Latest news with #DavidBoren
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘One of the most impactful Oklahomans ever': Public service held for David Boren
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – A public service for former Oklahoma Governor and OU President David Boren was held at an Oklahoma City church Saturday. The service, held at St. Luke's Methodist Church, saw hundreds of Oklahomans showing up to honor the legacy Boren left behind. Boren died February 20 at 83-years-old. 'Slap in the face': Firefighters react to Gov. Stitt firing state forester 'There is a great hole in the heart and soul of Oklahoma today… We would have wanted to have him around for another 10 or 15 years, but fate has chosen to take him from our state,' said Bob Burke, a longtime friend and spokesman for the Boren family at the time. 'I think David's family has been expecting this for several weeks.' Faith leaders noted during the service Saturday a private service was held in his hometown of Seminole weeks ago, but organizers wanted to give the public an opportunity to pay tribute as well. Boren's political career began in 1966 when he was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He'd go on to become Oklahoma's 21st Governor and then he represented our state in the U.S. Senate, serving in Congress from 1979 until 1994. Boren then made his way to Norman, serving as OU's President for more than two decades. Oklahoma mourns loss of former Governor David Boren 'He was a consequential Oklahoman,' said Glen Johnson, former Oklahoma House Speaker. 'No one else in the history of our state has served as a state representative, governor of our state, a United States senator and president of the University of Oklahoma for 24 years. He brought leadership. He brought vision. He brought character to each of those roles.' Johnson also referred to Boren as 'one of the most impactful Oklahomans ever.' Plenty of Boren's friends and former colleagues were willing to speak with News 4 about Boren; saying those who truly knew him loved and respected him. 'We had a lot of laughs,' said former Oklahoma U.S. Senator Don Nickles. 'We had a lot of fun and I think we did a lot of good.' Nickles particularly praised Boren's ability to promote bi-partisanship, saying he was an expert at crossing the aisle as a Democrat to work cooperatively with Democrats like himself. He said that himself and Boren had never had cross words, and that politics has gotten away from relationships like those in more recent years. News 4 also spoke with Sean Burrage, Chancellor of Oklahoma's State Regents For Higher Education. Burrage said that he worked in Boren's office while they both worked in Washington D.C. He said he doesn't imagine he would have made the transition into education without Boren's guidance, something Boren didn't have to offer. 'This is a guy who could have made millions of dollars doing anything he wanted to do,' said Burrage. 'He dedicated his life to the state of Oklahoma.' Boren's family shared in a program for the service that they are thankful to all of those who have expressed their condolences through phone calls, text messages, e-mails, cards and public statements. 'Oklahomans know how much David Boren loved Oklahoma-and them,' part of the program said. In lieu of flowers, Boren's family asks that friends consider donations to his scholarship fund at East Central University Foundation in Ada. You can find more information regarding online donations here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Boren praised for his political and academic skill during memorial service Saturday
Depending on who you asked, the late David Boren was either a skilled, centrist Democrat with big ideas who navigated the United States Senate easily, a governor who had no problem pushing back against the old guard, a back-row state Representative who spent his first couple of years in office learning the political ropes, a smart, dedicated university professor. Or the man who charted a new trajectory for the University of Oklahoma. That was the consensus Saturday afternoon, during a memorial service for Boren at St. Luke's Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. Boren died at home, February 20. A short time later he was buried in a private ceremony in Seminole. Saturday's memorial service was a chance for the public – and the state's politically elite – to come together and remember Boren's career. Two former governors, a retired United States Senator, a Oklahoma Supreme Court justice and dozens of Boren's former staff members, from his time in the Senate and from his tenure at OU, were among the hundreds who attended. The service also featured music, prayers and a look at Boren's life presented by two different pastors, Robert E. Long and Rev. David Spain. Former Governor David Walters, a Democrat, said he didn't expect to see another leader like Boren for quite a while. "He had such direct involvement, and, given the permissive nature of partisan politics, it will be a long time before we have someone who is able to survive that many levels of public service successfully as he did," Walters said. Walters said Boren did many things well. "Every time you talked to David Boren, his entire thought process was filled with big ideas," he said. "So, I think his manner of thinking constantly