President John Feaver Issues Statement on Passing of Regent David McLaughlin

We are extremely saddened by the passing of our supporter and long-time Regent David McLaughlin. His service to this university is truly unmatched, in his generosity, in his wise governance on our Board of Regents for more than a decade, and in his belief in the importance of the liberal arts in the modern age. His success in business proved his greatness in that arena, but truly, he was above all a great human being, one who deeply cared for his fellow man and went to extraordinary efforts to improve the lives of our all our fellow compatriots in this nation.

When looking at the support Regent McLaughlin has provided to USAO over the years, it is truly humbling that this institution had someone who shared so much of his own prosperity as one of the most ardent and influential people charged with guiding this university to long-term success. His contributions to capital projects on our campus—predominantly the construction of the classroom at our Habitat Area which is dedicated to his wife Jean—and other projects including upgrades to athletic facilities as well as student scholarships at USAO, stand as a powerful testament to the belief that Regent McLaughlin had in the unduplicated mission of this college, as well as the truly transformational impact his association with USAO has meant for everyone on campus.

As a graduate of Macalester College in Minnesota, one of the nation’s leading private liberal arts institutions, he recognized how USAO served a niche not duplicated in Oklahoma’s higher education system and what it could provide its students. He was always proud to discuss his service to this university that he believed in so strongly.

I urge you all to keep his wife Jean and their four children in your thoughts and prayers now, because we must extend the utmost compassion to the depth of their loss. I am again incredibly thankful and humbled with everything that Regent McLaughlin has done in service to this university, but I know that his outstanding example will serve as a model of the impact great leadership and profound generosity can do.