David Boren speaks to the press on Sept. 20, 2017, after announcing that, effective June 30, 2018, he would retire from his position as president of the University of Oklahoma after almost 23 years of service.
David and Molly Shi Boren meet with students on their first day on campus.
David and Molly Shi Boren pose on the day he was inaugurated as OU's 13th president.
President David Boren talks with Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first Black president. Boren played a role in helping secure the release of Mandela, who died in December 2013, and was known for advocating the freedom of South Africans, being a fighter against white racist rule and being a seeker of peace.
President Barack Obama (right) and Vice President Joe Biden, left, flank former Oklahoma Sen. David Boren in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009, as the president announced Boren, and former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, as co-chairs of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board.
OU President David Boren with his wife Molly Shi Boren.
University of Oklahoma President David Boren, left, speaks during a news conference as Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis, right, looks on in 2010.
OU President David Boren sits next to former president George H. W. Bush during the former president's visit to campus in November 2014.
OU softball and football national championship teams, President Boren and Joe Castiglione were honored at the White House by George W. Bush in 2001.
David Boren plays saxophone with the OU band during a basketball game at Lloyd Noble Center.
David Boren teaches in his government class.
David Boren with Pride of Oklahoma band members.
David and Molly Shi Boren pose for a photo.
President David Boren and Molly Shi Boren attend a regents meeting in the Oklahoma Memorial Union Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014. University faculty and students surprised the Borens with a celebration marking the 20 years of work and achievements Boren has done with the University of Oklahoma. Boren said it's "not work to be with your best friends and people you love every day."
OU President David Boren speaks with reporters after the OU Board of Regents meeting Monday, Sept. 19, 2011, in Tulsa, when OU was among schools considering a potential move to the Pac-10 Conference. The regents gave Boren the authority to make decisions regarding Oklahoma’s conference affiliation.
President David Boren holds up an award the university received during the Board of Regents meeting March 7, 2018.
OU President David Boren and others, including Max Weitzenhoffer (center), walks among a new class of OU alumni on a graduation day.
OU President David Boren stands with his mouth agape as students chant and sing songs outside of Evans Hall as part of his surprise 20th anniversary celebration. Campus Activities Council and Union Programming Board put on the event where students and faculty gathered in front of Evans Hall to greet Boren with signs and song.
OU President David Boren (right) and his wife Molly Shi Boren (left) stand with Sooners football coach Bob Stoops after the Sooners victory over Alabama's Crimson Tide in the 80th Annual Sugar Bowl Classic held Jan. 2, 2014, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
OU President David Boren holds a press conference to respond to the Sigma Alpha Episilon racist chant in front of Evans Hall in March 2015.
OU President David Boren talks with a reporter on March 9, 2015, the morning after video of a racist fraternity chant sang by OU students went viral.
OU President David Boren interviews with media after his condemnation of the racist chant of the OU's Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter March 9, 2015. Videos of the chant leaked March 8.
University of Oklahoma President David Boren talks with the media before the start of a Board of Regents meeting in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, March 10, 2015.
President David Boren, Leslie Hudson and Clifford Hudson pose as Boren presents them with a plaque commemorating their $1 million donation to the College of Public Health. The money established an endowment for graduate fellowships.
President David Boren discusses his penny tax initiative in October 2015 with the OU Daily's editorial board in its Copeland Hall newsroom. At left is then OU Daily editor-in-chief Joe Mussatto. The proposal, which ultimately failed, asked voters to raise the sales tax by one cent and direct the funding to public education.
OU President David Boren signs the Indigenous Peoples' Day resolution Oct. 12, 2015, on the South Oval. The resolution recognized Indigenous Peoples' Day as a campus holiday on the second Monday of October every year.
OU President David Boren and Amanda Cobb-Greetham, then the director of Native American Studies, walk down the South Oval on Indigenous Peoples' Day in 2015, the first officially celebrated Indigenous Peoples' Day at OU.
President David Boren speaks at the unveiling event for the statue gifted to the university of Omar Khayyam, created by famed sculptor Dr. Hossein Fakhimi, was unveiled outside of what was then known as Hester Hall on March 30, 2016.
Mohammad and Jalal Farzaneh attend the 2016 unveiling of the statue of Omar Khayyam on campus with OU President David Boren. The brothers donated $4 million to the College of International and Area Studies.
OU President David Boren speaks about OU's budget in Oklahoma Memorial Union in April 2016.
OU President David Boren and his wife Molly Shi Boren after the Sooners won the Big 12 Championship game Dec. 2, 2017.
OU regents, President David Boren and family members of Clara Luper pose for a photo March 7, 2018.
David Boren speaks at a campus protest.
OU President David Boren dressed in graduation robes.
OU President David Boren answers questions after the announcement of the new OU president March 26, 2018.
OU President James Gallogly shakes hands with former OU President David Boren.
Annie Davenport
Photo editor
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Former U.S. Senator, Oklahoma Governor and OU President David Boren died Thursday at 83.
Comprehensive coverage on the life and complex legacy surrounding one of the most consequent…