about big ideas was a great strength he brought to the institutions that he served." Like Walters, Sean Burrage, the state Chancellor for Higher Education, said Boren had a rare political gift and was skilled at inspiring people to take up public service. "My most meaningful lesson was that the most meaningful work was that of public service," Burrage said. Burrage said Boren taught him that lesson when he served as an intern when Boren was in the United States Senate. During a trip when Burrage was driving for Boren, he said Boren told him that the work that mattered was work for others. "I realized, later, that it is what matters," he said. While Boren's public service work was well known, it was his dedication to education and his fight to make sure everyone got a chance at education that set Boren apart, said former University of Oklahoma Professor Keith Gaddie. "David Boren was a warrior for thought and education," Gaddie said. Though Boren was well known for his political skill and his efforts at the University of Oklahoma, one colleague said Boren was, simply, a good friend. Former House Speaker Glen Johnson − who later served as Chancellor for Higher Education − said his family and Boren's family had a long history. In fact, Boren's father faced off against Johnson's father in a congressional race in 1946. "We've been close friends for a long time," Johnson said. Johnson said the friendship so solid that when Johnson got married in summer of 1993 the only person he wanted as his best man was David Boren. "Our families go back a long way," Johnson said. "And he (Boren) is clearly a mentor of mine. By the time I ran for the House the first time, in 1982, he'd been in the Senate for about four years." Boren, Johnson said, "was always helpful." He said the friendship continue to grow, and Johnson learned that Boren knew and liked his fiancée, Melinda. "About the time we got engaged, I asked him (Boren) if he would be the best man and he said, 'absolutely,'" Johnson said. "He said he would get back for an many of the pre-engagement events as he could -- and they did," he said. Johnson and Melinda would marry in July of 1993. The fact that Boren − a sitting U.S. Senator − was willing to serve as his best man, Johnson said, was simply an honor. "He's always been just a really, really good friend," he said. "I don't think anyone was surprised that he would be my best man." Born in 1941, Boren was the son of Lyle H and Christine McKown Boren. In 1963 he graduated in the top 1% of his class at Yale University with a degree in American history. Two years later, he earned a master's degree in politics, philosophy and economics from Oxford University in England. Boren served as a professor at Oklahoma Baptist University, later in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, as governor, as United States Senator and, finally, as president of the University of Oklahoma. In 1968, Boren graduated from the University of Oklahoma's College of Law. That same year, Boren married Janna Lou Little. The couple had two children but divorced in 1975. In 1977, midway though his term as governor, Boren married Molly Shi, a special district judge. Boren, Johnson said, was a rare contribution to state politics. "If you look at every one of this positions, he excelled," Johnson said. "Even as a young state representative, he would go against the grain, against the crowd, if he thought it was the right thing to do. It was all very natural. He could take information, synthesize it and turn around and present it to a legislative committee and be the expert on the subject. With him, it was natural." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: David Boren praised by many at memorial service Saturday
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Why are flags at half-staff today? Oklahoma flags lowered after death of former governor
Flags across Oklahoma are to fly at half-staff to honor former governor and University of Oklahoma president David Boren, who died Thursday at 83. On Thursday, Gov. Kevin Stitt issued an executive order to announce that flags on state property had been lowered to half-staff to honor Boren's life and legacy. "Today, I join Oklahomans in mourning the loss of former Governor David Boren, who dedicated his life to serving our state. His love of Oklahoma was evident in everything he did. Sarah and I extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Molly, and the entire Boren family," Stitt said in a statement. All flags on state property will be flown at half-staff until Boren's interment. The U.S. flag code is a set of guidelines, not law, but private citizens and businesses are expected to follow the protocol of lowering to half-staff any U.S. flag displayed on a vertical pole. If you have an American flag on a 45-degree post, like the kind you mount on the side of your home, you can't actually lower it to half-staff. But you could add a black ribbon to the top of the pole or, if your post has one, lower the flag to the 90-degree position. There are specific holidays and events for which flags are flown at half-staff in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website. They include: Memorial Day, when the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only and then raised to the top of the staff. Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. Patriot Day. National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. National Firefighters Memorial Day. President Dwight Eisenhower also issued a proclamation on the proper times for flying the flag at half-staff when government officials die: Thirty days for all federal buildings, grounds and naval vessels throughout the United States and its territories and possessions after the death of the president or a former president. Ten days at half-staff after the death of the vice president, the chief justice or a retired chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, or the speaker of the House of Representatives. From the date of death until interment for an associate justice of the Supreme Court, a member of the Cabinet, a former vice president, the president pro tempore of the Senate, the majority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the Senate, the majority leader of the House of Representatives or the minority leader of the House of Representatives. The date of death and the next day for a U.S. senator, a representative, a territorial delegate or the resident commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It should also be flown at half-staff at all federal facilities in the state, congressional district, territory or commonwealth of these officials. From the date of death until interment for the governor of a state, territory or possession. The president may also order that the flag be flown at half-staff to commemorate the death of other officials, former officials or foreign dignitaries, in addition to tragic events. The terms "half staff" and "half mast" are often used interchangeably; however, they have different meanings. Both refer to a flagpole, but half-staff is used for poles on land, while half-mast is used for poles on ships. Contributing: Brandi D. Addison, USA Today Network This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why are flags at half-staff in Oklahoma? Why, how long they'll be lowered
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma mourns loss of former Governor David Boren
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Oklahomans are mourning the loss of political icon David Boren. Boren passed away surrounded by his family Thursday morning. He was 83-years-old. 'There is a great hole in the heart and soul of Oklahoma today… We would have wanted to have him around for another 10 or 15 years, but fate has chosen to take him from our state,' said Bob Burke, a longtime friend and spokesman for the Boren family. 'I think David's family has been expecting this for several weeks.' According to Burke, Boren was battling diabetes. Boren's political career began in 1966 when he was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He'd go on to become Oklahoma's 21st Governor and then he represented our state in the U.S. Senate, serving in Congress from 1979 until 1994. 'It's always made such an impact on me that someone could serve in so many different ways, could leave so many different legacies,' said Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt. 'He certainly kind of redefined public service in the state for a whole generation of leaders.' Boren then made his way to Norman, serving as OU's President for more than two decades. LOCAL NEWS: Former Oklahoma Governor David Boren passes away at 83 'I believe David Boren's greatest legacy is his support of education,' said Burke. David's son, Dan Boren, the Secretary of Commerce for the Chickasaw Nation sent KFOR the following statement on Thursday: 'My father loved the people of Oklahoma. He saw public service as a noble calling and dedicated his life to it. He was driven by a deep desire to improve the lives of others and build a better future for our state, nation, and university. The countless heartwarming stories I hear almost daily from people across the state who he helped are reminders of his spirit of service. We shall cherish the memory of his remarkable life.' Governor Kevin Stitt also weighed in on the former governor's passing: 'Today, I join Oklahomans in mourning the loss of former Governor David Boren, who dedicated his life to serving our state. His love of Oklahoma was evident in everything he did. Sarah and I extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Molly, and the entire Boren family. As a sign of respect, I've ordered all flags on state property to be flown at half-staff until his interment.' The University of Oklahoma said it's also grieving the loss. A letter from OU can be found above. 'David Boren was a transformational leader whose influence is evident throughout Oklahoma,' said Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair Alicia Andrews. 'He was steadfast in his pursuit of reform, education, and progress. His impact on our state is profound and enduring.' The Oklahoma Democratic Party says it is mourning the loss of David Boren. 'David L. Boren has had a direct positive impact on the lives of more people than probably any other Oklahoman in my lifetime' said Jeff Berrong, a student employee in the OU President's Office (2002-2004) who served on the campaign and congressional staffs of his son Dan Boren. 'I proudly count myself as one of the many hundreds of people that he kindly helped to guide and elevate in their vocations and pursuits. Then there's the hundreds of thousands of people, most of whom don't even realize it, whose lives have been enriched from his leadership and vision as governor, U.S. senator, and president of OU. President Boren showed us again and again how much good can be accomplished by working together in a bipartisan fashion. We should all be thankful for his lifetime of service to our state and nation.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State leaders honor former Gov. David Boren's decades-long dedication to serving Oklahoma
