May 7-11, 2018

C O M M E M O R AT I V E E D I T I O N | M AY 7-11, 2 0 18 | T W I C E W E E K LY I N P R I N T | O U D A I LY. C O M

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A TIME OF

TRANSITION PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY

2

C OMMEMORATIVE EDITION

• May 7-11, 2018

LOOKING BACK ON A LEGACY June 30 will mark final day of Boren’s tenure as president EMMA KEITH @shakeitha_97

KAYLA BRANCH @kayla_branch

ANNA BAUMAN @annabauman2

David Boren stood before a crowd in Holmberg Hall a little more than 23 years ago with great aspirations for OU — an honors college, a thriving international community, a diverse institution of leaders.

Wednesday, with many of these dreams realized, Boren took to the same stage before hundreds of students, faculty and staff and announced that his time as OU’s president — what he called the most rewarding period of his life — will soon come to an end.

Boren — then 76 years old, with a distinguished career as a state legislator, governor and United States senator before moving to Boyd House — will retire as university president, effective June 30, 2018.

Boren said the decision was strategically timed to align with a period when the university is at what he believes to be its strongest point in history. Boren, who has struggled with health issues in recent years, including a heart surgery earlier this year and a herniated disk in 2005, also acknowledged that he is facing his own inevitable mortality. “ The calendar finally caught up with me — that’s the biggest thing,” Boren said. “I didn’t want to be president unless I could give every ounce of my energy to the job ... Time takes a toll on that, so I knew it was inevitable, and I had to face it.”

The announcement sparked a widespread outpouring of gratitude for the leadership and vision exhibited by the man whose legacy is apparent in every dimension of campus — from the residential colleges housing nearly 600 upperclassmen in the heart of campus, to the 900 National Merit Scholars populating classrooms, to the 20,000 trees dotting all three of OU’s campuses.

Clarke Stroud, dean of student affairs, describes Boren’s legacy in one word: spectacular.

“To look back over the last two decades and see how far we’ve come — it’s just simply spectacular,” Stroud said.

No one could have foreseen the strides that would be made under Boren’s leadership, Stroud said, including OU’s recent ranking among the top 100 schools nationwide and top 50 public schools and the high quality of students and faculty members.

Keith Gaddie, chair of the political science department,

KYLA GILLETTE/THE DAILY

The crowd watches OU President David Boren give a speech Sept. 20.

said he has seen the university transform from one of disrepair when he first arrived into the thriving pinnacle of public education it has become today under Boren’s example.

“He started with the bones of a great university, and he made it greater than anybody could have imagined,” Gaddie said.

Boren arrived at OU in 1994 with decades of public service under his belt.

In his roles as governor of Oklahoma and U.S. senator, he championed education reform, fine arts programs, international outreach and bipartisan efforts.

Boren resigned his U.S. Senate seat two years early to accept the role as OU’s president, where he continued his dedication to the public sphere.

He initiated more than 30 new programs, among them the College of International Studies, an OU campus in Arezzo, Italy, the OU Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, OU’s University Research Park, a religious studies program and the Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering.

These programs were the fulfillment of Boren’s visionary belief that the university could be a public school that offers as much intellectual challenge as any private institution.

“Because of you — because of the entire OU family — many of these dreams have already come true,” Boren said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon, reflecting on the decades of growth and success now behind him.

With the addition and renovation of more than 80 buildings and beautification efforts led by first lady Molly Shi Boren, OU’s campus has undergone a physical transformation that landed

it recognition among the 25 most beautiful campuses nationwide.

Boren’s time at OU was defined by innovation, growth and success, but also shadowed by challenging circumstances and events, leaving him to deal with the consequences.

Boren, once one of the state’s most powerful politicians, has been unable to protect the university from state budget woes.

Oklahoma has been in a severe budget crisis for the past few years, with state funding for higher education slashed by more than $30 million in the last year alone. Boren spearheaded 2016’s State Question 779, dubbed the “penny tax” measure, which would have added one cent to sales tax statewide with all of the profits going to education, but the effort was defeated in the November 2016 election.

The shrinking budget has been filled with consistent increases in tuition and fees and resulted in incentivized retirement programs for faculty and staff, even as the new Residential Colleges and the renovations to Oklahoma Memorial Stadium — projects that are worth hundreds of millions of dollars but funded through different means than educational expenses — were completed on opposite sides of Lindsey Street.

Boren has also taken national and local criticism in recent years regarding his response to violence against women. Most notably, Boren was part of the decision to let football player Joe Mixon remain on the OU team after breaking a female student’s jaw in 2014.

B o re n f a c e d p ro t e s t s from his own students following comments he made regarding a sexual assault study conducted by OU

researchers that were seen by some to be victim blaming.

“Can we eradicate the problem? Not any more than we can eradicate human nature,” Boren said in reference to sexual assault in a 2016 article from The Daily — his comments leading to protests from students.

Brenda Tracy, a sexual assault survivor and advocate who has spoken at OU, said these comments were problematic and showcased a deeper misunderstanding of the issue of sexual assault.

“I did see some pretty tone-deaf comments regarding sexual assault,” Tracy said. “It looks like he’s done some really good work around different race issues, but I think when it comes to the topic of sexual assault, there is not a clear understanding of what was going on on campus and that he was placing the blame on women.”

Boren’s values and leadership were tested on a national stage during a 2015 Sigma Alpha Epsilon racist chant scandal. Two students left the university — Boren said he had expelled them, though that was later disputed — and the fraternity was kicked off campus, but there was also backlash from those who believed it was wrong to expel students over issues of free speech, including from The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.

Boren said the incident was the most challenging situation he dealt with, but that the true identity of the university was made clear in the aftermath.

“That incident was going to define who we were, and when our students — on their own — spontaneously started marching, even in the dark — ‘not at our university’ — that’s not who we are,” Boren said at a press

disappointment about the failure of his penny tax initiative.

Boren’s future also holds more time for what he loves most: OU’s students. Boren said even post-retirement, he will continue to teach at least one class a semester and be involved in students’ lives.

“My favorite part of the whole job is the time that I get to spend with students, and that’s sometimes frustrating because ... there are a lot of things going on, there are a lot of other duties that the president has, including trying to write a budget in these times, so I really look forward to having more time with the best part of the job, as that’s more time with students,” Boren said.

Molly Shi Boren said she and her husband felt the university would be secure moving forward without them in leadership, but that the couple will continue to be active at OU and “sitting on the sidelines cheering.”

“It’s been 23 wonderful years, and we’re not going anywhere,” Molly Shi Boren said. “David is still going to have an office, going to teach a freshman class in political science, and we feel very good about our decision.

We feel the university is in a good place; we’re happy with our decision. It’s a good time for us, it’s a good time for the university, so all is good.”

