Hargis selected as new OSU president

NEWS 9

Here is a new top cowboy at Oklahoma State University.

OSU's board of regents named Burns Hargis as the university's 18th president on Dec 4. The new job gives him the chance to return to his alma mater.

Hargis is known throughout Oklahoma for his business, civic and political involvement.

"We felt like the entire package was something that frankly no one else even came close to," said Doug Burns, presidential search committee chairman.

Hargis said he's excited, but a little nervous about his new job.

"This is a huge operation," Hargis said. "This is a huge operation. You've got 33,000 students. You've got four campuses, thousands of staff, faculty. It's an enormous job."

Hargis will not take over as president until the summer of 2008. He resigned from OSU's board of regents in July.  He must be off the board for a year before he can be employed, according to state law.