(21) Governor David L. Boren, 1975 to 1979

              MS 50 (portrait only)David Lyle Boren, Democrat. Served from 1975 to 1979. Boren was born in Washington, D.C., April 21, 1941, the son of Congressman Lyle H. and Christine McKown Boren. He graduated from Yale University Summa Cum Laude, receiving a B.A. degree in 1963, graduated with honors with a M.A. degree from Oxford University, England, in 1965, and received his J.D. degree in 1968 from the University of Oklahoma where he was class president of the College of Law. He was an outstanding law graduate and scholar and was selected as a Rhodes Scholar. In addition to his profession as an attorney, he was Chairman of the Division of Social Sciences and professor of political science at Oklahoma Baptist University and also Company Commander of the Oklahoma Army National Guard. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1967 and served until his election as Governor in November 1974. He was inaugurated January 13, 1975, and made his home in Seminole before moving into the Governor's Mansion. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1978, and served successive terms until he became president of the University of Oklahoma in Norman in November 1994.The Governor of Oklahoma is the chief executive officer of the state and is elected for a four year term. Principal powers and responsibilities are outlined by the state constitution and by statute and include certain appointive powers, the veto or approval of bills passed by the Legislature, the granting of pardons and paroles, the summoning of special sessions of the legislature, and the calling out of the militia. Moreover, the Governor is directly responsible for the preparation of the state budget, serves as an ex officio member of several boards and commissions, receives reports from various state officers and agencies, and is charged with the duty of seeing that all laws are faithfully executed in the state.