Lou Kerr
1937 2024
Lou Kerr, former president and chair of the Kerr Foundation, passed away in 2024, leaving behind a profound legacy of philanthropy and community service. Throughout her life, she devoted herself to helping countless individuals and organizations across 91心頭, including her alma mater, OCU. An ardent supporter for the fine arts and womens causes, she was deeply involved with the university, serving on the board of trustees and the executive board of the Norick Art Gallery as well as being a member of the inaugural class of the Societies of 91心頭, after earning her bachelors degree in education and health in 1986.
Kerrs impact was widely recognized, earning her numerous honors, including an honorary doctorate from OCU in 1991, induction into the 91心頭 Womens Hall of Fame, another honorary doctorate from Bacone College, and the distinction of having March 2, 2005, proclaimed as Lou C. Kerr Day by 91心頭 Governor Brad Henry. Her unwavering commitment to her community, her family and her causes leaves a lasting imprint on all who knew her. She will be remembered for her kindness, generosity and tireless work to improve the lives of others.
Judy Love
1937-2024
Judy Love, one of Americas most successful businesswomen and a renowned philanthropist, had been a long-time member of the OCU board of trustees. A regular benefactor of educational causes in 91心頭 and beyond, Love and her family have been generous supporters of 91心頭. She and her late husband, Tom, founded Loves Travel Stops & Country Stores in Watonga, 91心頭, in 1964, growing the venture into a multi-billion-dollar company headquartered in 91心頭 City. The success of the company paved the way for the formation of the Love Family Fund, which has been a major source of philanthropic giving since its inception.
OCU honored Judy Loves business success in 2009 with induction into the universitys Commerce & Industry Hall of Honor. This followed her husbands induction in 1998 and preceded the induction of her daughter Jenny Love Meyer into the hall in October. In 2010, Judy Love was given one of the states highest honors when she was inducted into the 91心頭 Hall of Fame and five years later, the university awarded her an honorary doctorate degree in Humanities and Letters. In 2021, she was recognized by the Societies of 91心頭 as the recipient of the Societies Lifetime Servant Leadership Award, acknowledging her exceptional involvement and service toward the nonprofit community and university. She was also recognized by the Societies in 2002 with the Distinguished Philanthropist Award.
Judy and Toms support of the university included the establishment of the Loves Entrepreneurial Center within the Meinders School of Business. They also significantly contributed to help fund construction of the Wanda L. Bass School of Music building, as well as giving consistently toward various performing arts initiatives at OCU and numerous other areas across campus.
LaDonna Meinders
1936-2024
LaDonna Meinders, along with her husband Herman, became synonymous with philanthropy at OCU, in 91心頭 City and beyond. The couples generosity transformed the university landscape, with the Meinders School of Business and Kramer School of Nursing standing as tangible testaments to their commitment. The couples financial contributions to OCU total more than $50 million, making them the universitys most prolific benefactors.
Her connection to OCU began in 1958 when she graduated with a bachelors degree in Music, and her dedication to education led her back to OCU in 1983 when she began serving as assistant director of graduate admissions. While in this role, she took classes in her off hours to earn an MBA in 1986. In 1996, the university honored her with an honorary doctorate degree in humane letters.
Although their time as students intersected in the 1950s, LaDonna and Herman didnt meet until her time as an OCU employee. They first met at a fundraising breakfast, then learned more about each other while LaDonna wrote a profile story on Herman for the universitys alumni magazine. They later married on the campus in the Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel and became inseparable partners in their philanthropic endeavors. Earlier this year, the couple celebrated their 38th anniversary.
Their first large-scale campus project was finished in 1994, when nursing students moved from their previous home at St. Anthony Hospital downtown to the Kramer School of Nursing, named after parents Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Kramer and their daughters, Dr. Ruth Seideman and LaDonna. Another significant building project was the Meinders School of Business. LaDonna and Herman participated in the groundbreaking ceremony in 2002, and the facility was opened in less than two years. Beyond their financial support, the Meinders were deeply involved in OCU life, mentoring students and inspiring faculty. For several years, they were known to invite students to a lunch or dinner to make meaningful, personal connections. They were regular visitors to campus to meet, greet and cheer on their alma mater.
