Dr. William
D. Pennington, President of Murray State College, Tragically Killed
October 18, 2007
Submitted by Nell
Truitt
Press
Release
1 Murray
Campus St. • Tishomingo, OK 73460 • (580) 371-2371 Ext. 155
Release: Immediate
Date: October
14, 2007
Contact:
Donna Graves, Public Information Coordinator
Dr. William D. Pennington, President of Murray State College, Tragically Killed
TISHOMINGO- Dr. William D. Pennington, beloved President of Murray State College, was tragically killed in a car accident on October 13th.
Pennington and his wife, Marty, were traveling 5 miles west of the Indian Nation Turnpike near McAlester, Highway 270 at approximately 11:30 p.m. According to highway patrol reports, debris was covering the road and a car veered left of center hitting Pennington’s car head on.
Dr. William D. Pennington was the 18th president of Murray State College. Prior to taking his position with the college in 2004, he served as dean and professor of history with Northwestern Oklahoma State University, on the Enid campus since 1997. Previously, he was the dean of the schools of humanities and social sciences on NWOSU’s main campus in Alva. Before working for NWOSU, Dr. Pennington held administrative positions at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, AR, University Center at Tusla, Tulsa Junior College (now known as Tulsa Community College), and William Woods College in Fulton, MO.
Dr. Pennington is credited for creating the first comprehensive community education program in Oklahoma offering activities to five diverse public schools in the evenings and on weekends.
While at Murray State College, Dr. William D. Pennington was instrumental in creating legacies for the college. His love and desire to restore the beauty, history, and innovative progress of the college was a driving force of his administration. Pennington was instrumental in creating new facilities that would offer better opportunities for the students on both the Tishomingo and Ardmore campuses.
An impassioned leader, Pennington desired every opinion of staff, faculty, students, and community members to unite all in an effort to provide Murray State College with solid direction.
He recently stated in his annual report completed at the end of last week, “Reflecting on this past year at Murray State College brings many wonderful memories and exciting thoughts about the future of this treasured college. Our student population continues to grow at the same time our diverse program offerings have been strengthened by tremendous efforts by our faculty and staff. Our progressive plans for creating an institutional environment that enhances our dedication by employees and students are in full motion. As one walks around campus this year, it is obvious that we all feel a certain attitude promoting the notion we are moving forward into our new century.”
Pennington’s commitment to serve his fellow man can be recognized outside of the campus in his leadership involvement as the President of the Johnston County Chamber of Commerce, Johnston County Industrial Authority Board, Vice President of the Greater Southwest Historical Museum in Ardmore, Rotary International, Lions Club, INCA Board of Directors, Southern Workforce Board, and the Chickasaw Regional Library. He had been an officer in the professional education association, Phi Delta Kappa, and served on the Board of the Oklahoma Historical Society, Tri-County Indian Nations Community Development Corporation, and the Johnston County Historical Society. Other involvement included Metropolitan Tulsa Urban League Board of Directors, Enid Community Development Support Association, and Enid Arts and Humanities Council, and Board member of the Western History Collection Associates at the University of Oklahoma.
Pennington is a native Oklahoman who was born in Anadarko but raised in Duncan. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Tulsa where he majored in history and secondary education. He was granted a Parriott Fellowship which enabled him to further his higher education, earning his masters in history at the University of Tulsa and his Ph.D also in history from the University of Oklahoma. His major field of study at OU was the American West and Indian History. He studied under such noted historians as Arrell M. Gibson, Gilbert Fite, and Donald J. Berthrong.
Pennington is a noted and published author and has presented numerous scholarly lectures on topics dealing with Native American and Oklahoma history at the local, state, and national conferences.
Along with his professional lectures, he is also recognized for his portrayal of the 9th governor of Oklahoma, Alfalfa Bill Murray. His most recent portrayal was at the Alfalfa Bill Murray Symposium on campus for the descendants of the 9th governor. His love for performance and history spawned his establishment of the Chautauqua celebration held every June on campus.
He recently married Dr. Marty Pedersen, East Central University professor, in his home on campus on July 7, 2007.
Pennington is survived by his wife, son David, his daughters Martha Link and Mallory Roark.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Update
 |
The Family
of Dr. Bill Pennington has planned a memorial service for Friday, October
19h at 3:00 p.m., at the Asbury United Methodist Church in Tulsa. Funeral Services for Dr. William D. Pennington have been set for Tuesday, October 23rd at 2:00 pm in Duncan, Oklahoma at the New Hope Baptist Church. |
For more information, please visit www.mscok.ed.
. . . a note from Nell Truitt in Ardmore, OK
Dr. Bill was a gentleman and my friend and a distant cousin through the Pennington
family of my mother.