Molly Shi Boren might not be the first Boren in the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, but she was first in many other things.

Boren, wife of OU President David L. Boren, was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame at a ceremony sponsored by the Oklahoma Heritage Association Thursday night along with seven others.

Molly Boren was the first to hold the positions of both First Lady of OU and First Lady of the state of Oklahoma, and she was also a pioneer in other areas.

She became one of the youngest female judges in Oklahoma history when she was appointed special district judge for Pontotoc County. She also was one of the first women to serve as a trustee of the Oklahoma Bar Association, President Boren said.

President Boren said Molly Boren continues to provide services to the state and the university.

"Mrs. Boren is extremely modest and always unwilling to admit to her many accomplishments," President Boren said. "She has been my full partner both in politics and in our life at the University of Oklahoma."

President Boren said that many of the best ideas of new initiatives at OU have come from his wife, including the Bench Program, the transformation of the Health Sciences Center campus, the OU Cousins program and the launching of the Religious Studies program.

The hall of fame inducts individuals every year through a nomination process and an anonymous selection committee composed of past honorees, members of the board of directors and members of the heritage association, said Jenny Campbell, managing editor of the Oklahoma Heritage Association.

President Boren said Molly Boren's initiative and caring have led to many new ideas that help the state.

"She, along with Joe Williams of Tulsa, led the effort to establish the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve in Oklahoma," he said. "Without her leadership, the Oklahoma Arts Institute would not have an endowment for student scholarships today. I am very lucky to be married to such a remarkable and caring person."

The other inductees included Bill Anoatubby of Ada, Frederick F. Drummond of Pawhuska, William E. Durrett and Christine Gaylord Everest of Oklahoma City, Leona Mitchell of Enid, R. James Woolsey of McLean, Va. and Wiley Post of Maysville, who was killed in an airplane crash in 1935, Campbell said.

President Boren, who was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1988, said he is proud of his wife's recognition.
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