UCO History

University Luminaries

The UCO Luminary Society recognizes those whose vision, energy, and persistence push Central to great heights. Their acts of bravery, honor, and integrity positioned Central to grow from a territorial teachers college into Oklahoma's largest metropolitan university, giving our state's greatest resource - its people - the opportunity to transform through education.

The inaugural class includes 125 individuals who date from UCO's founding as the Territorial Normal School of Oklahoma in 1890 to present day faculty, alumni and friends of the university. This celebrated community is comprised of long-time professors, educators, and outstanding alumni spanning from the establishment of the Territorial Normal School of Oklahoma in 1890 to the present.

Speaking at the celebration of this inaugural class during UCO's 125th anniversary in 2015, UCO President Don Betz said, "The Luminary Society honors those who across these 125 years have shaped the multifaceted institution that the University of Central Oklahoma is today. Each of these 125 individuals has left a lasting impression on Central as it has evolved from a territorial teachers college into Oklahoma's largest metropolitan university."

Each year, we will add to this distinguished society, honoring those who light the way for generations to come. Eligible nominees can be living or deceased and include alumni, former and current students and employees, or community members and advocates.

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Inaugural Class, 1890-2015

	DWIGHT ADAMS (BS '77, DAA '02), Ph.D., former director of the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, is director of Central's W. Roger Webb Forensic Science Institute. In 2003, he was named the recipient of the Presidential Rank Award as Distinguished Executive, the highest award given in the federal government.
	JOHN ADAMS was a member of the Territorial Normal School's first graduating class in 1897.
	PHILIP ADAMSON (BS '86), MD, MSc, FACC, is a cardiologist and heart failure specialist. He serves as the medical director and vice president of medical affairs for St. Jude Medical.
	ALVIN ALCORN managed Central's successful physical expansion in the 1960s. As the school's first controller, he worked to increase the campus to 200 acres and added more than 20 new buildings. He retired as vice president for Administration after 23 years of service to the university.
	Chickasaw Gov. BILL ANOATUBBY has served as governor of the Chickasaw Nation since 1987. From 1979-87, he served two terms as lieutenant governor in the administration of Gov. Overton James. He has provided support and leadership throughout the course of the Old North renovation project.
	Retired Maj. Gen. RITA ARAGON (BSEd '70, MEd '79, DAA '04) is the first female secretary of Military and Veterans' Affairs for Oklahoma, the first female commander of the Oklahoma Air National Guard, and a member of the College of Education and Professional Studies advocacy council.
	COREAN ARMSTRONG was one of the first African-American graduate students at Central. She enrolled in 1954 to pursue a master's degree in Teaching.
	WILMA ARMSTRONG served as dean of women and organized the Association of Women Students.
	SHERRY BEASLEY (BSEd '69, MS '82) is president of Oklahoma City's Interior Images Inc. She is a member of the UCO Foundation Board of Trustees and served as a cochair for the Always Central campaign. In 2012, she and her husband, Lee, donated $100,000 to establish endowed scholarships in UCO's College of Mathematics and Science and the College of Education and Professional Studies.
	WILLIAM LEE BEASLEY (BS '69, DAA '04), DDS, has been a generous supporter of UCO's College of Mathematics and Science, a co-chair of the Always Central campaign and a trustee for the UCO Foundation.
	JIM BEAVER (BA '75) is a writer, actor and Central alumnus known for his acting roles on HBO's "Deadwood" and The CW's "Supernatural."
	IDA BELT was a member of the Territorial Normal School's first graduating class in 1897.
	BILL BURCHARDT (BBA '05) was a creative writing instructor at Central, the 1972 president of the Alumni Association and served as editor of Oklahoma Today for 19 years.
	MARTHA BURGER (BS '83, DA '09) provided generous support for the CHK|Central Boathouse and served as a co-chair of the Always Central campaign.
