Jim Halligan

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Jim Halligan
Member of the Oklahoma Senate
from the 21st district
In office
November 19, 2008 – November 22, 2016
Preceded byMike Morgan
Succeeded byTom Dugger
16th President of Oklahoma State University
In office
1994–2002
Preceded byRay M. Bowen (Interim)
Succeeded byDavid J. Schmidly
Personal details
Born
James Edmund Halligan

(1936-06-23)June 23, 1936
Moorland, Iowa, U.S.
DiedOctober 25, 2022(2022-10-25) (aged 86)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseAnn Halligan
WebsiteSenate website

James Edmund Halligan (June 23, 1936 – October 25, 2022) was an American state senator from Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University president.[1] Halligan defeated Robert "Bob" Murphy in 2008, gaining a Republican seat in the state senate and helping to deliver his party control for the first time in state history.

Early life[edit]

Halligan was born in Moorland, Iowa,[2] on June 23, 1936.[3] He joined the US Air Force and served for four years as a Bulgarian translator. He then studied chemical engineering at Iowa State University, obtaining his undergraduate, master's, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from that institution.[4][5]

Academic career[edit]

After being awarded his doctorate, Halligan was briefly employed in the petroleum industry.[6] He subsequently taught as a faculty member, and served as department chair and dean of engineering at the University of Arkansas, Texas Tech University, and New Mexico State University (NMSU).[5] He was appointed president of NMSU in 1984[5][7] and served in that capacity for a decade before becoming the sixteenth president of Oklahoma State University (OSU) on August 1, 1994.[4][8]

During his tenure at OSU, Halligan emphasized increasing retention and graduation rates,[8] halting a 12-year trend of decreasing student enrollments.[9] He also encouraged the development of national scholars, and investing more than $200 million in student facilities on campus, including multi-media classrooms and suite-style student accommodation. Halligan oversaw the university's first capital campaign that ultimately raised more than $260 million, which was over twice the initial goal.[10] He also contributed towards "Raise the Roof" for Gallagher-Iba Arena,[9] which was named by CBS Sportsline as the country's best college basketball venue in 2001.[11] OSU was recognized as "America's Best College Buy" and a "Truman Honor Institution" under his leadership.[4][8]

Throughout his presidency, Halligan and his wife hosted thousands of OSU students in their home every year. They also promoted events run by students such as Orange Peel, Homecoming, Varsity Review and Into the Streets.[10] They were credited with steering the university through the aftermath of the plane crash in January 2001 that killed ten members of the Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball team and their flight crew.[4][12] He announced his retirement in May 2002.[9]

Political career[edit]

Halligan ran for state senator in Oklahoma's 21st district (encompassing Stillwater)[4] and was elected.[5] He served two terms in that capacity and was a member of various committees, including appropriations, education, energy, business and commerce, finance, and rules.[10] During his time in the Oklahoma Senate, Halligan voted in favor of an independent audit of the state department of education,[13] and against the repeal of the state grocery sales tax.[14] He also authored a bill passed in February 2015 that banned the use of tobacco on campuses.[12][15] On August 12, 2015, Halligan released a statement through the Oklahoma State Senate announcing that he would not seek reelection to a third term and that the 2016 legislative session would be his last.[16]

Personal life[edit]

Halligan was married to Ann until his death. Together, they had three children: Mike, Pat and Chris.[17] After retiring from Oklahoma State, he resided in Stillwater.[12]

Halligan died on the morning of October 25, 2022, at Integris Hospital in Oklahoma City. He was 86 years old.[17]

Election history[edit]

November 4, 2007, election results for Oklahoma State Senator for District 21
Candidates Party Votes %
Jim Halligan Republican Party 17,711 58.15%
Bob Murphy Democratic Party 12,749 41.85%
Source: [1]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Who's who in Frontier Science and Technology. Vol. 1. Marquis Who's Who. 1984. ISBN 9780837957012. ISSN 0749-2324. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  2. ^ Douglas, Kaylee (October 25, 2022). "Former Oklahoma State University President, State Senator Jim Halligan dies at 86". KFOR-TV. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  3. ^ "James Edmund Halligan". Dighton Marler Funeral Home. Retrieved October 26, 2020 – via Tribute Archive.
  4. ^ a b c d e Ford, Aspen (October 25, 2022). "James Halligan, former OSU president and state senator, dies at 86". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d "Former OSU president, James Halligan, honored by national engineering society". Oklahoma State University. November 2, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  6. ^ Krehbiel, Randy (October 25, 2022). "Former OSU president, state senator James Halligan dies". Tulsa World. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  7. ^ "NMSU: Presidents of NMSU – James e. Halligan". Archived from the original on December 6, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  8. ^ a b c "1994 OSU welcomes James Halligan as its 16th president". Oklahoma State University. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c "OSU President announces retirement after two decades of campus leadership". The Oklahoma Daily. May 30, 2002. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  10. ^ a b c "Halligan and McCaleb to be honored and speak at OSU graduation ceremonies". Oklahoma State University. December 6, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  11. ^ "Gallagher-Iba tops the chart". The Oklahoman. August 9, 2001. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  12. ^ a b c Korth, Robby (October 25, 2022). "Former Oklahoma State University president, state lawmaker Jim Halligan dies at 86". KOSU. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  13. ^ "Week In Review – Monday, March 11 to Thursday, March 14, 2013". Oklahoma Senate. March 11, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  14. ^ "Lawmakers and Economists Weigh In on Proposed State Income Tax Change". Washington, D.C.: Federal News Service. January 14, 2011. ProQuest 840087535. Retrieved October 26, 2022 – via ProQuest.
  15. ^ "Halligan bill strengthening school/campus tobacco bans backed by Senate" (Press release). Oklahoma Senate. February 27, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  16. ^ "GOP senator from Stillwater won't seek re-election". KTEN. August 12, 2015. Archived from the original on August 14, 2015.
  17. ^ a b Simmons, Beau (October 25, 2022). "Former OSU President and state senator James Halligan dies at 86". Stillwater News Press. Retrieved October 26, 2022.

External links[edit]

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