March 5, 2025
Mr. Lankford (for himself and Mr. Mullin) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to
Relating to the death of the Honorable David Lyle Boren, former Senator for the State of Oklahoma.
Whereas, on April 21, 1941, the Honorable David Lyle Boren (referred to in this preamble as Senator Boren
) was born in Washington, DC, to Lyle H. Boren and Christine McKown Boren;
Whereas Senator Boren attended public school in Seminole, Oklahoma, and Bethesda, Maryland;
Whereas Senator Boren graduated from Yale University with a bachelor’s degree in 1963;
Whereas Senator Boren attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, earning a master’s degree in 1965;
Whereas Senator Boren graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1968, and was admitted to the Oklahoma bar;
Whereas Senator Boren served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, representing Seminole County, from 1967 to 1974
Whereas Senator Boren was a captain in the Oklahoma National Guard from 1968 to 1974;
Whereas Senator Boren served as the Chair of the Division of Social Sciences at Oklahoma Baptist University;
Whereas, in 1974, Senator Boren successfully ran for Governor of Oklahoma, becoming the youngest governor in the United States at the age of 33, and served 1 term;
Whereas, from 1979 to 1994, Senator Boren served in the Senate representing the State of Oklahoma;
Whereas Senator Boren served as a member of several Senate committees, including—
(1)
from 1979 to 1994—
(A)
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; and
(B)
the Committee on Finance;
(2)
from 1993 to 1994—
(A)
the Joint Committee on Taxation; and
(B)
the Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress, serving as co-chair;
(3)
from 1985 to 1992, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, including serving as the chair from 1987 to 1992;
(4)
from 1983 to 1990, the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate; and
(5)
from 1987 to 1988, the Senate Select Committee on Secret Military Assistance to Iran and Nicaraguan Opposition;
Whereas Senator Boren retired from the Senate and became President of the University of Oklahoma, serving from 1994 to 2018;
Whereas Senator Boren spearheaded many reforms at the University of Oklahoma, including—
(1)
opening the Honors College;
(2)
expanding study abroad programs;
(3)
beautification efforts; and
(4)
support for athletics;
Whereas Senator Boren was the first Oklahoman to serve the State of Oklahoma as a State legislator, Governor, Senator, and President of the University of Oklahoma; and
Whereas, on February 20, 2025, Senator Boren died at the age of 83, leaving behind his wife, Molly, and 2 children, Dan and Carrie: Now, therefore, be it
That—
(1)
the Senate—
(A)
has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable David Lyle Boren, former Senator for the State of Oklahoma; and
(B)
respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate—
(i)
communicate this resolution to the House of Representatives; and
(ii)
transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of the Honorable David Lyle Boren; and
(2)
when the Senate adjourns on the date of the adoption of this resolution, the Senate stands adjourned as the further mark of respect to the memory of the Honorable David Lyle Boren.