	DON BURGET (MT '59) was a Central standout in football, basketball and track from 1951-54. He was inducted into the UCO Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. Following his death in 2011, his wife, Shigeko, made a $1.5 million donation in his memory to UCO Athletics — at the time, the largest gift in program history.
	MURRAY BUTLER, one of the first African-American undergraduate students at Central, enrolled in 1955.
	FRANK BUTTRAM, an oilman, attended classes at Central State Normal School. He donated funds that helped build Central's Y-Chapel of Song.
	JOHN H. CAGE was the first director of Central's Department of Funeral Service Education, joining the university in 1964.
	JEREMY CAMPBELL is a three-time Paralympic gold medalist and winner of the ESPY Best Male Athlete with a Disability award. He trains at Central.
	RUBY CANTON, a Central librarian from 1908-28, was the first to teach library science in Oklahoma. Ruby "opened the stacks," allowing Central's students to browse the bookshelves rather than requesting books from a catalog.
	STANLEY CASE (BA '75, DA '05) was an award-winning anchor for CNN Radio and Headline News. His wife, Angela Stiepel Case, created the Stanley W. Case Endowed Memorial Scholarship in Mass Communications in his memory.
	W. MAX CHAMBERS was the 15th president of Central. He served the university from 1949-60. The library is named in his honor.
	WEI R. CHEN is the interim dean of the College of Mathematics and Science and director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Education and Research. The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education and the Carnegie Foundation named him the U.S. Professor of the Year for Master's Universities in 2008.
	DESMOND LIM SIEW CHOON (BBA '91) is a Malaysian real estate entrepreneur, ranked as one of the country's wealthiest.
	ANTON CLASSEN donated the land needed to establish the Territorial Normal School campus and build Old North, the campus' first building.
	RAY "DUKE" CLEMONS, a state and national champion heavyweight wrestler with All American honors, was a member of the 1936 U.S. Olympic Team.
	REBA COLLINS (BAEd '57), Ed.D., was editor of The Vista, a professor of journalism and later served as director of Central's Department of Public Relations. While director, she lobbied Oklahoma's legislature to have the name Central State College changed to Central State University.
	ANNA SCROGGS COYNER was a faculty member in the College of Business for more than 25 years.
	EDWARD E. DALE, Ph.D., a 1909 Central graduate, received a master's and doctorate from Harvard. He was professor of history at the University of Oklahoma, 1922-52.
	JOHN DAVIS, a professor of physics and chemistry known as the "Wizard of Central," also taught the first photography classes at Central. He left behind a collection of photographs documenting Central's early history.
	GRACE ETHEL DERRICK served as head of the Department of Biology for more than 30 years.
	JAN DOUGLAS served as a computer programmer at Central for 30 years. The Jan Douglas Endowed Scholarship for Computer Science was created in her memory.
	KAREN J. DOWD served UCO for more than 27 years, working as the women's head track coach, field hockey coach, senior women's athletic director, assistant dean in the College of Education and vice president of Academic Affairs. She was the first Oklahoman to serve as president of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
	GERTRUDE DULAN was one of the first African-American graduate students at Central. She enrolled in 1954 to pursue a master's degree in Teaching.
	HALL DUNCAN is an author, artist and illustrator who taught cartooning and advertising design at Central for 17 years. He designed the UCO mace in 1975 and led the procession during the inauguration of President Betz.
	MAMIE EALEY was one of the first African-American graduate students at Central. She enrolled in 1954 to pursue a master's degree in Teaching
	PHRONIA ECKES was a member of the Territorial Normal School's first graduating class in 1897.
	ALBERTA EDDENS (BSEd '60), one of the first AfricanAmerican undergraduate students at Central, enrolled in 1955.
	CHARLES EVANS, the eighth president of Central (1911-16), oversaw the construction of Evans Hall and the Old North clock installation.
	Gov. MARY FALLIN (DAA '99) served as governor of Oklahoma 2010-2018. She also has been elected to the Oklahoma legislature, as Oklahoma's lieutenant governor and to the U.S. House of Representatives.
