Alumni Update
Thursday, September 3, 2020
With the OSU Alumni Association, you’re never far from a member of the Cowboy family!
In fact, more than 80 percent of OSU alumni live within 50 miles of a group. These groups host more than 900 events annually for Cowboys of all ages and are supported by membership dues.
The Alumni Association also has affinity chapters and alumni societies for each OSU college and campus.
’40s
Alfred Green, ’47 animal science, was recognized as the oldest living member at the blessing of the new Sigma Phi Epsilon facilities. As of March, Green has 25 living “siblings” in his Greek family.
Morris D. Neighbors, ’49 secondary education, ’64 master’s in psychology, is 94 and enjoying his 15th great-grandchild. He recently reunited with his WWII shipmates and visited Fort Sumter in South Carolina.
’50s
Joe Sewell Jr., ’50 animal husbandry, will be celebrating his 93rd birthday this year and wishes his wife Dee could have been here to celebrate with him. Joe is still active with First Bank & Trust Co. in Perry, Oklahoma, where he has been for over 60 years and on the board for 57 years.
Richard T. Howl, ’52 business and public administration, and wife Marie recently moved to Edmond, Oklahoma, after 68 years in Tulsa to be closer to family.
Larry Cassil, ’56 business and public administration, retired as an attorney and municipal judge in Warr Acres, Oklahoma.
Donald Hensley, ’57 agriculture education, is enjoying retirement and living a good life.
Charles Heller, ’59 civil engineering, ’60 master’s in civil engineering, serves on a number of boards and is completing his fourth memoir, Cowboy from Prague.
’60s
Douglas Welch, ’61 mechanical engineering, recently retired from volunteering as a coordinator for Meals on Wheels in Bixby, Oklahoma, and and inspector for Tulsa County Election Board. He recently lost his wife of 58 years, Julia, but he remains active with worship activities and his family.
Jane Middleton, ’62 secondary education, and her husband Jack, ’62 secondary education, recently hosted their niece, Jenna Slattery,
’17 human resource management, ’19 master’s in health care administration, at their home in Florida. Slattery lives and works in Oklahoma City. The Middletons are enjoying warm and sunny Florida after surviving the deep freeze in Connecticut for 51 years.
Janice Marie Smith, ’62 pre-veterinarian sciences, ’64 veterinarian medicine, turned 80 on Thanksgiving Day 2019 and has always been her own boss. Her biggest accomplishment this past year is getting out of bed each morning and going dancing every other Saturday night.
Connie Virginia Sheridan, ’64 elementary education, taught school for 27 years in Texas. She is married with three children who are now married and have children of their own. Her oldest grandson is a sophomore at OSU. Connie and her husband have six children, 13 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
Lewis Armstrong, ’65 geography, and wife Linda (Todd) Armstrong, ’63 home economics, celebrated 57 years of marriage and published a cookbook together, Todd Family and Friends Cookbook. They have two children, Michael and Melinda. Lewis retired in 1993 as an Army colonel after 28 years of Reserve and active duty. He went on to work as a librarian at Abilene Christian University and Emporia State University before retiring in 2003. He has published his autobiography, Oklahoma Boy on the Bumpy Road of Life, and a book of veterans and their life stories, Stories by an Oklahoma Boy.
Ed Thomas, ’65 accounting, and his wife of 54 years, Wanda, ’65 special education, have been blessed to travel to all 50 states and 93 countries, many travels being on missions and speaking engagements. Thomas and his two sons are partners in their family office in Houston.
Bob Curtis, ’66 art, was selected for the 2020 National Art Education Association Retired Art Teacher of the Year award. Curtis retired in September 2005, after teaching art at Overholser Elementary School in Putnam City Schools for 13 years. Before teaching, he worked for World Neighbors in international development for 23 years after spending three years in India as a Peace Corps volunteer.
Dr. Darlyne G. Nemeth, ’68 master’s in education, founded the Neuropsychology Center of Baton Rouge, Louisiana where she has a broad spectrum practice of clinical, medical and neuropsychology. She recently co-edited Evaluation and Treatment of Neuropsychologically Compromised Children: Understanding Clinical Applications Post Luria and Reitan, with Janna Glozman that was published in May 2020.
Vaden Winfred Morgan, ’69 animal science, ’76 master’s in agricultural education, completed 11 years as an adjunct instructor in biology at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma.
