In 1979, Oklahoma City University was in crisis, facing extinction as an institution. As a United Methodist University, the church conference decided to name a young and upcoming minister to lead OCU back, and Dr. Jerald Walker became OCU’s fourteenth President, presiding over an unpredictable and improbable comeback that occurred during a difficult economic era for Oklahoma. The Miracle on 23rd Street became the reference of choice and was highlighted by an article in this publication some 35 years ago, as a tribute to Walker’s leadership and OCU’s success. Founded in 1904 as Epworth University, OCU has many prolific alumni, including Mayors David Holt and Ron Norick, Broadway stars Kelli O’Hara and Kristin Chenoweth, The Bachelor’s Chris Harrison and numerous Miss America winners. Adding to that are numerous local business leaders and a strong presence among prominent Methodists in the state.
Today is a much different story, as OCU struggles in a period where Oklahoma City and our state’s economy are thriving and experiencing record growth. Dr. Walker’s leadership was filled with memorable quotes and homage to OCU’s history, but most notable was his conviction that “every great city needs a great university.” OCU is Oklahoma City’s University, but the school has not kept pace with our city and seems to be in a leadership void both at the executive and board levels. This lack of leadership has created a ripple effect that has caused a clear case of mission creep toward numerous online and certificate type programs to generate revenue, out of state graduate programs and a clear lack of vision for the undergraduate college at OCU. The university status in OKC is slowly dying, along with the school’s long-time benefactors, most of whom were cultivated during Dr. Walker’s tenure. The United Methodist Conference seems to exist in name only, providing a fraction of the support OCU once received from the church while still holding numerous board seats with people that are inactive, neither giving support nor helping to generate it.
On Nov. 20, OCU announced they were dissolving the men’s and women’s golf programs, who have collectively won 19 national titles in the last 30 years, most likely being the most successful program in OCU’s vaunted athletic department, known to be among the NAIA’s best for many years. This made national news, highlighted in Golf Digest and numerous other publications. The decision appeared to be made in a small vacuum, as no alumni were consulted in the decision-making process, but were instead simply informed after the announcement. Considering the wealth that exists in the alumni base that played on both men’s and women’s golf teams at OCU, one has to wonder what’s really going on. While other small universities are leaning into athletics during a challenging period for academic institutions, OCU seems determined to defund sports versus defending an important part of OCU’s history and culture.
What is the difference between thriving during the 1980s oil bust vs barely surviving during Oklahoma City and our state’s economic resurgence today? It’s simply leadership, and OCU needs a vision for a future that looks brighter, and one OKC deserves.
Drew Williamson is managing partner of Red Center Media, LLC, publisher of the Oklahoma Gazette.
Incredibly well said and voiced on behalf of the proud OCU alumni. I’m one of those stories that only heard about and attended OCU because of athletics (soccer). The leadership during my time at OCU was exemplary. I’m saddened to see this once great institution being torn down brick by brick due to poor leadership. This university and this city deserves better. Thank you for using this space to speak on our behalf.
Thanks Chris!
Hi Chris – Fellow OCU Athletics Alumni here. I am working with several other alumni to organize a collective resistance in response to this terrible decision. We would appreciate your participation and support tremendously.
I am devastated by the news of the decline of this once great institution. OCU was once a powerhouse in athletics, academics, music, arts and dance. I attended both undergraduate and graduate school from 1988-1994. I also was an OCU athlete, playing on amazing baseball teams. I am deeply saddened to hear that the vision and leadership that once flourished through Dr. Walker and his family has now been ceded over to the doldrums of mediocrity and social decline. What happened to OCUs Christian values? Why has OCUs leadership made devastating decisions in the dark without alumni input? We are owed answers and we demand better. Seems like this current administration are cowards who lack the courage and conviction to be transparent.
Ok Drew. Very good points.
How can we make a difference? As alumni, what can we do? I’m on board.
Drew, you nailed it, perhaps more than you realize. Dr. Walker made a difference because he recognized the needs, identified a way forward and then willed the institution in that direction to the point it grew and flourished. Over time and numerous leadership changes so much of that has been lost, and for many of us who hold OCU degrees, the school that exists today is almost unrecognizable. Hopefully, your words and the efforts of others will turn this around before it is too late.
Sports opened doors for so many of us when finances alone couldn’t. We’ve already seen tennis disappear. Now golf. Is soccer next?
Our soccer alumni are strong, and why? Well, we love our storied past and the amazing friendships we created whilst we attended and continue to this day.our alumni know that without supporting the program it would not be in the place that Coach Martin and the legend Brian Harvey worked for years to get it to.
My hope is that this moment sparks not just awareness, but meaningful change. Stand up and be accountable OCU.
