Magna Carta News
Saturday, June 21, 2003
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Media Division
June 20, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: State Rep. Leonard Sullivan
Capitol: (405) 557-7357
Oklahoma City: (405) 755-5250
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Murray State College recently recognized five
persons as "distinguished students." The honorees include a widely
traveled entertainer, a state lawmaker, two aerospace engineers, and a
man born shortly after Oklahoma statehood.
The elite group selected by the Former Students' Association of the
Tishomingo school became the first "Distinguished Students" ever to be
honored by Murray State College. The presentation took place on campus
June 7 during the Former Students' Association Reunion.
The honorees "have achieved even beyond the high standards expected
of Murray alumni" and were selected for distinguishing themselves as
well as bringing honor to their alma mater.
* The diverse list of award winners includes Leslie Don Gilliam. He
has traveled from humble beginnings in the small town of Berwyn, Okla.,
which was renamed Gene Autry, to as far away as Vienna, Austria. The
state Legislature dubbed him the "Official Oklahoma Balladeer" in 1998,
and last year Gilliam was named a "Distinguished Oklahoman."
He entered Murray State in 1952, then transferred to Oklahoma A&M,
now Oklahoma State University, where he earned a bachelor of science
degree in mathematics.
Gilliam spent more than 20 years with Conoco, serving in various
computer management positions, then worked as a private consultant for
12 years. In 1994 he launched his latest career: that of a professional
entertainer. He and his wife spend their time traveling and entertaining
throughout the U.S. and abroad.
* Hugh Hefley, Jr., who was born and reared in Clarita, won the
"Outstanding Engineering Student" award at Murray State, from which he
graduated in 1951. He continued his education at Oklahoma State
University, where he received a bachelor's degree in mechanical
engineering, then transferred to Southern Methodist University, where he
earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering and a Ph.D. in
engineering mechanics.
His career was spent primarily in the aerospace industry, doing
design and research on airplanes, helicopters, missiles and rockets.
Today he is a self-employed contract engineer and consultant in Fort
Worth, Texas.
* Jack Pickren, a Shawnee High School graduate, received his
associate degree from Murray State in 1955, a bachelor's degree in math
and physics education at Oklahoma Baptist University, and received his
law degree from the University of Houston. He graduated with honors from
all three schools.
Pickren has been a classroom teacher at both the high school and
university levels, and served as a civil and criminal court judge in
Texas.
He held management and technical jobs in computer science at
Lockheed for 20 years. During that time he worked on a team that
recovered the first satellite from outer space, was responsible for
processing scientific data from the moon, and worked on numerous other
space projects.
Pickren also is a talented writer whose skills have been employed
in the media and in the technical field.
* State Rep. Leonard E. Sullivan graduated from Murray State
College in 1956. The Dale native transferred to Oklahoma State
University, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1958. He joined
the ROTC while at OSU and served on active duty, in the Army Reserve and
in the National Guard of the 45th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army; he
attained the rank of captain.
Sullivan distinguished himself in a business career that included
working for several national and international companies in the grocery,
fast food, fashion and paper industries, oil field supply and land
development. He then returned to Oklahoma to pursue a career in
commercial and industrial real estate.
Sullivan has participated in myriad community, social, church and
political activities over the years, and has served in the Oklahoma
Legislature for 17 years while operating his real estate business.
* Archie Ferris has the distinction of not only being the oldest
former student to be recognized, but also being the honoree who attended
the most years at Murray State College. The Connerville native entered
the eighth grade at Murray in 1921 and graduated six years later. Upon
his father's death, Ferris returned home to help his mother with the
family ranch.
Ferris left Oklahoma in 1941 and spent the next 33 years in Arizona
and New Mexico. Since his retirement he and his family have returned to
Oklahoma, where he is an active member of his community. He serves as a
Sunday school teacher, a deacon of the First Baptist Church of
Tishomingo, and is a member of the church choir. Ferris also served on
the Johnston County Excise Board for 15 years before his retirement in
1999.
In addition, Ferris served as the first chairman of the Murray
State College Foundation after its formation in 1980 and is still active
as an emeritus member.
