Lifestyles
Brad Keithley presents $50,000 gift to SOSU Student Union drive
By Marla Edelen, SOSU
Mar 30, 2004

DURANT, Okla. - The drive to build the new Student Union at Southeastern Oklahoma State University received a boost recently with the announcement of a $50,000 gift from Brad Keithley.

Keithley has been an active member of the Student Union Building Steering Committee.  In addition, he has hosted Student Union fundraising events in Dallas, Houston, Oklahoma City, and New York City.

Keithley is a graduate of the University of Tulsa and the University of Virginia School of Law.  A native of Illinois, he now lives on Lake Texoma. Keithley serves as the Co-Head of the Global Oil & Gas Practice of the Jones Day law firm.  Jones Day encompasses more than 2,200 lawyers with 29 locations worldwide and ranks among the world's largest and most geographically diverse law firms. The Oil & Gas group represents a number of major oil and gas companies in transactions and disputes throughout the world.

A love for the arts first drew Keithley to Southeastern and Durant through the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival.  Since then, he has become a sponsor of the annual Glen D. Johnson Golf Classic and Southeastern Arts Gala, as well as a major contributor to OSF, Theatre at Southeastern, and Presidential Partners.

"Brad is a great friend and supporter of the University,'' said Southeastern President Glen D. Johnson.   "His interest and leadership have inspired others to get involved with Southeastern. Most importantly, our students are the direct beneficiaries of his generosity. We are grateful for all of his support - he is a true friend of Southeastern Oklahoma State University.''

"Southeastern is an extremely important part of our community from a number of perspectives,'' said Keithley. "It is critical to the success of Southeastern to have a set of facilities which are as good as our students. I am pleased to be involved in this step in that effort.''

The new student union will provide a state-of-the-art facility for students and the community.

Site preparation and construction on the project will begin this summer; groundbreaking is set for Homecoming on Saturday, September 25; and the grand opening and dedication are slated for spring 2006.

The total projected cost for the student union is $14.5 million. Project funding includes $8.5 million from university resources (revenue bonds, student contributions, university commitments) and $6 million from private fundraising resources (alumni, Presidential Partners, staff and faculty, individual donors).

Brad Keithley, second from right, announced recently that he is contributing $50,000 toward the new Student Union at Southeastern. Acknowledging the gift are, left to right, Student Union Committee Chairman Bart Rustin, Southeastern President Glen D. Johnson, and Southeastern Director of Advancement Richard Ayers.