Richard R. Dunning of Oklahoma City has been elected as chairman of the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents and Tom Clark of Tulsa has been elected as vice chairman of the board.
Dunning was appointed by Gov. Brad Henry to the OU Board of Regents in 2007. He earned a bachelor’s degree in geological studies from OU in 1977. He founded Indian Oil Co. in April 1981 and currently serves as president and CEO of Indian Exploration Co. LLC in Oklahoma City. He served as a member of the Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Committee from 2003 to 2007 and is a member of the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association and the Wildcatters Club; additionally, he previously served on the board of Friends of the Mansion and on the Governor’s Energy Board.
At OU, Dunning serves on the advisory committee of the ConocoPhillips School of Geology and Geophysics in the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy. He and his wife, Jennifer – an OU graduate – also serve on the Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center Leadership Council. The Dunnings, who have six children, are the primary benefactors of the Keystone Adventure School and Farm, an art-based, multi-age and project-oriented elementary school and working farm that addresses the needs of each child in the unique way that he or she learns.
Clark, who earned his bachelor of business administration degree in 1963 from OU, was appointed by Gov. Frank Keating to the OU Board of Regents in March 2001 and was reappointed by Gov. Henry in March 2008. After serving as a flight instructor for five years in the U.S. Air Force, where he flew the supersonic T-38 jet, he joined the family business, Tulsair, in 1968, and, in 1986 he became the sole owner and president and chief executive. The company has two Aircraft Sales and Maintenance facilities covering a six-state region. Clark also is the owner of Tulsa’s landmark White River Fish Market and Restaurant.
In addition to serving the Tulsa community as president of the Tulsa Boy’s Home, a board member of the Salvation Army and as a patron of numerous civic and charitable events, Clark helps shape the aviation industry through several committees. He previously served on the Oklahoma Film Commission and is a member of the Oklahoma Business Roundtable and of the Executive Committee of the Tulsa Aerospace Alliance. Clark is a strong supporter of OU, and is a member of the Seed Sower Society, which recognizes donors contributing in excess of $1 million to OU.
Chris A. Purcell of Norman was elected to serve as the board’s executive secretary and vice president for university governance. Purcell, who has been re-elected each year since 1992, also serves as secretary of OU, Cameron University and Rogers State University. She was selected in 2005 by OU’s Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education as one of “75 Who Made A Difference” as well as being honored with the Walter Neustadt and with the UOSA Outstanding Administrator awards. In addition to her other duties, she teaches courses in adult education, higher education and human relations. She earned her bachelor of arts, master’s in education and doctoral degrees, all from OU.
