BURNS HARGIS TAKES REINS AT OSU
STILLWATER - Former Oklahoma State University student Burns Hargis on Tuesday completed what he called an unlikely ascension to the presidency of his alma mater.During a special meeting, the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents unanimously approved the appointment of Hargis as OSU's 18th president. Hargis must wait until July to assume the post, however, because of a state statute that bars a person from being employed by a state board until a year after the person leaves the board.Hargis, a 62-year-old Oklahoma City businessman, resigned his position on the OSU board last July in order to apply for the university's presidency.OSU Provost and Senior Vice President Marlene Strathe, who has served as the university's interim president since March 1, will continue in that role until Hargis becomes the president."After 40 years, the reins of leadership are being handed back to an OSU graduate," said Lou Watkins, the regents' chairwoman."He is the right leader at the right time to keep OSU and the system moving forward in a bold manner, especially regarding expanding support for all-important academic and research initiatives which will benefit our faculty, students and state."Hargis, a 1967 OSU graduate, is only the second alumnus of the university to become its president, joining Oliver Willham, who served from 1952 to 1966.