Boren’s love and support for his students has been an inspiring example, said Kelly Damphousse, former dean of OU’s College of Arts and Sciences.

“He would tell stories about interactions he had with students and personal relationships he has with our students, and it was so inspiring to hear him talk about those things that it made me want to be a better professor and a better dean — because I wanted to live up to the idea that he was expressing in those moments,” Damphousse said.

Boren’s final words on that stage in Holmberg Hall reflected his utmost priority as he closed his address with a message to the people of OU. “Serving as your president has been the most rewarding period of my life. So many of you in this room have rubbed off on me,” Boren said. “So many special friendships have been made. It’s impossible for me to express my appreciation to you. Thank all of you for making it so rewarding.”

“Because of you, as the chant says, our university will live on stronger than ever.”

conference Sept. 20. “One of the things I’ve always felt here was great respect for student opinion, and I hope I’ve demonstrated that. I hope I’ve listened to students when I think they’ve deserved that.”

While the future of the university is not in Boren’s hands, there are qualities Boren wants to see in the next OU president — namely, a love of the university.

“Sometimes people regard being president of a university as a job, or maybe as a stepping stone, a line on a resume, or some other position,” Boren said. “I think that this place is worthy of all the love anyone can give it.

I think someone who has a special feeling for OU, maybe someone who spent part of their own college career at OU — to bring someone like that here, because they already have the love of the university, they realize what a special place that it is.”

The realm of retirement holds a more outspoken future for Boren, who said he will be able to more freely express political opinions and stances he was previously unable to vocalize as president of a public institution.

“Sometimes when you’re president of the university, there are moments when you say — because you must be non-political — ‘I’d like to just tell them what I really think about that,’” Boren said.

“So I’m definitely going to consider starting a blog after I retire as president so that I can tell people what I honestEmily McPherson and ly think about what is best for Abby Bitterman contributed the future of our state.” to this report.

Boren has, at times, been outspoken on politicized isEmma Keith sues as president. Most reemmakeith97@ou.edu cently, Boren voiced strong support for student-recipiKayla Branch ents of the Deferred Action kaylabranch@ou.edu f o r C h i l d h o o d A r r i va l s program, and he has reAnna Bauman peatedly expressed public anna.m.bauman-1@ou.edu

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COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

May 7-11, 2018 •

3

“I LOVE AND APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.” -David Boren, OU president

PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY

OU President David Boren stands at the podium during his press conference Sept. 20.

BOREN’S FOND FAREWELL OU president announced retirement Sept. 20 DANA BRANHAM @danabranham

With more than half an hour before OU President David Boren is scheduled to take the stage and make a not-so-secret surprise announcement, Holmberg Hall is buzzing.

In a way, it looks like a big lecture hall. Students inside are chattering about their theories on who might succeed Boren as president ; some of them are on laptops, scrolling through Facebook.

They’re in T-shirts and shorts, joined by administrators and faculty members in suits and dresses.

High in the balcony section, a pair of students looks down at the burgeoning crowd below, one gripping the balcony’s crimson rail.

Under a dome-shaped, intricately decorated ceiling — perhaps not unlike the ceilings at the U.S. or Oklahoma capitol buildings Boren would stride below earlier in his career — the room is packed, filled with a sense of anticipation.

At 2 p.m. on the dot, President Boren walks out to an immediate standing ovation.

...

“I love and appreciate each and every one of you,” he says,

thanking students, the OU community, his wife and the state of Oklahoma.

Right away, it feels like a goodbye.

Boren recounts some of the dreams he had for the university when he first arrived in 1994 — creating an honors college, bolstering the school’s study abroad program and making diversity its strength. Many of those dreams, he says, have become realities.

He says he’s thought long and hard about when it would be time for him to step down, to allow the university to transition to its next president.

“I believe that the right time has come,” he says, and the room is silent. It’s the message most everyone had expected to hear, but after 23 years of one university president, it feels surreal to imagine anyone else.

...

He explains the logistics of the transition to a crowd anxious to know what — and who — is next: He’ll remain the university’s president until June 30, 2018.

Moments later, Boren crescendos to the end: “Because of you, as the chant says, our university will live on stronger than ever.”

He’s met with another ovation, louder than when he first stepped on stage.

Reporters and photographers swarm the stage, and soon, Boren disappears, swallowed by them.

One photographer takes a chair

NEIL MCGLOHON/THE DAILY

OU President David Boren addresses the Class of 2014 during convocation Aug. 19, 2010.

set on the stage, turns it around and stands on it. Around the room, people line up to hug Molly Shi Boren, and a student audibly wonders, “Where’s Bob Stoops? I want a picture with Bob Stoops.”

Students linger, waiting to say goodbye or thank you. “ It h a s n ’ t s e t i n y e t ,” s a y s Student Government Association President J.D. Baker. This morning, when he saw the announcement that this would happen in Holmberg Hall, he knew what was coming. All of Boren’s biggest announcements have been in Holmberg, he says. The last time Boren made an announcement of this magnitude, it was in 2015 — in the same auditorium — when he denounced a racist chant from the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Zoology professor Doug Gaffin stands alone looking at the crowd, a messenger bag slung over his shoulders. Bob and Carol Stoops walk over to Molly Shi. She tells them that she and David thought seriously about Boren stepping down after they saw Bob retire over the summer.

Taylor Putman, a political science freshman, and Jordan Fraser, a master’s student in public administration, are among the last students waiting in the auditorium for Boren. Putman skipped a class for this, and he has questions for Boren: Is someone from OU going to succeed him?

“It ’s a pretty big moment,” Putman says. “How many students can say they were there for

NEIL MCGLOHON/THE DAILY

Boren laughs after thanking those who attended a November 2014 party celebrating his 20th year of being OU’s president.

the changing of a president?”

Fraser heard rumors Tuesday night, he says, and when he saw the announcement Wednesday morning, he knew. He notices someone holding a copy of Boren’s book and regrets not bringing a book for Boren to sign, too. He says he wants something personal to remember him by — maybe a selfie, but that would be too awkward.

...

After the media crowd disperses, Boren leaves the auditorium through a side door, and outside, a group of students is waiting for him. They thank him for his service and pose for a photo with him — they’re all in the Pride, they tell him.

“I was in the band, too,” he says, and they already know — they’ve seen a photo of him playing the alto saxophone in an old newspaper clipping.

“Thank you for the National Merit Scholarship, too!” biology sophomore Brenna O’Hara chimes in. Boren laughs and makes sure to shake each of their hands. He leaves them with a last reflection on his job.

“It’s been the best part of my life.”

Dana Branham

danabranham@ou.edu

JULIA HARTH/THE DAILY

Boren smiles with former OU football player Eric Striker at the Oct. 29, 2016, homecoming game against Kansas.

