President Robert Henry involved himself in political office and public service before becoming OCU’s president.
He will retire as the university’s 17th president on June 30, and Martha Burger will assume the role on July 1.
Henry grew up in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and developed a passion for community involvement. He received his Bachelor of Arts and juris doctor from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, as well as an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from the University of Tulsa and an honorary doctor of law degree from OCU.
During his time as a politician, Henry served in every branch of the government. He was a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1976-86 and was elected Oklahoma attorney general in 1986 and 1990. He was appointed by former President Bill Clinton to the U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit in 1994. He later served as chief judge from 2008-10.
Henry began his career at OCU in 1991 as faculty in the OCU School of Law, where he later served as dean and professor from 1991-94. He became the president in July 2010. During this time, he secured funding for student scholarships, renovations of campus buildings and the construction of Sarkeys Law Center.
When Henry was elected president, he told Rod Jones, assistant director of media relations, in FOCUS that he saw Oklahoma City moving in a positive direction.
“Oklahoma City and Oklahoma City University are exciting places to be right now. For the first time in my life it seems everyone is working together for the common good. The excitement is palpable,” Henry told Jones.
Henry focused much of his life on education. He co-authored legislation that established the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, serves on the advisory board for the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and co-founded the Oklahoma Symposium.
Monica Hiller, elementary education senior, was a part of OCULeads, Henry’s class on leadership, during her freshman year. Hiller said, because of his community outreach, various public leaders came to the class.
Hiller said she remembers Henry telling students, “I can’t define leadership, but I know it when I see it.”
“As a freshman, you’re trying to make your mark on the campus, and you want people to see you as a leader and not just hear you talk about it, so it was cool to get his perspective on leadership,” she said.
Henry said it’s important for leaders to have the right attitude.
“If you don’t have idealism when you’re young, you probably never will. Growing up, I was inspired by John F. Kennedy and loved his intellect, idealism and humor,” Henry said in FOCUS.
Hiller said students enjoy interacting with Henry.
“Students will remember him as this punchy, fun guy strolling around campus. When he’s here, he definitely has a presence. He just has a really nice smile and a good personality,” she said.
When he announced his retirement, Henry said he would take a one-year sabbatical before returning to teach in the law school, but he said he is keeping his options open now.
“I’m not exactly sure what I’ll do. I know I’m going to take the sabbatical, and I have some opportunities back in the law field, or I may come back and teach,” he said. “I probably will come back and do at least some teaching, but I’m keeping my options open a little bit.”
Hiller said Henry will continue to impact the Oklahoma community after he leaves.
“I wish the best to him in whatever he’s doing. He’s a big name in Oklahoma. He’s a big name in the judiciary, so it’s been really nice for Oklahoma City University to have that name attached to it, so I thank him for that,” she said.
Judge Stephanie Seymour, who served on the 10th Circuit with Henry, told Rabindranath Ramana, who wrote Henry’s judicial profile when he became chief judge, that Henry was a good friend. She spoke of his devotion and energy.
“If I had to use one word to describe Robert Henry, it would be ‘passionate.’ Robert’s passion about people, life, tolerance, justice, and the law, to name a very few of the things Robert is passionate about, has driven him to give the very best of himself to public service,” Seymour said.
By Emily Wollenberg, associate web editor
Leave a Reply