President emeritus of THE University of Oklahoma and Pepperdine University, William Slater Banowsky, passed away peacefully in his home April 28, 2019. He was 83. He was born March 4, 1936 in Abilene, TX.
A devoutly religious man, Dr. Banowsky affected thousands through his career in the ministry and academia. He began preaching while still in college and served at churches in Albuquerque, Lubbock and Los Angeles. He touched countless lives and will be remembered by tens of thousands as a prolific, charismatic leader and great friend. He was deeply spiritual and enlightened; his generosity was never ending. Dr. Banowsky is credited with the vision to move Pepperdine University to its current location. The story of his leadership is well documented in his memoir, "The Malibu Miracle." He was a loving husband and father and often said his family was the most important thing in his life.
He is predeceased by his parents Wade Lowell and Thelma Slater Banowsky.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Gay Barnes Banowsky, their four sons (and wives), David (Ana), Britton (Cindy), Bill (Susan), and Baxter (Tanya), 15 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
A Funeral Service will be at 2:00 pm on Sunday, May 5, 2019 at 6419 Preston Road, Dallas, TX 75205. Dr. Banowsky will be interred in the Banowsky Family Memorial Gardens at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park in Colleyville, Texas in a private ceremony immediately following the service.
-----------------------------------
William S. Banowsky, who served as OU president from 1978 to 1982 and 1983 to 1985, died Sunday, April 28, at the age of 83, according to Pepperdine University.
Banowsky served as the president of multiple universities, and was the 10th president of THE University of Oklahoma and helped the campus recover from the disruption of the campus-protest era in the 1960s by successfully improving OU's image with students, faculty, alumni, government officials and potential donors, according to The Sooner Story, a history of OU written by Anne Barajas Harp.
"To come to Oklahoma was a dream come true – it was an absolute, unbelievable blessing out of the blue," Banowsky said in the book.
Banowsky also contributed to much growth and prosperity for the university. When Banowsky first started his presidency, he learned faculty salaries were the lowest in OU's conference at the time, the Big 8. Over the course of three years, he increased faculty salaries 33.5 percent on average, according to the book.
"Presidents strive to leave a legacy that will support learning and passion for the university for generations to come. Bill Banowsky was that kind of president," OU President James Gallogly said in a statement. "He left a legacy that serves students to this day. We are saddened as Sooners by our loss and extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends."
Banowsky also found out OU's Bizzell Memorial Library, at the time, had one of the smallest collections of scholarly books and research materials compared to other universities in the southwest, according to the book.
Because of this, he added a $13.1 million library addition to Bizzell, which added 150,000 square feet of space and the library joined the Research Libraries Group, which included Yale, Princeton and Harvard universities, according to the book.
Banowsky also starter OU's President Associates program to "raise support and awareness for OU students and programs" an OU News statement said
"His original goal was 100 members and today there are more than 1,700 annual OU President Associates members who support the university through annual contributions of $1,500 or more," the statement said.
Banowsky resigned as president in 1982 to be the president of the Greater Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce but came back to OU as president in 1983 and served until 1985, The Christian Chronicle reported.
He left OU in 1985 to become head of Gaylord Broadcasting after Edward L. Gaylord offered him a job, according to the book.
-----------------------------------------
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William S. Banowsky
President of the University of Oklahoma In office 1978–1984
Preceded by Paul F. Sharp
Succeeded by
Frank E. Horton
Born
March 4, 1936 (age 83)
Abilene, Texas, U.S.
Died
April 28, 2019
Alma mater
David Lipscomb College
University of New Mexico
University of Southern California
William Slater Banowsky (March 4, 1936 -- April 28, 2019 was an American academic. He was the president of the University of Oklahoma from 1978 to 1982 when he resigned to become President of The Greater Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. Provost J.R. Morris served as Interim President in Fall semester of 1982. Banowsky returned as OU President in early 1983 and served all of 1983-1984 plus 1984-1985 academic years. Prior to OU, he also served as president of Pepperdine University from 1971 to 1978[4] and was Republican National Committeeman for The State of California.