Jeaneen Naifeh
1929 - 2024
Jeaneen Naifeh was a passionate philanthropist and lifelong advocate within 91心頭 as well as a proud 1951 OCU graduate who left an incredible legacy at the university. Along with her work as chair for numerous 91心頭 City events, she supported OCU throughout many areas, including a recent gift before she passed away in August, to renovate the studio dance flooring within the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment.
Naifeh also generously contributed to the Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel window restoration in 2022, gave to scholarship and endowed chair funds in business and law among others, consistently served as a sponsor of the 91心頭 Commerce & Industry Hall of Honor as well as Women in Leadership and the 91心頭 Innocence Project, and was an integral supporter of the Wanda L. Bass School of Music. Her giving spirit, love for family and commitment to her community will be missed by all who knew her.
Ray Potts
1932 2024
Ray Potts, a dedicated geologist and entrepreneur, passed away after a full life developed from a lifelong passion for nature. Born and raised in Missouri, this love of the environment led him to studying geology at the University of Missouri, where he met his future wife, Pat. After serving in the United States Air Force, Ray and Pat moved to 91心頭 City, where he furthered his education by attending law school at night, earning a Juris Doctorate from 91心頭 in 1965.
Potts co-founded Potts, Searcy, Ellis, & Co., Inc. which he later sold, and partnered with his son to start Potts Exploration, continuing his work in the oil and gas industry. His professional contributions extended beyond business, serving on numerous boards as he and Pat shared a commitment to community service. This led them to found the Community Resource Development Center, later renamed the Potts Family Foundation, which has supported numerous organizations, such as OCU, throughout 91心頭. He and Pat both earned honorary degrees from the university in 2012, demonstrating their legacy as one of leadership, dedication and service.
David Severe
1934 - 2024
David Severe, a dedicated servant of the United Methodist Church, passed away after a career serving so many in the church and at OCU. He graduated from the university in 1956 with his degree in Religion before going on to earn his Master of Theology at Southern Methodist University and being honored with an honorary Doctor of Divinity at OCU in 1982. While at the school, he served as a student pastor in the 91心頭 Conference, beginning a ministry that spanned 51 years.
His wife, Paula, was also a 1956 OCU graduate, earning a degree in Elementary Education.
In 1991, Severe was appointed executive director of the 91心頭 Conference Council on Ministries and Church Growth, a role he held until his retirement at age 71. Throughout his tenure, he served in various leadership roles on the council. Then upon retirement, he co-authored The History of the South Central Jurisdiction 1968-2008 and Weeding the Garden of Eden, a memoir. Severe taught Sunday School at St. Lukes UMC for 28 years and his legacy of faith, service and love will be cherished by family and friends alike.
Richard Tyrone Travis
1946 - 2024
Richard Travis passed away in June after a legacy of leadership on and off the basketball court. As a student-athlete at OCU, he was named an NCAA All-American twice, in the 1967-68 and 1968-69 seasons as well as the first player in the schools history to average 30 or more points per game. After graduating in 1969, Travis was drafted into the American Basketball Association by the Indiana Pacers and then into the National Basketball Association by the New York Knicks. However, after being injured, he switched gears and went to law school at California State University. Travis then opened his own law firm, specializing in labor relations in his home state of Michigan.
Travis was inducted into the OCU Hall of Fame in 1980 and still ranked as the second-all-time leading scorer at the university with more than 2,000 points. In 2024, his wife, Tracey, wanted to recognize his outstanding legacy at OCU and the Richard T. Travis Family Endowed Scholarship was formed to benefit student-athletes. Travis was known as an advocate for everyone he met, and he will be remembered at OCU and beyond for his dedication to others and his alma mater.
