In 1943, when former Gov. George Nigh was a sophomore in high school, he listened to the No. 1 most popular song on the radio “Oklahoma” – from the musical of the same name.
In 1953, as a state representative, Nigh introduced a bill to make “Oklahoma!” the state song.
Also speaking will be Dr. Bob Blackburn and Bob Burke
David Walters is president of Walters Power International. WPI supplies, develops, services and manages electrical generation power plants around the world. Formed in 1995, WPI and its affiliated companies have combined the expertise of independent power professionals with the resources of individual and institutional investment funds to develop and supply more than $200 million in power projects in more than 20 countries.
Walters, who served as the Governor of Oklahoma (1990-94), is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. He entered politics after a successful business career and brought his private sector expertise to the governor’s office. Walters cut the number of state employees, aggressively promoted economic development and achieved a 15-year record in job growth. He passed the state’s first bond issue in 25 years, which invested more than $350 million in the state’s infrastructure, and advanced the first workers’ compensation insurance reform in 15 years.
Walters led trade delegations to eight nations during his term and completely reorganized international trade for the state, resulting in Oklahoma’s international trade growing at twice the national average.