Loise Washington Becomes Eastern Regent
(Press Release 06-21-07)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

Loise Butler Washington was officially sworn in as regent as the June Eastern Oklahoma State College Board of Regents meeting began Thursday (June 21) by Wilburton Mayor Stephen Brinlee.

The 1969 Hugo High School graduate was named by Gov. Brad Henry to be the latest regent appointed to serve on the Eastern Oklahoma State College Board of Regents.

Washington from McAlester was recommended for appointment by Sen. Richard Lerblance (D-District 7) from Hartshorne and recently confirmed by the State Senate. Washington replaces Board Chairman Dale Covington, Edmond, whose term ended with the May 18 board meeting. Covington was first appointed in 1997 as an Eastern regent.

Washington will join regents Burl Williams, chairman, from Stigler; Mark Jordan, McAlester; Mike Bailey, vice chairman, Durant; Ken Bass, secretary, John Shero, Wilburton, and Audry Balentine, Wister.

The appointment is for a 7 year term Eastern President Dr. Stephen E. Smith said. Eastern regents are recommended by the local senator to the Governor who makes the appointment subject to confirmation by the state senate.

“We are excited to have Loise as a regent at Eastern,” Smith said.

“I have worked with her on projects in McAlester and through civic organizations where she was a driving force. She will add an additional dimension to our existing board.”

Washington received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Management of Human Resources from Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Bartlesville, in 1996. She had previously worked on her degree at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant, in 1967-71 and again in 1991.

Washington worked with former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Carl Albert as an appointment and scheduling secretary from 1971 until 1977 in Washington, D.C. She continued working as an administrative assistant for the Speaker when he returned to McAlester in 1977 until 1998. She served as Executive Coordinator for Local Workforce Development Council in McAlester from 2001-2003.

She serves as a member of McAlester Rotary Club, Beta Iota of E.S.A., Leadership Oklahoma, McAlester Economic Development Board, McAlester Public Library Board and Tri-County Leadership Advisory Board.

Washington serves as Minister of Music at Mt. Triumph Baptist Church, A Member of the Oklahoma Centennial Commission, organizer and director of McAlester MLK Unity Choir, treasure of Pittsburg County Holiday Commission, president of McAlester High School F.C.C.L.A. Booster Club, past president of Will Rogers Elementary School P.T.A.

She also is a recent past member of the Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission where she helped with the selection of three of the nine Justices presently serving on the Oklahoma Supreme Court. She is the past chairman of the U.S. Selective Service District Appeal Board, member of the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women and many other organizations.

She and her husband Reverend Anthony D. Washington have two children, Anthony D. Washington II, 21, and Waverlee Ruth Washington, 17.

Caption info:

Eastern President Dr. Stephen Smith, left, along with Regent Mark Jordon, right, look on as Wilburton Mayor Stephen Brinlee swears in Loise Washington as the newest regent during the regular Eastern board meeting Thursday (June 21).