It's All Sweet For David Boren, Burns Hargis

The presidents of Oklahoma's two largest universities are doing just fine financially.

University of Oklahoma President David Boren collects $550,544 a year and Oklahoma State's Burns Hargis makes $443,465, according to a survey released Monday.

The Chronicle of Higher Education's national survey said the median salary for public university presidents is $427,400, a 7.6 percent increase over the previous fiscal year.

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Chesapeake Names Hargis To Board

Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis has been named to the board of directors of Chesapeake Energy Corp.

Hargis, a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor in 1990, was vice chairman of BOK Financial Corp., the holding company of the state's largest bank, the Bank of Oklahoma, from 1997 until this year when he was named to the OSU post.

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Hargis Gets $350,000 Plus Benefits As OSU President

From News Reports ~ Oklahoma State University regents approved a $350,000 salary and a start date of Monday for new President Burns Hargis today. Hargis, OSU's 18th president, also will receive a $20,000 automobile allowance each year and use of the OSU-owned president's home. The OSU Foundation intends to raise private donations to build a new president's home on campus, regents said.

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House Passes Hargis OSU Bill

The State House today approved a bill that allows Burns Hargis to take over as president of Oklahoma State University immediately.

Hargis, a banker and former OSU regent, resigned as a regent last July. Currently, there is a prohibition of one year before a former regent can take over as president of a university.

Representatives voted 84-12 to approve House Bill 2297, which cuts the waiting period to six months, meaning Hargis could take over immediately.

Hargis and regents have not indicated how soon he will be installed. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

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Humphreys To Join Turpen On 'Flash Point'

Former Oklahoma City Mayor Kirk Humphreys will replace Burns Hargis as co-host of KFOR-TV's Sunday political talk show, "Flash Point."

Humphreys was selected to join Democrat Mike Turpen and moderator Kevin Ogle on the long-running show following an audition process. An announcement is expected soon.

Others who auditioned for the show included public relations specialist Renzi Stone, radio talk show host and blogger Ron Black and longtime Republican activist Rodd Moesel, sources said.

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Who Will Replace Hargis On 'Flash Point'?

Who will replace Burns Hargis as the Republican counterpoint to Democrat Mike Turpen on KFOR-TV's long-running Sunday morning "Flash Point" show?

An announcement from the station is expected soon and one of those who auditioned, conservative radio talk show host and blogger Ron Black, says it's not him. Black reports he auditioned for the spot, but lost out to "a Chamber-friendly pseudo-conservative."

It is known that Black, Oklahoma City public relations specialist Renzi Stone and former Mayor Kirk Humphreys were among those who auditioned.

Hargis has been named president of Oklahoma State University. Legislation approved by a House panel today would speed up his take over as president of Oklahoma State University.He was named the school's 18th president by the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents on December 4. But state law forbids him from taking over as president for a full year after resigning as an OSU regent. He stepped down from that post in July.

A bill passed by the House Education Committee on Wednesday would shorten the waiting period to just six months. That would allow Hargis to take over as soon as the bill becomes law.The measure now goes to the full House for action. It must also be approved by the Senate and signed by Gov. Brad Henry.

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Flash Point: Who Will Replace Hargis?

The selection of Burns Hargis as the new president of Oklahoma State University apparently means he will leave his 15-year role as the co-host of KFOR-TV's "Flash Point" political talk show. Co-host Mike Turpen is quoted in today's The Oklahoman as saying that while he's happy for Hargis, "I hate to lose a Flash Point partner in the process." The show airs Sunday mornings at 9:30. Hargis won't officially become OSU's president until summer, and it's likely he'll continue on the show until that time, or nearer it.

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It's Official: Hargis New President Of OSU

Oklahoma City banker Burns Hargis is the new president of Oklahoma State University. Regents today unanimously named Hargis as the institution's 18th president and only the second alumnus to hold the job. Hargis is well known as the co-host of KFOR-TV's weekly "Flash Point" television talk show with Mike Turpen.

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OSU Advocate Questions President Search Decision

From The Tulsa World ~ A professor and president of an open-government advocacy group questioned on Friday whether the Oklahoma State University presidential search committee violated the state’s Open Meeting Act. The attorney for OSU’s governing board, Charles Drake, replied in an email to OSU journalism professor Joey Senat that the search committee did not eliminate any presidential candidates from the board’s consideration.The search committee unanimously recommended one candidate, former board member Burns Hargis, to the board on Thursday, according to board s p o k e s m a n Brent Gooden. Read the entire World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=071201_1_A1_hApro87803

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OSU Regents To Consider Burns Hargis?

Oklahoma State University’s Board of Regents is expected to decide Tuesday whether to name former regent and alumnus Burns Hargis as president. Hargis resigned from the Board of Regents in July to seek the presidency. He is vice chairman of the Bank of Oklahoma who sought the Republican nomination for governor in 1990; he lost in the GOP primary to Bill Price and Vince Orza. For the past 15 years, Hargis has been the co-host of KFOR-TV's popular "Flash Point" political talk television show.

