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OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- The Oklahoma Commission for Human Services took a short recess from its regular monthly meeting Tuesday to honor a former member with a remarkable record of service.
Reginald Barnes, a Tulsa businessman and civic leader, was honored for his 33 years of service as a member of the Commission and for a record 16 years as chairman of the Commission.
The Commission’s meeting room in the Sequoyah Building in the State Capitol Complex was officially designated the Reginald D. Barnes Boardroom.
Barnes served on the Commission from 1962 to 1995 and was chairman of the nine-member Commission from 1969 to 1986.
He was first appointed to the Commission by Gov. J. Howard Edmondson in 1962 to fill an unexpired term. He was re-appointed by Gov. Dewey Bartlett to a full nine-year term in 1968 and was named Chairman of the Commission by Gov. Bartlett in 1969.
He was re-appointed by Gov. David Boren in 1977 and by Gov. George Nigh in 1986. He retired from the Commission after completion of his term in 1995.
Noting his retirement, an editorial in the Norman Transcript said: "Probably no job in state government is more important, more frustrating and more thankless than serving on the Human Services Commission. Nobody ever served more ably in that volunteer job than Reginald Barnes of Tulsa ... few Oklahoma citizens have contributed more to their state."
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