-30-
Media Division
June 20, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: State Rep. Leonard Sullivan
Capitol: (405) 557-7357
Oklahoma City: (405) 755-5250
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Murray State College recently recognized five
persons as "distinguished students." The honorees include a widely
traveled entertainer, a state lawmaker, two aerospace engineers, and a
man born shortly after Oklahoma statehood.
The elite group selected by the Former Students' Association of the
Tishomingo school became the first "Distinguished Students" ever to be
honored by Murray State College. The presentation took place on campus
June 7 during the Former Students' Association Reunion.
The honorees "have achieved even beyond the high standards expected
of Murray alumni" and were selected for distinguishing themselves as
well as bringing honor to their alma mater.
* The diverse list of award winners includes Leslie Don Gilliam. He
has traveled from humble beginnings in the small town of Berwyn, Okla.,
which was renamed Gene Autry, to as far away as Vienna, Austria. The
state Legislature dubbed him the "Official Oklahoma Balladeer" in 1998,
and last year Gilliam was named a "Distinguished Oklahoman."
He entered Murray State in 1952, then transferred to Oklahoma A&M,
now Oklahoma State University, where he earned a bachelor of science
degree in mathematics.
Gilliam spent more than 20 years with Conoco, serving in various
computer management positions, then worked as a private consultant for
12 years. In 1994 he launched his latest career: that of a professional
entertainer. He and his wife spend their time traveling and entertaining
throughout the U.S. and abroad.
* Hugh Hefley, Jr., who was born and reared in Clarita, won the
"Outstanding Engineering Student" award at Murray State, from which he
graduated in 1951. He continued his education at Oklahoma State
University, where he received a bachelor's degree in mechanical
engineering, then transferred to Southern Methodist University, where he
earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering and a Ph.D. in
engineering mechanics.
His career was spent primarily in the aerospace industry, doing
design and research on airplanes, helicopters, missiles and rockets.
Today he is a self-employed contract engineer and consultant in Fort
Worth, Texas.
* Jack Pickren, a Shawnee High School graduate, received his
associate degree from Murray State in 1955, a bachelor's degree in math
and physics education at Oklahoma Baptist University, and received his
law degree from the University of Houston. He graduated with honors from
all three schools.
Pickren has been a classroom teacher at both the high school and
university levels, and served as a civil and criminal court judge in
Texas.
He held management and technical jobs in computer science at
Lockheed for 20 years. During that time he worked on a team that
recovered the first satellite from outer space, was responsible for
processing scientific data from the moon, and worked on numerous other
space projects.
Pickren also is a talented writer whose skills have been employed
in the media and in the technical field.
* State Rep. Leonard E. Sullivan graduated from Murray State
College in 1956. The Dale native transferred to Oklahoma State
University, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1958. He joined
the ROTC while at OSU and served on active duty, in the Army Reserve and
in the National Guard of the 45th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army; he
attained the rank of captain.
Sullivan distinguished himself in a business career that included
working for several national and international companies in the grocery,
fast food, fashion and paper industries, oil field supply and land
development. He then returned to Oklahoma to pursue a career in
commercial and industrial real estate.
Sullivan has participated in myriad community, social, church and
political activities over the years, and has served in the Oklahoma
Legislature for 17 years while operating his real estate business.
* Archie Ferris has the distinction of not only being the oldest
former student to be recognized, but also being the honoree who attended
the most years at Murray State College. The Connerville native entered
the eighth grade at Murray in 1921 and graduated six years later. Upon
his father's death, Ferris returned home to help his mother with the
family ranch.
Ferris left Oklahoma in 1941 and spent the next 33 years in Arizona
and New Mexico. Since his retirement he and his family have returned to
Oklahoma, where he is an active member of his community. He serves as a
Sunday school teacher, a deacon of the First Baptist Church of
Tishomingo, and is a member of the church choir. Ferris also served on
the Johnston County Excise Board for 15 years before his retirement in
1999.
In addition, Ferris served as the first chairman of the Murray
State College Foundation after its formation in 1980 and is still active
as an emeritus member.
-30-
