In 1991, the OURA was established by the OU Regents “for the benefit of the University and for the retired faculty and staff comprising its membership. Activities shall include, but not be limited to, assistance in fulfilling University goals and objectives, assistance in fund raising and student recruiting activities, providing informational and social opportunities for retirees, participating in appropriate University organizations, and such other services as may be requested by the University or the Association membership. It shall not function as a lobbying organization within or without the University for the sole benefit of its members.”
Annual dues are $10, very affordable.
The OURA typically has four general meetings each year--on the second Thursday of March, June, September, and December--and strives to provide interesting and entertaining programs for its members at every gathering. You may attend one, all, or none of the events. This is a good way to meet new friends, reconnect with former colleagues, and have a little fun. A newsletter is published quarterly, prior to each meeting. Download a sample OURA newsletter (PDF).
To join the OURA or to renew your membership, click the following link, fill out the OURA membership/renewal form, and mail the completed form to the OURA Treasurer along with your dues payment. Download a Membership/Renewal form (PDF).
Alternatively, enrollment or renewal payments may be made online by credit/debit card through the OU Foundation: The PDF link above contains the necessary information for doing so.
[March 2026] OURA Benefits Committee chair Don Clothier reported at the March 2026 general meeting of the OURA that the campus-wide medical plan continued to run over budget throughout the calendar year 2025, although at a lower rate than in 2024. Pharmacy coverage decreased, likely due to the discontinuation of coverage for GLP-1 drugs. By December 31, 2025 there were 134 large claims (over $100,000), which were responsible for 31% of the total medical costs for the year (this included both active employees and retirees). While this was less than in 2024, there were some claims over one million dollars. Don noted that OU carries stop-loss insurance, which pays when claims exceed $750,000. In the autumn of 2025 the campus-wide Employee Benefits Committee issued an RFP for COBRA and third-party billing, which is currently Inspira (previously PayFlex). Twelve proposals were received, of which six presented in person to the committee, and the EBC made its selection shortly before the OURA's March 2026 general meeting but has not yet announced its decision. If a change is made from Inspira, it will not go into effect until January 2027.
For answers to questions regarding OU retirees' health-insurance plans, go to benefitsenrollment.ou.edu/retirees, or call OUHR at 405-325-1826 (Norman campus) or 405-271-2180 (OKC and Tulsa campuses).
John Randolph (J.R.) Morris. 29 September 2024, Norman, age 94. Retired Senior Vice President of OU and recipient of the University's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Citation.
Peter Brueckner. 7 January 2025, Norman, age 87. Retired Professor of German and former chair of OU's Department of Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics.
Mildred Laverne Cornelison Tally. 11 January 2025, Tulsa, age 86. Retired OU Admissions & Records officer on both the Norman and OKC campuses.
Mildred Louise Logan. 20 January 2025, Norman, age 87. Retired editor with the University of Oklahoma Press.
Kenneth Ray Meyers. 27 January 2025, Norman, age 77. Retired Mesonet project technician and former OU Physical Plant worker.
Judi Freyer. 12 February 2025, Norman, age 82. Retired Director of OU President's Associates and of Principal Gifts & Planned Giving with the OU Development Office.
Fred H. Miller Jr. 13 February 2025, Edina MN, age 87. Retired George Lynn Cross Research Professor and McAfee Professor at the OU College of Law.
Gregory D. Kunesh. 8 February 2025, Norman, age 86. Retired Regents Professor of Drama & Musical Theatre and Chair Emeritus of Musical Theatre in OU's College of Fine Arts.
David L. Boren. 20 February 2025, Newcastle OK, age 83. Retired President of the University of Oklahoma, former Oklahoma Governor, and former U.S. Senator from Oklahoma.
Jerry LaRue Hargis. 21 March 2025, Norman, age 89. Former Assistant Provost for Continuing Education at OU and longtime member of the OU Retirees Association.
Roger Mellgren. 13 March 2025, Arlington TX, age 80. Former Professor of Psychology at OU, specializing in animal behavior.
Donald L. DeWitt. 30 April 2025, Norman, age 86. Retired Curator of OU's Western History Collections within the University Library System.
Robert E.L. Richardson. 2 May 2025, Oklahoma City, age 92. Retired David Ross Boyd Professor and Norris Chair holder in the OU College of Law.
Jack Baron Austerman. 5 May 2025, Oklahoma City, age 97. Retired from the OU College of Dentistry as Clinical Professor Emeritus.
Don Jay Dunn. 14 June 2025, Oklahoma City, age 90. Retired Professor of Immunology and Microbiology at the OU Health Sciences Center and the OU Medical School in Tulsa.
David Swank. 15 June 2025, Stillwater OK, age 93. Retired Dean of the OU College of Law and former Interim President of the University of Oklahoma.
David Allan Huettner. 24 June 2025, Norman, age 83. Professor Emeritus of Economics and former chair of OU's Economics Department.
James P. Pappas. 2 July2025, Norman, age 86. Former Vice Provost of Continuing Education and Public Service and retired Vice President of Outreach and Dean of OU's College of Liberal Studies.
David William Levy. 9 August 2025, Norman, age 88. Retired David Ross Boyd Professor, Presidential Professor, and Rothbaum Professor of History, OLLI lecturer, and OU historian.
John Joseph "Jack" Kasulis. 11 August 2025, Norman, age 80. OU Professor Emeritus and Ruby K. Powell Professor of Marketing & Supply Chain Management with OU's Michael F. Price College of Business.
Clifford F. Baldwin. 22 August 2025, Oklahoma City, age 86. Retired OU Medical Center administrator.
Richard "Dick" Hancock. 29 August 2025, Norman, age 99. Retired Director of the International Training Department in OU's College of Continuing Education.
Donald B. Halverstadt. 9 September 2025, Edmond OK, age 91. Retired Professor of Urology & Pediatrics at the OU College of Medicine and former member of the OU Board of Regents. He also served as "Senior Coach" of the OU Men's basketball team under Kelvin Sampson from 1996 to 2004.
Sonya Lea Fallgatter. 15 October 2025, Norman, age 78. Retired Faculty Senate Administrative Coordinator and longtime Program Committee co-chair for the OU Retirees Association.
Dr. William Jackson Rushing III. 26 October 2025, Norman, age 75. Retired Edwin B. Adkins Presidential Professor of Art History and Mary Lou Milner Carver Chair in Native American Art.
Robert E. Shalhope. 7 November 2025, Norman, age 84. Professor Emeritus and Retired George Lynn Cross Professor of History.
Janice Ann Blakely. 2 February 2026, Norman, age 83. Retired Administrative and Research Librarian with the OU Department of Libraries.
Edward Carl Stoever. 10 February 2026, Rhinelander WI, age 100. Former OU Professor of Geology.
Edwin G. Corr. 11 February 2026, Norman, Age 91. Former U.S. Ambassador to several South American nations and retired Professor of Political Science and Director of the International Program Center at OU.
William Robert Fuller. 13 February 2026, Madill OK, age 81. Retired from OU Health Sciences Center in 1997 after 26 years of service.
Milford Dean Messer. 19 February 2026, Coppell TX, age 90. Longtime Registrar in OU's Office of Admissions & Records and Adjunct Professor in OU's College of Education.
