OSU names 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Media Contact: Mack Burke | Associate Director of Media Relations | 405-744-5540 | editor@okstate.edu
The Oklahoma State University Alumni Association honored seven deserving alumni with 2024 Distinguished Alumni Awards at a ceremony on Aug. 30 in the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center.
The award recognizes members of the Cowboy family who have distinguished themselves through their particular field or profession and the betterment of their community.
Brian Callahan
Callahan graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He then received his Master of Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma.
Following graduation, Callahan worked as an analyst for Koch Industries in Wichita, Kansas. He also served as an officer in the United States Army and was stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Afterward, Callahan worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City for six years, holding several supervisory and management positions in the financial services and administrative services divisions.
Callahan joined ISN in 2004 and held various management roles within the company. He currently is CEO and president.
Callahan serves on the OSU Foundation Board of Trustees; is a board member of the Eastin Center for Career Readiness at the Spears School of Business; and serves on the Dean’s Council Executive Committee for Spears Business. In addition to serving his alma mater, Callahan was recognized as a 2019 Spears Business inductee. He is a former member of the Dallas Lone Star Chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization and serves on the executive committee for the Friends of the Katy Trail Board. In addition, Callahan is chair of the Campbell Institute at the National Safety Council.
“There might be a university out there with higher quality people who are more loyal, have higher character, but I’ve certainly never met them.”
Alongside his wife, Angie, and their three children — Michael, Katherine and Jake — Callahan resides in Dallas.
Dr. Lee Denney
Denney graduated from OSU in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics. She then completed her doctorate in veterinary medicine at OSU in 1978.
Following graduation, Denney returned to her hometown of Cushing, Oklahoma, to establish a mixed animal practice. She served rural eastern Payne County for over 30 years as a veterinarian and community leader. During that time, she also taught anatomy and physiology at Central Technology Center. Denney served as city commissioner from 1994 to 2003 and again in 2020 to 2023. During her tenure, she was elected mayor and vice-mayor.
Once her children entered college, Denney ran and was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2004. She was an influential leader as the speaker pro tempore, becoming only the second woman in state history to hold that position. She was incredibly instrumental and well respected in the legislature on education issues from grade schools to higher education. She was recognized for her work by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education with the Distinguished Service Award.
Following her time in the Oklahoma legislature, Denney served as department head of the OSU-OKC Veterinary Technology Program.
In 2017, Denney received a presidential appointment to serve as the United States Department of Agriculture rural development state director for Oklahoma. In this role, she was a leader in improving rural community economies and agriculture. Denney was later named as interim state director for the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. She currently serves as Payne County treasurer while still practicing veterinary medicine.
“The campus looks very different today than it did in the ’70s, but the spirit of OSU remains the same. We are a family, and the culture is one of success.”
Denney regularly fills needed companion animal shifts in her spare time, often serving traditionally underrepresented communities. She has two children — Will and Kate — and five grandchildren.
Denney is a life plus member of the OSU Alumni Association.
Mike Dillard
Dillard graduated from OSU in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. While attending OSU, Dillard also studied and taught martial arts, which was the beginning of his 50-plus-year martial arts legacy.
Dillard is a ninth-degree black belt trained by martial arts champion and movie star Chuck Norris. He left accounting and started Century Martial Art Supply LLC in 1976, now recognized as the world’s largest martial art supply and information company.
In 1989, Dillard founded Dillard Group Real Estate, the leading residential real estate firm in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, for over 35 years. He founded Waterford/Raptor Properties in Oklahoma City in 1995.
Dillard served on numerous boards of directors including World Presidents Organization, Chief Executives Organization, Chuck Norris’ United Fighting Arts Federation and the Martial Arts Industry Association. He taught entrepreneurial business at colleges and universities including 10 years as an adjunct professor at the University of Oklahoma’s Price School of Business MBA program.
Having competed in over 300 martial art events, Dillard was a U.S. National Open sparring champion in 1989 and 1991. He is best known for beating the Russian national heavyweight kick-boxing champion in Leningrad, Soviet Union, in 1990. Dillard was honored as Black Belt Magazine Man of the Year in 2011.
“No one loves this university more than I do. It has meant everything to me.”
In 2001, Dillard founded the Martial Arts Industry Association, “MAIA,” facilitating idea sharing and education among martial arts professionals to enhance facility management and student experience. MAIA’s consulting has coached over 20,000 martial arts schools, creating thousands of success stories.
Dillard and his wife, Darci, reside in Oklahoma City. The two were awarded the “International Explorers” designation by the Chief Executive Organization in 2015 and continue to travel worldwide.
Robert and Sharon Keating
Robert Keating graduated from OSU in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts in economics, while Sharon Keating earned her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration the same year.
The couple met in March 1961 during fifth grade in Mangum, Oklahoma. They developed a friendship that blossomed into a relationship, and both enrolled as freshmen at OSU in 1968. Robert Keating joined Phi Gamma Delta and held leadership roles as rush chairman and president. He was also a Top 10 Freshman. Sharon Keating pledged Pi Beta Phi and served as assistant treasurer and treasurer.
