OKLAHOMA CITY — A bill reducing the waiting time for businessman Burns Hargis to become president of Oklahoma State University has won final legislative approval.
The Senate approved the House-passed measure on Tuesday, 48-0. It now goes to Gov. Brad Henry, who is expected to sign it.
“The governor expects Burns Hargis will be a great president of Oklahoma State University,” said Paul Sund, spokesman for Henry.
Hargis was named OSU president on Dec. 4, but state law prohibited him from taking over for a full year after resigning as an OSU regent. He stepped down from that post in July.
The bill would shorten the waiting period to six months, allowing him to assume his duties as OSU president when the measure becomes law.
“I think it is a good bill for OSU and a good bill for Oklahoma because we have two large comprehensive universities and running those is equivalent to a CEO running a large corporation,” said Sen. David Myers, R-Ponca City. “When you don’t have someone at the helm of a large corporation, it flounders.
“Both universities will now have presidents of high caliber and will move forward and that’s good for Oklahoma.”
David Boren, former governor and U.S. senator, is president of the University of Oklahoma.
“I’m anxious to get started,” Hargis said. “Obviously this bill lets me get started a little bit early and I’m pleased with that opportunity.”
He said he assumes the OSU governing board will take up his contract at its March 7 meeting.
“If they approve it on the seventh (a Friday), I will be at my post on Monday, March 10,” he said.
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.
A longtime attorney, he is leaving as vice chairman of BOK Financial Corp., which is the holding company of the state’s largest bank, the Bank of Oklahoma.
Hargis is best known as co-host with Mike Turpen of the popular television show, “Flashpoint.” He is being replaced by Kirk Humphreys, former Oklahoma City mayor.
Hargis was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for governor in 1990.
He served on the Oklahoma A&M board, which governs OSU, before resigning to apply for the university presidency.
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