OU’s Virtual Lifeline

Editor: As a former stroke survivor going on three years now, I know that the information in the story, A Virtual Lifeline for Stroke Victims (Fall 2025), is important.  I live in rural southwest Anadarko, Okla., and didn't realize I was having symptoms of a possible stroke.

I’m so glad to hear my university is reaching out to rural Oklahoma by providing telework services for much-needed health care.

Right On, OU!

Rheta Harjo

OU 1997 BA Native American Studies

Anadarko, Okla.

A Legacy Hard Won

Editor: I grew up with Marita Hynes in Okemah, Okla. I graduated from OU with pride for not only my school but for her accomplishments. The (Fall 2025) article in Sooner Magazine renewed my pride for her, thank you!

Robert (Bob) Reilly

OU 1973 BBA Finance

Okemah, Okla.

The Revolutionary in Running Shoes

Wonderful article on a man I greatly respect (Fall 2025). I did not know Dr. Kenneth Cooper was a Sooner, but am very glad to hear it.   When I was an undergraduate at OU in the early 60s, a group of us in Cross Center took advantage of a beautiful fall day and went out to throw a football around. To the astonishment of all of us, after about 10 or 15 minutes we were exhausted and out of breath.  “How can this be?” we asked each other.   "We’re in our young 20s!”  Finally one guy thoughtfully replied, “we’re out of shape.  You have to work out regularly to be in shape.”

Not long after that I took up running.  I ran late at night because people stared at me when I ran in the day.  A bit later I ran across one of Dr. Cooper’s early articles.  It made good sense and reinforced my determination to continue running.  I ran almost every day for the next 50+ years.  Now I walk, but with the same determination that Dr. Cooper instilled in me.   He’s such an inspiration and I am so grateful to him.  Thanks for “running" the article.  It was a delight to read.

Charles E. Daniels, 

1965 Law 

Bartlesville, Okla.

Pass the Popcorn to Amy Nicholson

Kind of a sidebar to the article about Amy Nicholson of the LA Times (Spring 2025).

Howard Rosenberg, OU '60, was the TV critic of the LA Times from 1975-2003 and won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism  in 1985.  So the LA Times has a history in the critical commentary sections that now goes back and continues for almost 50 years.

Jay Levine

1960 BA Journ.

Palm Desert, Calif.

Keeping the Cameras Rolling

Nice to see Ned Hockman getting some love here (Winter 2026). He was a friend to both of my grandfathers, who also worked for the university.

Naturally, when I attended OU I had to take Ned’s film class. Yes, he did care for his students. It was a large class, as I remember, and it took me by surprise when, as the first one ended, he called my name and asked to see me afterwards. I stayed and we spoke for awhile. He wanted to know if I was the grandson of Johnson Hignite, and when I said yes, he gleamed. That's when he told me a story about my grandfather that just floored me. It was word-for-word a story my father had passed on to me before! Ned was there when it happened, and he wanted to tell the story to me. It blew my mind.

I'll always remember him for that, and for his classes when he told us what the greatest movie ever made was, and admitting it was NOT "Stark Fear." Yes, we watched that masterpiece in class, which was a hoot. Again, nice story on Ned. Glad to see it.

Mike Hignite

1983 BA Journ

Denton, Texas

St. Patrick and the Owl      

Editor: I really enjoyed the (Winter 2026) article about the OU engineering/law rivalry. I knew there was a rivalry but didn’t know many of the stories covered in your article.

I was an engineering physics student from 1957 to 1961 for my BS and 1961 to 1964 for my MS. Later I returned for my Doctor of Engineering in meteorology  from 1969 to 1972. Throughout all these years, the owl was always kept green.

When I was an undergrad I heard that the engineers fertilized the lawn in front of Monnet Hall with the design of the word “engineers” so that in spring the word became very evident and the lawyers mowed the grass frequently. Throughout all my years the campus streetlights were green and the Town Tavern served green beer during Engineering Week. I still have my dark green engineering button-down, long-sleeve shirt and wear it on St Patrick’s Day.

Those are fond memories indeed, thanks!

David Pitts

1961 BS Eng. Physics, 1964 MS Eng. Physics, 1971 Ph.D. Eng.

Houston

Editor: After reading your article, The Duel of St. Patrick and the Owl, in the latest Sooner Magazine (Winter 2026), I wanted to share that I was privy to one of those paint jobs.

It was in the time frame of 1961 or ’62. I was the lookout on the ground while one of my electrical engineering friends gained access to the roof of the building. He leaned over the roof peak at the end and used a spray paint can attached to a pole.  Because the pole was too short, only the top half of the owl was painted green. This engineer went on to become a well-respected member of a power company located in Missouri; they even named a building after him when he passed on.

Jimbo Rushing

OU 1963 BS Elec Eng.

Fairview, Texas

Editor:

The article, The Duel of St. Patrick and the Owl, in the Winter 2026 issue of Sooner Magazine brought back memories.

I was a chemical engineering graduate student at OU from 1978 to 1983. One year, LKOT trundled out their cannon and were met by a delegation of law students. The law students had a student council injunction forbidding the firing of the cannon.

The injunction was given to an engineering professor who read the injunction, shrugged his shoulders, and gave it to one of the LKOT. The injunction was stuffed into the barrel of the cannon, which was promptly fired, accompanied by loud cheers by the assembled engineering students.

Michael Madden, Ph.D.

OU 1980 MS Chem Eng., 1983 Ph.D. Chem Eng.

Oklahoma City

Editor: During the early 1970s we had some great Engineers Club meetings in Felgar Hall. We would find ourselves at the restaurant, Across the Street, drinking a few beers and singing the OU Engineering Song and Anthem. Lawyers are prominently mentioned.

Jeff Arnoldi

OU 1974 BS Chem., 1976 BS Chem Eng.

Norman, Okla.

Editor’s Note: Mr. Arnoldi brought receipts! Below are images of the OU Engineering Song in print.