Bailey Named As Regent Chairperson
(Press Release 08-18-08)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

Eastern Oklahoma State Regents changed officers Friday for next year during their regularly scheduled meeting at the Wilburton college in keeping with a policy they passed four years ago.

Regent Mike Bailey from Durant chaired his first meeting as the new chairman since his election by the regents as chair during their June meeting. He previously served as vice chairman.

Their policy requires an annual election of officers in June to include a chairperson, vice-chair and secretary. Additional provisions state that no one individual may hold the chairman’s position more than two years during a regent’s seven-year term.

An Eastern regent is nominated by a State Senator, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate for a seven-year term.

Regent Burl Williams from Stigler had served as chairman for the last two years following McAlester Mayor Dale Covington after his term as regent expired. Mark Jordan from McAlester was elected as vice-chairman and Ken Bass, Wilburton, continues as secretary.

Other Eastern regents include Audry Balentine, from Wister, John Shero, from Wilburton and Loise Washington from McAlester.

Bailey is employed as vice president for GoldBelt Cedar, an Alaskan Native Corporation based in Irving, TX. During the last four months, they have successfully obtained more than $20 million in federal contracts.

Bailey was nominated to serve on the Eastern board by former Sen. Billy Mickle, appointed by former Gov. Frank Keating and confirmed by the Oklahoma State Senate in 1997. He was later nominated for a second term in 2004 by Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, appointed by Gov. Brad Henry and confirmed by the Senate. In 2004 Bailey received the Western Region Trustee Leadership Award for the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT).

Caption info:

Eastern Oklahoma State College President Dr. Steve Smith, left, and Eastern Regent Chairman Mike Bailey, right, presented outgoing Regent Chairman Burl Williams from Stigler with a plaque of appreciation for serving as chairman for the past two years. Williams will continue to serve as a regent at the Wilburton community college. Smith commended Williams for being supportive of him throughout the transition during Smith’s first year as Eastern’s president.