Banowsky is survived by his wife, Gay; sons David, William, Jr., Baxter, and Britton; and several grandchildren.
A devoutly religious man, Dr. Banowsky affected thousands through his career in the ministry and academia. He began preaching while still in college and served at churches in Albuquerque, Lubbock and Los Angeles. He touched countless lives and will be remembered by tens of thousands as a prolific, charismatic leader and great friend. He was deeply spiritual and enlightened; his generosity was never ending. Dr. Banowsky is credited with the vision to move Pepperdine University to its current location. The story of his leadership is well documented in his memoir, "The Malibu Miracle." He was a loving husband and father and often said his family was the most important thing in his life.
He is predeceased by his parents Wade Lowell and Thelma Slater Banowsky.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Gay Barnes Banowsky, their four sons (and wives), David (Ana), Britton (Cindy), Bill (Susan), and Baxter (Tanya), 15 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
A Funeral Service will be at 2:00 pm on Sunday, May 5, 2019 at 6419 Preston Road, Dallas, TX 75205. Dr. Banowsky will be interred in the Banowsky Family Memorial Gardens at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park in Colleyville, Texas in a private ceremony immediately following the service.
-----------------------------------
William S. Banowsky, who served as OU president from 1978 to 1982 and 1983 to 1985, died Sunday, April 28, at the age of 83, according to Pepperdine University.
Banowsky served as the president of multiple universities, and was the 10th president of THE University of Oklahoma and helped the campus recover from the disruption of the campus-protest era in the 1960s by successfully improving OU's image with students, faculty, alumni, government officials and potential donors, according to The Sooner Story, a history of OU written by Anne Barajas Harp.
"To come to Oklahoma was a dream come true – it was an absolute, unbelievable blessing out of the blue," Banowsky said in the book.
Banowsky also contributed to much growth and prosperity for the university. When Banowsky first started his presidency, he learned faculty salaries were the lowest in OU's conference at the time, the Big 8. Over the course of three years, he increased faculty salaries 33.5 percent on average, according to the book.
"Presidents strive to leave a legacy that will support learning and passion for the university for generations to come. Bill Banowsky was that kind of president," OU President James Gallogly said in a statement. "He left a legacy that serves students to this day. We are saddened as Sooners by our loss and extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends."
Banowsky also found out OU's Bizzell Memorial Library, at the time, had one of the smallest collections of scholarly books and research materials compared to other universities in the southwest, according to the book.
Because of this, he added a $13.1 million library addition to Bizzell, which added 150,000 square feet of space and the library joined the Research Libraries Group, which included Yale, Princeton and Harvard universities, according to the book.
Banowsky also starter OU's President Associates program to "raise support and awareness for OU students and programs" an OU News statement said
"His original goal was 100 members and today there are more than 1,700 annual OU President Associates members who support the university through annual contributions of $1,500 or more," the statement said.
Banowsky resigned as president in 1982 to be the president of the Greater Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce but came back to OU as president in 1983 and served until 1985, The Christian Chronicle reported.
He left OU in 1985 to become head of Gaylord Broadcasting after Edward L. Gaylord offered him a job, according to the book.
-----------------------------------------
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William S. Banowsky
President of the University of Oklahoma In office 1978–1984
Preceded by Paul F. Sharp
Succeeded by
Frank E. Horton
Born
March 4, 1936 (age 83)
Abilene, Texas, U.S.
Died
April 28, 2019
Alma mater
David Lipscomb College
University of New Mexico
University of Southern California
William Slater Banowsky (March 4, 1936 -- April 28, 2019 was an American academic. He was the president of the University of Oklahoma from 1978 to 1982 when he resigned to become President of The Greater Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. Provost J.R. Morris served as Interim President in Fall semester of 1982. Banowsky returned as OU President in early 1983 and served all of 1983-1984 plus 1984-1985 academic years. Prior to OU, he also served as president of Pepperdine University from 1971 to 1978[4] and was Republican National Committeeman for The State of California.
Banowsky is survived by his wife, Gay; sons David, William, Jr., Baxter, and Britton; and several grandchildren.