’70s
Ronn Cupp, ’70 journalism and broadcasting, and wife Beth, ’70 HEECS, earned the Odilia and David Dank Oklahoma County Party Builder Award from the Oklahoma County Republican Party in 2019. Cupp was first elected as an Oklahoma County state committeeman at the state convention in 2015 and is now serving his third term. He is also a member of the Oklahoma County Republican Party executive committee and state committee.
David Lee Pope, ’70 agriculture engineering, ’71 master’s in agriculture engineering, recently retired after over 50 years as an agricultural engineer in various positions related to the conservation, management, use and control of water and water courses in Kansas, as well as representing the state on Interstate River Compact issues and serving as a consultant since 2007.
Grover “Bud” Adams, ’71 mech ag, retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service after 15 years. He still raises beef cattle and enjoys hunting, fishing and visiting his kids in New Mexico and Colorado.
Justice Steven Taylor, ’71 political science, retired from the Supreme Court of Oklahoma in 2017 after 33 years of judicial service. At his retirement, the courthouse in McAlester was renamed the Justice Steven W. Taylor Courthouse Complex. In 2019, he was appointed to the State Regents for Higher Education by Gov. Kevin Stitt.
Randy Freeland, ’72 agricultural economics, lives with his wife, Bonnie, in Stillwater and they have two married sons and five grandchildren, who are all OSU fans. They attend most sporting events, and Randy participates in Master Gardener activities after retiring from soil conservation work a few years ago.
Randy Weaver, ’73 broadcasting journalism, and wife Amy are proud of their grandson, Jackson Field, who will come to OSU as a freshman this fall. Randy is celebrating 40 years as president of Texas Battery Co. Inc.
Linda (Buffa) Hiette, ’74 secondary education, ’75 master’s in STE PER & GUID, is retired from St. Louis City and County Health Department as a health educator for 40 years. Her youngest daughter, Lindsey, will be attending OSU in the fall. Her oldest daughter, Taylor, is a graphic designer at Equifax in St. Louis. Her husband, Thom, will retire in January from USDA as a computer specialist for almost 40 years.
Pamela S. Remmel, ’75 social science, retired in July 2019 after leading the Heath Alliances for the Uninsured from its start in 2007. She now volunteers to drive dogs to cities that do not have enough adoptable animals, thus helping to reduce Oklahoma’s shelters kill rate.
William K. Garton, ’76 journalism, ’79 master’s in mass communication, continues to operate Red Chair Press as its founding publisher and president while living in both Berkshire County, Massachusetts, and the small village of Saint Jean-aux-Bois in northern France.
Nancy (Kassick) Goulding, ’77 secondary administration, and husband Curtis, ’77 agricultural economics, are forming 7C Bar Cattle to produce grass-fed beef. They have added two grandsons to the family, Miles and Benjamin.
Laurie Jane (Barr) Croft, ’78 history, was recently promoted to professor of gifted education at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Croft serves as the associate director of the Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education.
Philip Nokes, ’78 doctorate in osteopathic medicine, recently moved from Ardmore, Oklahoma, to Edmond to accept a PRN staff physician for the Premise Health Oklahoma City clinics.
’80s
Mark King, ’80 political science, successfully skied 60 miles to the South Pole (89° S to 90° S), completing the “last degree” expeditions to both poles. He is now one summit away from achieving the explorer’s grand slam. He will attempt to climb Mount Everest in the spring of 2021.
C. Kevin Morrison, ’80 RTVF, was recently appointed as a special judge in the Tulsa County District Court to handle a docket of family and domestic cases.
Gregory James Quarles, ’83 mathematics, ’85 master’s in physics, ’87 doctorate in physics, is CEO and board member for Applied Energetics Inc., a publicly traded laser company in Tucson, Arizona, in May 2019. He was
previously the chief scientific officer for the Optical Society and held executive positions at B.E. Myers & Co. and II-VI Inc.
Malinda (Powell) Boswell, ’84 physical education, and husband Jay moved back to Stillwater following her retirement after 34 years teaching physical education in South Texas.
Catherine (Curry) Mardon, ’84 forestry management, was awarded dame commander of the Order of St. Sylvester, a papal knighthood, in Rome in November 2019.
Stephen W. Case, ’85 geology, graduated from OSU 35 years ago, and it has served him well. His love for his alma mater and school pride continues to grow!
