Henry G. Bennett

[6] He remained as superintendent of Hugo schools until 1919 when he accepted a presidency offer from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

[2] Later, while working as a visiting summer professor in Durant, Oklahoma, he met his future-wife Vera Pearl Connell, who he married on January 27, 1913; they had five children.

[2] He launched a "Twenty-five Year Plan" to transform the institution at the start of his presidency, and by 1951, the school had more than $50 million in renovations and enrollment had burgeoned to more than twelve thousand.

[2] Later in 1946, Bennet gained approval to open a technical branch at Okmulgee and increased academic programs at the school to include doctoral degrees.

[8][9] Bennett is generally credited with the creation of the method of using specialists from American colleges and universities to teach people in other countries on how to improve food production, housing, health, and education with available resources.