President emeritus of THE University of Oklahoma and Pepperdine University, William Slater Banowsky, passed away peacefully in his home April 28, 2019. He was 83. He was born March 4, 1936 in Abilene, TX.
A devoutly religious man, Dr. Banowsky affected thousands through his career in the ministry and academia. He began preaching while still in college and served at churches in Albuquerque, Lubbock and Los Angeles. He touched countless lives and will be remembered by tens of thousands as a prolific, charismatic leader and great friend. He was deeply spiritual and enlightened; his generosity was never ending. Dr. Banowsky is credited with the vision to move Pepperdine University to its current location. The story of his leadership is well documented in his memoir, "The Malibu Miracle." He was a loving husband and father and often said his family was the most important thing in his life.
He is predeceased by his parents Wade Lowell and Thelma Slater Banowsky.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Gay Barnes Banowsky, their four sons (and wives), David (Ana), Britton (Cindy), Bill (Susan), and Baxter (Tanya), 15 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
A Funeral Service will be at 2:00 pm on Sunday, May 5, 2019 at 6419 Preston Road, Dallas, TX 75205. Dr. Banowsky will be interred in the Banowsky Family Memorial Gardens at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park in Colleyville, Texas in a private ceremony immediately following the service.
-----------------------------------
William S. Banowsky, who served as OU president from 1978 to 1982 and 1983 to 1985, died Sunday, April 28, at the age of 83, according to Pepperdine University.
Banowsky served as the president of multiple universities, and was the 10th president of THE University of Oklahoma and helped the campus recover from the disruption of the campus-protest era in the 1960s by successfully improving OU's image with students, faculty, alumni, government officials and potential donors, according to The Sooner Story, a history of OU written by Anne Barajas Harp.
"To come to Oklahoma was a dream come true – it was an absolute, unbelievable blessing out of the blue," Banowsky said in the book.
Banowsky also contributed to much growth and prosperity for the university. When Banowsky first started his presidency, he learned faculty salaries were the lowest in OU's conference at the time, the Big 8. Over the course of three years, he increased faculty salaries 33.5 percent on average, according to the book.
"Presidents strive to leave a legacy that will support learning and passion for the university for generations to come. Bill Banowsky was that kind of president," OU President James Gallogly said in a statement. "He left a legacy that serves students to this day. We are saddened as Sooners by our loss and extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends."
Banowsky also found out OU's Bizzell Memorial Library, at the time, had one of the smallest collections of scholarly books and research materials compared to other universities in the southwest, according to the book.
Because of this, he added a $13.1 million library addition to Bizzell, which added 150,000 square feet of space and the library joined the Research Libraries Group, which included Yale, Princeton and Harvard universities, according to the book.
Banowsky also starter OU's President Associates program to "raise support and awareness for OU students and programs" an OU News statement said
"His original goal was 100 members and today there are more than 1,700 annual OU President Associates members who support the university through annual contributions of $1,500 or more," the statement said.
Banowsky resigned as president in 1982 to be the president of the Greater Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce but came back to OU as president in 1983 and served until 1985, The Christian Chronicle reported.
He left OU in 1985 to become head of Gaylord Broadcasting after Edward L. Gaylord offered him a job, according to the book.
-----------------------------------------
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William S. Banowsky
President of the University of Oklahoma In office 1978–1984
Preceded by Paul F. Sharp
Succeeded by
Frank E. Horton
Born
March 4, 1936 (age 83)
Abilene, Texas, U.S.
Died
April 28, 2019
Alma mater
David Lipscomb College
University of New Mexico
University of Southern California
William Slater Banowsky (March 4, 1936 -- April 28, 2019 was an American academic. He was the president of the University of Oklahoma from 1978 to 1982 when he resigned to become President of The Greater Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. Provost J.R. Morris served as Interim President in Fall semester of 1982. Banowsky returned as OU President in early 1983 and served all of 1983-1984 plus 1984-1985 academic years. Prior to OU, he also served as president of Pepperdine University from 1971 to 1978[4] and was Republican National Committeeman for The State of California.
