Friday, 09 September 2011
At an event attended by members of the Bellmon family, Oklahoma State University dedicated the Henry Bellmon Research Center today. The HBRC is a first-of-its-kind facility on the Oklahoma State University campus created to facilitate interdisciplinary research. The highlight of the event was the unveiling of a bust of the late Oklahoma governor, which will sit in the lobby of the building. OSU commissioned the bust by local artist Lou Hale.
“This facility is a lasting tribute to Henry Bellmon’s legacy at OSU and throughout Oklahoma,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “It exemplifies research, discovery and economic growth – all things Henry Bellmon was passionate about.”
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Bellmon graduated from OSU (then Oklahoma A&M) in 1942. As governor, his administration oversaw the establishment of the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) and the Centers of Excellence Program. His support of education at all levels is well documented and after his retirement from public service he was an active member and supporter of OSU’s Education and Research Foundation, now named the Center for Innovation and Economic Development. He also taught at OSU.
Within its 124,000 square feet, the HBRC brings together more than 200 faculty members, post-doctoral students and graduate students. The researchers tackle issues related to energy, food safety, cancer treatment and more. The $70 million facility is the single largest project from the 2005 Oklahoma Higher Education Capital Bond Program.
“The HBRC is unlike any other building on the OSU-Stillwater campus because it brings together researchers from multiple disciplines who work collaboratively on cutting-edge projects,” said Dr. Stephen McKeever, OSU’s vice president for research and technology transfer. “It already has and will continue to help OSU researchers solve some of the world’s toughest problems.”
The HBRC is the first of a multi-phase research complex designed to enhance research capabilities at OSU. The completion of additional phases, which include the renovation of the Physical Sciences building, will make the HBRC and surrounding areas a hub of interdisciplinary activity. The HBRC is expected to aid in the recruitment of additional high-quality faculty, and to vault OSU’s research programs to even higher levels.
