Holdenville resident Jack Sherry has been appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt as a member of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. His appointment was recently confirmed by the Senate, and he will be sworn in at the State Regents’ June 25 meeting. Sherry will serve a nine-year term that expires in May 2029, replacing Regent Toney Stricklin.
“We look forward to working with Regent Jack Sherry,” said State Regents’ Chair Joseph L. Parker, Jr. “He has served Oklahoma in both K-12 and higher education, and his past experiences will be invaluable as we continue to encourage Oklahomans to prepare for college and complete degrees.”
Sherry was appointed by former Gov. Mary Fallin to serve on the Oklahoma Lottery Commission Board. He also has served on the Holdenville Public School Board of Education, the Holdenville Chamber of Commerce, Holdenville Lions Club, Oklahoma Southeast and Young Farmers of America, the Farm Service Agency State Board, Hughes County Cattleman’s Association, and the Hughes County Fair Board. He currently serves as an advisory director to the First National Bank in Holdenville, president of the Hughes County Farm Bureau, and chairman of the Holdenville Hospital Board, and served as a trustee on the Seminole State College Educational Foundation Board of Trustees. He was recognized as Holdenville’s 2015 Citizen of the Year.
“We welcome Regent Sherry’s contributions to our work as we remain focused on increasing college degree completion to meet our state’s business and industry workforce needs,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “His experience in business, coupled with his service as a campus foundation trustee, will greatly benefit the State Regents, our public colleges and universities and our students.”
Sherry attended Oklahoma State University and Seminole State College, and earned his bachelor’s degree from Southern Nazarene University. He owns Jack Sherry Real Estate and Investments in Holdenville and operates a cattle ranch in Hughes and Seminole counties.
“Mr. Sherry is a well-respected businessman and community leader in Hughes County,” said Seminole State College President Lana Reynolds. “He has been a strong advocate for providing higher education opportunities for students in rural Oklahoma. We appreciate his service to the Seminole State College Educational Foundation Board of Trustees and his long-time support of our college.”
Sherry and his wife, Paige, who previously served on the Seminole State College Board of Regents, have three children and three grandchildren.
“I am honored to be appointed to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education,” said Regent Sherry. “With the challenging times we are facing as a state and nation, I look forward to working with the other board members in order to make sound decisions and, as always, continue to advance education in Oklahoma.”
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education is a nine-member constitutional board that coordinates all 25 public higher education institutions in Oklahoma. The board prescribes academic standards of higher education, determines functions and courses of study at state colleges and universities, grants degrees, makes budget requests to the Legislature, allocates funding for each college and university, recommends proposed fees within limits set by the Legislature and manages numerous scholarships and special programs. State Regents are appointed by the governor for nine-year terms.