Former Oklahoma City Mayor Ron Norick was among those appointed by Gov. Brad Henry on Monday to serve on the new Oklahoma Education Lottery Commission.
Other members included a former teacher of the year and former president of the American Bar Association.
"I've assembled a great, bipartisan group of Oklahomans with impeccable credentials, unquestioned integrity and a strong commitment to building a better state," Henry said.
"I appreciate their willingness to serve Oklahoma in pursuit of better-funded public schools, universities and career technology centers. With their help and leadership, Oklahoma will soon be able to assist public education through the Oklahoma Education Lottery."
Norick, manager of Norick Investment Company, was Oklahoma City mayor from 1987 to 1998.
He has drawn praise for his vision in starting the $300 million downtown redevelopment project known as MAPS and also for his leadership after the bombing of the federal building in 1995 which killed 168.
Other members are:
- Cindy Ball of Muskogee, named teacher of the year in 2004 by the state Department of Education and in 2002 by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence.
- James Orbison of Tulsa, an attorney, former chairman of the Oklahoma Transportation Authority, and former director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka.
- William Paul of Oklahoma City, attorney, former senior vice president of Phillips Petroleum Co., former director of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce and former president of the American Bar Association.
- George R. Charleton Jr. of Tulsa, owner of Charleton Investments, Charleton Construction Co., Charleton Catering and Tulsa-area Subway Sandwich Shops; former minority retailer of year and Tulsa small businessman of the year.
- Linda Dzialo of Lawton, retired educator, former vice president of Cameron University and former assistant superintendent, principal and teacher in Lawton Public Schools.
- Thomas F. Riley of Stillwater, businessman and certified public accountant; former vice president-CEO of Chickasaw Telecommunications; former employee of Price Waterhouse Coopers audit and tax department.
The chairman of the commission will be chosen by its members. Under the lottery statute approved by voters, the panel is responsible for hiring an executive director, promulgating rules to govern lottery games and approving contracts.
To speed up the process, the Office of State Finance has been compiling resources for members and has assigned staff to temporarily assist the panel with daily operations.
Henry hopes that scratch-off games lottery games will begin in October or November, with electronic games in operation six months after that and Powerball-type games beginning in the fall of 2006.
The lottery is expected to produce $150 million for education after it is in full swing.
"We've been working behind the scenes to get the lottery ball rolling," Henry said. "We want to move as quickly as possible to raise funds for education, but we also want to be cautious and make sure we do things right. Oklahomans deserve the best lottery in the country."
State law requires the lottery panel to include at least one attorney, one accountant and one professional with marketing experience.
Henry's appointees have undergone background checks by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. They must be confirmed by the state Senate.
to: gov. brad henry.