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Lee Allan Smith Recognized at OC Homecoming

Oklahoma City - No single individual has done more to elevate the status of Oklahoma than Lee Allan Smith. Smith has both brought influential people to Oklahoma and placed Oklahoma in the spotlight at events like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, the Olympics and the Rose Bowl Parade. As president of then, KTVY television, Smith brought famous people like comedian Bob Hope, athlete Mickey Mantle and songwriter Jimmy Webb to Oklahoma City, and often to Oklahoma Christian University.

Lee Allan Smith to receive Honorary Alum of the Year from Oklahoma Christian University.

Smith helped Oklahoma Christian become a place known for top events and premier thought leaders. He was instrumental in securing the 1989, U.S. Olympic Festival in Oklahoma and gave OC the nod as the site for the table tennis competition. Smith then insisted OC’s gym be air conditioned and helped raise the money to make it happen.

Smith began leading capital campaigns for OC when the (then) college moved to Oklahoma City in 1958. Now the namesake of OC's Spirit of Oklahoma Award, Smith actively participates in the university’s annual Associates Gala by presenting the award to a recipient for their contributions to the State of Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Christian will honor Smith as a part of the university’s homecoming festivities. At the annual alumni banquet, Smith will be named OC’s Honorary Alum of the Year. Other award recipients include David and Barbara Duncan, Distinguished Alumni Award, Dennis and Susan Cady, Missions Service Award and Ryan Groves, Young Alumnus of the Year.

Everyone is invited to celebrate Mr. Oklahoma, Lee Allan Smith and the other honorees, Friday, November 1 at 5:30 pm in the Gaylord University Center on OC’s campus. Tickets are available at OC.edu/homecoming.

OC is a higher learning community transforming lives for Christian faith, scholarship and service. Located at 2501 East Memorial Road on a 200 acre residential campus, the university believes excellence in education demands forward thinking, nimble creativity and a yearning to learn more. In the spirit of Lee Allan Smith, OC is home to ambitious progress.

Ryan Groves (’11) from Malibu, California is Oklahoma Christian University’s 2019 Young Alumnus of the Year. Ryan is a social entrepreneur who founded a clean water non-profit as an OC student and produced documentaries calling attention to global crises. He now directs Strategic Employer Partnerships, at Pepperdine University.
Barbara (’89) and David (’88) Duncan from Houston, Texas are the Oklahoma Christian University 2019 Distinguished Alumni of the Year. They have encouraged dozens of students to attend and individuals to give millions of dollars to the betterment of their alma mater. The Duncans bleed maroon and gray!
Susan (’69) & Dennis (’69) Cady from Wichita Falls, Texas will receive the Oklahoma Christian University 2019 Missions Service Award. The Cady’s three children are OC alumni and the family is known in world mission’s circles for their decades of service to peoples of Southeast Asia and South Sudan.

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