Rothbaum Lecturer Encourages College Students
(Press Release 10-12-08)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

“It doesn’t matter where you’ve been or where you come from,” District 42 Representative Lisa Billy from Purcell told a group of Eastern Oklahoma State College students following the sixth Julian J. Rothbaum Lecture where she was the key speaker Wednesday (Oct. 8).

“You can be what you want,” she encouraged the students.

“America is about helping the next generation and allowing others to follow in your foot steps,” she said.

Billy used the history of Native American people in North America as an analogy during her talk to a capacity crowd in Mitchell Hall Auditorium on Eastern’s Wilburton campus.

Before America was a country “Native Americans were fiercely independent,” she said during her talk which she called “From Teepees to Casinos: The Evolution of Tribal Nations in Oklahoma.”

When the Civil War began, some tribes were on the side of the south and some on the north. Following the war and by 1898 many of the tribes dissolved. It was not until the 1970’s that tribes began to come together again.

Today Billy says, “Oklahoma tribes are providing jobs for Oklahomans and supporting state infrastructure.”

“Oklahoma tribes are very generous,” she said.

Billy told the group of students, officials and area residents that change can be made by anyone.

“It takes one person to step up . . . and speak up . . . and to step out of their comfort zone to make change.

“Keep in mind, not to battle the person but the idea,” she told the students.

Billy serves as the Deputy Whip, Vice-Chair of the Republican Caucus and is making a bid for a second term. She serves as the Chairman of the International, Federal and Tribal Relations Committee. She is also a member of the General Government and Transportation Committee, the Human Services Committee and Children and Families Committee.

Economists Dr. Robert Dauffenbach from OU and Dr. Larkin Warner of OSU along with Rep. Mike Mass were speakers during the inaugural Julian J. Rothbaum Lectureship in Public Policy in 2002. They were followed by Oklahoma Chancellor for Higher Education Dr. Paul Risser in 2003.

The Oklahoma Observer editor, Forrest J. “Frosty” Troy, was the second McAlester native and the sixth presenter in the lectureship during 2005 series following former Oklahoma Governor George Nigh who served in the Oklahoma legislature, as Lt. Gov. and President of the University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond.

Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, (D) Oklahoma City, addressed a standing room only crowd as the seventh speaker in Mitchell Hall Auditorium during 2006.

Hartshorne native Rothbaum donated $25,000 to Eastern Oklahoma State College Development Foundation that was matched by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to become a $50,000 endowed fund within the foundation to make the lectureship an annual event. Rothbaum was a Tulsa attorney with interests in the oil and gas industries.

The lectureship is designed to enhance the ability of Eastern to bring to the campus recognized authorities to address issues of public affairs at the national, state or local level.

Rothbaum was a longtime oilman, banker, lawyer, philanthropist and former member of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. He was a strong and outstanding advocate for higher education and remained an integral part of the political process and public affairs during his life.

Billy holds her bachelor’s degree from Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, and her Master’s in Education from the University of Oklahoma in Norman.

She is a former educator and small business owner. She also serves as a board member (2006-2008) for the Girl Scouts Sooner Council, current board member C.Y.A.P, former national board member for Girl Scouts of U.S.A. (1996-2004), McClain/Garvin Youth family board member (1994-1996) and Chickasaw Nation Legislature (1996-2001).

Billy is also a Member of Lighthouse Worship Center and the National Rifle Association.

She and her husband Phillip Billy have three children, Masheli (14), Nahinli (11) and Anoli (6).

Caption info:

Representative Lisa Billy is interviewed by Krystal Baker, Eastern Journalism student from McAlester following the sixth Julian J. Rothbaum Lecture where she was the key speaker Wednesday (Oct. 8).

Representative Lisa Billy visits with Jacob Lundry, Eastern Student Government Association President from Haworth following the sixth Julian J. Rothbaum Lecture where she was the key speaker Wednesday (Oct. 8).

Representative Lisa Billy speaks to a capacity crowd on the Wilburton campus of Eastern Oklahoma State College during the sixth Julian J. Rothbaum Lecture where she was the key speaker Wednesday (Oct. 8).