Guy Patton to succeed Ron Burton
as president of the OU Foundation

Guy L. Patton

Ron D. Burton

Guy L. Patton, a 47-year-old OU graduate with a distinguished career in finance and investment, has been appointed president of the University of Oklahoma Foundation Inc., the independent, nonprofit organization that provides private support for the University.

The selection of Patton, a Tulsa native who has been with Fidelity Investments and currently serves as executive director of Fidelity Research Institute in Boston, was announced by Michael A. Cawley, chair of the OU Foundation Board of Trustees.

Patton is only the third president of the 63-year-old foundation. He will assume his new position on October 15 from Ron D. Burton, who retires after 37 years with the Foundation, 29 years as president.

"I am honored to return to my home state and serve an organization with the mission of bettering the University that began my career more than 20 years ago," Patton said. "I have a tremendous challenge of meeting the mark set by my predecessors, but I am confident we will build upon the superior efforts that have always been the hallmark of the OU Foundation."

Cawley expressed confidence in Patton’s selection.

"I couldn't be more pleased with our board’s appointment of Guy Patton. The University of Oklahoma Foundation and the state of Oklahoma are extremely fortunate to have Guy Patton and his family return to our state," Cawley said. "His professional career has been impeccable. His skill sets and talents are uniquely suited to lead the OU Foundation to an enhanced level of excellence.

"Equally important, Guy Patton and his wife, Caroline, have a passion for the University and for the state that is impressive to see. They are excited about coming home and giving back of their time and abilities to an organization that serves their alma mater. I am confident that the supporters of the University of Oklahoma will soon appreciate the enthusiasm, integrity, ability and leadership skills of Guy Patton."

Patton's extensive background in finance and investment began in 1985 when he joined Fidelity Investments after earning bachelor's (1983) and master’s (1985) degrees in economics from OU. During his 22-year career with Fidelity, he has held numerous high-profile, executive positions, including president of the company’s outsourcing and 401(k) business, president of its tax-exempt services business, and executive vice president and chief human resources officer for all of Fidelity, with membership on its 10-person executive committee.

As alumni, the Pattons have maintained close ties with the University.

They are Endowed President’s Associates and founders of OU’s new Price Hall. Patton also is a member of the Michael F. Price College Advisory Board Executive Committee and the Center for Financial Studies Advisory Board.

The couple has two children, Jacob Andrew and Grace Caroline. Patton will be joining an organization that has been experiencing the most successful period in its history. The Foundation's total assets have grown from $17.5 million in 1978, when Burton succeeded founding executive director R. Boyd Gunning, to approximately $864 million at the end of fiscal 2007.

During that period, the Foundation received, invested and managed nearly $1.1 billion in private donations and expended $834 million to benefit University capital improvements, research support, student scholarships and fellowships, equipment, faculty supplements and awards, and other forms of program enrichment. The Foundation endowment rose dramatically from $10 million in 1978 to $643 million at the end of fiscal 2007, forming the major part of University's recently announced $1 billion total endowment.

Ron D. Burton "I look back on these last 29 years with great pride and humility,"

Burton said. "Through the many decades, the OU Foundation has positively impacted the lives of countless OU students, faculty and staff. I am proud of this tremendous legacy, but I am also humbled because I know I was only a part of this effort. It takes a great deal of dedication and sacrifice by many people to build an organization like the OU Foundation. I will always cherish my years here and the people who have filled those years with great memories."

Cawley praised Burton's commitment to the Foundation. "Ron Burton has been a remarkable leader and one of the most self-sacrificing individuals I've ever known," Cawley said. "His efforts have reshaped and expanded the OU Foundation, allowing it to more fully support OU's tradition of excellence. He will be greatly missed."

Burton, who holds both a bachelor's degree in accounting and a juris doctorate from OU, joined the OU staff as an accountant in 1969, became Foundation treasurer in 1970 and executive director in 1978, a title later changed to president.

The hallmark of Burton's administration of the Foundation has been strict adherence to its fiduciary responsibility in carrying out the donors' wishes in the expenditure of their gifts to the Foundation for the benefit of the University.

"The Foundation provides the mechanism to allow donors to benefit the area of the University that means the most to them. That's a win for both parties," Burton said. "Helping people and the University of Oklahoma are two things that are important in my life. I have been able to combine them in the best job one could possibly imagine. I'm grateful to the Foundation's trustees for affording me the opportunity to represent a wonderful organization and a great university."

In addition to his professional role with the Foundation, Burton is known nationally and internationally for his service to Rotary. A former director of Rotary International, he currently is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Rotary Foundation, lending his expertise to the funding of the organization's worldwide philanthropies. He has received Rotary's two highest honors — the Rotary International Service Above Self Award and the Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award.

Burton's many civic activities have included key roles in the founding of the Norman Public School Foundation and the Norman Community Foundation. He has held a number of leadership positions with the Last Frontier Council of the Boy Scouts of America and received scouting's highest honor, the Silver Beaver Award. In 1990 the Norman United

Way/Junior League recognized him as Civic Volunteer of the Year. Both natives of Duncan, Burton and his wife, Jetta, have been married for 40 years. They have two children, both OU graduates, Ronna Ellen Schenk of Leesburg, Virginia, and Josh Andrew Burton of Amarillo, Texas, and two grandchildren.