4

COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

• May 7-11, 2018

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

OU President David Boren sits at his desk in Evans Hall on March 27.

‘Standing on the edge of a cliff’ Gallogly will assume presidency amid budget crisis ANNA BAUMAN @annabauman2

As OU President David Boren prepares to retire from his role at the head of OU, he leaves with one pressing concern looming like a dark cloud over the university he has called home for over two decades: financial troubles.

Oklahoma’s flagship university has seen its share of financial struggles during Boren’s time leading it, but when President-designate James Gallogly takes office July 1, he will inherit a university that finds itself on the brink of financial distress — something he may be uniquely equipped to handle. “I’m really concerned,�

Boren said. “It’s like standing on the edge of a cliff — we’re getting closer to the edge of the cliff every year, and we run out of tricks. How many times can you offer people voluntary early retirement? How many times can you keep doing things to save money ... We stretch every dollar that we can, and we’re out of tricks. We’re out of magic tricks. It’s like a cloud over the future of the university.�

In a state ranked last in state funding for higher education, the university has taken a cut from the state legislature nearly ever y year in the past decade and beyond, according to the Oklahoma Regents for Higher Education. Higher education has seen such severe budget cuts that state allocations for fiscal year 2018 are $41.2 million less than they were in fiscal year 2001. “ We’ re o p e rat i ng t h e University of Oklahoma, in state funds, with the same amount we received approximately 20 years ago — how in the world can you do that?� Boren said. “There’s two or three thousand more students, they’re doing more programs than they have before — how can you pay the bills if you’re still getting what you got 20 years ago?�

As state allocations have continued to shrink, Boren and his administration have implemented a variety of strategies to manage

tight funds, including an increased reliance on private donations.

The university has received around $3 billion in private donations over the course of Boren’s presidency, which he said was crucial for funding many of the programs and initiatives he spearheaded, such as endowed faculty positions, new and renovated buildings and additional academic programs. “Where would the university be without that $3 billion? What if we had just had to depend upon our state appropriations? We wouldn’t even be able to be a full, comprehensive university,�

Boren said. “We would not have the standards we have, we would not have the programs we have, we wouldn’t have the Honors College, we wouldn’t have the (National Merit) Scholars, we wouldn’t have the study abroad (programs), we wouldn’t have all of these things.�

When Gallogly takes over as president, he will inherit a university in a budget crisis much like that of LyondellBasell in 2009, when he stepped into his role as CEO of the company.

Then, Gallogly transformed the bankrupt company into one that would later become one of the nation’s top producers of plastics and chemicals. The journey to the top included 10 plant closures and 5,000 layoffs, according to a 2017 Houston Chronicle article.

Some point to this success, as well as Gallogly’s 29year career in the oil industry at ConocoPhillips and Chevron Phillips, as an indicator he will bring valuable financial skills to the table.

Nick Hathaway, OU’s vice president for strategic planning and administration and finance, said he thinks Gallogly is a proven strategist whose abilities in financial management will be beneficial. “Having experience in leading a very large organization through difficult times in the past I think will serve him well, and he can rely on those experiences and apply those skills to this situation,� Hathaway said. “One of the critiques it seems our critics would like to lobby toward higher education is that we’re not appropriately business-minded,

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Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

and I think having someone with his background as our champion is actually going to be a really great voice with which to talk to our critics.�

Hathaway said he thinks Gallogly’s experience outside the realm of higher education gives him an outsider perspective that will challenge the administration to think beyond its previous strategies. “When you talk about building diverse teams and finding effective solutions, the strength of a diverse team is to bring people from different perspectives to find the best solution,� Hathaway said. “I think he’s going to challenge us with perspectives and ideas that maybe haven’t been sort of runof-the-mill kinds of ideas around here, and I’m sure some of those are going to be effective in maybe helping us move forward.�

Beyond financial skills, Gallogly’s connections to the oil industry could also be helpful in finding funding. Many of the largest donations to OU come from donors in the oil industry, said Chandra Rai, director of the Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering.

Gallogly himself, who was involved in the largest oneday donation in university history, is no stranger to the importance of private giving.

OU’s College of Engineering now bears his name, with a biomedical engineering school and a building to house it thanks to a joint $30 million donation from

Gallogly and the Stephenson family in 2015. “This university ‌ has received tremendous support from the oil industry,â€?

Rai said. “The big donors to this university, not to this college, to this university — whether you take the residential hall or football club ... I can keep going down and down the list — they’re all big contributions from oil companies. And everyone else is benefiting, everyone is benefiting. So if his connectivity can bring some funding, soft money as they call it, to the university, it will be good for everyone.�

Due to Gallogly’s extensive career in one of the state’s largest and most economically viable industries, Rai said he thinks big donors could be just a phone call away from the former oil executive, something that could be necessary in light of a lack of state funding. “I don’t have any hope from the state. I have been over here for 20 years, and all these years I have seen the state contributions to higher education is going down and down and down, so I don’t see that trend changing,� Rai said. “This is a flagship university for the state of Oklahoma, so more resources anyone can garner is good for the university.�

A critical component of development and fundraising is having connections to potential funding sources, Hathaway said. “If you already have established relationships, then you’re ahead of the game,�

Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy Parker May 7, 2018

ACROSS 1 Big goofballs 5 Fiery gem 9 Destiny 13 Three strikes are an out, e.g.

14 Oft-reflected image 15 Pelvic bones 16 Crucial point 19 Instrument that wails 20 Beans go-with 21 Reverses sinking 22 Type of support 23 Sandler in the movies 24 “Hot� snack 27 15th president 31 Carafe relatives 32 Pocketed bread?

33 “Aladdin� prince 34 Poll focus 38 It’s sweet after dinner 39 Flower or eye feature 40 Hard-todispute fact 41 Badly needing money 44 Overly precious 45 Crucifix variety 5/7

46 Expression of woe 47 “ ... but fear ___�

50 Work the checkout 51 Hotel offering 54 100 percent truth 57 Ice on frigid waters 58 Standard 59 Maryland vis-a-vis Arizona 60 Some conifers 61 Mug with a mug 62 Id’s complements DOWN 1 Tolkien creatures 2 One’s atmosphere 3 Continuous change 4 It sells, it’s said 5 Place of business 6 Flat tire application 7 Prolonged pain 8 Director Spike 9 Daughter of Muhammad 10 New Testament book 11 Shoe structure 12 Jug grips

15 Duchess of York 17 Ending that threatens 18 Wacky 22 Like lemon juice 23 They’re cranked no more 24 Part-timers 25 Anticipate 26 Parking regulator 27 In two lobes 28 Easily duped 29 Soothing plants 30 Foolish one 32 Like skin 35 Con 36 Large lizard 37 What fuddyduddies pick

42 Mountain ridges 43 Semi-casual shirts 44 Like sweaty hands 46 Acidic to the taste 47 Dubious 48 Charming story 49 Barge, e.g.