Jan Curran, ’86 psychology, and Johnny Curran, ’75 math, ’76 accounting, have been married 47 years. Jan is a retired CPA. They are RVing as their new adventure in 2020.
Eddie Johnson, ’88 finance, was recently promoted to general manager at Packaging Corporation of American in Carrollton, Texas.
Don Roberts, ’88 agricultural economics, was recognized by the Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE) with a Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted into the ACTE Hall of Fame on Dec. 4, 2019, in Anaheim, California.
Martha “Michelle” Barlow, ’89 biomedical sciences, ’94
doctorate in osteopathic medicine, is working for the Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
Thomas A. Hill, ’89 mechanical engineering, is chief executive officer of the family company, Kimray. The Kimmell Foundation for Recovering Leadership was recently started to inspire transformational change in leadership and corporate culture. Hill also serves as board vice chair for Hope Is Alive ministry and mentors a group of men recovering from addiction. Hill and his wife, Rebecca, have been married for more than 30 years and have six children, one who has graduated from OSU and one who will be a freshman this fall. OSU is a wonderful part of the Hill family past and an integral part of their future.
’90s
Jason S. Evans, ’92 accounting, ’94 master’s in business administration, graduated from the National War College in Washington, D.C., with a master’s degree in national security strategy. Evans has over 18 years of experience with the U.S. Department of State and is headed to the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia as the senior human resources officer. He has been previously posted in Europe, South America, Asia, the Caribbean and Central America.
Samantha Lancaster, ’95 political science, and husband Jeffrey, ’89 geography, ’97 agricultural economics, welcomed their first grandchild, Declan Brooks Monzingo. Declan and mom Addie are doing great even though dad Alex is deployed.
Charles E. Fairbanks, ’96 geography, graduated from the National War College in Washington, D.C., with a master’s degree in national security strategy. Lt. Col. Fairbanks has 24 years with the U.S. Army reserves and is headed to the Office of the Chief Army Reserve at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to be a strategic communications officer. He has previously served in Iraq, the Republic of Korea, Germany, Kuwait and Qatar.
’00s
Dr. James Phillips, ’01 cell and molecular biology, is an emergency medicine physician at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Science in Washington, D.C. He is a nationally recognized disaster medicine specialist and was recently hired as a CNN medical analyst during the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 18, 2020, he and his wife Andi welcomed their second son, Harrison James Phillips.
Damon Nunn, ’03 finance, ’16 master’s in health care administration, has started a company, Peoria Elm Funding, that provides small businesses with working capital.
Dr. Lahoma Schultz, ’05 doctorate in educational philosophy, serves as the secretary of Bacone College Board of Trustees and was recently named Woman of the Year by the Mvskoke Women’s Leadership organization, a part of her tribe, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Lahoma’s husband, Bobby, was recognized by the Boy Scouts of America for his leadership in promoting diversity on the executive board of the Cimarron Council where he is CEO of the organization.
Dr. Michael Taberski, ’06 master’s in educational leadership, has been named vice president for student and campus life at the State University of New York at Geneseo.
Kathryn Peters, ‘07 environmental science, is currently working on her doctorate in anthropology at Vanderbilt University and was recently named a Fulbright Fellow.
Ujiro Ogagoghene Okiomah, ’08 management, is the administrator of the division of neonatology in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. Neonatology is the second-largest division in the department of pediatrics, with over 40 faculty members staffing over 10 neonatal intensive care units in the greater Seattle area. Okiomah is focusing on faculty retirement, research administration and operational efficiency in clinical practice management. Previously, Okiomah served as the senior operation manager of the pediatric service line at Harris Health System in Houston.
’10s
Parker Owens, ’10 hotel and restaurant administration, is a proud graduate who now lives in Tulsa with the love of his life and 10-month-old future Cowboy, but a piece of his heart will always be in Stillwater.
Dr. Danielle (Oliver) Jackson, ’11 doctorate in curriculum and instruction, was named the Texas Assistant Principal of the year at the 2019-20 Texas Association of Secondary School Principal meeting. She is currently at Marshall High School in Fort Bend ISD. As the Texas Assistant Principal of the Year, she will represent the state at the National Association of Secondary School Principals’ National Assistant Principal of the Year recognition program.
