Monday, April 2, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

100th Annual Conference Banquet

Sponsor: Program Committee

Join us as we kick off our centennial conference celebration and honor OLA’s 100 Library Legends! Hear Oklahoma’s own Flyin’ Fiddler, Wayne Cantwell, as he performs old-time and bluegrass music. Listen as former Governor George Nigh recounts Oklahoma’s unique and rich history. The banquet is sponsored by EBSCO.

Speaker:  Former Governor George Nigh has served Oklahoma for 32 years in public office. Nigh’s political career began in 1950, when as a 22 year old senior in college, he was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives as its youngest member. In 1958, Nigh was elected Lt. Governor where he served for 16 years. In 1978, Nigh was elected Governor and was re-elected to the position in 1982, becoming the first Governor in Oklahoma history to ever be re-elected and is the only Governor to carry all 77 counties. Upon leaving the Governor’s office in 1987, Nigh returned to education as a Distinguished Statesman in Residence at the University of Central Oklahoma and became its President in July 1992, where he served until July 1997. Nigh currently serves on the Board of Directors of IBC Bank, is on the Advisory Board of Express Personnel Services, and is the Voice of Oklahoma Farmers Union. He most recently served as Interim Director of Oklahoma’s Department of Tourism and Recreation. Governor Nigh remains very active in civic and philanthropic organizations. He was appointed by President Clinton as National Chairman of the President’s Committee to raise funds that provide scholarships for all surviving children of those killed in the Oklahoma City Bombing. Nigh is a lifetime President of the Donna Nigh Foundation which benefits Oklahomans with Developmental Disabilities. Nigh was awarded the National Martin Luther King Award and has been inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the U.S. Jaycee Ten Outstanding Americans Hall of Leadership, and the Oklahoma VoTech Hall of Fame. Governor and Mrs. Nigh are active in the Westminster Presbyterian Church. They have 2 children, Mike (deceased) and Georgeann and 7 grandchildren.