State Senate Majority Leader Ted Fisher To Be Guest Speaker At Massey Lecture

View the 2006 Massey Lecture in Microsoft Windows Media™ Player.

Press Release Date: 03-10-2006

Southeastern Oklahoma State University will welcome Oklahoma State Senate Majority Leader Ted Fisher as the speaker at the 10th annual Massey Family Endowed Lectureship in Business and Public Policy.

The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, April 7, in the Student Union Ballroom.

As the the Majority Floor Leader, Sen. Fisher is an Ex-Officio and voting member of all Senate committees. Sen. Fisher represents District 12, which includes Creek and Ofuskee counties.

A graduate of the University of Tulsa, Sen. Fisher has been a member of the Oklahoma State Senate since 1986.

“We are delighted that State Senate Majority Leader Ted Fisher will deliver the keynote address at the Massey Family Lecture,” said Southeastern President Dr. Glen D. Johnson. “His leadership in the field of public service is greatly appreciated. Over the years, the Massey Lecture has featured many of our state’s great leaders in business and government. We look forward to Sen. Fisher’s perspective as he concludes an exemplary legislative career with 20 years of public service.”

Prior to becoming Senate Majority Leader, Senator Fisher served as Chairman of the Senate Economic Development Committee. He was also a member of the following committees: Transportation, Small Business, Education, and Appropriations. He also served on the Appropriations Sub-Committees on Education and on Retirement and Employee Benefits.

Senator Fisher authored the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Act, which provides financial incentives to bring new businesses and industries to the state of Oklahoma. Currently, the bill has been responsible for the addition of 53,000 new jobs in the state.

Senator Fisher was the Senate author of the Juvenile Justice Reform Law, which added beds for juvenile detention space, enhanced the treatment of juveniles, and moved the system out of the Department of Human Services. He authored the Welfare Reform Act, which reduced the welfare rolls by 43%.

Senator Fisher has also served on the Legislative Bond Oversight Commission, serving as Chairman.

In addition to his legislative activities, Fisher has been active as a civic leader in Sapulpa and active in the business community with interests in real estate and insurance.

Fisher has served as president of the Sapulpa Jaycees, Sapulpa Chamber of Commerce, Sapulpa Rotary Club, Sapulpa Industrial Foundation and the Council of Indian Nation’s Chamber of Commerce. Fisher was named the Outstanding Soldier, Ft. Polk, LA, and has received the Jaycees Distinguished Service Award, and the Outstanding Sapulpan Award.

Senator Fisher received the Meritorious Service Award and was named an Honorary Professional Firefighter by the Professional Firefighters of Oklahoma. And, Senator Fisher received the A.C. Hamlin Tribute from the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus for his commitment to African-Americans and other minorities. In 2003, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Higher Education Alumni Council Board of Directors for his contributions to higher education.

He has been recognized for twelve years as one of the “Top 10 Legislators.”

State Regent John Massey is a Distinguished Alumnus of Southeastern and made the Massey Family Endowed Lectureship Program possible with a gift in 1994 which was matched by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Massey is currently serving his second 9-year term as a member of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Last year, SOSU named its School of Business the “John Massey School of Business” in honor of Regent Massey.

Massey is now the Chairman of the Board of First United Bank, headquartered in Durant. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in 2004.

The Massey family includes wife Donna; sons Mike and wife Dawnda, Greg and wife Kay, Bryan Wandel and wife Bridget, and Berne Kendrick; 15 grandchildren; brother Odes Massey and sisters Maxine Neaves and Betty Massey.