50 Word to a pest 51 Male in the woods 52 It’s tender in Mexico 53 Crafts’ partner 55 Dynamite stuff 56 Pigskin holder

PREVIOUS PREVIOUSPUZZLE PUZZLEANSWER ANSWER

Hathaway said. “I don’t know (Gallogly) that well, but my sense of him is that he’s got a lot of connections with people who could really help the university move forward.�

Gallogly has shown early promise in this area already, having met with OU alumni in New York and Houston in April.

Even with high expectations for Gallogly’s financial capabilities, Boren said the president’s role in recruiting funds is not always entirely effective, especially in terms of state funding. Despite great efforts on his part, including inviting each newly elected legislator to dinner at Boyd House and pouring a third of his life savings into a failed penny tax bill that would have increased education funding, Boren has not had success in getting the legislature to budge. “ That’s unfortunately

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COMMON STUFF By Timothy E. Parker

Anna Bauman

anna.m.bauman-1@ou.edu

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HOROSCOPE

By Eugenia Last

Copyright 2015, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

FOR RELEASE: MONDAY, MAY 7, 2018 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -Stay focused on what’s important, and don’t make unnecessary changes. Maintain balance and integrity, regardless of what others decide to do. Patience will lead to greater prosperity.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Persuasive tactics will work wonders for you initially, but before you talk big and bold about what you have to offer, consider the consequences if you cannot deliver. Better to underestimate than oversell.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Make a unique contribution to stand out and be recognized for your ingenuity. Explore new possibilities and meet new friends by participating in functions that interest you.

5/6 5/3

not under the control of the president of the university,� Boren said. “You can do what you can do ... but you can only do so much, you can only do what you can, and I really tried.�

In light of recent teacher walkouts and a revenue-raising measure to fund $6,000 teacher raises, Boren pointed to a glimmer of hope in the situation Gallogly is about to step into. “I wish (Gallogly) luck, I’ll just continue to try to help him in any way I can,� Boren said. “But I think that the tide is about to shift. I think the people of Oklahoma have had enough of us being last in all the things that matter and first in all the things we don’t want to be.�

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- A change may excite you, but consider your choices and the possible outcomes before you make a move. Choose stability over adventure. Don’t worry about someone else’s wishes.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -Trust your instincts. Participate in something to learn from the experience. Know your limitations and set boundaries that make you feel comfortable. Share with people you trust.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- The comments offered by children, friends or a loved one will be sincere. Don’t take offense when you should be using criticism to make yourself better.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Drive, determination and doing things your way will bring results.

Partnerships will add balance and keep you from veering off course.

Romance will be nurturing and will lower your stress levels.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Personal change should be your goal. Consider your objective and whom you are dealing with. Share personal information only with people you can trust not to reveal it.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- An opportunity to expand a service, skill or talent you have into something that can offer added income looks promising. Clear a workspace at home and turn your dream into a reality.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -Emotions will be difficult to hide.

Don’t overreact or be indulgent to avoid having a necessary discussion. Love and understanding will bring far better results.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -Don’t make unnecessary changes that will alter your look or give someone the wrong impression regarding what you want. If you are open, you’ll be offered good advice.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -Check your motives before you indulge in something that isn’t right for you. Following someone else’s lead will result in disappointment.

Be true to yourself and your beliefs.

COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

May 7-11, 2018 •

Kelli Stacy Editor in Chief Emma Keith News Managing Editor Emily Farris Engagement Editor George Stoia Sports Editor Allison Weintraub A&E Editor Kayla Branch Enterprise Editor Paxson Haws Visual Editor Daniella Peters Copy Manager Savannah Saing Print Editor

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President David Boren sits and listens to David McCullough speak at his celebration dinner April 20.

PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY

OU celebrates Boren’s tenure President’s birthday weekend includes statue unveiling KELLI STACY @AstacyKelli

The standing ovation lasted nearly two minutes.

Roughly 1,700 people clapped as OU President David Boren walked into the Embassy Suites Conference ba l l ro o m F r i day n ig ht.

Boren, a day before his 77th birthday, slowly made his way to his table at the front of the enormous ballroom as those who came to pay tribute to him showed their support.

A little over an hour later, Boren stepped behind the podium. He began to speak, and the atmosphere inside the room immediately changed. Usually a man of such joy, Boren was emotional as he addressed the attendees of the dinner that celebrated not only his birthday but also his legacy.

“I can’t begin to tell you how you’ve rubbed off on my life,” Boren said, addressing OU students past and present. “You’ve made me a perpetual optimist, an idealist, filled with energy.

I’ve taken from your energy and drawn from it and drawn inspiration from you every single day.”

With about two months remaining before his retirement, the events surrounding Boren’s birthday weekend were all the more significant to OU’s second-longest-standing president. The three-day tribute, which involved a dinner, a statue unveiling and a concert, drew luminaries like Pulitzer Prizewinning historian David McCullough to a “who’s who” of Oklahomans, from former football coach Bob Stoops to former regent Max Weitzenhoffer to Boren’s successor as president, James Gallogly.

It was the first public appearance Boren had made since suffering a mild stroke just a week earlier and being hospitalized for three days.

However, the anxiety that had permeated campus in the wake of his health scare was nowhere to be found over the weekend. Instead, gratitude took its place. The proceedings felt like the beginning of a long goodbye — to a president who transformed a campus, raised its ambitions and, in doing so, breathed life into its national reputation.

But the weekend was also, perhaps, the closing of a golden era in OU history.

“Imagine what it has been like to realize your dreams,” Boren said as his eyes began to shine toward the end of

his speech. “It fills my heart Statues of those three final scene of Boren and his with gratitude that I simply presidents, and now Boren, wife, Molly Shi, surrounded cannot express.” s t a n d s e n t i n e l a c r o s s by students. campus.

“It is not only entirely apA LASTING LEGACY Boren thanked those who propriate that we should do Ju s t s i x d a y s e a r l i e r, have stood with him over this, but unthinkable that OU athletic director Joe the years after his statue was we would not,” said univerCastiglione knew something unveiled, joking that he re- sity historian and Professor was wrong. members running for gov- Emeritus David Levy during As he stood at the podium ernor in 1974 and spending his speech. “(The statue) preparing to give the cue half his campaign money on will serve as a fine remindfor the cover to be pulled a poll. When the poll came er of what David Boren, tooff Stoops’ statue on April back, it showed he was only gether with his wife, Molly, 14, Castiglione made eye polling at 2 percent, he said. has accomplished over the contact with Boren as two Forty-four years later, he was quarter century that he has paramedics approached the happy to look out into the led this place.” president’s seat. crowd and see many of the The Borens stood from “I’m locked in on his eyes, people who had been with their seats near the podium and he’s talking, and he him since that moment. and pulled the black cover even says at one moment, “ Yo u b e l i e v e d i n m y off a poster while the cover ‘I’m fine,’” Castiglione said. cause,” Boren said. “You was pulled off the actual “Then I noticed the body believed in me before I statue outside, revealing l a ng u ag e o f e v e r y b o d y believed in myself, and a 10-foot-tall depiction of around him changed.” you helped me believe in Boren in academic regalia.