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Is Hargis Top Pick For OSU Presidency?

Oklahoma City banker Burns Hargis is mentioned again today as a candidate for the presidency of Oklahoma State University.

Hargis, co-host of KFOR-TV's "Flash Point" show with Mike Turpen, is a former member of the OSU Board of Regents.

The Oklahoman reports that a search committee expects to name the next president of OSU by the middle of December.

The job was vacated in March by David Schmidly, who left to take the helm of the University of New Mexico. Since then, provost Marlene Strathe has been interim president.

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Hargis Explains Meacham Support

From NewsRadio 1000 KTOK ~ He's run for office as a Republican and has a reputation as one of Oklahoma's better liked GOP members, yet Burns Hargis has no problem holding a campaign fundraising event for one of the State's top Democrats.

Hargis is holding the event Wednesday in his Oklahoma City home for State Treasurer Scott Meacham. "I'm an Oklahoman first," Hargis said. "I'm also a Republican and I'm also a believer in limited government and the rest, but I also appreciate a good job regardless of people's party."

And Hargis thinks many other Republicans in Oklahoma appreciate the work done by Meacham. "I think if you look at Scott Meacham's fundraising report, you'll see that. He has a lot of Republican support."

And on the question of where the money is going, Hargis says it's for the treasurer's campaign "and not for any future campaign." Meacham has been mentioned as a possible candidate for governor.

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KTOK: Meacham Fundraiser For 'Unreimbursed Expenses' From 2006 Campaign

By Jerry Bohnen, NewsRadio 1000 KTOK ~ The same week that he took out full page newspaper ads and attacked Oklahoma Gas and Electric over its controversial coal-fired power plant at Red Rock, State Treasurer Scott Meacham, was planning a political fundraiser.

The September 19th event in Oklahoma City raises questions about Meacham's political future and whether it includes a possible run for Governor.

But it also fascinates political observers because one of the state's better known Republicans, banker Burns Hargis, is one of the sponsors.

Deputy State Treasurer Tim Allen, questioned whether Meacham might be holding the fundraiser in anticipation of a run for governor in two years denied it: "No, it is not for that at all," he stated. "This is a fundraiser for his State Treasurer account."

He explained that Meacham is holding the fundraiser to cover "unreimbursed expenses that date back to the campaign last year."

"The Treasurer has a need for some funds in the campaign account to pay for ongoing expenses during his term in office such as travel reimbursement, for cell phone use and that sort of thing."

But the sponsorship by Hargis might raise eyebrows in some political sectors. "First of all, it is Burns Hargis," explained Allen. "It is also Mike Turpen, hosts of Flashpoint on Channel 4. It's a bipartisan fundraiser really. Republicans and Democrats alike have supported Treasurer Meacham during his time in office."

(Note: Burns Hargis and Mike Turpen both apparently have ties to Aubrey McClendon of Chesapeake Energy, prime mover in the anti-coal plant advertising campaign featuring Meacham. Hargis said he is McClendon's banker and Turpen said that he is his lawyer.)

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Hargis To Seek OSU Presidency?

Oklahoma City banker and "Flash Point" co-host Burns Hargis appears to be positioning himself to seek the presidency of Oklahoma State University.

An OSU regent, Hargis announced his resignation Monday, apparently so he could consider seeking the OSU presidency.

Hargis, vice chairman of the Bank of Oklahoma, wrote in a letter to Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents Chair Lou Watkins that the OSU presidency is "the only position that would ever lead me to give careful thought to leaving my position at this outstanding financial institution."

In the letter, Hargis didn't say he will apply, but the language appears to make his intentions clear. The OSU presidential search committee is accepting applications until August 17 and plans to name a president late in the fall semester.

Search committee chairman Doug Burns said in April the board did not have anyone in mind for the presidency.

Hargis he could not ethically remain on the board, which will name the new president, and consider running for the job. He graduated from OSU in 1967 and was a Republican candidate for governor in 1990.

He is a former president of the Oklahoma County Bar Association, former president of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation, and is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He is a charter Master and past President of the Bohanon American Inn of Court. Hargis practiced law in Oklahoma City for 28 years, most recently with the firm McAfee & Taft. He is included in the publications, “Who’s Who in American Law” and “The Best Lawyers in America.” Hargis served as vice-chairman of the Oklahoma State Election Board, the Oklahoma Constitutional Revision Commission, and served as Chairman of the Oklahoma Commission for Human Services. He is a former member of the Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Hargis presently serves on the Boards of Bank of Oklahoma, N.A., Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce – Chairman (2003, 2004), State Fair of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Lawyers for Children, and several other philanthropic organizations.

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Turpen: Hillary Raised $305,000

Mike Turpen says Hillary Clinton's recent fundraiser for Hillary Clinton at Oklahoma City's Skirvin Hotel raised $305,000, up from the $282,000 initially reported.

Turpen discussed the event on KFOR-TV's "Flash Point" show with Burns Hargis and Kevin Ogle. Turpen said the goal was to raise $200,000 for Clinton's bid for the Democratic nomination for president.

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