University of Central Oklahoma - Bronze Book Yearbook (Edmond, OK)

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Lillard Honored For Excellence Central State University's seven- teenth President, Dr. Bill I. Lillard, was honored at a dinner in October, 1985, by a list of dignitaries headed by Governor George Nigh. The honor was in tribute to Lillard's residence at the post, which was celebrated as the Decade of Excellence. These years between 1975 and 1985 have been exciting, inspirational years of change that have touched all facets of the University, its personnel and programs, as well as the physical campus itself, Dr. Lillard declared in a formal released statement. Central State began the decade with five academic schools. By 1985, the schools had expanded to colleges in one of the most significant organizational changes affecting the academic future of the University. Five new buildings have been added, seven parking lots have been paved, and the telephone system has been modernized to meet the com- puter age. Enrollments reached record highs. Graduate enrollment grew to include over one-fourth of the total student population. This can be due to the fourteen master's degree programs added during these years. The drama department achieved regional and national acclairnp the debate team won twice the national championships, a CSU jazz ensemble won the national jazz competition which granted them appearances on network television, and on-stage per- formances in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and at theme parks nationwide. The football team competed in the national championship finals twice, taking the national NAIA crown in 1982, the wrestling team won the na- tional NAIA title five times, setting several tournament records. CSU added its own Channel 2 television access studios, installed a satellite receiver dish, and began receiving direct transmissions of ma- jor metropolitan symphonies for classical music radio KCSC, and na- tional college programming for cable viewers tuned to Channel 2. The Kerr Foundation contributed S100,000, which enabled expansion and improvement of KSCS, thus more than doubling the audience of the 20-year-old radio source. An impressive list of celebrities visited the campus during the decade,

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Retuming the welcome, Gov. Nigh presents Mr. Li with a keepsake from Oklahoma. Gov. Nigh addresses the Chinese delegates W with a welcoming speech. 'x li.- Mvfzfiivf is i a ts., asf-is WX We ss .V - is if 1- -wfw Q, tg A. -:A -1 1 . MA Following through a receiving line, President Lillard welcomes CSU's guests.

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f. X. cf- -fei- ! FL 3 ' H I thai.. M.. including Maureen Reagan, General William Westmoreland, Archibald Cox, Clark Kerr, and TV columnist Andy Rooney. Central State also received recognition deserved for many other significant achievements. CSU has traditionally provided an outstanding teacher education pro- gram, leading Oklahoma in this field. Within the past decade, the CSU student body has evolved to where at least one-fourth of our students are pursuing graduate degrees. A Central State University graduate received commendations from NASA for his efforts as chief of the space center's supply and transportation division, in pioneering a computer- ized inventory control system. The Space Shuttle mission depended upon a CSU graduate, a senior engineer in- 5 N? J' 1 il lit Opposite page far left: Oklahoma Governor George Nigh addresses those in attandance commending Dr. Bill Lillard for his excellence in education. Opposite page left: Dr. Lillard expresses his appreciation for the plaudits presented to him by well wishers. Left: Tracy Land presents Dr. Lillard with an etching on behalf of the Presidents club, Below: Dr. Lillard addresses an attentive audience at the Decade of Excellence banquet. volved in supplying, mixing, handling and disposing liquids used in simula- tion tests for the shuttle system. As was reported on television, Oklahoma, and specifically CSU, has a close connection to the nation's shuttle flight program. In 1978, NBC-TV's Today Show recognized CSU alum Eleanor Johnson, who received a life cer- tificate at Central State in 1913. In 1934, johnson became founder and editor of My Weekly Reader, which was read by nearly every elementary school child in America for two generations. Another Central State graduate served as president of the 119,000- member Optimists International. I-le became president of a major hospital chain, acting as chief executive officer ,J 1 for a 22-member hospital group. Still another was director of Lions Club International in 19785 the con- sultant medical librarian for the Army's medical libraries throughout the U.S. is a CSU graduate. Another former CSU student left a professional post at ,the University to become senior editor for National Geographic. One of 1982's ten most promising young executives is a Central State alum, as is one of Texas' most recognized artists. Others have been named in numerous Who's Who listings for research, business and political leadership, and for outstand- ing contributions in various fields. By Lynn Weeks