	LAUREN NELSON FARAM (BA '11) was only a freshmen when named Miss America 2007. After her reign, she returned to Central and completed her degree.
	Capt. STEVEN FARLEY, (BBA '77, MBA '80) was killed in Iraq in 2008 after a distinguished 34-year military career. The Broadway and Memorial cross section in Edmond is named the "U.S. Navy Captain Steven L. Farley Memorial Interchange" in his honor.
	IDA FREEMAN began her teaching career in 1898 in a one-room schoolhouse. She was a faculty member at Central in the 1930s and a pioneer of education in Edmond.
	ALVIN FREIBERGER, a longtime faculty member, served as dean of men and was a dedicated supporter of Central's ROTC.
	HASKELL "WOODY" GADDIS (MAEd '73) was a Central professor who established the photography program.
	JOHN J. "POP" GECKS wrote Central's fight song in 1934 and served as the director of the school's band from 1932-33.
	GARLAND GODFREY was the 16th president of Central, serving from 1960-75. He directed expansions in academic programming and physical facilities as the student population grew from 4,000 to more than 12,000. Dozens of new structures, additions, renovations, programs and degrees sprouted during his tenure.
	MILENA GOVICH (BM '00) is known for her acting roles on NBC's Law & Order and Conviction.
	C. HUBERT GRAGG established the C. Hubert Gragg Endowed Scholarship. His support was instrumental in the construction of the CHK|Central Boathouse.
	Hon. TWYLA MASON GRAY (BA '84, DA '02) J.D., served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1980-84, was a district judge in Oklahoma City for four consecutive terms and held a position on the College of Liberal Arts Advisory Board.
	LIZZIE GRIFFIN, a pioneer widow and mother of six, moved to Edmond in 1899 so that her children could attend the Territorial Normal School. More than 30 of her descendants have attended classes on campus.
	FRED GROSZ was instrumental in starting UCO's master's degree program in Forensic Science and was a founding member of Central's Emeritus Faculty Association. He served as the chair of the Department of Chemistry and as president of the Faculty Senate.
	CAROL HAMILTON (BA '78, DA '07) is a writer, poet and storyteller who won the 1992 Oklahoma Book Award for her poetry. She served as the Poet Laureate of Oklahoma from 1995-97.
	DALE HAMILTON spent 44 years at Central as an athlete, coach and athletic director. He earned 12 varsity letters, lettering four straight years in football, basketball and track while earning All-Conference honors on the gridiron and winning conference titles in the 220- and 440-yard dash. Hamilton Field House is named in his honor.
	LUCY JESTON HAMPTON, a professor of history from 1910- 58, founded Central's Laboratory of Original Evidence and served as the school's first archivist.
	EMMA ESTILL HARBOUR, a professor at Central for 40 years, served as chair of Central's Department of Social Sciences and coordinator of Indian Clubs, was the founder of the Delta Kappa Gamma society for outstanding women educators and the president of the state chapter of the American Association of University Women.
	JAMES "MILT" HEFLIN (BS '66, DA '84) retired from NASA in 2013 after a 47-year career at the Johnson Space Center. He served as a recovery engineer for eight Apollo splashdowns in the Pacific Ocean; as a flight controller in Mission Control for the Space Shuttle Enterprise Approach and Landing Tests and for the first nine Space Shuttle missions; and as a flight director for 20 Space Shuttle missions, including seven as the lead flight director.
	KATHY HENRY (BA '72, DAA '78) was one of the first female executives for McDonald's.
	STANLEY HOIG, Ph.D., a 22-year faculty member, was a professor of Journalism. He served as director of publications and established two endowed scholarships. He is the author of more than 26 books on the history of UCO and Oklahoma and was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 1994.
	BELVA HOWARD (BA '79) served as a regent for the Regional University System of Oklahoma for 27 years.
