OSU President Burns Hargis and wife announced as 89er Parade grand marshals

By Van Mitchell
Special to Guthrie News Page

The 89er Days Celebration in Guthrie will have an orange flavor to it this year with the announcement that Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis and his wife Ann will be this year’s parade grand marshals.

With the theme of “Pioneer Life” the celebration runs Wednesday, April 14 through Sunday, April 19^th.

The Hargis’ will serve as the grand marshals for the largest parade in Oklahoma scheduled for Saturday, April 18 at noon.

Hargis who was named the 18th President of OSU and the OSU System in December 2007 and took office March 10, 2008, said they are looking forward to participating in the celebration.

 “First Cowgirl, Ann, and I are delighted to serve as grand marshals for this year’s 89er Parade in historic Guthrie,” Hargis said. “As the territorial capital, Guthrie has a rich history and prominent place in Oklahoma and we are eager to join the city’s 89er celebration.”

Steve Gentling, who serves as the 89er Days committee chairman, said he is pleased that the Hargis’ will serve as the parade marshals.

 “We are so fortunate that we have the leader of Oklahoma State University and his wife who are going to be our parade grand marshal,” Gentling said. “They are both civic and academic leaders that impact our community and state. We are really pleased that Burns and Ann have agreed to be our parade grand marshals. They epitomize the fortitude and vision of the pioneers of 1889.”

Hargis oversees one of the nation’s most comprehensive land-grant university systems with more than 36,000 students, 7,400 employees, and campuses located in Stillwater, Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Okmulgee.

He has guided OSU to record enrollment and record fundraising, reaching the $1 billion Branding Success campaign goal in April 2013, nearly two years ahead of schedule. The campaign is focused on student scholarships, faculty and other vital resources and programs. He also is overseeing a construction boom that is transforming the OSU campus to be more competitive in academics and athletics.

Hargis, who holds degrees in accounting from Oklahoma State University and in law from the University of Oklahoma, is the second OSU graduate to lead the university as president.

Before being named OSU President, Hargis had a long and distinguished legal and business career, with active civic and philanthropic leadership across many fronts. He also is familiar to many Oklahomans through the political perspective and wit he provided on the award-winning television program “Flashpoint”.

Prior to coming to OSU, he was Vice Chairman of Bank of Oklahoma, N.A. Before joining Bank of Oklahoma in 1997, Hargis practiced law in Oklahoma City for 28 years.

 Hargis was a candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor of Oklahoma in 1990.He has served and chaired many boards, including the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges of Oklahoma State University.

Hargis received the state’s highest honor when he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2009. Hargis and his wife, Ann, have two married children and three grandchildren.

Ann Hargis is active across the campus and involved in several community organizations.

 On the OSU campus, Mrs. Hargis is involved with Friends of the Library, Friends of Music, Women for OSU Leadership Philanthropy Council and Lahoma Club. She was also instrumental in developing and launching OSU’s nationally unique Pet Therapy Program, Pete’s Pet Posse, and is an active participant with her therapy dog, Scruff.

 Sharing her love for good health and physical fitness, she has taken a leadership role in OSU’s wellness efforts and the university’s position as America’s HEALTHIEST Campus ®. She provided direction and support in the selection of OSU’s first Chief Wellness Officer, the first fully dedicated such position among U.S. colleges.

Mrs. Hargis is a board member of the Stillwater Public Education Foundation, and the Payne County Youth Services

The 89er Days celebration kickoff event is the chuck wagon feed and auction on Tuesday, April 14 from 5-7 p.m. at the Logan County Fairgrounds. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children.

The annual carnival will be held April 15-18 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and will be located between First and Third Streets in downtown Guthrie.

The Guthrie High School baseball team will play a game on Thursday, April 16 at 4:30 p.m. in Squires Field, located at 200 East Springer Avenue followed by an old timer classic baseball game with players wearing historic uniforms according to 1889 baseball rules. The event will conclude at 7 p.m.

The Guthrie High School jazz band will perform on Thursday from 6-7 p.m. at the American Legion ballroom located at 123 North First Street. Admission is free.

The Air Force High Flying Band will perform at the American Legion ballroom following the jazz concert from 7 to 10 p.m. and admission is $5.

A storytelling event about the tales of pioneer life will be held on Thursday from 7-8:30 p.m. on the east lawn of the U.S. Post Office building.

Activities on Friday, April 17 include a big wheel race for children ages 3-7 from 5-6 p.m. will be held at First and Oklahoma Streets.

The Geezers, Gassers and Hawgs classic car and motorcycle show will be held Friday from 6-9 p.m. along Oklahoma Avenue. KOMA radio personality Ronnie Kaye will be on site.

The Oklahoma Territorial Museum will be hosting the Elmer McGurdy exhibit and kid’s games event on Friday from 6-7 p.m. Admission is free.

A downtown street dance at Second and Harrison Streets will be held Friday from 7 to 11:30 p.m. featuring the Billy Bovine Band.

The largest parade in Oklahoma will be held at noon on Saturday, April 18 featuring a variety of floats, bands, cars, horses and other entertainment.

The Wounded Warrior Professional Bull riding and Concert will be held Saturday April 18 from 7:30 p.m. at the Logan County Fairgrounds Arena. The Jack Rowdy Band will perform following the competition. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12.

An old-fashioned barn dance will be held Saturday, April 18 from 7:30 to 11 p.m. at the American Legion building at 123 North First Street.

The celebration concludes on Sunday, April 19 with a 89er Days concert from noon to 4 p.m. at Second and Harrison. The concert begins with old-time gospel music and sing-along followed by a 20^thanniversary remembrance of the Murrah building bombing.

The Bluegrass music concert starts at1:30 p.m. featuring the Byron Berline Band and Kyle Dillingham and Horseshoe Road. Admission is free.

For more information visit www.89erdays.comorwww.facebook.com/89erdays