Robbie Maples, ’13 agriculture education, has moved from Lafayette, Indiana, to Lawrence, Kansas, for his new job as assistant director for student conduct and community standards at the University of Kansas, which has moved him closer to family, friends and Kansas City barbecue.
Dr. Catherine Pierce, ’15 sociology, ’19 master’s in educational leadership studies, has been with the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service for almost 13 years. In her current role as frontline supervisor in the Des Moines (Iowa) District, she provides oversight and supervision to three public health veterinarians and 17 consumer safety inspectors. Her husband, Paul, is the director of regulatory services with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. They have four children and two grandchildren.
Regina Campbell, ’19 natural resources ecology and management, appreciates her time at OSU and her fight to complete her education and earn her college degree, even though it took her many decades to complete.
Hannah Hendryx, ‘19 animal science, began her new career as an administrative support specialist with Washington County OSU Extension after graduating. She also got engaged after walking across the stage in December and is set to tie the knot in January 2021.
Friends
Sarah Jane (Blaisdell) Dittmer reflects back on the good memories she created at OSU and will always be grateful for the education and experience she had in Stillwater.
Shirle Sue (Perry) Millstead is celebrating 63 years with her husband, whom she met at OSU. They have eight children and 16 grandchildren.
Weddings
Billye (Newton) Peterson Putnam, ’68 business education, ’84 doctorate in business education, married Col. Jim Putnam on June 9, 2019. The pair share a passion for flying; Jim is a pilot and Billye is a former Flying Aggie.
Emily (Curry) Martin, ’05 hotel and restaurant management, married Kevin Martin on Oct. 18, 2019, in Savannah, Georgia.
Aaron Cromer, ’16 finance and management, and Allison (Thomas) Cromer, ’16 nutrition, married Aug. 31, 2019, at Rose Briar Place in Oklahoma City. The couple met at Camp Cowboy as incoming freshman in the fall of 2012 and started dating in September of
that year.
Dillon David Lain, ’18 aerospace administration and operations, and Mackenzie Laine (Odom) Lain, ’17 aerospace administration and operations, married April 18, 2020, in Lubbock, Texas. Both are airline pilots in Chicago.
Shelby (Fritts) Roberts, ’18 human development and family science, ’20 master’s in educational leadership, and Tanner Roberts, ’17 marketing, married June 13, 2020, in a small ceremony surrounded by immediate family and a few friends.
Births
Adam Walker, ’04 management information systems, and wife Adrienne welcomed Luke James Walker on Feb. 10, 2020. Luke joined older sister Clara Nicole, who is 3. Luke was named after 2nd Lt. Luke James, OSU Army ROTC class of 2002, who was lost in Iraq in 2004.
Candace (Figures) Smith, ’07 marketing, and husband Darnell Smith, ’06 economics, ’08 master’s in natural and applied sciences, welcomed son Dalvin King Smith on Dec. 22, 2019. Dalvin joined older brother Darnell Smith Jr.
Megan (Schroeder) Lee, ’09 nutritional science, and husband Eric Lee, ’10 biochemistry and molecular biology, welcomed daughter Madelyn Mae Lee, on March 12, 2020. Madelyn joined older sister Keira Jane, who is 2.
Elizabeth (Sharp) DeMarco, ‘10 human development and family science, and husband Austin Anthony DeMarco, ‘12 landscape architecture, welcomed daughter Claire DeMarco, on May 5, 2020. The couple is excited to welcome a future OSU Cowgirl to their family.
Matthew Hutchins, ’12 master’s in international studies, welcomed son Albert James Hutchins on Dec. 12, 2019. Albert is Hutchins’ first child and is named after his grandfathers.
Breanna (Fuller) Yeargin, ’14 animal science, and husband Daniel welcomed daughter Harper Ann Yeargin, on April 3, 2020. Harper can’t wait to join her parents in Stillwater to cheer the Cowboys on to victory!
Grant DeWitt, ’18 nutritional sciences, and wife Victoria, ’22 elementary education, welcomed son Easton Cole DeWitt on Feb. 14, 2020. The couple is very excited to welcome their son to the Cowboy family.