	GARY HOWARD, 34-year football coach at Central, began in 1968 as defensive coordinator and became head coach in 1978. Howard led the Bronchos to a 1982 NAIA National Championship. After transitioning from the NAIA to the NCAA Division II, his squads won the Lone Star Conference title in 1998 with an undefeated season followed by another conference championship in 1999. He is now an assistant professor of Kinesiology and Health Studies.
	JOHN W. HOWARD, MD, an Edmond physician, was elected as the Democratic representative to the new Territorial legislature and sponsored the bill to bring the Territorial Normal School to Edmond.
	ROBERT M. HOWARD, MD, a surgeon and chief of staff for St. Anthony's, was valedictorian of the Territorial Normal School's first graduating class in 1897.
	ERNEST HOWELL served as head of Central's Department of Physics from 1920-41.
	JOE C. JACKSON, Ed.D., Central's former vice president of Academic Affairs and dean of students, created several graduate programs, improved academic standards and served UCO for more than 50 years. Central's graduate college is named in his honor
	ROSE JACKSON was a member of the Territorial Normal School's first graduating class in 1897.
	DAVID JAMES was a four-time All-American and two-time national champion as a wrestler at UCO before joining Central's wrestling coaching staff in 1982. He has been named national Coach of the Year seven times and ranks second among all college coaches at any level in national championships with 12 titles.
	ELEANOR JOHNSON, a Central alumna, founded The Weekly Reader, a weekly educational news publication for children. It was first published in September 1928. The publication merged with Scholastic in 2012 and continues to serve schoolchildren 87 years after its first issue.
	EDNA JONES served as secretary of Central's Alumni Association and is the author of Sixty Years at Central: Facts and Figures of Service and Friendship Through the Years, 1891–1951.
	ADDIE LEE JORDAN was one of the first African-American graduate students at Central. She enrolled in 1954 to pursue a master's degree in Teaching.
	BENJAMIN KATES (BSEd '73) is the co-founder of Oklahoma City-based Midwest Wrecking Co. He and his wife Peggy were named as Central's 2014 Family of the Year.
	JOHN KESSLER served as president of Central's Alumni Association from 1941-47 and as Edmond's mayor from 1951-55. He established the John Kessler Spirit Award for the university.
	MINNIE MORTON KIBBY was the first Territorial Normal School student to become a teacher at a schoolhouse.
	KATHRYN KUNC (BA '42, DAA '91) was a Central professor of Art for 34 years, joining the faculty in 1952 and later becoming department chair. She was Central's Teacher of the Year in 1967, Outstanding Faculty Woman in 1974 and 1980, and president of the Alumni Association from 1982-83. She was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in 2002.
	PAUL R. LEHMAN (BA '69, MEd '71, DAA '06), Ph.D., was Central's first AfricanAmerican professor. He joined the Central faculty in 1982 in the English department. He became dean of the Graduate College in 1985.
	BILL LILLARD was the 17th president of Central (1975- 92). During his tenure, the university celebrated its centennial, changed its name from Central State University to the University of Central Oklahoma and expanded the campus with several new classroom buildings and degree programs. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in 1994.
	JUDY LOVE (MS '83) is the co-founder of Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores and chair of the Love Family Fund.
	SANDRA MACKEY (BA '58) was an award-winning journalist and author on Middle Eastern culture and politics. Her 2002 book, The Reckoning — Iraq and the Legacy of Saddam Hussein, became required reading for many military officers.
	LUTHER WHITFIELD MARKS III established Central's Department of Physics in 1955.
	LARESSA COX MCBURNEY, one of the original staff members of The Vista, gave the campus newspaper its name. She became an award-winning author and poet.
	JONI MCCLAIN (BS '79) is the deputy chief medical examiner at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas. She serves as a registered death investigator and maintains a record of scholarship with more than a dozen publications in peer-reviewed journals.
	AUBREY MCCLENDON was the CEO of American Energy Partners. His support helped to create the CHK|Central Boathouse and develop the Boathouse District on the Oklahoma River.
