Carl Albert president to retire - College thrived under man's 31-year tenure

POTEAU -- Joe E. White, one of Oklahoma's longest-serving college presidents, announced Monday he will retire this summer as head of Carl Albert State College.

White, who has been president for 31 years, will retire July 3. A president-elect is expected to be named today. That person will work with White during the spring semester to ease the transition. White said Monday he couldn't release the name of his successor, but added it is not someone already working at the college.

White, 69, was named the college's third president in 1975. His wife, Martha, retired six years ago.

"When you get my age, you get all your ducks in a row and it's time to move on," he said.

Mentored by the college's namesake, former U.S. Speaker of the House Carl Albert, he has seen the college grow from a few hundred students to 2,700 enrolled this semester. Three former U.S. presidents -- Bush, Ford and Carter -- have visited the college, thanks to Albert's influence.

White said he's received job offers over the years but remained committed to the Poteau campus and the of community colleges.

"We open up doors for students to pursue an education," he said. "Students who weren't supposed to get college degrees get college degrees."

Phil Moss, interim chancellor of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, said White will be missed.

"It has been my pleasure to work with Joe White for more than 25 years," Moss said. "His service to his institution, the region and our state has been outstanding, touching the lives of thousands of students over the years."

F.L. Holton, chairman of the college's board of regents, said White is a dedicated leader who helped secure money to build 10 new buildings on campus in as many years. Holton was on the board that hired White in 1975.

The college's main campus in Poteau includes housing for about 300 students, including 80 honors students. A 30,000-square-foot building in Sallisaw recently opened as the college's branch location. Courses also are offered at the McCurtain County Higher Education Center in Idabel.

White, a native of Alex, earned his bachelor's degree and doctorate at Oklahoma State University and master's degree at Southwestern State University.

Before joining Carl Albert, he was chief officer of the Oklahoma Student Loan Authority and superintendent of public schools in Elk City and Sentinel.