In Memory
’40s
Wanita Irene White, ’43 secondary education, ’45 master’s in mathematics, of West Lafayette, Indiana, died May 10, 2020. She was 98. Mrs. White was born to Miles and Bessie (Jewett) Robertson in Oilton, Oklahoma, and grew up in a unique oil field community called Carter Nine. After receiving both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from OSU, she taught math there and at the University of Wisconsin. White married fellow Cowboy, Joe Lloyd White, ’44 soil science, ’45 master’s in soil science, on May 29, 1945, and together they raised five children, lived in five other countries, traveled internationally and were active in mission work around the world before he died in 2005.
’50s
Dr. Donald D. Holmes, ’54 doctorate of veterinary medicine, died Jan. 13, 2020. After graduation, Dr. Holmes practiced in a mixed animal clinic in Norman, Oklahoma, until he joined the U.S. Army. In the Army, he served as chief of the experimental animal laboratory at the former Letterman Army Medical Center, where he established the surgical research unit. He later worked as a laboratory animal veterinarian at the Civil Aeromedical Research Institute in Oklahoma City and earned a master’s in veterinary pathology from OSU during that time. He went on to serve as the laboratory animal veterinarian at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center and consulted with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Dr. Holmes taught veterinary pathology and served as an attending veterinarian at his alma mater. Dr. Holmes was the chief veterinary medicine officer for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C., from 1986 until his retirement in 1993. He authored the reference book Clinical Laboratory Animal Medicine: An Introduction. In 2016, the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine named him an Outstanding Alumnus.
Charles H. Steele, ’58 associate in fire protection technology, died July 9, 2020, at his home in Annapolis, Maryland. In 1964, he was appointed as the first career fire chief in Annapolis, serving until his 1987 retirement. Chief Steele is credited with laying the foundation of the modern-day Annapolis Fire Department. He was predeceased by his wife, Diane, and leaves behind two daughters and sons-in-law and two grandchildren.
’60s
Jerry Fowler, ’63 animal science, died in Quinton, Oklahoma, on Aug. 1, 2019. He was 81. He was born to George and Bessie (Reavis) Fowler in Stigler, Oklahoma, on April 27, 1938. Mr. Fowler married Carolyn Coblentz on March 22, 1959; he was a loving and devoted husband for 60 years. He was the father of two and pawpaw of six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Fowler was a 32nd degree master Mason, a member of the Quinton Lions Club, the NRA and the Quinton First United Methodist Church, and was president of Choctaw Gas Co.
Dr. Jack Boyer ReVelle, ’65 master’s in industrial engineering and management, ’70 doctorate in industrial engineering and management, died Jan. 26, 2020, from MDS, a type of blood cancer. Dr. ReVelle had a long and varied career that included serving in the U.S. Air Force, as a professor at the University of Nebraska in Omaha, and as dean of the School of Business and Management at Chapman College in Orange, California, before moving on to several California aerospace companies including Aerojet, Hughes Aircraft Co. and Raytheon. After retiring from Raytheon, Dr. ReVelle started his own consulting company called ReVelle Solutions. In the Air Force, he received a Bronze Star and a Joint Service Commendation Medal, among others.
Robert James Roth, ’65 business, died April 3, 2020, due to complications related to heart surgery. He was 79. After graduating from OSU, he worked for General Mills and the OSU Alumni Association. In 1975, he became a life underwriter with the New York Life Insurance Co. in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Mr. Roth ultimately earned numerous company and industry awards before retiring in 2005 and moving to Stillwater. He was a lifetime supporter of the OSU Posse Club and the OSU Foundation. Mr. Roth was also a lifetime member of the OSU Alumni Association and was honored with the Alumni Service Award in 1995. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marilyn, and two children.
Gary Bounds, ’66 history, died Dec. 2, 2019. Mr. Bounds was born in Yale, Oklahoma, and attended high school in Stillwater. After graduating from OSU in 1966, he received his active duty U.S. Army commission from the OSU ROTC program as a second lieutenant. He attended Ranger and Airborne schools, served two tours in Vietnam and received a Purple Heart after he was shot during his first tour. Lt. Col. Bounds retired from the U.S. Army after 22 years and went to work for the federal government for 15 years. In his final retirement, Mr. Bounds returned to Lawton, Oklahoma.
Carroll W. Brooks, ’69 business, died July 15, 2019, at his home in Coweta, Oklahoma. After graduating from OSU, he worked with Union 76 and Cities Service until he started ICAN Energy in 1980. He is survived by his wife Lee, three children, five grandchildren, a brother and many nieces and nephews.
