Professor Emeritus George Henderson expresses concern about James Gallogly’s appointment as next OU president

Professor Emeritus George Henderson voiced his concerns about the Board of Regents’ appointment of James Gallogly as OU’s next president.

“How much money do you have to have to buy a university?” said Henderson, who believes money was a primary factor in the decision, when asked about his initial reaction. “I’ve looked at his resume, what else could it be?”

Gallogly is a former oil executive and major university donor who gave $30 million toward the college of engineering. He was introduced to the university Monday morning.

Despite speaking on the success he had in the corporate world, he does not hold a doctoral degree or have other experience in higher education, unlike many of his Big 12 counterparts.

“He’s talking about greatness, but he’s talking about greatness at corporate levels. This university is a university that is concerned about people from the bottom to the top,” Henderson said. “It remains to be seen how much he will grasp that aspect of it. But that’s what we’re for — to remind him. And I will remind him again, once again, that his power base, whether he wants to admit it or not, are students, and he better listen to me.”

At his introduction, Gallogly said he will “ask a great deal” and will expect perfection, but that the university will work together to “achieve great things, because we are Sooners.”

Henderson said he wants to assist Gallogly in this process and hopes the two will have the opportunity to be honest with each other.

“I will be honest with him,” Henderson said. “But I have little patience for individuals who do not keep their promises. He made a big promise today.”

Gallogly said he will strive to continue the work of President David Boren, but Henderson said the president-designate will have to make his own path. Henderson hopes Gallogly will listen to faculty, staff and students before making major changes and will understand what is being done currently in order to truly improve.

“I don’t expect him to be a clone of David Boren, but I expect him to be someone who is knowledgeable, who is willing to think about a future that’s — we’ve got to move into the 21st century, it’s that reality,” Henderson said. “We’ve been in the 20th century for too long now. What he said is he’s moving us into the 21st century. We’ll see.”