David Boren teaches in his government class at the University of Oklahoma. Boren, 83, died early Thursday morning. (Photo Provided by OU Public Affairs/Courtesy of OU Daily) (This photo may be republished with this article.) OKLAHOMA CITY — Tributes poured in Thursday from Oklahoma state officials following the death of former governor and U.S. senator David Boren. Boren, 83, who died surrounded by family, was also a fierce advocate for public education and a former president of the University of Oklahoma. His career in public service spanned from 1967, when he was elected to the state House, until his retirement from the University of Oklahoma in 2018. He was one of the last leading Democrats in Oklahoma before the state's turn to the Republican Party. As a 'sign of respect,' Gov. Kevin Stitt ordered flags on all state property be flown at half-staff until Boren's interment as a show of respect. He and his wife, Sarah, extended their condolences to Boren's wife and family, saying that the former governor 'dedicated his life to serving our state.' Boren will be buried near his parents in Seminole in a private graveside event next week, said Bob Burke, a longtime friend. His family is working on a public memorial tribute, hopefully to be held in March. He is survived by his wife of over 45 years, Molly Shi, and his two children from a previous marriage, Carrie Christine Boren, a minister, and David Daniel Boren, a former Oklahoma U.S. congressman. House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, said she was saddened by the loss of Boren and lauded his contributions as a public servant, but also as a husband, father and grandfather. Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, said Boren had an 'amazing legacy,' despite allegations of sexual misconduct toward the end of his life. In 2019, less than a year after retiring from OU, a former student accused Boren of inappropriately touching and kissing him while he was working in the university president's office nearly a decade prior. Boren denied the allegations. The university hired an international law firm to investigate allegations of sexual harassment of male employees, but very little about the investigation's findings have been made public. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation also investigated, and no criminal charges were filed. 'I know some things were fraught at the end in terms of the reports on potential allegations and I think we have to take that seriously, I certainly trust victims in that case,' she said. 'I don't think that that overshadows what he did, firstly, in terms of the progress in higher ed and the work he did as a U.S. senator. … What a story of Okie success.' Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair Alicia Andrews said Boren's 'steadfast' pursuit of reform and progress created a profound and lasting impact on the state and called him a 'transformational' leader. House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, said he will remember the former governor's long history of service, and the shared stories Boren told him as a freshman lawmaker while visiting the Boyd House, the president's official residence on OU's campus. 'I remember his stories, talking about when he was a member of the House and fighting to make sure that there were reported votes in committees, and talking about one time a member thought a bill was going to fail on the House floor, so they let a rooster loose on the House floor,' he said. 'And so just thinking about things like that happening today are fascinating, but those are the kind of stories that stick with you.' Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, said Boren was someone who succeeded in every role he took on and said his death 'will be noticed and his contributions to OU and the state are very well noted.' 'And, you know, that's a situation where you look back on his career as a Democrat, and I'm Republican,' Paxton said. 'That's not how we look at this. We look at it as the things he had succeeded on through his career.' Speaking on the House floor Thursday, Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole, recalled his own memories of Boren. He said Boren used to stand on top of his desk at the back of the House chamber during floor debates. He called Boren a 'unique Oklahoman' who 'did things most people only dream of doing.' 'I just wanted you to know that he wasn't a perfect man, and neither am I, but he was a great Oklahoman and made a lot of difference,' Williams said. 'And his contributions will live on for a lifetime and beyond. I just want to take a moment to say thanks to David Boren for the contributions he's made to the great state of Oklahoma.' Oklahoma Voice reporter Barbara Hoberock contributed to this story. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
