RSU President Emeritus Dr. Larry Rice was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame Nov. 4.
RSU President Emeritus Dr. Larry Rice was among those inducted into the 2024 class of the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame by the Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society.
Held Nov. 4 in the Nigh University Center’s Grand Ballroom at the University of Central Oklahoma, this was the Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society’s 30th annual induction ceremony and banquet, at which Rice and eight other educators of note were inducted.
Rice served as RSU’s president from 2008 until his retirement from the position in July 2024. Prior to this, he served from 2004-2008 as executive assistant to the president at the University of Tulsa.
Of the honor, Rice previously said, “It is an incredible honor to be selected by your peers for induction (into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame). It’s one of the highest honors you can receive – to be recognized for your lifetime commitment to education, in my case, higher education.
“I’m very appreciative of those individuals that nominated me,” he added.
Other 2024 inductees included John F. Barthell, who served as Provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO); James and Ann Halligan, who served at OSU together for nine years; Joseph Harroz, Jr., who has served at the University of Oklahoma for more than 27 years in various roles including currently as president; John M. McArthur, who served as president of Cameron University for 11 years after serving nine years as dean of the School of Science and Technology; Clyde Montgomery, Jr., who served as vice president of academic affairs at Langston University for 12 years; Marion Paden, who has served more than 40 years in higher education; Dr. Robert (Bob) Spurrier, professor emeritus of political science and director emeritus of the Honors College at OSU; and Russell D. Vaught, whose daughter, Laurie Majors accepted his medallion and certificate posthumously.
The Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society was established in 1991 as a nonprofit to support awareness of higher education’s vital role in Oklahoma history and to honor individuals, living and deceased, for outstanding service to higher education in the state.
Since its establishment in 1994, the society has inducted over 300 educators, administrators and others who have made distinguished contributions to higher education. The inductees’ bios of their distinguished contributions to Oklahoma higher education will be available for viewing in the higher education kiosk at the Oklahoma History Center.
Oklahoma Higher Education Historical Society 2024 Hall of Fame inductees were John F. Barthell (from left); Clyde Montgomery, Jr.; Joseph Harris, Jr.; Larry D. Rice; Ann Halligan; Marion Paden; John M. McArthur; Robert L. Spurrier, Jr.; and Laurie Majors for her father Russell D. Vaught.