Garrett family gifts celebrate a remarkable legacy

Kathy Garrett Willard

Kathy and her mother Elizabeth Garrett

Kathy, OU '88 accounting BBA, pictured in the 1988 Sooner yearbook

By Tracey Zeeck

A family’s youngest child doesn’t set the household pace, they simply enter it upon arrival. Learning to navigate an active home from day one just might pave the way for a life well-lived.

Elizabeth Kathleen “Kathy” Garrett Willard was born the fifth of five children, the only daughter of Tom and Elizabeth Garrett. The Garretts were supportive and loving parents who modeled a life of service and were devoted to family, church, education, scouting and the community at large. They instilled these values in their children.

Kathy never veered from that path. Her childhood scouting badge assemblage is so impressive, it’s part of the collection at Camp Fire’s state headquarters. When she graduated from Northwest Classen High School in Oklahoma City in 1984, she was presented with the Classen Medal of Honor. At the University of Oklahoma, she earned her BBA in accounting and graduated as Outstanding Senior Woman of the class of 1988.

Whether Kathy was being followed home by stray dogs or directing finances as longtime CFO at entertainment company Live Nation, this baby of the family seemed born to lead.

Kathy was, in a word, remarkable. Her 33-year career included leadership roles at Arthur Andersen, SFX and Clear Channel Entertainment. She was named to the Billboard Women in Music list multiple times. She mentored countless young industry professionals throughout her career. After her father passed away in 1999, Kathy returned home regularly to spend long weekends with her mother and help her in various ways.

She lived with purpose and friends say she had a sparkle in her eye that always remained. Kathy passed away on April 8, 2024—the day of the total solar eclipse—finally succumbing to the ravages of ALS. But her legacy at OU will always shine bright, thanks to generous gifts from Kathy and her family to the OU Foundation.

The Kathy Garrett Scholarship in Accounting Fund was established by her mother in 2023 for OU’s John T. Steed School of Accounting in the Price College of Business and has since surpassed $2 million after a powerful gift from Kathy’s estate.

“As the scholarship is focused on students with high financial need, we know this award will be incredibly valued and appreciated by the recipients,” said Karen Hennes, OU’s W.K. Newton Chair in Accounting. “The scholarship will help the school continue to attract and support the best students as they complete accounting degrees at OU.”

The Garrett family ties are strong, as are their ties to OU. “We attended OU. Our parents met at OU. So did our grandparents,” said Kathy’s brother Paul Garrett.

When Kathy received her ALS diagnosis, she began to plan her estate. “Even in this difficult time, she was still thinking of others,” said brother John Garrett.

In honor of her mother and grandmother, Kathy set up a scholarship benefitting the OU Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts for students hoping to become illustrators. Kathy planned additional gifts elsewhere for ALS research, for the family’s church, for scouting, for music education, for housing and several other causes important to her and to her family.

In the challenging face of ALS, Kathy remained positive, her longtime friend Mary Cochran said. “Her faith became stronger, too. It was powerful to witness.”

“My sister saw a way to use the money she’d earned to help others,” said Paul. “I hope Kathy’s generosity will inspire others to carry out their own legacies in meaningful ways. She has certainly inspired me.”