Southeastern Oklahoma State University - Savage Yearbook (Durant, OK)

Page 28 text:

Excitement permeates air As ceremonies begin , Mrs. Dorotb y Prougb 1's escorted The stage is filled with by a student senator to tbe dignitaries and school officials. auditorium. Avalon Reece, chairperson for Mrs. Lou Watkins, Wife of US. the Oklahoma State Regents for Representative Wes Watkins, 1's Higher Educa tion, takes the greeted by ushers from Alpha podium. Cbi.

Page 27 text:

Preparations make day perfect Preparations began in early September for the inauguration for Dr. Larry Williams as the fifteenth president of Southeastern. Dr. Paula Platter was named chairman for the campuswide committee. Those selected to serve were Ms. Susan Allen, Dr. Susan Anderson, Ms. Doris Andrews, Mr. J ames Barnette, Ms. Sharon Berish, Dr. Ben Chappell, Ms. Sally Clark, Dr. Charles Coats, Dr. George Collier, Ms. J an Dill, Dr. Pat Dunham, Mr. Bill Edwards, Dr. Gordon Eggleton, Mr. Ernest Gathron, Mr. John Gecks, Dr. Henry Gold, Dr. Jim Harmon, Ms. Kay Hughes, Mr. J.B. Jones, Ms. Syble Jones, Mr. Paul Kelly, Dr. Joanne Lambert, Mr. James Latham. Also, Dr. Jim Lester, Dr. Joseph Littlejohn, Mr. John Lyons, Mr. Joe Mabry, Mr. C.W. Mangrum, Mr. Rudy Manley, Mr. Odes Massey, Dr. Merle McElroy, Ms. Fran Mickle, Ms. Pat Norris, Mr. David Parker, Mr. J.B. Phillips, Mr. Buddy Pierce, Dr. Allen Platter, Mr. Kenneth Prentice, Ms. Katie Frank Slack, Dr. Fred Stroup, Dr. Ernest Sturch, Mr. Tom Todd, Mr. Glen Veteto, Dr. Dovie Walker, Dr. Elizabeth Walters, Dr. Roberta Wescott, Dr. Ingrid Westmoreland, Mr. David Whitlock, Dr. Joe Wiley, Mr. John Williams, Dr. Jim Wintle and Mr. John Yates, student senate president. Committee members broke into groups to plan each section of the days activities. Finally all the plans were complete with all the props in place. It was time to begin. Dr. Larry Williams Prepare tions for visiting dignitaries include getting their robes and motarboards on and squared. Dr. Paula PIa tter checks Avalon Reeceis robe as the regent prepares for her role. accepted the challenge of leadership and pledged his efforts and energies to leading Southeastern as the fifteenth president. The Sunday of November 15 saw a 75-minute ceremony draw the campus together. Dr. Williams listened while representatives of the regents, alumni, faculty, students and people of Oklahoma spoke concerning their expectations of his administration for the university. Williams then responded, answering each group represented, and added his own desires to see the university meet and exceed future challenges. Dr. Joseph E. Littlejohn, chairman of the Department of English, Humanities, and Languages, represented the university faculty With his remarks at the investiture.

Page 29 text:

l: x J t: r 1' I.meW-sznz.w , . .e 4 Aw 3A7? Awayan-sw r -:4 Dr. Larry Williams responds to remarks by participants. Dr. Paula Platter thanks the members of the inauguration preparation committee. Dr. Littlejohn said, tiThe recent history of this university is deeply troubling. It has embarrassed us, saddened, and angered us? He also remarked that the tradition of Southeastern is an honorable one, and told Dr. Williams, ttI believe, With your guidance, we can live down the recent months. I believe that we can do what we do with distinction. We can recover the honorable tradition? Speaking on behalf of the student body was junior Laura Williams. Expressing her humility at being asked to represent 4,300 voices, she said that students proudly chose SOSU for their post-secondary educational beginnings. iiHereX' she said, itwe have the resources; and, here, we have the teachers to help us get started. We have all, for various reasons, entrusted ourselves at this crucial time in our lives to you - you the faculty and you, Dr. Williams, our president, she said. Speaking directly to Dr. Williams she added, itWe offer you our time and our labors, our support and our cooperation. And to guide you as president of our university, I offer you the light of our hope? Dr. Sam L. Pool, a 1958 graduate of Southeastern and Chief of Medical Science and Research of the National Aeronautics and Space Agency, represented Alumni at the investiture. Dr. Pool reminisced briefly concerning his studies at Southeastern, and noted that it was clear that a strong academic HENRY G. BENNETT MEMORIAL LIBRARY SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE UNIV hIlDAhIT DVIALIHIAA 7A'1n1 tradition was building at the University. ttOne 0f the measures of success of any educational program is reflected in the achievements of the graduates. Southeastern graduates from the very start? he said, ithave had significant achievements in art, science, law, medicine, literature, and public service? ttCurrieulum was not as broad as offered at some institutions, but standards were high, he said. Completing his salutation to Dr. Williams, Dr. Pool called on the new president ttto set high academic standards to create an environment in which the students may truly develop. Ms. Avalon Reece, representing the Oklahoma State Board of Regents for Higher Education, referred to the unique and important function of Southeastern Oklahoma State University in the educational system,