The OSU 1990 Spring Commencement speaker was former President George H.W. Bush. His son President George W. Bush has also been a guest speaker at OSU's graduation. Both Presidents mentioned Eskimo Joe's in their speech, thrilling the crowd with the mention of a favorite eating establishment among orange fans.
There was a bit of a controversy in deciding what degree to award George H.W. Bush, and in the end it was decided he would be given the honorary degree in economics, his major at Yale.
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Oklahoma State University officials agreed Friday to give an honorary degree to President Bush when he visits Stillwater in May to give OSU's commencement address but not without controversy.
Bush will be given a "doctor of economics" degree the first honorary degree awarded by OSU in 60 years.
OSU officials originally had considered giving the president an honorary Ph.D. in history.
But a vocal minority of OSU history department professors objected, claiming that a Ph.D. must be an earned degree, said John Thornton, chairman of the OSU faculty council.
"History professors were clearly divided. It was quite a tussle.
The matter was over the preservation of the Ph.D. as an earned degree," Thornton said.
OSU officials then looked to the economics department.
"The degree we'll be giving the president is a "doctor of economics.' It's an honorary degree, and is not the same as an earned degree," noted Dr. James Boggs, OSU academic vice president.
Bush will receive the honorary degree May 4, immediately after he gives the OSU spring commencement address.
Bush holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Yale University.
"We think this is a particularly appropriate honorary degree to grant to the president," OSU president John Campbell said Friday.
"It's also a distinct honor to grant OSU's first honorary degree in modern history to the president of the United States during our centennial year."
When OSU was known as Oklahoma A&M College, the school awarded four honorary degrees to speakers and dignitaries. OSU regents decided on the honorary economics degree for Bush during a meeting Friday at Northeastern A&M College in Miami, OK. In other action at the meeting, OSU regents increased room rates for OSU dormitories by 5 percent for next fall.
Here's a clip of President George H.W. Bush's speech:
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