Oklahoma
Meet the 2024 Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame class
The current president of the University of Oklahoma, a past president and first lady at Oklahoma State University and a pair of just-retired Oklahoma university presidents are among 11 people who comprise the 2024 class of the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame.
The Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society announced the list of inductees this week. The 30th annual induction ceremony and banquet will be held Nov. 4 at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
OU President Joseph Harroz, who has led the Norman university since May 2019 and earlier served as the dean of OU’s College of Law, will be among those recognized.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to be inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame Class of 2024,” Harroz said. “This recognition is a testament to the incredible dedication and hard work of the entire University of Oklahoma community. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the other inductees this year, whose contributions have enriched the landscape of higher education in Oklahoma. Together, we celebrate the transformative power of education and reaffirm our commitment to advancing knowledge, opportunity, and excellence for all.”
Also on the list of inductees are Jim Halligan, former OSU president and former state senator, and his wife, Ann Halligan. Jim Halligan served as OSU’s leader from 1994 until 2002 and represented Stillwater in the Oklahoma Senate from 2008 to 2016.
“This is a well-deserved honor for Jim and Ann Halligan,” said Kyle Wray, OSU’s senior vice president for system affairs. “As consummate servant-leaders, the Halligans led OSU through steadfast dedication and unwavering focus on improving the lives of the Cowboy family. Whether it was leading the university’s first capital campaign to overwhelming success or directly impacting students through retention efforts, facility upgrades, or simply hosting them for dinner, Jim and Ann’s leadership laid the foundation for success at OSU, and their impact continues to echo throughout the university system.”
Larry Rice, of Rogers State University, and John McArthur, of Cameron, who each retired last month after long tenures, also will be inducted. Rice was president at Rogers State in Claremore from 2008 until June after serving four years as an executive assistant to the president at the University of Tulsa.
“It’s an incredible honor to be selected for induction by your peers. It’s one of the highest honors you can receive, to be recognized for your lifetime commitment in education, in my case, higher education,” Rice said. “I’m very appreciative of those individuals that nominated me.”
McArthur has been at Cameron, located in Lawton, since 2004, serving as a dean and the vice president of academic affairs before becoming the university’s president in 2013.
Two former state regents among those also being inducted
Ann Holloway, of Ardmore, who served on the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education from 2013 until this past April and previously served a nine-year term as a Regional University System of Oklahoma regent, also is a member of the induction class. Holloway now holds the title of state regent emeritus. She is president of Holloway, Inc., which focuses on real estate and home building.
“Regent Holloway is a tireless champion for Oklahoma’s students and higher education campuses, especially in support of adult learners returning to complete a degree they started, but didn’t finish,” state higher education Chancellor Allison Garrett said. “She is deeply deserving of this recognition for her exceptional service to our state system of higher education.”
Other inductees include:
• John F. Barthell, who served from 2013 2020 as provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of Central Oklahoma;• Clyde Montgomery Jr., the vice president of academic affairs at Langston University for 12 years. His administrative roles also included associate vice president of academic affairs, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and chair of the Department of Music;• Marion Paden, who served as vice president for enrollment and student services at Oklahoma City Community College from 1992-2015 and president and chief executive officer of Leadership Oklahoma from 2015-2024;• Robert L. Spurrier Jr., who served 14 years as the director of the Honors College at OSU and has been its director emeritus since 2014;• Russell D. Vaught, a former president and general manager of the Oklahoma Journal newspaper who was instrumental in founding and developing Oscar Rose Junior College, now known as Rose State College in Midwest City. He also served as a state higher education regent for 14 years (1973-1987) and was chairman for two terms.
Oklahoma
Firefighters respond to commercial fire in Oklahoma City
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Oklahoma City Fire Department responded to a commercial fire near the area of NW 10th and N Western Avenue.
OKCFD were at the scene of a commercial fire around 7 p.m. Saturday night, when they arrived there was heavy smoke visible from multiple floors of a boarded up building.
One adult female was found in the building and taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
At this time no cause has been reported.
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Oklahoma
Navy Coach Brian Newberry Talks Oklahoma Prep, Going for 10 Wins
NORMAN — Bowl season is a bit unconventional for Navy.
The Midshipmen annually play against Army six days after the bowl schedule is released. That was the case this year, as Navy beat the Black Knights 31-13 on Dec. 14.
Beating Army is always a highlight for the Midshipmen. But the drawback for them is that they have less time than their bowl opponent to prepare for the game.
In this case, that’s Oklahoma. The Sooners will enter the game with more than two weeks of preparation for Navy’s triple-option offense.
“It’s just a little different,” Navy coach Brian Newberry told reporters earlier this week. “They’ve known they’re going to play us for a little time now.”
Navy Coach, Oklahoma Native Brian Newberry Grew Up On OU Football
Navy does, however, enter the Armed Forces Bowl with momentum.
