Toby Keith to Receive Posthumous Honorary Degree From University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma will fete late singer-songwriter Toby Keith with an honorary degree during the university’s May 11 commencement ceremony at Lloyd Noble Center.
Keith is one of four individuals who will earn an honorary degree during the upcoming ceremony. According to The Oklahoman, other recipients include Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree David Proctor, educator Barbara Ann Posey Jones and the late Tom Love, founder of Love’s Travel Stops.
“Through their exceptional talents, transformative leadership and unwavering commitment to serving others, each of this year’s honorary degree recipients has left an indelible mark on the world,” OU President Joseph Harroz told the outlet. “Their profound dedication has touched countless lives, and we take great pride in conferring the university’s highest honor upon them.”
Keith died on Feb. 5 at age 62 after a battle with stomach cancer. In March, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum revealed that Keith will be inducted as a member later this year. In making the announcement, CMA CEO Sarah Trahern revealed that they had found out that Keith would be an inductee just hours after his passing.
Keith’s official Instagram account also noted in a post about his OU honorary degree that the late musician was an avid supporter of the university’s sports programs, as well as a longtime donor. When the institution’s softball team earned a third consecutive national championship win in June, Keith was there celebrating at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium, even leading a rendition of his 2000 hit “How Do You Like Me Now?!”
During the University of Oklahoma’s men’s basketball game on Feb. 6, the university honored the late singer-songwriter by placing a guitar, a red Solo cup (in honor of Keith’s 2012 hit of the same name) and a University of Oklahoma ball cap on the seat where Keith would typically sit for games. Earlier this month, the name “TOBY” and an image of the singer were painted at Owen Field on the 25-yard line.
See the announcement on Toby Keith’s Instagram account:
Jessica Nicholson
Billboard