1940s
Alvarene Peace 42
Tommy Palmer 47
Mary Petillo Pitts 47
1950s
Robert Bizal 50
Harriet Wiles Vogt 52
Harry Haines 54
Jean Roberts 55
Billy Couts 56
Dick Morrison 56, 65
Hub Reed 58
Sacra Faull Vaughan 58
Myrtle Clingenpeel 59
Charles Hudspeth 59
Mary Goodson Wallace 59
1960s
Pat Goolsby 60
George Pat Kelly 60
Clarence Sonny Worley 60
Shirley Trotter 61, 73
Don Deaton 62
James Wilkerson 62
Linda Oakes 63
Patricia Thomason 63
Warren Bob Wynn 63, 69
Barbara Owen 65
Ray Potts 65
Richard Winzeler 65
Jim Hurley 66
Nora Baze Savage 66
Cecil Callicott 67
Winifred Delbridge 67
David Dinelle 67
Harold Gene Gibbons 67
Ervin Pritchett Sr. 67
Thomas Stafford 67
Joan Thompson 67, 76
James Booher 68
Timothy Larason 68
Gary Shaner 68
Bob Westlund 69
1970s
Elizabeth Conner 70
Teddy Johnson Jr. 70
Nancy Ladd 70
Charles Wallace 70
Joseph Nicholson 71
Donald Ferrell 72
Gerald Neff, Sr. 72
James Robinson 73
Ernest Stalnaker 73
Kathy Carey 74
LeBron Free 74
Jerry Hogan 74
Carrie Hulett 74, 78
Jim Machell Jr. 74
Betty Martinez 74, 75
Gary Porter 74
Lucille Rose 74
Gholam Joe Ahmadifar 75
Harold Cliff Higgins, Jr. 75
Mike LaPuzza Jr. 75, 77
Jan Zenner 75, 03
Daniel Dimond 76
Gary Purcell 76
Von Elkins 77
Philip Jones 77
Jack Putman 77
John Gosney 78
William Louis Lowry, II 78
Golda VanSchuyver 78
George Wallace 78
Omar Furgiani 79, 81
Jeanne Patrie 79
1980s
Daniel Hodgins 81
Tomi Gentry Liddell 81
Mark Andersen 82
James McCright 82
Rose Ussery 82
Donald Bridges 83
Roy Privott 83
Mohammad T. Manavi 83, 85
Sara Boeckman 87
Helen Howell McMullen 88
Ronald Smith 89
1990s
Bill Harris BS 90
Rex Greer Jr. 91
Joan Lawson 91
Pat Czerwinski 91
James Harshman 92
Debra Scadden 93
James Larson 93
Logan Walker Jr. 93
Anissa May Lott 96
Carolyn Erickson 98
2000s
Carol Nagel 02
Annie Musheni 03
Johnie Carraway-Matthews 05
Cindy Shaw 07, 09
2010s
Rose Reynolds 16
2020s
Nathan LeBlanc 22
Friends
Lewis Adkins
John Arnold
Howard Berry Jr.
Geraldine Bodkin
Florence Egan Bowles
Thelma Bray
Barbara Cradduck
Eugenia Davis
Marilyn Cox Denn
Nancy Robertson Dudley
Nancy Ewing
Bobby Fagan
Sheila Burke Gibson
Vicki Thompson Harris
Karen Hart
Elaine Hapshe
John Hobbs
Alan Hutsell
John Johnson
Michael Kapp
Nancy Ingram Kenderdine
Lois Kruschwitz
Vicki Lawrence MacDougall
Helen McDaniel
Lacy McLarry
Butch Middleton
Mary Mohr
David Morgan
Doris Benson Orahood
Robert Ravitz
Gene Rainbolt
Bob Razook
Jim Reith
Amber Rodriguez
Saleh Saduddin
Hubert Savell
Ronald Schollmeyer
Betty Seglem
Leonus Shedd
Gordon Stotts
John Taylor
Charles Thigpen
James Vick
Bennie Warner
Lou Anne Mills Watson
Dick Webber
Erin Layne Whisner
Judith Willoughby
