News

Officials at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) announced Dr. Brian Renegar as the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Alumnus from the School of Agriculture and Natural Sciences. Dr. Renegar will be formally honored during the Alumni Awards luncheon on Saturday, Oct. 5, at noon in the Calcagno Family Ballroom. All alumni and friends of the college are invited to attend. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 12 and under, and may be purchased by contacting the NEO Development Foundation office at 918-540-6115. NEO’s “HOMEcoming on the Range” homecoming festivities will take place on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019.

Dr. Brian Renegar is a retired veterinarian and Oklahoma representative and currently splits his time between operating a mobile vet clinic based out of Angel Fire, NM, and doing surgery at a local humane society. He attended NEO in 1969 and earned 36 hours over two semesters before transferring to Northeastern State University to be closer to home. While at NEO, Dr. Renegar noted that the passion of legendary Agriculture Instructor Harry Synar and the mentorship of Chemistry Instructor Jerry Hollis molded him into a better student and person. Following his graduation from Oklahoma State University with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Renegar purchased and operated a practice in McAlester, Okla., for nearly four decades.

In 2007, Dr. Renegar decided to run for state office after becoming frustrated with veterinary and water policies in Oklahoma. Over the next 12 years, he served as the District 17 Representative to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He noted that some of his greatest accomplishments were safeguarding southern Oklahoma’s water supply and helping pass a law to make it a felony to practice veterinary medicine without a license.

Dr. Renegar and his wife Theresa have four children and eight grandchildren and live in Angel Fire, New Mexico, with their adopted grandson, who is a sophomore at the local high school. When he is not on a call or in surgery, he enjoys golfing, hiking, and skiing.   “It is an honor to recognize Dr. Brian Renegar as the Outstanding Alumnus for the School of Human Agriculture and Natural Sciences,” said Jennifer Walker, executive director of NEO Development Foundation. “Dr. Renegar made a great name for himself as a veterinarian as well as a community and state leader.”   For more information, contact Jordan Adams at Jordan.m.adams@neo.edu.