:: George Nigh

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George Nigh (1927- )
President of UCO from 1992-1997

Audio Interview
October 28, 2004

George Nigh is a native of McAlester, Oklahoma. After graduating from McAlester High School, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1945-6. He obtained an Associates of Arts from Eastern Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College in 1948 and a Bachelors of Arts from East Central State College in 1950.
	George Nigh

In 1950, Nigh was the youngest member ever elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives representing Pittsburgh County. During his four terms as a representative, he taught Social Sciences and owned a grocery store in McAlester. In 1958, Nigh become the youngest Lt. Governor in the nation’s history. After an introduction by mutual friend Herman Harmon in 1963, Nigh married Donna Skinner, and they eventually had one child, in addition to Skinner’s son from a previous relationship. In 1963 and1979-87 he served as Democratic Governor of Oklahoma. In 1992, he became the oldest president of a local, state university, replacing Dr. Bill Lillard at the University of Central Oklahoma. At UCO, Nigh earned the nickname of the “Bricks and Mortar” President for his efforts in construction and expansion of the university. Nigh retired in 1997.

Over the years, Nigh received numerous awards for his efforts, including induction into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and the Jim Thorpe Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2000, he wrote his autobiography, Good Guys Wear White Hats: The Life of George Nigh, in collaboration with Bob Burke.