Friday, October 23, 2020
Hargis retiring OSU president calls it a career after 13 years at his alma mater
President Burns Hargis will announce his retirement on Friday at a Board of Regents meeting, a source close to Hargis told the O’Colly.
By Ryan Novozinsky, Maddison Farris, Jennifer Maupin, Sheyenne Mitchell-Brown Burns Hargis, Oklahoma State University’s president since 2008, will announce his retirement Friday during a Board of Regents meeting, a source close to the president told The O’Colly Thursday. The retirement is effective July 1. Hargis, 74, will retire with 13 years of service to the university. He is the 18th president of the university and is the second OSU graduate to serve as president. When asked about any impending retirement in February 2019, Hargis told The O’Colly: “Well at some point you have to. But I’ve got a lot to do… I love it here, my wife loves it here and Scruff (the family dog) loves it here.” Hargis’ list of accomplishments with the university is long, including banning tobacco use on campus, induction into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and the dramatic advancement of several campus buildings such
as the Spears School of Business. The rise of the business building is one of the president’s most notable achievements during his reign in office. The $72 million, 147,500 square foot building was instrumental in expanding the possibilities for the students who learn in its 13 state-of-the-art classrooms. Under his watch, the campus has seen many developments including, The Mcknight Center for the Performing Arts, the Greenwood School of Music, ENDEAVOR Laboratory, O’Brate Stadium, Michael and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center and the Neal Patterson Stadium. “My standard comment whenever we build a new building, whether a stadium or any new building on campus, is that the facilities don’t transform things, people do. But it’s the facilities that enable people to reach full potential,” Hargis said in an interview in 2019. On March 3, Har-
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gis was awarded The Journal Record’s Legacy Award, which recognizes individuals for making an impact on Oklahoma through their work. In December 2015, Hargis received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Leadership Oklahoma. In 2013, Hargis and his wife, Ann, received the Jasmine Award for extraordinary service to the youth of Oklahoma. Hargis runs one of the nation’s most comprehensive land grant systems, with campuses located in Tulsa, Stillwater, Oklahoma City and Okmulgee. He’s also worked on three different NCAA entities. “He just moves,” former OSU vice president of student affairs Lee Bird told the O’Colly in 2017. “If you had to chase him all day, you’d be exhausted. He genuinely loves people and meeting new faces and building relationships just keeps him going, I think.” news.ed@ocolly.ed Graphic by Max Moody