Anona Lou Adair

Anona Adair, a lifelong resident of Norman and one of the University of Oklahoma’s most respected and honored administrators, died Monday, September 7 following an extended illness. She was 75.

Anona was born on October 29, 1939, in Norman, to Robert Clifton and Calie Smith Adair. She attended Norman schools and earned two degrees from OU—a 1961 bachelor’s in education and a 1966 master’s in counseling. Her undergraduate leadership roles centered on the Oklahoma Memorial Union Activities Board and as rush chairman and president of her sorority, Gamma Phi Beta, which she later served as an alumna on the Housing Corporation.

After teaching in Dallas, she returned to OU in 1965 as graduate assistant to the dean of women, Dr. Dorothy Truex. She stayed on as a general counselor before becoming assistant dean of women, working with sororities and student activities. She was named director of student activities, director of the Center for Student Development, associate vice president for Student Affairs, and was appointed OU’s first woman vice president in 1983. She was also the first woman vice president of student affairs in the Big Eight Conference.

During Anona’s 27 years at OU, working for seven university presidents—from George L. Cross in the 1960s to David L. Boren in the late 1990s—and for four interim presidents, she was always focused on the welfare of Sooner students. She was perhaps best known as the advisor to the President’s Leadership Class from 1978 until her retirement in 1991. When Boren became president in 1994, he asked Anona to return for a year to restructure PLC and the Crimson Club and establish the OU Cousins and President’s Trophy programs.

In retirement she served on boards at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church, the American Red Cross, Food and Shelter for Friends and Health for Friends, and was a CASA volunteer.

She was blessed with many honors and awards, but the ones that meant the most to her were student-initiated recognitions: the Anona Adair Outstanding Greek Award, established by Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils on the occasion of her retirement; the commemorative bench in her honor placed in OU’s David A. Burr Park by the President’s Leadership Class; a tribute led by the Crimson Club to have her name inscribed on the Centennial Arches entrance to Van Vleet (south) Oval; and the Anona Adair PLC Scholarships, established by PLC alumni as part of the group’s 50th anniversary reunion in 2011.

She is survived by her sister Cretha Hickman and husband Roy of Norman; her brother Rob Adair and wife Leann of Edmond; nieces Crethann Hickman of Dallas; Caryn Hickman Short, husband Bill and children Collin and Addison of Norman; Andrea Adair Meister, husband Ralph and son Isaac of Edmond; Nancy Adair Kouri, husband Josh and children Olivia and Elijah of Oklahoma City; a nephew, David Adair, wife Anna and their children, Jubilee, Anderson and Elliot of Edmond; and several cousins.

Anona was preceded in death by her parents and two aunts who were an important part of her life, Crethie Mashburn and Neva Smith.

Following a private burial at IOOF Cemetery, memorial services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, September 14 at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church, 419 S. University Boulevard, in Norman. Former members of the President’s Leadership Class and the Crimson Club and other student leaders are invited to sit as a group at the services.

The family suggests the Anona Adair PLC Scholarship Endowment #42525 at the University of Oklahoma Foundation, 100 Timberdell Road, Norman OK 73019, as appropriate for remembrances.