Colby Community College has announced the school’s founding President, Dr. Richard Mosier, will give the commencement address during ceremonies scheduled for Saturday, May 11, beginning at 2 p.m. in the Community Building. Dr. Mosier served as the chief executive officer of Colby Community College from 1966-1972.

He and his wife Mary have lived in Claremore, Oklahoma for more than 40 years.  They moved from northwest Kansas in July of 1972 when Richard was appointed by the Board of Regents to recreate the recently defunct Oklahoma Military Academy as a comprehensive community college.  He served as president of the institution for nearly 24 years.

They now reside at 1896 Holly Creek Road in Claremore.  Holly Creek was the name of the one room school where Mary received the early part of her grade school education.  They are the parents of five children. Jerrilee is the Chancellor of Northeast Ivy Tech in Fort Wayne, Indiana; Gregory is Dean of the College of Business at the University of Nevada; Richard D. is Chief Counsel and Manager of Robson Properties in Claremore; Douglas works hard to be the #1 sports fan in Rogers County and assists in the family cattle operation; and Roger is the President and CEO of RCB Bank and RCB Bank Holding Company in Claremore.

Dr. Mosier has written two books– “These Things I Remember,” an account of his experiences as a youth growing up on a ranch in Sheridan County, Kansas and “Against All Odds,” the story of the founding of Colby Community College where he was the founding president.  In addition he is a partner with two of his sons in the operation of Holly Creek Angus – a small purebred Angus Farm in Rogers County and he manages the family owned Sheep Head Ranch in Sheridan County. It has been owned and operated by his family since 1864.

He is Senior Advisor to National American University based in Rapid City, South Dakota with campuses in six states in the Middle West and President of the Will Rogers Memorial Foundation in Claremore.  He is a member of the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame and serves as a designated President Emeritus at both Rogers State University and Colby Community College.

Dr. Mosier is a Scottish Rite Mason.  He and Mary are Elders at the First Presbyterian Church in Claremore.  He has been a member of Rotary for 45 years.  He is a charter member of the Claremore Reveille Rotary Club and served as president of the club in 1999-2000 and in 2012-2013.

A reception will be held in the basement of the Community Building immediately following commencement ceremonies.