The NAIA is dead. Most of the other small colleges in Oklahoma have recognized this and have made the switch to NCAA Division 2. OCU and it’s leadership has failed to recognize this change and is out of touch, or just simply doesn’t care. OCU has a proud tradition in its sports programs as an NCAA Division 1 member institution, and a championship pedigree within the NAIA ranks when it was still a viable and attractive option. At its height, OCU Basketball competed at the highest level of division one sports in the All-College Tournament and then later at the NAIA level winning multiple national titles. Jerald Walker saw the value of Intercollegiate athletics as a means to promote our school and our city, as well as a means to keep morale and school pride at the forefront. In business, the old adage of “you need to spend money to make money” seems lost on the current and recent leadership at OCU. OCU basketball was a tough ticket back in the day, when there were built in geographical rivalries with other state and regional universities. I was a part of those days when the arenas were full, the atmosphere was electric, and championships were a given. It starts at the top, with leadership, commitment, priority, and understanding the value of a college education in its totality, inclusive of extracurricular activities, intercollegiate athletics, the arts, and development of pride in one’s school. Walker saw the value in being competitive in all areas, as a means to attract students and as a way to build quality, diverse programs in all areas of the college experience. What’s happening now at OCU, is the ultimate disrespect for the men and women that devoted their lives to building a university that our city was proud of. People like Abe Lemons, Paul Hansen, and the thousands of others coaches and athletes that put on the uniform, and gave their all … in the name of Oklahoma City University. But it can happen again … it just takes another person with vision, that is willing to take on the task, and that understands and recognizes the proud traditions of OCU. Maybe someone like Jerald Walker.
Well Said, Coach.
Very well-written article. Thank you for speaking up for those of us who were once proud of the legacy we thought we were building. I only discovered OCU in the mid-80s because I was recruited to play softball, and the Christian values and leadership back then were strong and unmistakable.
Today, it’s heartbreaking to see how far those values—and the identity of our university—have slipped. Growth is necessary, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of the spirit and uniqueness that made OCU special. Other schools evolve without losing their foundation. Why can’t we?
We need leadership with integrity and genuine passion for the school, not a revolving door of administrators who stay a few years, collect a paycheck, and move on.
Surprisingly enough, the campus ministry here at Oklahoma City University has grown over 400% in the last four years. Whether you know it or not, the Holy Spirit is doing a new thing in this campus ministry and on this campus. On top of that, the school of religion is still widely known as one of the best programs in the country for undergrad religion degrees. We are one of five United Methodist schools to offer an undergrad degree in youth ministry. On top of that, the school of religion is widely known as one of the best schools for preparing students to go into ministry and to later on at attend seminary. While the university has changed over time, one of the things that has remained consistent is its commitment to service and scholarship within the United Methodist tradition and its belief in upholding core Christian values.
That’s great. Comments directed at the UMC were not meant to deter from the great work being done on campus in school of religion.
Factually, the UMC’s financial support of OCU has fallen by well over 80% from peak, yet don’t minister’s kids get tuition waived?
This hatchet piece is light on facts and heavy on opinion. You seem to be mostly upset about the golf program. Cutting golf doesn’t mean the university is going under. Yes, they have had some not-so-hot Presidents and they do have challenges ahead. They have always struggled with enrollment, and probably always will, but this piece is pure opinion and not accurate overall. OCU has one of the top music and theater schools in the country. The nursing school is highly respected, not to mention the law school. The new PA program is thriving. How about you do your homework next time?
Michael:
You realize op-ed means “opinion editorial?”
If you want facts, there are plenty and while you point out correctly OCU’s reputation in certain areas, there are many critical “stats” that point to a continued decline at OCU.
If you like, we can publish an article, that will delve deeply into areas of concern and brightly showcase OCU’s stonewalling of their budget and financial questions I’ve been asking. We can also discuss and quote numerous campus leaders, past trustees and alumni that feel the same way.
This so called “hatchet piece” was carefully considered and only published after talking with numerous people inside and around the University that feel OCU is in peril, people who actually know what’s going on.
I understand your emotional reaction, as everyone who went to OCU, or who worked there, want to see the school thrive. However, your mention of the music school (where you were a professor) is just a part of the equation and will soon suffer the consequences of the overall decline at the institutional level.
Respectfully,
Drew Williamson
You realize Op-Ed means “opinion editorial.”
I grew up on campus in the 80’s, my father was a professor at OCU for 40 years. There were social activities weekly and the professors were truly involved in the OCU community, beyond just teaching. I can’t answer how it is now, but when I was there in the late 90’s it started to slip away.
As a child I remember the electric atmosphere of being in old Frederickson field house during basketball games and the “talk backs” after the game where Abe and Harry Masch entertained the loyal fans after the game by joking about the refs or giving their players praise. People such as Chris, who commented above, worked tirelessly to promote OCU’s sporting events to the OKC community making the games a fun family event. By the way, Jerry Walker attended every game and every event.
While athletics at OCU seem defunded there is a bright spot. In spite of the financial woes, Mike Knopp has spent the last 25 years building the OCU Rowing Crew into a prominent program and mainstay in OkC’s culture. I was on the crew in 2000 and remember how he got this whole thing started with little to no financial help from the university. In fact, I feel like the administration at the time interfered with our fundraising efforts by limiting our list of people/businesses we could approach. It’s sad that OCU has not parlayed Coach Knopp’s success to its other athletic programs.