The Midshipmen (9-3) eased past Army last week in Landover, MD. They outgained the Black Knights 384-179 and forced Army quarterback Bryson Daily to throw three interceptions.
Navy’s rivalry win was its third in the last four games after the Midshipmen went on a two-game skid in the middle of the season. Newberry cited his team’s physicality in recent games, particularly in the Midshipmen’s drubbing of Army.
“I was so impressed with how our kids handled the moment,” Newberry said. “Army’s a really, really good football team. I thought we physically dominated the game in the way that we blocked, beat blocks, the way we tackled. I thought we outplayed them in all three phases, so I’m really, really proud of that.”
A stark difference between the teams is the number of players that have entered the transfer portal.
The Sooners have seen 25 players from their 2024 team enter the portal. The Midshipmen have suffered only one departure in the winter portal window with defensive back Lorenzo Vitti.
On one hand, that makes Oklahoma preparation tough for Navy.
“It’s interesting,” Newberry said. “We’re going through their two-deep and trying to figure out who’s going to play and who isn’t. It’s a little bit of a challenge in that regard. And it could certainly change with a different quarterback.”
But largely, the Midshipmen’s lack of transfers gives Newberry confidence that his team will be bought in for one more game in 2024.
“The portal can affect us, players can jump in the portal — we’re not getting that,” Newberry said. “It’s challenging to build a culture anywhere in college football right now, one that’s built on a certain level of trust. They know each other really, really well. They’ve fought through adversity. They stay the course, they pay the price and they have an opportunity.”
Navy will also play for more than just another win; the Midshipmen are looking to make history.
Navy has reached the 10-win mark just four times in program history. The Midshipmen did so three times under former coach Ken Niumatalolo from 2009-2019.
Having a shot at history while playing Oklahoma — the state that Newberry hails from — excites the coach.
“It’s the last time that this team gets to play together,” Newberry said. “They want to go out the right way against a storied program like Oklahoma. It’s a great reward to play in a bowl game, but it’s a game we want to win.”
The Midshipmen and Sooners will play in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth at 11 a.m. on Dec. 27.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma LB Kip Lewis Sees Armed Forces Bowl as Growth Opportunity
As Danny Stutsman departs from Oklahoma, Kip Lewis seems to be the next man up.
A redshirt sophomore linebacker in 2024, Lewis was one of the Sooners’ better defenders. In addition to his 28 solo tackles, Lewis intercepted two passes, running both of them back for touchdowns.
Lewis hopes to be the leader that Stutsman was over his four years at OU. But his goal isn’t to be a Stutsman clone.
“I feel like I’m my own player and my own leader in how I do things,” Lewis said. “Danny’s a great player, great leader. Taught me everything I need to know. I think I’m just my own person. I don’t think I need to step into his role and be the Danny. There’s only one.”
Lewis played and started in all 12 of the Sooners’ games in the 2024 season. It was his second season as a regular on OU’s defense after playing in just two games as a true freshman.
In Oklahoma’s first season as an SEC squad, Lewis and his defensive counterparts saw plenty of offensive stars. Between Garrett Nussmeier at LSU and Quinn Ewers at Texas, there was never really a dull moment for the Sooners during conference play.
Lewis will see a different type of challenge at the Armed Forces Bowl against Navy.
WATCH: Navy HC Brian Newberry Ahead of Armed Forces Bowl vs. Oklahoma
The Midshipmen — like the other service academies — run a triple-option offense. While Navy, Army and Air Force struggle to get the highly-touted recruits that other programs draw, the unconventional offense sets them apart.
Thankfully for Lewis, this style of offense isn’t new.
“I’m a little used to it. So it’s been a minute since I played it, but it brought me back to my roots playing the Wing-T. There’s a team called Pleasant Grove out there in Texas, so they used to give me a run for my money back in the day.”
Navy finished the regular season 9-3. The Midshipmen started the season 6-0 before losing three times in a four-game span.
They ended the season well, though, beating both East Carolina and Army by double digits to end the regular season.
Lewis and multiple of his teammates tuned in as the Midshipmen beat Army in the annual rivalry game.
“They showed a lot of fight, a lot of grit,” Lewis said. “I think that’s an important key into playing football.”
Lewis will play only one more game as an underclassman. Then, he’ll step into the role of other defensive leaders the Sooners have seen recently, whether that’s Stutsman, Billy Bowman Jr., Woodi Washington or others.
Games like the Armed Forces Bowl will help him get there.
“Just always having to bring my best effort every day,” Lewis said. “Just bringing everything I’ve got. Just every day, I bring my value into whatever that is, whatever I’ve gotta do for my team. I think it’ll be a big role.”
The Sooners will battle the Midshipmen on Dec. 27 in Fort Worth. The game is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
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