See also Robert Henry (disambiguation)
Robert Harlan Henry (born April 3, 1953) is a former U.S. judge and politician from Oklahoma, and President of Oklahoma City University since July, 2010.
Born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, Henry earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Oklahoma in 1974 and 1976 respectively. Shortly after graduating from law school, he was elected to his uncle's seat in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, where he served until 1986. In 1986, he was elected Attorney General of Oklahoma, defeating Republican Brian C. Griffin. He was re-elected as Attorney General in November 1990 but resigned in June 1991 to become the Dean of Oklahoma City University School of Law.[1] Governor of Oklahoma David Walters appointed Henry's First Assistant Attorney General Susan B. Loving to succeed him. Henry continued to serve as Dean until 1993.
In 1994, President Bill Clinton appointed him as a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, which, as all other federal judges appointed under Article III, is a lifetime position. He was confirmed by the Senate on May 6, 1994.[2] Judge Henry is a cousin of former Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry, and administered the oath of office at the governor's inauguration in 2003.[3]
In January 2008, Henry succeeded Deanell Reece Tacha as Chief Judge of the Tenth Circuit. On December 10, 2009, Judge Henry was named 17th president and CEO of Oklahoma City University, a private Methodist-affiliated university with a student body of 3,700 graduate and undergraduate students.[4] ,[5] succeeding Tom J. McDaniel, who will assume a new role as Chancellor in July, 2010.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Mike Turpen |
Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Oklahoma 1986, 1990 |
Succeeded by Drew Edmondson |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by Mike Turpen |
Attorney General of Oklahoma January, 1987 – June, 1991 |
Succeeded by Susan B. Loving |
| Preceded by James L. Buckley |
Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit 1994–2010 |
Vacant |
| Preceded by Deanell Reece Tacha |
Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit January, 2008 – July 1, 2010 |
Succeeded by Mary Beck Briscoe |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by Tom J. McDaniel |
President of Oklahoma City University July 1, 2010 – present |
Incumbent |
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