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Bixler Donation
From left: Battisti, Bill, Charlene, Dr. Cunningham, Skeeter |
In 1968, Bill Bixler, like most college students,
was not thinking about how he could give back to the university
that would eventually bestow upon him two degrees. Bill was just
trying to get good grades and win basketball games. He was a
three-year Ranger at the forward position working toward a teaching
degree and hoping to one day coach. In 1970 he graduated with
a Bachelor of Science and in 1974 got his Master of Education
degree, and it was off to a career of teaching and coaching in
Kansas and Texas respectively. |
After twelve years
in education, Bill decided to take his career in another direction
and give the oil field service business a shot. It was a smart
move for Bixler, one that would prove well for him in the future.
He joined the Pool Company, an international well-servicing
company, and would stay there for eleven years. Working his
way through several positions, Bill would make another big
decision and leave Pool to take over as president of Well Tech
Mid-Continent, Inc, a subsidiary of the Key Energy Group (KEG),
in 1993. In six years, Bill would see KEG grow to a billion
dollar company, and in 1999 he accepted a company buyout and
agreed to a three-year non-compete agreement with KEG.
Heading back to his roots in northwest Oklahoma, Bill and
his wife, Charlene, settled in their hometown of Waynoka.
After his agreement with KEG ended, Bill formed First Call
Energy Service Corporation in 2004 and recently sold it to
the Michigan based Dart Energy Corporation.
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| Upon their return to Waynoka, Bill and Charlene were reconnected
to Northwestern where they both attended school at one time.
It was in 2005 that Bill decided to participate in the first
annual alumni basketball game at Percefull Fieldhouse in Alva.
“It was a lot of fun to be back on the court with those
guys,” Bill said, “It was as if time had stood
still and we were all right back in college.”
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BEFORE |
| Nine guys from Bill’s era returned
to Northwestern that night to renew old friendships and see if
the “old” guys still could get up and down the court.
The camaraderie of the night carried over into the locker room
just like old times, but unfortunately the locker room looked
the same as it did in the ‘60s. Something had to be done.
The Bixlers contacted the Foundation and Alumni Office about
what they could do to give back to Northwestern. After talking
with Skeeter Bird, Executive Director of the Foundation, Bill
and Charlene decided to take part in the Millennium Club. The
Millennium Club is the primary giving program to establish
endowments for scholarships for the Northwestern students.
“Bill and Charlene understand the importance of our
alums giving back and want to set a standard and an example
of giving,” Bird said, “Our alums giving back now
and in the future is going to be more important than it ever
was in the past.”
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AFTER |
Bill kept thinking back to the basketball game
in 2005 and decided to contact Bob Battisti, Northwestern Athletic
Director. Bill asked how he could help, and Battisti had an idea.
Percefull Fieldhouse and the Health and Physical Education building
were going through some renovations, but there was one more area
that needed work. Battisti had a plan to completely tear down
and rebuild the men’s basketball locker room to make it
more up to date. |
| “I told Bill my idea, and he said let’s
do it, get it done,” Battisti said. “Bill and Charlene’s
generosity will be a great recruiting tool and one that will
be enjoyed by many young Ranger basketball players. The Bixlers
have displayed a great example of doing something meaningful
to be left behind,” Battisti said.
Besides underwriting the project, Bill and Charlene have donated
a big portion of the funding for the locker room and have been
very active in finding sponsors for the 17 red oak lockers.
Northwestern President Dr. Janet Cunningham said the university
is very grateful for the Bixlers’ leadership and generosity
and for taking the concept from the drawing board to completion.
“The players and coaches are in awe of the transformation
that has occurred in their locker room and will be proud to
call this their home,” Cunningham said.
“We have had some good fortune come our way, and we
felt it was time to do something to give back to Northwestern,” Bill
said.
Despite the challenges of starting his newest business endeavor,
ClayMesa Well Service Company, Bill and Charlene are doing
what they can to provide for the future of Northwestern and
leave behind a legacy for the Ranger family.
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