Castiglione, who has been myself.”

A quote from Boren is inat Boren’s side for nearly 20 scribed on the statue’s base, years as partners in trans- THE BITTERSWEET END as well as a relief of Molly forming OU and its athletBoren stood on the North Shi. ic programs, was in shock. Oval looking out into a “Never underestimate As fans waited, Castiglione crowd of onlookers clutch- the power of kindness,” the paused the proceedings ing umbrellas on Sept. 15, inscription reads. “How we until Boren was loaded into 1995. treat each other will help the ambulance and driven It was a rainy day, much determine the future of our away. He asked the crowd wetter than the “heavy mist” society.” to say a prayer for the pres- Boren said the weatherman Boren exemplified this ident, then directed the stat- predicted. Not one for writ- quote Saturday, thanking all ue be revealed without the ing his speeches before- who attended and helped extra fanfare that had been hand, he decided to break him transform OU and credplanned. from tradition so that his iting Molly Shi for being his During the spring game inaugural address could be constant adviser over the that followed, one question archived for generations to years. Much like every event was on everyone’s mind: come. As the rain persist- he attends, he stopped to “How is Boren?” ed, Boren’s speech became take photos with anyone The concern of the OU s mu dg e d a n d t att e re d , who asked before joining community that day was something he would joke the attendees in the food similar to the feeling it had about while delivering one court for lunch. roughly seven months ago of his final speeches as presA little over an hour after when Boren announced his ident of OU, the Oklahoma the unveiling, Boren stood impending retirement, ef- weather making itself a in the rain north of Monnet fective June 30. The sense character once again.

Hall facing the monument of uncertainty and loss of Twenty-two years, seven that will forever remain a such a long-standing pres- months and four days later, symbol of the legacy he left ident was felt across the rain slickened the side- at OU. Sculptor Paul Moore state. After 51 years of pub- walks Saturday and pushed captured a younger version lic service, a new reality the statue unveiling cer- of Boren, showing an attenwas becoming clear: Boren emony inside. It was held tion to detail that left the increasingly appeared to in the Will Rogers Room of president with just one word show every bit of his years the Oklahoma Memorial — “surreal.”

— aging, weakening, mortal. Union, which is wrapped The care put into his statIn nearly 24 years of ser- with a mural depicting the ue was the same care put vice at OU, Boren has be- history of the university, into the entire weekend, come one of the university’s ending appropriately with a so it was only fitting that most consequential presidents, and he will leave a legacy that only three others could match — David Ross Boyd, who founded it ; William Bizzell, who steered it through the Great Depression; and George Lynn Cross, who transformed it in the wake of World War II. Boren pushed OU into a new era academically, athletically and aesthetically — from boasting the most National Merit Scholars to implementing the study abroad program in 80 countries to establishing an honors college, from increased support and elevation of the arts programs and multiple other colleges to the physical appearance of the university. The changes he has made are lasting, as are the President Boren speaks at the dinner April 20. connections.

the president’s concert on Sunday included a piece from one of Boren’s favorite composers, Aaron Copland.

The Borens beamed as the conductor took the stage, then they became composed listening to Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” — a song with notes like delicate valleys that go on to rise to climactic peaks.

A fitting tribute to Boren’s career, the piece was also sung at his inauguration as Oklahoma’s governor, and it left the audience with a feeling of hope.

In the last of the weekend’s events, Boren was at his most composed. He listened intently, holding tightly to his gold program and leaning over to occasionally whisper to Molly Shi. When the last note was played, the president stood and showed his gratitude for the performance, but it was then that the conductor turned and the orchestra began clapping for Boren.

The honoree smiled and pointed to the orchestra, as if to say, “No, thank you.”

When the clapping subside d, B oren remaine d standing in front of his chair as he was surrounded by fellow concertgoers. He smiled, shaking hands with everyone who walked past before making his way backstage to thank the orchestra.

Boren was ushered through the lobby, but he paused to acknowledge as many people as possible before making his way to his car. As the silver Lexus began to pull away, Boren looked back and waved goodbye — the first of many farewells he will face in the next two months.

Kelli Stacy

kelliastacy@ou.edu

160 Copeland Hall, 860

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COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

• May 7-11, 2018

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

President-designate James Gallogly speaks at the presidential announcement March 26.

Our view: Gallogly disadvantaged Secrecy of search process causes controversy, doubt EDITORIAL BOARD @OUDaily

A long day often ends with a deep breath and a moment of contemplation.

The faculty, staff and students of OU, the Board of Regents and James Gallogly have had such a day.

With the official announcement of Gallogly as OU’s next president, the OU community finally has an answer to the main question that has been on everyone’s mind since President David Boren announced his

retirement: Who will succeed him?

But, because of the secrecy throughout the search process, there are many other questions that have not been answered. We don’t know exactly what happened along the way, and we probably never will.

Who the other candidates were and how diverse the pool was will remain secrets, never allowing the university community the chance to see what could have been or whether Gallogly was really the best fit for the job.

Some have expressed concerns about Gallogly’s lack of managerial experience in higher education, his ties to the oil and gas industry

and whether his millionaire status bought him the presidency, among other things.

The questions that arise are natural considering he is the former executive vice president of ConocoPhillips and former CEO of a chemical and refining company, having made $106 million in 2014.

The real concern, however, is that we don’t know Gallogly or how he will run OU, but now we have to trust him with our beloved university and, for some of us, our livelihoods. The blame for that falls on the shoulders of the Board of Regents.

The regents had a list of qualifications they desired in the next president,

but they recruited a person who does not meet those qualifications.

They wanted someone with a doctoral degree, which Gallogly doesn’t have.

They wanted someone with experience in higher education, which Gallogly doesn’t have.

Now, we’re left to speculate why exactly the Board of Regents chose Gallogly.

The s earch for David Boren’s successor placed the feelings and careers of the candidates above the needs of the students and faculty at the university. The search committee and the Board of Regents said, because the committee was made up of representatives from

students, faculty and staff across OU, confidentiality was not a cause for concern.

But at the heart of true representation is the ability to hold those representatives accountable.

It’s possible that, if the OU community had been included in the process and maybe even had been able to meet the final seven candidates toward the end of the search, Gallogly may not have been selected.

