Monday, May 2, 2011

Fallin Names Four To Horse Racing Commission

Governor Fallin today announced four appointments to the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission (OHRC).

She selected Phillip Kirk, Melvin Bollenbach, Joe Lucas and Ran Leonard.  Each will serve a six-year term and Senate confirmation is required for each appointment.

“These individuals have years of experience in equestrianism and the horse-racing industry,” Fallin said. “I know they will use their expertise to hold the commission and the industry to an extremely high standard.” 

Philip Kirk of Tulsa is a part-time charter pilot. Before retiring, he served as owner and chairman at Resonant Machines, a highway contracting firm in Tulsa, senior vice president at The Management Compensation Group, a national consulting firm in Los Angeles, and at the Reading & Bates Corporation, an international offshore drilling company in Tulsa. He also is a former race horse owner and breeder. Kirk has served on the boards of both Downtown Tulsa Unlimited and Goodwill Industries.  He has been a committee member for the Thornton Family YMCA and served as chairman of both the Tulsa Community College Foundation and the Tulsa Civil Service Commission. Kirk replaces Cassie Barkett.

Melvin Bollenbach of Oklahoma City is serving his second consecutive term on the Horse Racing Commission; his first appointment was in 2006. Bollenbach is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and owns a ranch in Kingfisher.  He previously served as an aviator in the U.S. Navy from 1960 to 1969. He is an advisor for the Bollenbach Chair in Wildlife Ecology at Oklahoma State University.  He also is a member of the Grand National Quail Club and Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association.

Joe Lucas of Goldsby is owner of Red Earth Training Center, a horse-racing training facility. Lucas is the past president of the Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma and is a past board member of the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. Lucas replaces Patrick Grimmett.

Ran Leonard of Oklahoma City is president and managing partner of RML Thoroughbreds and Cres Ran, both horse racing management facilities. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Oklahoma Thoroughbred Association. Leonard replaces John Smicklas.

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