Bob Rabon & Bob Ledbetter To Be Honored As Southeastern Distinguished Alumni

Press Release Date: 09-09-2005

Southeastern Oklahoma State University will proudly honor Bob Rabon and Bob Ledbetter as Distinguished Alumni during 2005 Homecoming activities on Oct. 1.

Rabon and Ledbetter will be honored at the 11:15 a.m. Homecoming Luncheon in the Student Union ballroom. They will also be introduced in pre–game ceremonies (2 p.m.) at the Southeastern and Abilene Christian University football game.

“Bob Rabon and Bob Ledbetter have both enjoyed tremendous success in their chosen fields,’’ said Southeastern Oklahoma State University President Dr. Glen D. Johnson. “In doing so, they have enhanced the reputation of Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The University and Alumni Association take a great deal of pride in honoring both of these deserving individuals.’’

Both honorees are Oklahoma natives who have had distinguished careers.

Rabon, of Hugo, earned a B.S. from SOSU in 1963, then graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1968. Ledbetter graduated from SOSU in 1962 and immediately started a coaching career that achieved legendary status in Texas.

Rabon has practiced law in Hugo since his graduation from Law School in 1968. He has served as general counsel for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma for more than 35 years. After graduating from Rattan (Okla.) High School in 1957, he married Linda Roan. The couple celebrated their 46th anniversary on May 30, 2005.

The Rabons have twin sons –– Robert Lee practices law with his father in the firm of Rabon, Wolf and Rabon in Hugo, while Jeff is a member of the Oklahoma State Senate from State District 5.

Bob Rabon also served 10 years on the board of the Southeastern Foundation. He is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was on the Board of Governors of the Oklahoma Bar Association from 1987 to 1989 and later served as President of the Oklahoma Bar Association in 1993.

Rabon is recognized nationally in the field of Federal Indian Law. He has been a faculty member of the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s Annual Sovereignty Symposium, which addresses federal, state and tribal Indian issues.

He is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the Oklahoma Bar Foundation. He is admitted to practice law in all state and federal courts in Oklahoma, the United States Court of Federal Claims, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.

A proclamation by Governor Brad Henry declared June 30, 2004, “Bob Rabon Day” in appreciation for his many important contributions to his community, state, and profession.

Southeastern Oklahoma State University has played a major role in the lives of the Rabon family. Bob’s parents, his brother, sister–in–law, and his wife are all graduates of SOSU.

Bob Ledbetter is an Ardmore native who graduated from SOSU in 1962 with a B.S. in Education with a major in physical education and a minor in elementary education.

He spent one semester at Oklahoma State University before transferring to Southeastern, a move he calls “surely the best move I ever made.” After playing baseball, football, and running track at Southeastern, Ledbetter entered the coaching profession. After 10 years as assistant football coach, he accepted his first head coaching assignment at Frisco, Texas. The move to Southlake Carroll High School followed three years later and the legend had its start.

Ledbetter posted a career 208–39–3 (84.2%) overall record in 20 years. During this time, his Dragons logged a cumulative record of 185–30–3 (84%) while fashioning seven consecutive undefeated regular seasons, including three years of 16–0, winning three state titles and producing a state and national record of 72–straight regular–season victories.

Ledbetter was named District Coach of the Year several times, Coach of the Year in Texas on three occasions, and the Southlake Chamber of Commerce honored him as Man of the Year three times. He retired as Southlake Carroll athletic director in 2002 (after hiring current coach Todd Dodge) and now operates an athletic coaching search firm.

Bob and his wife Sue met at Southeastern, married in 1961, and will celebrate their 44th anniversary in December. They have two children, Lori and Lane. Lori graduated from the University of North Texas and is now teaching second grade in the Alvord, Texas school district, where her husband serves as head football coach and athletic director. Lane quarterbacked his father’s 1988 team to a 16–0 record and a state championship. He attended Baylor University, earned a doctorate in Education and is currently a principal in the Birdville, Texas, school district.

In his 20 years as a head football coach in Texas high schools, Ledbetter’s teams never had a losing season.