Former Oklahoma State Governor George Nigh to speak at NOC commencement May 3
Former OKlahoma State Governor George Nigh will address candidates for graduation at Northern Oklahoma College 2025 commencement exercises Saturday, May 3.
NOC Tonkawa candidates will march into Foster-Piper Fieldhouse on the Tonkawa campus at 9:30 a.m. on May 3.
That same day NOC Enid and Stillwater candidates will enter Briggs Auditorium on the Enid campus at 2:30 p.m.
Pinning ceremonies for graduates from the NOC nursing program will take place at 7 p.m. on May 2 in the Kinzer Performing Arts Center in Tonkawa.
George Nigh served as governor four times, first serving as the Oklahoma governor in 1963 serving an unexpired term and then later serving a second unexpired term in 1979. He then served two full terms from 1979-1987.
While a senior at East Central University in 1950, Nigh gave his first commencement speech to an 8th Grade class in Pittsburgh County in 1950. Since then, Nigh has never missed a year giving a commencement address now counting 76 straight years. He has given over 250 commencement speeches.
Nigh, a native of McAlester, Oklahoma, graduated from McAlester High School. After serving in the United States Navy, Nigh attended Eastern Oklahoma A & M College, now known as Eastern Oklahoma State College. He then graduated from East Central State College in Ada, Oklahoma in 1950. From 1951 to 1959, he alternated between service in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and as a teacher in the McAlester public schools.
During his tenure in the state legislature, he introduced legislation designating “Oklahoma!” as the state song. He served as lieutenant governor of Oklahoma from 1959 to 1963. Taking office at age 31, he became the youngest state lieutenant governor in the United States.
In 1963, Nigh was sworn in as the 17th governor of Oklahoma for nine days, filling an unexpired term. He later served five days in 1979, serving another unexpired term. 1978, he was elected Oklahoma’s 22nd governor serving from 1979-1987.
He later served as the president of the University of Central Oklahoma from 1992-1997. He also is an Oklahoma Hall of Fame Inductee receiving that honor in 1989.
The Nigh University Student Center at UCO was named in honor of George and his wife, Donna.
George and Donna Nigh also founded the George and Donna Nigh Leadership Academy held yearly in Oklahoma City for students planning a career in public service.