There would never have been a perfect choice to replace President Boren and his decades-long tenure, but there could have been open discussion and deliberation, a sharing of ideas and concerns along the

way. A secretive search led to a questionable appointment that is highly contentious among those who will be impacted by Gallogly’s administration.

Gallogly is not to blame for the choices of the regents, but he will have to make up for their actions and take extra care to prove to the OU community that he can be trusted.

Time will be the true test for Gallogly and for the regents. We at the OU Daily love the university and want to see it succeed. We wish President Gallogly the best.

Editorial Board

dailynews@ou.edu

PHI BETA KAPPA

the premier honorary society for the liberal arts and sciences is pleased to announce the students elected to membership for 2018

Jocelyn Adkins Chelsee Aguirre Amanda Ahadizadeh Nyle Almeida Elisabeth Antloger Hannah Asfeldt Elizabeth Bagwell Carolyn Baker Sarah Baker Ashlee Barker Bradleigh Bell Robert Bellafiore Victoria Bergman Benjamin Bevilacqua Kimberley Bishop Jake Boone Alexandra Bradford Rachel Brill Mackenzie Brim Tad Brimmer Matthew Bross Allison Brown Audra Brulc Emily Brumfield Sean Bruton Caroline Buckles Lynn Bui Jillian Buxton Casey Cai Katja Cannon Matthew Carman Gabrielle Carmichael Andrew Chang Ameel Chaudhary Preston Choi Sean Christiansen Matthew Clark Wynne Clark Elizabeth Colston Jordan Combs Adrienne Coyle Brooke Crow Austin Darnell Chloe Denham Daniela Diaz Marroquin Han Do Abrianna Dolfi Erin Donnelly Madeleine Duarte Olivia Dubcak Taylor DuPont Sarah Dykstra Ivey Dyson Ryan Echavarren Katherine Egger Erin Eskew Danielle Eslick Jaisa Evanoff Chelsea Evans Andrew Fancher Romy Fawaz Kessa Fehring

Ellen Fitzsimmons McKenzie Fowler Ryan Fritz Ryan Frome Arianna Fryer Ashlyn Gardner Madison Garrett Morgan Garrett Megan Gentry Dustin Gier Kasey Gill Madeline Goodman Ryan Grantham Sally Grindstaff Hannah Grip Hailey Grippen Kari Hall Michael Hamilton Miranda Hamilton Chloe Harris Noah Helsee Christopher Hendrix Carolyn Hewes Averie Hicks Ethan Hoagland Tomas Holy Hannah Hover Weslie Howard Jane Hsi Coral Hudson Stella Huynh Andy Jarnevic Christen Jarshaw Allison Johanningmeier Alexandra Jovanovic Jessica Justus Benjamin Kannenberg Johnathan Kendrick Matthew Keyzer Jonathan Kim Carly Kirkland Alexandra Klima Kristen Kluber Uday Kohli Jonathan Kunjummen Michael Kutteh Nicole Larsen Lauren Lason Logan Lawton Tuong-Phi Le Katherine Le Christopher Leonard Cameron Lewis Yijin Liang Cooper Little Patrick Lockwood Michael Lutter Kathryn Lynn Rhea Mahapatra Morgan Mann Adam Marrs

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Caroline Shepard Evan Shrestha Zachary Simpson Alexander Skipper Abigail Smith Sarah Smith Chelsea Smith-Antonides Visal So Matthew Solomon Honieh Sowdagar Taylor Spencer Toryn Sperry Wyatt Stanford Dakota Stewart Auston Stiefer Nickolas Stone Parker Strubhar John Surbeck Kendra Sy Chynna Terrell Jeffrey Terry Rachel Thatcher Ashley Thompson Nathan Thompson Brett Traxler Thuc-Nghi Truong Alex Tu Hannah Tully Jessica Tunnell Henry Unterschuetz Annie Van Keirsbilck Jonna Vanderslice Malone Dakota Vaughan Brandt Vernon Jocelyn Viviani Jacob Waugh Allison Weintraub Matthew Wennemann Ethan White Andrew Whitham Brittney Williams Evan Williamson Lauren Wilmes Elizabeth Witter Katherine Wolf Natalie Wolf Carlee Wright Zhongliang Xing Aidan Young Ryan Zagrzecki Valerie Zike Fiorella Zoll

Phi Beta Kappa was founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary, and the University of Oklahoma’s chapter, Alpha of Oklahoma, was chartered in 1920. For over two hundred years, election to Phi Beta Kappa has been a recognition of intellectual capacities well employed, especially in the acquiring of an education in the liberal arts and sciences. Phi Beta Kappa — recognizing OU’s excellence. For more information, please contact Susannah Livingood at slivingood@ou.edu or Craig Hayes at rchayes@ou.edu

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COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

May 7-11, 2018 •

7

CHANGING OF THE GUARD James Gallogly hopes to build on Boren’s legacy NICK HAZELRIGG @nickhazelrigg

James Gallogly says he’s home.

After a long and storied career as a businessman in the field of petroleum and chemicals, “Jim” is back in the place he calls home, where he received a sizable welcome home package: OU’s presidency.

At 8 a.m. on March 26, the Board of Regents officially appointed James Lawrence Gallogly as the 14th OU president. Two hours later, he spoke to the university community during an official announcement ceremony in the Molly Shi Boren Ballroom. Despite the applause, he faced an OU community still uncertain of the future executive.

“I just love this place. It’s just a big part of my life,” Gallogly said. “It’s a part of my family’s life, and it’s built a foundation for everything I did.”

At 65, Gallogly touted his professional accomplishments in the business field before the crowd during his announcement, which gained less applause than his compliments to David Boren, the outgoing president of 23 years who once came to the university as a relative outsider with an unusual background for a university president.

“I told the regents when I decided to announce my retirement, I thought the most important thing was to find someone who truly loved the University of Oklahoma,” Boren said. “This wasn’t just a job — it was a real calling to come back and serve the university and the students.”

Gallogly succeeds one of OU’s longest-serving and most successful presidents, as Boren remained particularly popular during his tenure, and his exit has caused even OU’s oldest and most distinguished faculty members to be concerned for his replacement.

George Henderson, OU professor emeritus and longtime friend of Boren, was skeptical of Gallogly’s corporate life translating to academia — uncharted territory for Gallogly.

“He’s talking about greatness, but he’s talking about greatness at corporate levels.

This university is a university that is concerned about people from the bottom to the top,” Henderson said. “It remains to be seen how much he will grasp that aspect of it, but that’s what we’re for — to remind him. And I will remind him again, once again, that his power base, whether he wants to admit it or not, are students, and he better listen to me.”

Concerns over the choice to select Gallogly manifested in the form of tweets, a protest and an open letter sent by an OU dean. Despite these concerns, Gallogly sees his corporate past as a strength, not a weakness. For examples, Gallogly pointed to the role he played in the foundation of ConocoPhillips into a Fortune 500 company, and from preventing LyondellBasell, of which he was CEO, from bankruptcy.

