FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        April 5, 2007

GIFT FROM HAROLD HAMM WILL CREATE ENDURING SYMBOL
OF RANGER PRIDE AT NORTHWESTERN-ENID

            Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s most treasured symbol – the bucking horse and its rider – is about take on new life on its Enid campus.

            Northwestern announced Wednesday that Enid businessman Harold Hamm will fund the creation of a bronze statue of the horse and rider that will become a focal point of the Enid campus and an enduring symbol of Ranger pride.

Dr. Cheryl Evans, dean of Northwestern Oklahoma State University; Harold Hamm, Enid businessman; and Dr. Janet Cunningham, president of Northwestern, survey the open space at Northwestern-Enid that will showcase a bronze statue of “The Ranger.”

            Dr. Janet Cunningham made the announcement at a dinner honoring Hamm and attended by university leaders, family and friends.

            The statue will be named “The Ranger.”

            “The horse and rider symbol has been the cornerstone of our ‘Ride with Pride’ campaign and characterizes the spirit and courage of northwestern Oklahomans,” said Cunningham. “This outstanding work of art will be a wonderful addition to the campus and will be a source of pride for generations of Rangers.

            “We are so pleased that Harold Hamm has stepped forward and supported this project,” Cunningham said. “He understands what Northwestern means to all of northwest Oklahoma and once again has graciously given back to the University.”

Noted western artist Harold Holden of Kremlin has been commissioned to create the “The Ranger.”             When completed, it will stand approximately 10 feet high and will be placed on a four foot base that will recognize the contributions of Hamm.

“The Ranger” will stand on a plot of grass east of the Northwestern building at 2929 E. Randolph, south of the university sign. Completion of the project is expected in early 2008.

            The Enid statute will be a duplicate of one that will stand on Northwestern’s Alva campus, funded by alumnus and former president Tom McDaniel and his wife Brenda.

            Holden has been capturing the West in sculptures and paintings for more than 30 years. While his work can be found in the Oklahoma State Capitol and on a postage stamp, his public sculptures have kept him busy the last few years.

            His sculpture of Will Rogers on horseback can be seen at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City and his piece “We Will Remember” is part of a memorial at Oklahoma State University that honors members of the basketball team killed in a place crash. Holden also is working on numerous Oklahoma Centennial projects.

            Hamm is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Continental Resources, Inc., one of the largest privately owned oil and gas exploration and production companies in the country. He simultaneously serves as chairman of the Hiland Partners, GP (HPGP) and Hiland Partners, MLP (HLND), publicly-owned mid-size natural gas processing and gathering companies.

He also serves as chairman of the board of the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association (OIPA), the nation’s largest and most influential statewide oil and gas association. Within that organization, he has been president of the Wildcatters Club of Oklahoma since 1989.

In 1996, Hamm received the first honorary master’s degree ever bestowed at Northwestern and continues to award scholarships to deserving graduates of Ringwood High School who attend Northern Oklahoma College and Northwestern. Northwestern’s business program has recognized Hamm by naming an endowed chair in his honor.

Hamm is a member of the Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce board of directors and was named by the Chamber as Business Person of the Year in 1992 and 2005.

In the community, he was a campaign chair of the $2.5 million project to renovate the Enid YMCA and served on that board for many years. For 20 years, he has funded scholarships through the Marcia Guthrie Scholarship Fund administered by the AME Church in Oklahoma City.

-NW-

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