OCU Honors Kelly Haney
OKLAHOMA
CITY – Oklahoma City
University presented its 2011 Bishop Paul W. Milhouse Award to artist Enoch
Kelly Haney, who served as a state senator and chief of the Seminole Nation.
The award recognizes those who
demonstrate outstanding leadership in the community, their local United
Methodist church and the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church, in
addition to being an advocate for the partnership between OCU and the church.
The award has been presented annually since 1982.
Haney holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and
an honorary Doctor of Laws from Oklahoma City University. Haney began building
a portfolio of Native American artwork more than 40 years ago and earned
recognition as a Master Artist of the Five Civilized Tribes.
Haney began his political career as a
member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1980. He served six years in
the House and went on to serve 16 years in the Senate where he was the chairman
of appropriations from 1995 until 2002.
During his time in the legislature, Haney was involved in the
legislative leadership for the development of alternative education, the
Oklahoma History Center and the Native American Cultural Center. His highest
priority as a legislator, and later as chief of the Seminole Nation of
Oklahoma, has been the promotion and improvement of educational opportunities
for Oklahoma students.
Haney’s sculpture, “The Guardian,” was
chosen in a blind competition to be placed atop the State Capitol dome. He also
was commissioned to create the “Chickasaw Warrior” sculpture at the Chickasaw
National Headquarters in Ada and the “Standing His Ground” sculpture in the
Enoch Kelly Haney Center foyer at Seminole State College.
Haney resides in Norman and continues to
work on commissioned sculptures.
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