Dr. John Hays

16th President
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
2001 to Present

A native of southwest Oklahoma, John came to Southwestern in 1964 as a first year student, two years after graduating from Granite High School. After graduating with honors in 1969, he worked for a large accounting firm in Oklahoma City before returning to the university in 1972 as assistant business manager. He earned a Master in Education in 1975 from SWOSU, and then completed a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration at the University of Oklahoma in 1990. He left Southwestern in 1976 and practiced public accounting until 1984. Dr. Hays returned to the University to serve as Comptroller, Assistant to the President, Vice President for Administration and finally as Executive Vice President until his retirement in 2001. Five months after retirement, he was named the 16th president of Southwestern Oklahoma State University. During his career, Dr. Hays has been highly involved in leadership and public service activities, serving on and chairing many universities, community, professional and statewide committees, boards and foundations. He has served with the Western District Boy Scouts, Great Plains Family YMCA (founding member),  Weatherford Area Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Oklahoma, Oklahoma Community Institute, Great Expectations Foundation, Weatherford Regional Hospital, Great Plains Resource Conservation and Development Foundation, Weatherford Senior Housing, Inc. (Van Horn Manor – founding member) Weatherford Area Economic Foundation (founding member), Stafford Airport and Museum, Heartland of America Museum, Weatherford Arts Council (founding member) Quartz Mountain Arts and Conference Center, and he is a member of the local Kiwanis club. His leadership skills and service work were rewarded in 1996 with the Outstanding Service Award from the Weatherford Area Chamber of Commerce, in 1999 with the Community Leadership Excellence Award, sponsored by Leadership Oklahoma, in 1999 with Sam Walton Business Leader Award, sponsored by Wal-Mart and the area Chamber of Commerce and, in 2002, with the Distinguished Service Award, sponsored by the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers. He is a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma (1993) and the Educator’s Leadership Academy (1999). He was also named to the Weatherford Hall of Fame in 2005 and received the Rotary Vocational Service Award in 2007. Dr. Hays has also taught at the collegiate level, served as an elected school board member in Weatherford and is a veteran of the Oklahoma Army National Guard having served from 1963 through 1971, where his last duty assignment was as Battery Commander of CO.B, 171st FA.