OCU honors Kelly Haney with Bishop Milhouse Award
Oklahoma City University presented its 2011 Bishop Paul W. Milhouse Award to Enoch Kelly Haney on Dec. 9. Haney is a member of First American United Methodist Church, Norman, in the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference. He was nominated by Dr. John Crooch. The Milhouse award recognizes laity who demonstrate outstanding leadership in the community, their local United Methodist churches, and the annual conference, in addition to being advocates for the partnership between OCU and the denomination. The award has been presented annually since 1982. Haney holds a Bachelor of Arts and an honorary Doctor of Laws from OCU. He is a renowned artist and has been a state senator and chief of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma. His involvement in the Church includes a stint as OIMC youth director, 1967-1968. Haney began building his portfolio of Native American artwork more than 40 years ago and earned recognition as a Master Artist of the Five Civilized Tribes. His sculpture, "The Guardian," was chosen in a blind competition to be placed atop the State Capitol dome. His "Chickasaw Warrior" stands in front of the McDaniel Student Center at OCU. Commissioned sculptures have been placed at Chickasaw National Headquarters, Ada, and in the Enoch Kelly Haney Center foyer at Seminole State College. He began his political career in 1980, serving six years in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and 16 years in the Senate, where he chaired the Appropriations Committee from 1995 until 2002. He was a legislative leader in the development of alternative education, the Oklahoma History Center, and the Native American Cultural Center. His highest priority as a legislator—and later as Seminole chief—was promotion and improvement of educational opportunities for students. During his four years as chief, Haney set in motion the establishment of a tribal court, established a countywide public transit system, expanded tribal land holdings, established a Department of Commerce, improved and expanded tribal law enforcement, improved financial accountability, established a safe house for victims of domestic violence, and instituted an annual statewide planning session through which Seminole citizens could contribute ideas for tribal improvement. The OCU University-Church Relations Office welcomes nominations at any time for the Milhouse award. Contact Maggie Ball with the name of outstanding laity you know who express their faith in concrete ways in community and in support of OCU. To contact Rev. Ball: mball@okcu.edu, 405-208-5060. Deadline is Oct. 1 for nominations for the 2012 award. |