Banowsky is survived by his wife, Gay; sons David, William, Jr., Baxter, and Britton; and several grandchildren.
A devoutly religious man, Dr. Banowsky affected thousands through his career in the ministry and academia. He began preaching while still in college and served at churches in Albuquerque, Lubbock and Los Angeles. He touched countless lives and will be remembered by tens of thousands as a prolific, charismatic leader and great friend. He was deeply spiritual and enlightened; his generosity was never ending. Dr. Banowsky is credited with the vision to move Pepperdine University to its current location. The story of his leadership is well documented in his memoir, "The Malibu Miracle." He was a loving husband and father and often said his family was the most important thing in his life.
He is predeceased by his parents Wade Lowell and Thelma Slater Banowsky.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Gay Barnes Banowsky, their four sons (and wives), David (Ana), Britton (Cindy), Bill (Susan), and Baxter (Tanya), 15 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
A Funeral Service will be at 2:00 pm on Sunday, May 5, 2019 at 6419 Preston Road, Dallas, TX 75205. Dr. Banowsky will be interred in the Banowsky Family Memorial Gardens at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park in Colleyville, Texas in a private ceremony immediately following the service.
-----------------------------------
William S. Banowsky, who served as OU president from 1978 to 1982 and 1983 to 1985, died Sunday, April 28, at the age of 83, according to Pepperdine University.
Banowsky served as the president of multiple universities, and was the 10th president of THE University of Oklahoma and helped the campus recover from the disruption of the campus-protest era in the 1960s by successfully improving OU's image with students, faculty, alumni, government officials and potential donors, according to The Sooner Story, a history of OU written by Anne Barajas Harp.
"To come to Oklahoma was a dream come true – it was an absolute, unbelievable blessing out of the blue," Banowsky said in the book.
Banowsky also contributed to much growth and prosperity for the university. When Banowsky first started his presidency, he learned faculty salaries were the lowest in OU's conference at the time, the Big 8. Over the course of three years, he increased faculty salaries 33.5 percent on average, according to the book.
"Presidents strive to leave a legacy that will support learning and passion for the university for generations to come. Bill Banowsky was that kind of president," OU President James Gallogly said in a statement. "He left a legacy that serves students to this day. We are saddened as Sooners by our loss and extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends."
Banowsky also found out OU's Bizzell Memorial Library, at the time, had one of the smallest collections of scholarly books and research materials compared to other universities in the southwest, according to the book.
Because of this, he added a $13.1 million library addition to Bizzell, which added 150,000 square feet of space and the library joined the Research Libraries Group, which included Yale, Princeton and Harvard universities, according to the book.
Banowsky also starter OU's President Associates program to "raise support and awareness for OU students and programs" an OU News statement said
"His original goal was 100 members and today there are more than 1,700 annual OU President Associates members who support the university through annual contributions of $1,500 or more," the statement said.
Banowsky resigned as president in 1982 to be the president of the Greater Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce but came back to OU as president in 1983 and served until 1985, The Christian Chronicle reported.
He left OU in 1985 to become head of Gaylord Broadcasting after Edward L. Gaylord offered him a job, according to the book.
-----------------------------------------
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William S. Banowsky
President of the University of Oklahoma In office 1978–1984
Preceded by Paul F. Sharp
Succeeded by
Frank E. Horton
Born
March 4, 1936 (age 83)
Abilene, Texas, U.S.
Died
April 28, 2019
Alma mater
David Lipscomb College
University of New Mexico
University of Southern California
William Slater Banowsky (March 4, 1936 -- April 28, 2019 was an American academic. He was the president of the University of Oklahoma from 1978 to 1982 when he resigned to become President of The Greater Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. Provost J.R. Morris served as Interim President in Fall semester of 1982. Banowsky returned as OU President in early 1983 and served all of 1983-1984 plus 1984-1985 academic years. Prior to OU, he also served as president of Pepperdine University from 1971 to 1978[4] and was Republican National Committeeman for The State of California.
Banowsky is survived by his wife, Gay; sons David, William, Jr., Baxter, and Britton; and several grandchildren.
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