After graduation, Sharon Keating joined her father-in-law at Topographic Inc. in accounting. Robert Keating pursued a music career until 1974 when they married. Robert Keating returned to school, earning a master’s degree in economics from the University of Oklahoma in 1978. He then implemented a new computer system for accounting at Topographic.
Robert Keating became president and CEO of his Topographic in 1989, with Sharon Keating becoming financial controller.
In 1995, the Keatings purchased Topographic from Robert Keating’s father. Under their leadership, the company remained successful. Robert Keating’s method of paying all employees bonuses for profitability proved to be a significant reward for hard work, and the company grew. They retired in 2017 and 2019, respectively. Their son-in-law, Brian Krafft, an OSU alumnus, assumed leadership as president and CEO. Robert Keating remains as chairman of the board.
The Keatings have generously supported scholarships at OSU, including the Arts and Sciences Keating Family Scholarship, General University Scholarship for students from southwestern Oklahoma and contributed to several campus building projects. Sharon Keating served on the OSU Foundation’s Board of Governors, the OSU Alumni Association Board of Directors and Women for OSU. Robert Keating is on the OSU Foundation Board of Trustees and the McKnight Center Board. He received the College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award in 2022.
“As our company became more successful, we were able to participate more locally in organizations and at OSU. It’s been a joy to be able to do that.”
The couple, members of the Proud & Immortal Society and life members of the OSU Alumni Association, split their time between homes in Fort Worth, Texas, and Edmond, Oklahoma. They have two children: Bryan, an OSU graduate and sports director at KOCO-TV, and Jennifer Krafft. They have two granddaughters — Lily and Penelope — and a grandson, Jett.
N. Malone Mitchell, Jr.
Mitchell graduated from OSU in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in animal science.
While on campus, he was a member of Block and Bridle Club and credits his education from OSU for providing him access to expert opinions and research to modify his livestock operations. As a lifelong pilot and aircraft owner, Mitchell was a member and vice president of the Flying Aggies.
Mitchell is the owner and operator of Mitchell Ranches which consists of cattle, sheep and goat operations in Durant, Oklahoma, and Sanderson, Texas.
In addition to being a rancher, Mitchell served as president of the Western National Polled Hereford Association, president of the Senepol Association, director of the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association, director of the Mohair Counsel of America, and director and chairman of the Rio Grande/Pecos River Soil Conservation.
Mitchell has been honored many times throughout his life. He was recognized as Cattleman of the Year by the Oklahoma Cattle Association and received the Ferguson College of Agriculture Distinguished Alumni Award.
“I enrolled in 1957 — the first freshman class when they changed the name from Oklahoma A&M to Oklahoma State University. So basically, I am an original cowboy.”
In addition to his professional success, Mitchell served as an Elder and the Synod Delegate for the Sanderson First Presbyterian Church and vice president of the Terrell County Hunters Fiesta. Mitchell and his college sweetheart, Roberta “Bobbe” Mitchell, are avid travelers, having visited all 50 states and all seven continents. When not ranching or traveling, Mitchell enjoys soil conservation, hunting and fishing.
Alongside his wife, Mitchell lives in Sanderson. The Mitchells have three children: N. Malone Mitchell III, ‘83 general agriculture; Scott Mitchell; and Stacey Webb.
Mitchell is a life member of the OSU Alumni Association.
James “Jim” Morris II
Morris graduated from OSU in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Morris is the owner of River Ranch Capital and JMM Farms LLC, where he operates a diverse portfolio consisting of Assisted Living and Memory Care Communities throughout Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado; non-operating working interest in various oil and gas properties in Oklahoma under River Ranch Resources LLC; River Ranch Racing Stables and Twisted Chaps Racing Stables; and Lazy K Cattle Company.
Following his graduation from OSU, Morris joined John Hancock Financial Services in 1973. After several years, Morris was appointed CEO of John Hancock’s Boston-based distribution system in May 1999. He also served as chairman and CEO of John Hancock’s broker dealer, Signator Investors Inc., as well as chairman of Essex Co. and Essex National Securities, Inc. Morris has several professional designations including Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Financial Consultant and Chartered Life Underwriter.
Morris retired from John Hancock in 2004. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, InVesTrust, Hearts for Hearing, and the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Morris received the Maureen Reagan Award for his work with the Alzheimer’s Association and the Hope Award for his work with the Multiple Sclerosis Society. He also recently received the Distinguished Service Award from OMRF.
“Getting an award like this from a place that means this much to my family means a great deal. We bleed orange.”
Morris resides in Oklahoma City with his wife of 51 years, Lou. They have two daughters — Kim and Kelly — and three grandchildren — Hannah, Ford and Isabella. Morris enjoys traveling with his entire family and spending time at his cattle ranch in Kansas.
Morris is a life member of the OSU Alumni Association.
Photos by: Genesee Photo Systems and Provided to OSU Alumni Association
Story by: Will Carr | STATE Magazine