Doris Dellinger
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CENTENNIAL HISTORIES SERIES By Doris Dellinger 0 K H O M A STATE UNIVERSITY Centennial Histories Series Connnnittee W. David Baird Murl Rogers LeRoy H. Fischer J. L. Sanderson B. Curtis Hamm Warren Shull Harry Heath Milton Usry Beulah Hirschlein Odell Walker Vernon Parcher Eric I. Williams Robert B. Kamm, Director Carolyn Hanneman, Editor Carol Hiner, Associate Editor CENTENNIA1^I 1890•1990 A History of the Oklahoma State University Foundation by Doris Dellinger OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY / Stillwater Published by Oklahoma State University Centennial Histories Series, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078 Copyright © 1988 by Board of Regents for Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges. All rights reserved. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Dellinger, Doris A history of the Oklahoma State University Foundation. (Centennial histories series) Bibliography: p. Includes index. 1. Oklahoma State University Foundation—History. 2. Endowments—Oklahoma—Stillwater—History. I. Title. II. Series. LB2336.3.05D45 1988 378'.0079 88-15111 ISBN 0-914956-33-7 Contents Foreword vii Preface ix Introduction 3 1 A Partnership Effort 5 2 Meeting Education's Price Tag 17 3 The Margin of Greatness 27 4 The Magic Million . 43 1967-73 5 Bringing Tables In 61 1974-76 6 Vision and Vitality 11 1976-79 7 The Foundation's Giant 91 8 Watershed Years 101 1981-84 9 A Lasting Imprint 123 10 Celebrating the Ties 137 11 Small Donors Are the Bedrock 155 12 Making a Difference 165 Appendices 185 1 OSU Foundation Leaders 185 2 Members of the OSU Foundation Board of Governors 186 Selected Bibliography 193 Index • 199 Foreword The history of Oklahoma State University is one of a century of growth and development, through good times and bad times. An impor tant segment in the life of the university today (one which aims to add to the good times and to lessen the impact of hard times) is the OSU Foundation which will celebrate its 30th birthday soon after OSU celebrates its 100th. In its relatively short life, however, the worth and the significance of the foundation have been clearly established, as it has carried out its supportive role of garnering private monies and assets to assist OSU in fulfilling its mission. In some ways the writing of A History of the Oklahoma State Univer sity Foundation was made easier because of the recency of its establish ment. Many of the people who played roles in the founding and the development of the foundation are still alive and were available for inter views, as contrasted to the situations in most of the volumes of the Cen tennial Histories Series, where little first-hand information was available, and the data had to be researched and evaluated carefully. On the other hand, the recency of foundation information placed special responsi bilities on the author as she considered materials which had not been winnowed and sifted through the years. Doris Dellinger, in writing her second volume in the Centennial Histories Series (the first having been Intercollegiate Athletics), does an outstanding job in presenting the foun dation's relatively short history within the context, and as an important part, of the university's much longer history. Readers will enjoy Doris Dellinger's pleasant and upbeat style of writ ing. It's apparent that she found the story of the foundation to be an excit ing one, and that she enjoyed researching and writing the volume. Certainly, the opportunities to interact personally with so many who have played roles in the life of the OSU Foundation since its beginning added to the pleasures of writing the book. The Centennial Histories Committee is grateful to all who have shared in the production of A History of the Oklahoma State University Foun dation. Special appreciation is expressed to Vice President Richard Poole who gave creative leadership as the original coordinator of OSU's over all centennial observance, and who conceived the idea of a Centennial Histories Project. He and President L. L. Boger have been most gener ous and supportive. Dr. Ralph Hamilton, director of Public Information Services; Gerald Eby, head of University Publications Services; Edward Pharr, manager of University Printing Services; Heather Lloyd, refer ence librarian, and their respective staffs have assisted generously. Judy Buchholz, first Centennial Histories editor, served ably in the initial stage of the project. Ann Carlson, editor from August of 1984 through Febru ary of 1988, provided strong leadership in the project, not only in edit ing several of the early volumes, but also in establishing a standard of quality for the entire series. On March 1, 1988, Carolyn Hanneman, with her considerable experience as assistant editor, became editor, assur ing continued excellence of volumes. On March 21, 