In recognition of their lasting impact on the Stillwater community, the City Council on April 5 approved the renaming of Airport Industrial Road to honor retiring OSU President Burns Hargis and First Cowgirl Ann Hargis.
Hargis Road is the new name for the approximately 4,300-foot stretch going north/northeast from Lakeview Road and a planned extension to Airport Road.
The road near the airport is a fitting location to honor Hargis. As the resolution authorizing the change states, “President Hargis and OSU played a key role in bringing daily nonstop American Airlines jet service to Stillwater Regional Airport and OSU recently broke ground on a new state-of the art flight school at Stillwater Regional Airport.”
The resolution further recognizes the “strong town and gown relationship” that has been in place between the City of Stillwater and Oklahoma State during Hargis’ more than 13 years as president. The resolution points out that Hargis regularly said, “what is good for the university is good for Stillwater and what is good for Stillwater is good for the university.”
Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce presented a replica of the street sign to the Hargises and thanked them for their leadership and many contributions to the growth and success of Oklahoma State and the City of Stillwater.
Hargis became OSU’s 18th president in March of 2008 and retires effective July 1.
(Link to full resolution and map)