Membership

What is the OU Retirees Association and why should I join?
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.”

So if I become a member, what is required of me? How much does it cost?

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, membership/renewal payments may be made online by credit/debit card at the following link: https://giving.oufoundation.org/OnlineGivingWeb/Giving/OnlineGiving/OURetiree

Benefits Update:

[August 2025]  OURA Benefits Committee co-chair Don Clothier and the Program Committee co-chairs have arranged for a special general meeting of the Association on Thursday, October 23rd at 1:30pm in the second-floor conference room of the First Baptist Church Family Life Center, 300 W. Comanche, in Norman. The meeting will be devoted exclusively to a discussion of 2026 retiree benefits, with special attention to insurance coverage, and will feature speakers from OU's Office of Human Resources and from Humana's Group Medicare Advantage Program, which will again be OU retirees' primary insurance provider in 2026. By October 23rd all changes to OU retirees' current coverage will have been decided upon, and holding a special meeting on this date will allow OURA members sufficient time to consider their options prior to the start of the sign-up period for 2026 insurance coverage and other benefits. Members wishing to attend the meeting are asked to RSVP to OURA Program Committee co-chair Susan Newkham (snewkham@ou.edu) by October 16th. - Retirees are also advised that Benefits Fairs are scheduled in October as follows: Tulsa Campus, Monday Oct.13, 10am-3pm, Schusterman Learning Center, Founders Hall; Norman South Campus, Tuesday October 14, 10am-3pm, Stephenson Research & Technology Center atrium; Norman Main Campus, Wednesday Oct. 15, 9am-3pm, Oklahoma Memorial Union ballroom; Health Sciences Center, Thursday Oct. 16, 9am-3pm, Robert M. Bird Library lobby.

For answers to questions regarding OU retirees'  health-insurance plans, for fee tables, and for the current Medicare Advantage plan's prescription-drug formulary, visit https://benefitsenrollment.ou.edu/Retirees or call OUHR at either 405-325-1826 (Norman campus) or 405-271-2180 (OKC and Tulsa campuses).

IN MEMORIAM

Roberta Lynne Pailes.  1 May 2024, Norman, age 80.  Retired Education Programs manager with OU's Museum of Natural History.

Jerlene Ann Bright.  7 May 2024, Norman, age 81.  Retired Director of OU's Petroleum Information Services.

Colleen Waggoner.  Washington OK, 29 May 2024, age 87.  Retired Administrative Secretary with the University of Oklahoma Press.

Stanley Jay Abel.  28 June 2024, Norman, age 87.  Retired longtime coach of OU's wrestling team and former All-American wrestler at OU.

Angela (Anne) C. Million.  4 July 2024, Norman, age 94.  Professor Emerita of Bibliography with OU's School of Library Studies..

Beverly Suzanne Essary.  18 July 2024, Norman, age 86.  Retired Assistant Training Manager with OU's Department of Training & Management.

Harold Conner.  26 July 2024, Oklahoma City, age 93.  Retired Director of the Construction Science Program in OU's College of Architecture.

Robert Charles Connor.  13 August 2024, Norman, age 86.  Retired OU Swimming Coach and Assistant Athletic Director.

Stanley Eliason.  22 August 2024, Norman, age 84.  Retired Professor of Mathematics and former Director of OU's Department of Mathematics.

Stewart R. Ryan.  7 September 2024, Norman, age 82.  Retired award-winning Professor of Physics at OU, a.k.a. "Dr. Indestructo" who presented more than 500 science shows throughout the state during his long career.

John Kent Graham.  14 September 2024, Moore OK, age 77.  Retired Adjunct Instructor in OU's Gaylord College of Journalism & Mass Communication.

Margaret Carol Schmidt.  24 September 2024, Norman, age 63.  Retired administrator in OU's Department of Human Relations.

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.

David F. Schrage.  5 October 2024, Oklahoma City, age 82.  Retired Vice President for Student Affairs and Adjunct Assistant Professor in OU's College of Education.

Edmund Needham (Ed) Hilliard.  23 October 2024, Norman, age 79.  Retired Director of OU's Division of Landscape Architecture.

Robert Franklin (Rob) Petry.  27 October 2024, Norman, age 88.  Retired Professor of Physics and former Dean of OU's College of Arts & Sciences.

Barbara Rae Neas.  20 November 2024, Norman, age 83.  David Ross Boyd and Presidential Professor Emerita of Biostatistics in OUHSC's College of Public Health.

Krishnaiyan Thulasiraman.  16 December 2024, Oklahoma City, age 82.  Professor Emeritus and former Hitachi Chair of Computer Science at OU.

Berrien Moore III.  17 December 2024.  Dean of OU's College of Atmospheric & Geographic Sciences and Director of the National Weather Center since 2010.

John Hadley.  18 December 2024, Norman, age 83.  Retired Professor of Art in OU's College of Fine Arts and noted artist/songwriter.

Sarah Caton Hogan.  23 December 2024, Oklahoma City, age 91.  Former chair of the OU Board of Regents and Board of Visitors member of numerous OU colleges and programs.

Donald Charles Hudson.  24 December, Norman, age 84.  Retired Assistant to OU's Dean of University Libraries.

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.