ur Rotarian of the Day today is Robert “Bob” T. Brooks, a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee. He received his B.S. in business administration and M.A. in economics from Middle Tennessee State University, and a certificate in college business management from the University of Nebraska, Omaha.
Bob was hired by his alma mater in 1959 as their first sports information director. After 10 years there, he became the first sports information director at ORU, and handled the season ticket sales during the building of the Mabee Center. (He sold 6,200 tickets the first season.) He also served two years as the VP of Business Affairs and University Relations at ORU before accepting the position of athletic director from 1975 to 1984.
Bob moved back to Tennessee in 1984 to become AD at Austin Peay State University. After his old MTSU friend, Ken Trickey, returned to ORU, Bob joined him in 1990 to return the school to NCAA Division 1 status. He retired in August 1994 after serving for 30 years in intercollegiate athletics and university administration.
In past years, Bob served on the NCAA Midwest Regional Basketball Tournament Advisory Committee, the Division 1-AA Football Committee, and was the co-chair of the Grantland Rice Bowl football championship. He was instrumental in the formation of the Midwestern College Conference and served as its first president. After retirement, Bob served as a peer reviewer for the Division 1 Athletic Certification Program for the NCAA. He was inducted into the ORU Athletic Hall of Fame in January 2009.
Bob is a former Jaycee president in Tennessee, and was president of Southside Rotary in 1983-1984. He is a Paul Harris Fellow, Southside Star, and has 38 years of perfect attendance. He served his country as a staff sergeant in the Air Force, with overseas duty in Guam and Iwo Jima. He and his wife, Mary, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on January 10, 2009. He has four grown children and four grandchildren. Bob and Mary are active members of Trinity United Methodist Church.
Bob, thank you for arranging today’s program. It’s good to have you in the club!
This Week’s Program
Scott Sutton
oday’s speaker is Scott Sutton. Scott is entering his 11th season as head basketball coach at Oral Roberts University. He came to the Golden Eagles in 1995 as an administrative assistant to coach Bill Self (now head coach at Kansas), and then served three years as an assistant coach under Barry Hinson.
When Hinson was named head coach at Missouri State in 1999, Scott was elevated to his current post.
In his 10 seasons as head mentor for ORU, he has averaged better than 18 wins each season, won four Summit League regular season titles, and made four post-season tournaments. His teams have finished first or second in conference play seven times.
Signature wins have also been a trademark of the Sutton era. Over the past 10 years, ORU has defeated the likes of Arkansas, Georgetown, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Seton Hall, USC, and five wins over cross-town rival Tulsa. Most impressive was ORU’s 78-31 win at No. 3 Kansas on Nov. 15, 2006.
In 10 seasons at the reins, Scott has produced one three-time All-American, three freshman All-Americans, 18 All-Conference selections, three Conference Players of the Year, two Conference Newcomers of the Year, two Conference Defensive Players of the Year, and two Conference “Sixth Man” of the Year picks.
National exposure has also been a key element in ORU’s rise. The Golden Eagles have made 14 national television appearances since March 2005, including last season’s meeting with No. 1 North Carolina on ESPN.
Scott and his wife, Kim, are the parents of three daughters: Kallie (10), Lauren (6), and Maggie (3).
Scott, thank you for joining us today. Tulsa Southside Rotary welcomes you!
Southsider Quick Notes
Last week…
- Our ROD was Tom Cox, and our speaker was Jeff Mulder, the director of the Tulsa Airport Authority.
- Corey Williams of Sustainable Tulsa was one of our visitors, and she talked about who they are and what they do. Since we’re partnering with them for our fundraiser in the spring, it was good to learn more about them!
- October 11 is Volunteer Appreciation Night at Biscuit Acres. Be sure to come out and say “thank you” to all the people who have been working to keep our park clean and well-stocked!
- Scotch and Cigar Night will be October 23 at Tom Wilson’s house. Cost will be $30. Tom Wilson will not be repeating his magnificent fall of last year, but it should be a fun event all the same! The sign-up sheet is going around, and if you can help out before or after the event, let Tom know!
- Also around that same time is the District 6110 conference in Rogers, Ark., at the Embassy Suites. It’s October 22-25, and if you’d like to go, all the information is on the district website, 6110times.org.
- The Dictionary Project begins this week! Everybody should have the names of their teams and their schools in their email.
- Here are the picks from the sports report last week. How’d Bob do?
- TU vs. Sam Houston
Bob’s pick: 44-14, TU. The real score: 56-3, TU - OSU vs. Grambling State
Bob’s pick: 45-14, OSU. The real score: 56-6, OSU - Arkansas vs. Alabama
Bob’s pick: 38-17, Alabama. The real score: 35-7, ‘Bama
- Be sure to check the website for our speaker list through the end of the year. Information on it is subject to change, but we’ll do our best to keep it updated!
- Next week our speaker is Lloyd Fields, the State of Oklahoma Labor Commissioner!