’90s
Jayme Leigh (Batson) Brassell, ’94 journalism and broadcasting, died Jan. 29, 2020, of brain cancer. Ms. Brassell was born in Tulsa and attended Jenks High School. She married her “favorite friend,” Chris Brassell, on Oct. 2, 1999. She owned Flatiron District Blow Dry Salon in Kansas City.
Faculty
Michael Lynn Eytcheson, a former instructor with OSU’s Fire Service Training, died Oct. 22, 2019. He was 67. He also spent 36 years as a firefighter and EMT in Gunnison, Colorado, and in Stillwater. Before retiring, he had been a captain with the Stillwater Fire Department for more than 20 years.
Sen. Tom Coburn, a physician turned politician
Dr. Tom Coburn served in the U.S. House and Senate
Dr. Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma State University alumnus who represented Oklahoma in Washington, D.C., for a total of 16 years, died March 28 at his home in Tulsa. He was 72.
The cause was complications from prostate cancer, said a former aide, Roland Foster. Dr. Coburn had survived decades of health problems, including melanoma in his late 20s and a later bout of colon cancer.
Dr. Coburn was an obstetrician who treated some 15,000 patients and delivered 4,000 babies in a maternal and family practice in Muskogee, Oklahoma, before embarking on his political career — three terms in the House of Representatives (1995-2001) and, after a four-year hiatus, two terms in the Senate (2005-15). He retired two years before the end of his second term because of deteriorating health.
As if separating himself from the pack, Dr. Coburn continued to deliver babies as a member of the House. (He gave up his obstetric moonlighting only after a dispute with ethics officials when he entered the Senate.) But he won grudging respect as a political maverick and was admired by some colleagues as one of the toughest fiscal and social conservatives of his era.
He caused a stir in 1997 when he protested NBC’s decision to televise, in prime time and without editing, Schindler’s List, Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning Holocaust film. He called it television’s “all-time low, with full-frontal nudity, violence and profanity,” adding, “I cringe when I realize that there were children all across this nation watching this program.” He was heavily criticized, including by the American Jewish Congress, which said: “This isn’t Melrose Place, Mr. Coburn. This is the Holocaust.” He apologized “to all those I have offended,” but insisted that the film should have been aired later in the evening.
Keeping his campaign pledge to serve no more than three consecutive terms in the House, Dr. Coburn did not run for re-election in 2000. He resumed his medical practice, and in 2002 was appointed by President George W. Bush as a co-chairman of his advisory council on HIV and AIDS, giving him a prominent platform as he prepared to run for the Senate.
Dr. Coburn also wrote a book about his experiences in Congress, Breach of Trust: How Washington Turns Outsiders Into Insiders (2003, with John Hart, his former communications director).
Thomas Allen Coburn was born in Casper, Wyo., on March 14, 1948, to Orin Wesley and Anita (Allen) Coburn. In Muskogee, where the family settled, his father was an optician who founded Coburn Optical Industries, which made ophthalmic equipment and eyeglass lenses. The company was sold to Revlon for $57 million in 1975, although the elder Mr. Coburn continued as president of the subsidiary. Tom Coburn graduated from Central High School in Muskogee in 1966.
In 1968, he married Carolyn Denton, the 1967 Miss Oklahoma. They had three daughters: Callie, Katie and Sarah, the operatic soprano and OSU alumna. He is survived by his wife, his daughters and nine grandchildren.
At Oklahoma State University, he was an honors student, president of the student business council and a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. He graduated in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. From 1970 to 1978, he was the manufacturing manager of the ophthalmic division of Coburn Optical Industries in Colonial Heights, Virginia.
After the family business was sold, he attended medical school at the University of Oklahoma and received his medical degree with honors in 1983. He returned to Muskogee for his family and obstetrics practice.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Muskogee and more recently South Tulsa Baptist Church and participated in medical missions to Haiti in 1985 and Iraq in 1992.
Dr. Coburn wrote two books after his retirement: The Debt Bomb: A Bold Plan to Stop Washington From Bankrupting America (2012, with Mr. Hart) and Smashing the D.C. Monopoly: Using Article V to Restore Freedom and Stop Runaway Government (2017), about a plan for the states to amend the U.S. Constitution.
The Washington Post and The New York Times contributed to this report.