Despite this reputation of restructuring, Gallogly said he is not coming to OU to “rebuild” but instead to stay the course on the path Boren has created.

“David’s done a remarkable job, and we should all be extremely proud of what he’s accomplished. And of course we’re going to celebrate his success in the coming days,” Gallogly said. “We don’t have a turnaround situation here.

Some of what I learned in the corporate environment is how to work very closely with people in a time of crisis — how to listen. Because when you’re an outsider and you’re dealing with a group

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

President-designate James Gallogly hugs OU President David Boren on March 26.

of people, you have to pay a lot of attention to what they have to say. That part translates very well.”

Boren also felt particularly confident in Gallogly’s abilities to lead the university based on his skills and his passion for OU. “One, I’ve watched him, I’ve known him for 25 years — I know I can trust his integrity. I know he has tremendous mental capabilities, he really has a strong intellect,” Boren said. “I think the heart is very important. We’ve had presidents before that were just, this was a stepping stone to something else, and for him, it’s the same as it was for me. This is probably the only university job in the country that he would’ve taken. It’s because he loves OU, and I think that’s so important.”

Gallogly didn’t seek out the university presidency, he said, but was nominated by others to be considered for the position. He said the question of why he chose to come out of retirement and accept the offer was the easiest one to answer: he simply loves the university.

But the choice of an oil executive and university donor coming to campus to serve as president starkly contrasts with the public service career Boren brought upon arrival, which does not set well for some.

“How much money do you have to have to buy a university?” Henderson asked. “I’ve looked at his resume. What else could it be?”

Gallogly thinks the idea that he bought the presidency is “nonsense,” and said he chose to give his time to the university out of love towards the institution. When asked about the $500,000 salary set for him by the Board of Regents, Gallogly said he doesn’t even know what he’ll be paid because the presidency isn’t about the money for him.

“I’ve worked seven days a week for 40-plus years, and the thing that I have in my life now that’s most precious to me is my time. And I have a family, and I’ve spent time with my grandchildren and my daughters and I’ve made

a very important decision — we’ve extended our family to the OU community,” Gallogly said. “And so I want to make it really, really clear, I’m giving the most precious thing I have in life at this point in time, and that’s my personal time and energy and devotion to this university.

That has nothing to do with money, and the donations I don’t even consider donations. I consider it an investment in OU’s future.”

As Boren prepares to exit his role, Gallogly said he hoped to build on Boren’s successes but said he also understood the limitations to following in Boren’s legacy.

Gallogly said he doesn’t want to be the next David Boren.

He just wants to be “Jim.” “I’m not trying to fill David Boren’s shoes. My goal is to have all of our professors and all of our students receive those accolades,” Gallogly said. “You should just think of me as Jim. You should think of me as the leader of a team of great professors, and students who are doing a great thing for their future. So don’t think of me as someone who’s trying to be famous, because I’m not. I’m here to serve in the simplest sense.”

The OU community will have to wait to discover if their concerns will be realized, or if another great legacy is about to begin at the university. For Boren, the man who received the longest and loudest applause of the day, it’s nothing but full faith in leaving the university in Gallogly’s hands.

“I’ll continue to help the university in any way I can, and we are so fortunate to have someone like Jim Gallogly,” Boren said. “For him, this is not a job — this is a calling. He’s come back home to the University of Oklahoma because he truly loves this university. And that’s what I said when I announced my retirement. I hoped we could find a really talented person who was going to truly love the university and its students and take care of it as a school.”

Nick Hazelrigg

hazelriggn@gmail.com

PUBLIC OPENING REMARKS AND ARTIST PANEL

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8

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COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

May 7-11, 2018 •

9

GALLOGLY VOWS TO BUILD ON WHAT BOREN STARTED

FIELD PARSONS/THE DAILY

OU President-designate James Gallogly speaks at the presidential announcement at the OU Health Sciences Center on March 26.

Boren’s successor will begin with high expectations EMMA KEITH @shakeitha_97

Authentic. Visionary.

Inspiring. Proven. Tireless.

Mentor. Teacher.

The words were emblazoned on tiny buttons bearing James Gallogly’s face, greeting members of the OU community as they entered the Molly Shi Boren Ballroom on March 26 to meet their new president.

But, during a day focused on Gallogly and his future, the inspirational slogans meant to reflect Gallogly’s aspirations reflected another man whose shoes Gallogly will look to fill.

Throughout the day, rarely did speakers, Gallogly included, reference the university’s future without reflecting on the difficulty of following a leader like OU President David Boren. During Gallogly’s

introduction to the university, Boren received three standing ovations, all eyes turned toward a president who has left his mark on almost every part of the institution.

“David Boren has done a fabulous job, and I can never fill David’s shoes,” Gallogly told reporters after his introduction. “But I can build on what he started. I can bring a slightly different perspective for things.”

Gallogly’s day was one of tightly scheduled events, of a tour of OU’s three campuses, of public relations professionals carefully keeping his schedule and of introductions with specific students, faculty and staff conducted behind closed doors.

The day was strictly branded and executed, except for the moment an employee sent out an OU Alert announcing Gallogly’s selection 19 minutes before the Board of Regents finalized its vote. The moment was seemingly insignificant, even amusing, but it

was a reminder of the question at the forefront of many m i n d s : To w h a t e x t e n t did the regents follow the search process they promised to the public?

In his first moments with the community after the announcement, even as he shared his hopes for the university’s future, Gallogly harkened back to the successes of the past, telling a private audience in the University Club, “There will never be another David Boren.”

Gallogly’s public reception in the ballroom introduced him to the community amid fanfare and procession, drawing cheerleaders, RUF/NEKS and a section of the Pride of Oklahoma.

Boren’s retirement announcement, in stark contrast to Monday’s events, f e a t u re d t h e p re s i d e n t alone onstage behind a podium, a huge black curtain dwarfing him on Holmberg Hall’s undecorated stage — Gallogly stood behind a simple wooden lectern,

flanked by student and university leaders, a huge red banner and towering balloon columns, soft-spoken amid riotous confetti and blaring renditions of “Boomer Sooner” from the Pride of Oklahoma.

Gallogly’s introduction f ro m B o a rd o f R e g e n t s chairman Clayton Bennett and dean of students Clarke Stroud was glowing, full of wisecracks and fanfare.

Bennett expressed full confidence in Gallogly as he welcomed him to the podium, calling him the regents’ “clear choice” and noting his “remarkable skill and unmatched track record of success.”

Gallogly spoke quietly and sometimes stiffly as he promised the community he’d be a student, educator and administrator, emphasizing his vision of OU as “absolutely the pinnacle of academic success.” His greatest moment of connection with the crowd came as he took a weathered OU hat from one of the RUF/NEKS onstage beside

him and walked back to to the podium in the regalia, drawing applause.

