Dr. O’Rear Inducted Into Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame

The Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society honored Dr. Edgar O’Rear III at a dinner and induction ceremony, November 4, 2019, at the Nigh Center on the University of Central Oklahoma campus in Edmond.  He was selected along with seven other leaders with distinguished careers in teaching, research, medicine, government, economic development, and public service for its 2019 Hall of Fame honors. 

A native of Jasper, Alabama, Edgar O’Rear received degrees from M.I.T. and Rice University in chemistry and chemical (biomedical) engineering before joining the faculty of the School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering at The University of Oklahoma. Dr. O’Rear has demonstrated excellence in four of the six areas required to be considered for the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame.

Dr. O’ Rear has held a number of administrative positions during his career including Associate Dean for Research, Director of the Biomedical Engineering Program, and Chair of the OU Faculty Senate. In the area of outreach, Dr. O’Rear led the effort to obtain and implement a Whitaker Foundation Special Opportunity grant which formed the basis for a new School of Biomedical Engineering at The University of Oklahoma. Dr. O’Rear emphasizes the criteria of research through his focus on the areas of transport in biomedical systems and surfactants with projects related to blood damage in heart pumps, drug delivery for heart attack and stroke, and advanced textiles. Dr. O’Rear and his students have produced over 150 archival publications and patents.  Dr. O ’Rear’s honors include Sigma Xi Research Award, Inventor of the Year, and Regents’ Awards both for Superior Teaching and for Superior Research.