BS Mechanical Engineering 1961
Charles E. Foster, a native Oklahoman, graduated from OU with a B.S. in mechanical engineering in 1961 after serving for three years in the U.S. Army Paratroopers. As president of SBC Operations for SBC Communications Inc., Foster was responsible for all services provided to customers outside the corporation’s traditional five-state region, including domestic wireless operation and all international wireless operations. International operations included Telefonos de Mexico (Telmex), VTR Inversiones (Chile), wireless services and equipment in South Africa, telecommunications and cable television operations in the United Kingdom, cellular operations in the Republic of Korea, Australian Directory Services and Aurec Limited (Israel).
BS Petroleum Engineering 1939
Charles E. Foster, a native Oklahoman, graduated from OU with a B.S. in mechanical engineering in 1961 after serving for three years in the U.S. Army Paratroopers. As president of SBC Operations for SBC Communications Inc., Foster was responsible for all services provided to customers outside the corporation’s traditional five-state region, including domestic wireless operation and all international wireless operations. International operations included Telefonos de Mexico (Telmex), VTR Inversiones (Chile), wireless services and equipment in South Africa, telecommunications and cable television operations in the United Kingdom, cellular operations in the Republic of Korea, Australian Directory Services and Aurec Limited (Israel).
BS Petroleum Engineering 1940
Charles C. Ingram* is chairman of the board emeritus of ONEOK Inc.. He is a native of Henryetta, and a graduate of OU, earning a B.S. in petroleum engineering in 1940. Following graduation, he joined Oklahoma Natural Gas as a laborer in the company’s operating department at Muskogee. A year later he became an engineer in Tulsa, but with the coming of World War II, he entered the Army as a second lieutenant of ordnance. After serving in the United States and in the Philippines, he was discharged in 1946 as a major and returned to Oklahoma Natural’s engineering department in Tulsa. In 1987, he retired as chairman of the board.
PHD Chemical Engineering 1948
C.M. “Cheddy” Sliepcevich*, although not a graduate of OU, brought unparalleled honor and distinction to the college and the university during his distinguished 36-year career of teaching, research and administration. To honor his service, he was chosen as the first recipient of honorary membership in the college’s Distinguished Graduates Society. Sliepcevich devoted his life to teaching engineering and to improving the world through technology. He received his B.S. in 1941, M.S. in 1942 and Ph.D. in 1948, all from the University of Michigan in chemical engineering.
BS Aeronautical Engineering 1951
Jack D. Whitfield* served as president of Sverdrup Corp., one of the nation’s leading engineering, architectural and technical operations firms. He received his B.S. in aeronautical engineering in 1951 and began as an engineer with the ARO Division of Sverdrup. In 1989, as president of Sverdrup Technology, Whitfield led the development of a multi-million dollar, high-tech consulting branch. His distinguished career included significant contributions to research and development in the areas of experimental, high-speed gas dynamics, development of high-performance arc-driven test facilities, aerodynamic research and environmental testing.
BS Chemical Engineering 1953
Sam A. Wilson, retired president of Wilson Oxygen and Supply Co., is a 1953 chemical engineering honors graduate. While an OU student, he served as president of the Engineers Club, was voted Big Man on Campus, was selected as one of the top 10 senior men and was named to three engineering honor societies: Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Tau and Alpha Chi Sigma. Following service as an engineering officer in the U. S. Navy, he went on to earn an M.B.A. from Harvard in 1957. He founded Wilson Oxygen and Supply Co., located in Austin, Texas, in 1963, starting with two employees. Initially, he was salesman, delivery man, accountant and janitor.
