
James G. Sewell, ’56 animal science livestock operations, ’58 doctorate in veterinary medicine, was born on Aug. 16, 1935, on his family’s homestead northeast of Perry, Oklahoma, and passed from this Earth at the age of 86 on Dec. 17, 2021. He attended the Rose Hill country school as a young boy and graduated from Perry High School in 1952. After completion of high school, he attended Oklahoma A&M and completed his bachelor’s degree in pre-vet studies in 1956. He completed and graduated from the veterinary medicine program and received his Doctor of Veterinay Medicine as a participant of the first class of the newly named OSU veterinary college in 1958. Between these two graduations he married Nevalee Freese on Aug. 25, 1957. Upon graduation in June 1958, Jim started his vet practice at Veterinary Corner in Guthrie, Oklahoma, where he continued to practice medicine for 59 years until his retirement in 2017. He also found time to operate a successful cow-calf operation where he raised registered red Angus northeast of Guthrie. During his 63 years residing in Guthrie, he diligently served the Guthrie school system for 21 years as a school board member and oversaw several building and expansion projects. Sewell was a die-hard season ticket holder and Posse member for his beloved OSU athletic programs. Freddie K. Hines, ’62 agricultural education, ’65 master’s degree in agricultural economics, ’65 doctorate in agricultural economics, passed away on April 21, 2022, at the age of 81. Hines was born Aug. 8, 1940, in Stephens County, Oklahoma. Upon graduating from Duncan High School in 1958, Hines went on to attend OSU, where he made many lifelong friends. He earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural education in 1962. He continued his education career at OSU until he received his master’s degree in 1965 and his doctorate degree in agricultural economics in 1970, while working as a research assistant. Hines served as an agricultural economist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service in Washington, D.C., until his retirement in 1994. Hines enjoyed reading, history, collecting art and antiques, genealogy, walks with family and friends on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal along the Potomac River, and especially his restorations of the “old Snouffer farmhouse” and three others near Adamstown in Frederick County, Maryland. Knowing the importance of agriculture, Fred was very proud of their involvement in farming and their contribution to the development and preservation of agricultural lands in Frederick County. Susan Clark (Law), ’85 doctorate in philosophy of applied behavioral studies, passed away on Aug. 28, 2022. Susan was born on April 18, 1957, in Pearisburg, Virginia. She attended Pembroke Elementary School and graduated from Giles High School in 1975. After receiving her undergraduate and graduate degrees, she obtained a doctorate in philosophy of applied behavioral studies from Oklahoma State University where she also taught for several years. Susan worked as a school psychologist and in private practice. Susan retired from private practice in 2005. In the spring of 2020, Susan and her husband, Mark, renovated her childhood home and returned to Pembroke. Susan loved to camp and float down the New River. She enjoyed riding the backroads of Giles County on her motorcycle. She was an avid reader of most anything to do with history or the metaphysical world. She was an exceptional cook, trying out new recipes and using ones handed down by her mother and aunts. She loved being with friends and family but coveted her times of solitude. She believed that she would be with her family, friends and dogs in the next life. Deacon David A. DeFrange, ’65 chemistry, died Tuesday, July 12, 2022, at St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He was 80. Born in Krebs, Oklahoma, to the late Salvatore and Josephine (Cha) DeFrange, he moved to North Brunswick over 50 years ago. He worked in quality assurance for Johnson and Johnson in New Brunswick for over 30 years before retiring in 2008. He was a member of ASQC Quality Engineering. Along with his son, he created and worked Copper Creek Landscape and Nursery in Frenchtown, which