1988, Carol Hiner became associate editor, bringing to the project her many years of experience in publications. Dick Gilpin's dust jacket art has added much to the series. Special appreciation is expressed to Messrs. Robert Erwin and Charles Piatt, the two men who have directed the workings of the OSU Founda tion since its founding. Also, appreciation is expressed to Mr. Dale Ross, long-time associate of Charles Piatt in the work of the foundation, and since the fall of 1987, the executive director of the Centennial Coordinat ing Office. Robert B. Kamm, Director Centennial Histories Project President Emeritus Oklahoma State University June 1988 Preface Everyone knows what a university foundation is. It's a dignified, benevolent concern with an eye on the future, much like a grandpar ent. It generates private funds to ease the stress in spots on the campus where taxpayers' dollars can stretch no further. Gifts magically flow in on a perpetual postal tide, surging mightily as emergencies strike, quietly swelling the university's coffers, conferring scholarships, fellowships, endowed chairs, and an occasional massive building. Well, not exactly. In a year spent in research and writing at the OSU Foundation office, I saw no magic, no sleight-of-hand. I saw skillful people using sophisti cated methods, then succeeding by adding the personal touch. I heard that after graduation, one has to learn to give something back. For the first time, I realized that it wasn't just a philosophy I was writing about. It meant me, too. And I found out that even small gifts to your alma mater can make you feel pretty good. OSU's Foundation is a youngster as far as raising funds is concerned. The University of Kansas Endowment Association, the nation's first university-related foundation supporting a state-supported institution, was formed in 1891. But the OSU branch hit the ground running twenty- six short years ago. Staff members wear suits and ties or dresses, but they all move as though they had track shoes on. They log more time behind the wheel of a car or in airport waiting rooms than in their favorite chair at home. They tell OSU's story with warmth and clarity, to encourage alumni and corporations to become partners in progress. To improve the classroom and the campus. To make a difference in the degree of excellence at Oklahoma State. The OSU Foundation does it year after year. And, although even mild-mannered newspaper reporters are hard to impress, I am impressed. Fund raisers are hard to gentle down. They're revved up, ready to trim another impossible project down to size. But they will stand still now and then. I'm grateful to Foundation President Charles E. Piatt and Vice President Dale E. Ross for taking such infinite care to explain the inner workings of the private corporation for this Centennial record. And for letting their inner emotions and thoughts shine through. In the interviews with Mr. Piatt and Mr. Ross there were, by turns, amusing stories and poignant vignettes about those with whom they visit, in homes and corporate headquarters, both modest and imposing, across the country. By deliberately wrestling snatches of quiet time from their crowded calendars again and again through 1986-87, both men were able to distill the flavor of their experiences into the book. Each seemed to enjoy the dip into the foundation's past, roving through the years previously left unexplored because Today was always urgent and Tomorrow beckoned with even greater potential for aiding OSU. By shaping the book, they were able to take full measure of the quantum leaps made by the foundation since 1961. I think they were pleasantly surprised. Part of the fun of writing the book was the opportunity to meet or visit via the telephone the people behind names one hears and reads about in connection with OSU and the outside world: Pat Bartlett, Scott E. Orbison, Bud Seretean, T. Boone Pickens Jr., Raymond A. Young, Dr. Melvin D. Jones, Jim and Dorothy Wilkinson, John F. Snodgrass, Dr. Richard Poole, Dr. Ralph G. Buckner, Dr. Robert C. Fite, Tom Ben nett Jr., J. Lewis Sanderson, Winfrey Houston, and others. Meeting the foundation's first executive director. Dr. Robert D. Erwin, and checking with former acting director Merlin London meant the slim leads to the early days of the organization could be fleshed out with facts. The original deans who urged the formation of a fund raising group were also enormously helpful: Dr. Robert B. Kamm, Dr. M. R. *Tete" Loh- mann. Dr. Eugene L. Swearingen, along with former OSU Alumni Association directors Murl Rogers and Ray Sharp, and the present direc tor. Dr. Jerry Gill. I'm also grateful to the foundation's Charlene Pinkston and Marni Shreeve, who had answers almost before I had questions. I strongly sus pect librarian-detectives Kathleen Bledsoe and Heather Lloyd and their aides know more about the long life of the university than anyone else.