Over and over throughout the day, Gallogly and speakers emphasized the importance of love for the university. Gallogly professed that love several times in his speech, telling his audience he will “push very hard” and “ask a great deal” of the university to lead it toward greatness.

But the crowd still questioned — does love for the university cover a lack of experience in education or a lifetime spent serving the oil industry? Not for students like Elaina Fees, who stood at the right of the stage toward the end of Gallogly’s address with a sign asking OU to “Divest from big oil.”

But for most students, faculty and administration, who immediately gathered to reflect as Gallogly exited the stage, the day was full of optimism, despite uncertainty, about the future awaiting the university.

“I liked his speech. I think

he really loves OU — he’s proven that with donating for so long, but I think it’s exciting,” journalism sophomore Chris Oven said. “I think he’ll try to strive to be like David Boren. I don’t know if anyone would be able to match David Boren, but I think he’ll definitely try his best... I trust the Board of Regents right now, and the selection committee. I know they had student representation on there, so we’ll just have to see.”

Boren’s connection with the community was quieter, away from the noise of the day. As the crowds cleared, returning to work and class, Boren sat on a stool next to the confetti-covered stage, talking to students who fell behind, taking selfies with those interested. The current president will stay at the university, leading from afar in the classroom and watching his successor work to build on his legacy.

Emma Keith

emmakeith97@ou.edu

10

COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

• May 7-11, 2018

‘WE ASPIRE TO GREATNESS’ FIELD PARSONS/THE DAILY

OU President-designate James Gallogly speaks at the presidential announcement at the OU Health Sciences Center on March 26.

James Gallogly looks to continue OU’s success ANNA BAUMAN @annabauman2

Nearly a decade ago, James Gallogly left the company where he had built his successful, 29-year career in the oil business to take the helm at a corporation saddled with $20 billion of debt.

In front of an audience of LyondellBasell’s 13,000 employees, he set forth the ruthless expectations that would later propel the company into Fortune 500 territory.

“I spoke to an audience just like this, in a video conference across the entire world, where I said to them, ‘I did not come to help you get out of bankruptcy. I came to help you become the greatest petrochemical company in the world,’” Gallogly said. “And they did.”

In a similar move nine years later, Gallogly, now 65, will take the reins at Oklahoma’s largest public university, where he aims to mimic his past success in the business world guided by a similar relentless

perfectionism.

The path to greatness for LyondellBasell did not come without cost. In the process of transforming the company, Gallogly oversaw 10 plant closures and 5,000 lay-offs. While Gallogly clearly set his standards for university greatness at the presidential announcement March 26, he has yet to lay out an execution plan for OU to achieve its status as the “pinnacle of higher education.”

“We aspire to greatness — nothing less. I will push very hard. I will ask a great deal. We expect perfection, and we’re going to have that same standard in every single thing we do at this university,” Gallogly said.

“Every single thing.”

It’s that same insatiable competitive spirit that has driven Gallogly to be the best, from wrestling matches with his brothers to law school exams, throughout his entire life, said his mother, Margery Gallogly.

“It’s a challenge, and h e l i k e s a c h a l l e n g e ,” Ma rg e r y Ga l l o g l y s a i d .

“So I think that’s where that’s coming from. Just like the LyondellBasell thing — the company was just so bad off, and he had a really fantastic job with Conoco Philips and was

vice president there — and yet he took that job knowing that it was going to be a challenge and not knowing if he could pull them out of the bankruptcy. But he really did a good job, he’s good at challenges.”

Noma Gurich, justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, recalls Gallogly as a smart, focused and reserved student during the time they both attended OU’s College of Law. “He seemed conservative and straight-laced, not a wild personality or anything,” Gurich said. “I think he went by Jimmy in those days. We were all just a little less formal then.”

Still, in a photo Gurich found in her yearbook, she noticed Gallogly wearing a vest and tie amidst a group of peers dressed in far more casual attire.

Gallogly’s mild-mannered personality was belied by a strong desire to be the best lawyer, he said in his public speech to the OU community. “(My father) gave me fantastic advice. He said, ‘Okay, if you’re going to do this, do it with great passion. Be the absolute best at it, the greatest lawyer ever,’” Gallogly said. “Because there is always room at the top.”

Gallogly has shared this drive for success with engineering students he has met in the past. Lisa Morales, executive director of diversity and inclusion in OU’s Gallogly College of Engineering, said she and a group of students met with Gallogly at a conference through the college several years ago.

“We met him down in Houston, and he shared with our students kind of his story and a little bit of his background, and most importantly encouraged our students to continue to work hard in school,” Morales said. “He was very inspiring to our students as far as telling them their education is something that is valuable, and he was positive about they choices in pursuing a degree in engineering. He did a great job of connecting with the students by sharing some of his personal stories. I just thought he was a very genuine and compassionate person.”

Morales said she thinks G a l l o g l y ’s m u l t i - m i l lion dollar donations to OU’s Gallogly College of Engineering, speak to his compassion for others.

“I also think that just the investments he’s personally made to the University of

Oklahoma also send a message that he cares about the students and the faculty and he cares about everyone,” Morales said.

The new job as OU’s president will bring Gallogly to Oklahoma, where he has not lived since he first began his career in the oil industry in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, decades ago.

Born on a military base in Canada, Jim spent the first five years of his life moving from state to state, including Alaska, before settling down in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he attended high school and college.

Gallogly’s career in the energy and oil sector has rooted him in the Oklahoma and Texas region, but he maintains ties to his home state, where he now owns both a ranch and a house in Colorado Springs. His extensive wealth also includes a ranch in Finley, Oklahoma, as well as several Ferraris and Porsches.

Aside from his extensive personal property, Margery Gallogly said her son has used his massive amounts of wealth to support family members, including saving a family ranch from going out of commission and helping provide college money for his 35 nieces and nephews.

“I don’t think it went to his head,” Margery Gallogly said. “I think he’s happy that he has it, and yet sometimes, he’s very conservative, which seems odd, but he’s generous with it.

He wa nt s to ma ke su re that none of his siblings or nieces and nephews want of anything, and he’s been very generous.”

Margery Gallogly said her son was raised to greatly value family and education, two concepts she thinks he will bring with him to his role as president.

“Education is extremely important to us,” Margery Gallogly said. “And we want everyone to succeed, and this world would be a better place if everyone succeeded at education.”

When Gallogly called his mother to tell her he would be accepting the position as 14th president of the University of Oklahoma, she had just one question for him.

“I thought he was going to retire and I said, ‘Why can’t you just retire?’” Margery Gallogly said she told her son. “But he has something to give — he still has something to give.”

Anna Bauman

anna.m.bauman-1@ou.edu

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