	SHARON MCCOLLAM (BS '85, DAA '14) is the chief administrative officer and chief financial officer for Best Buy Co.
	DALE MCCONATHY (BA '59, DAA '69) was a critic, writer, editor and educator. He donated the McConathy Collection to Central's library and was posthumously awarded the Centennial Broncho Award in 1990.
	DOROTHEA MEAGHER was the chair of Central's Department of Mathematics from 1952-70 and dean of women for 12 years
	JOHN L. MITCH served as secretary-treasurer of the Normal School Board of Regents from 1892-1900. Edmond's Mitch Park is named in his honor.
	MARY MONFORT dedicated 30 years of service to Central's Master's of Education in Reading program and served as the program coordinator.
	EDMUND D. MURDAUGH, fourth president of the Territorial Normal School (1895- 1901), was the coach of the baseball team, initiated the school's first summer term, hired Normal's first librarian and instituted the first formal banquet in 1899.
	SAUNDRA GRAGG NAIFEH (BA '72, DAA '95) was the first female mayor of Edmond. She's now executive counsel for FKG Consulting, the state's largest public affairs firm.
	OLIVIA NASH, one of the first African-American undergraduate students at Central, enrolled in 1955.
	J. GAIL NEELY (BS '62, DAA '79), MD, FACS, is a surgeon and professor at the Washington University School of Medicine. He created Central's Neely Excellence in Teaching Award in 1999 to encourage excellent teaching and to honor his parents, El Roy and Lucile Hawker Neely.
	DONNA NIGH has been first lady of both Central (1992-97) and the state of Oklahoma (1979-87), while devoting her life's work to advocating for those with special needs. The Donna Nigh Department of Advanced Professional and Special Services is named in her honor.
	Gov. GEORGE NIGH, the 18th president of Central (1992-97), served as the governor of Oklahoma from 1979- 87. He doubled the size of UCO's campus and the Nigh University Center is named in his honor.
	FRANCIS CORAM OAKES, acting president of Central in the summer of 1918, was a professor of English and taught at Central for five decades. He served as head of the Department of English and the Department of Foreign Language, editor of The Vista and organized the school's first athletic department.
	CLIFF OTTO served as head of the Department of Science for 15 years. Otto was an acting president (1935) of Central for two months after President Malcom A. Beeson stepped down.
	RONALD PADDACK was the founder and former director of Central's Office of International Student Services.
	VIRGINIA PETERS (BSEd '57, DAA '80) was a standout athlete at Central prior to joining the faculty. She served as director of the Women's Athletic Program, a coach and as chair of the Kinesiology and Health Science Studies Department during her 34-year career at Central.
	EMMA WILLMENT PLUNKETT, a 38-year member of Central's faculty, served as the chair of the Department of Health and Women's Physical Education. Along with her sister Josephine, she donated $1 million to the university. Plunkett Park is named in both her and her sister's honor.
	JOSEPHINE PLUNKETT was an alumna and an award winning mathematics teacher. Along with her sister, Emma, she donated $1 million to the university. Plunkett Park is named in both her and her sister's honor.
	WILLIAM J. RADKE, Ph.D., joined Central's faculty as a professor in 1975 and served in a variety of roles including eight years as provost. He spearheaded Central's commitment to transformative learning and undergraduate research and helped create the Centre for Global Competency.
	GUY MALEAR RANKIN, a faculty member from 1924-41, helped lead the fundraiser for Central's field house and stadium, assisted in establishing the campus radio station, served as the university's representative to the Oklahoma Higher Education Alumni Council and was a founder of the Edmond YMCA and the Edmond library.
	JESSIE NEWBY RAY was a professor of foreign languages from 1930-56 and chair of the Latin Department. She led the fundraising effort for Central's Y-Chapel of Song.
	MILTON REYNOLDS, founder and editor of The Edmond Sun, was an advocate for Edmond as the site of the Territorial Normal School.
	CHAD RICHISON (BA '94) is the founder, president and CEO of Oklahoma City-based Paycom. In 2015, he donated $10 million to Athletics, the largest gift in UCO history.
	CHARLES RICHMOND served as dean of men in the 1940s and as an adviser to Central's Student Senate.
	RANDALL ROSS (BS '77, MBA '81, DAA '12) has been a UCO Foundation Board member for nearly 30 years. He is the mayor of Choctaw and a member of the Oklahoma Accounting Hall of Fame.
	KAYE SEARS, Ed.D.,has been a professor, mentor and adviser at Central for 40 years, winning the Vanderford Teaching Award in 2007. She is chair of the department of Human Environmental Sciences.
	KATRINA SHAKLEE cofounded the Endeavor Games at UCO in 2000 and supported the initiative to make UCO a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic training site.
	SUZANNE SILVESTER donated the Melton Legacy Collection to UCO's College of Fine Arts and Design.
	JOHN WENDELL SIMMONS was a sports announcer for Central and chairman of the school's 50th anniversary celebration.
	COLEMAN SMITH, professor of Music at Central for 26 years, organized the Men's Glee Club, the Old North Belles Sextet and the Central Tunesmiths, a song and dance troupe. He taught undergraduate and graduate courses including vocal music methods, choral arranging and conducting, and choir.
	TROY SMITH is the founder of Sonic Corporation. He gave Central its largest unrestricted gift in history.
	C.H. SPEARMAN JR. was a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives for six years and introduced the bills to transform Central State College into Central State University.
	MARILYN HARRIS SPRINGER, an award-winning and best-selling author, was a Central artist-in-residence. She is a member of both the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Writer's Hall of Fame.
	RANDALL L. STEPHENSON (BS '84, DAA '09) has been chairman and chief executive officer of AT&T Inc. since 2007.
	RICHARD THATCHER, a Civil War drummer boy, was the first principal and teacher of the Territorial Normal School (1891-93). He created the school's curriculum, taught its first classes and later served as Head of Mathematics.
	ELIZABETH HILTON THREATT (MT '59) was one of the first African-American graduate students at Central and the first to graduate. She enrolled in 1954 to pursue a master's in Teaching.
	JOHN "SKIP" WAGNON began as a Central student athletic trainer in the late 1960s before becoming head athletic trainer in 1971. He became executive director of the Alumni Association in 1979, then in 1986 named athletic director and men's golf coach. Wagnon served 18 years as golf coach, leading the Bronchos to eight national tournaments.
	AGNES WANTLAND, wife of then-football coach Charles Wantland, named the UCO Letterman's Club the "Bronchos," giving Central its "H," then the common spelling.
	CHARLES WANTLAND was Central's athletic director and first dean of men. He led the school's football team to conference championships in 1923, 1924 and 1929.
	CLIFTON WARREN created Central's Department of Creative Studies and served as dean of the College of Liberal Arts and a professor of English. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in 2001.
	CHRIS WATSON (BA '15) holds the 2015 NCAA Division II 165-pound national championship in wrestling. He is a three-time All-American, the 2015 NCAA Division II Wrestler of the Year and the winner of the MIAA's 2014-15 Ken B. Jones Award for the male student-athlete of the year.
	EDGAR WAX was a mathematics professor and also head of Central's Mathematics Department from 1920-48.
	W. ROGER WEBB, the 19th president of UCO (1997- 2011), oversaw great growth at Central, including the opening of the Academy of Contemporary Music at UCO (ACM@UCO), the W. Roger Webb Forensic Science Institute, the UCO Jazz Lab, the UCO Wellness Center, a newly renovated Wantland Stadium, the Center for Transformative Learning, as well as the College of Fine Arts and Design, the UCO School of Music and the School of Criminal Justice.
	ELIZABETH WIEBE served as chair of the Department of Nursing and oversaw the development of Central's nursing curriculum.