May, 2004

WSU names campus street in honor of Mike Oatman

Wichita State University today (Thursday, May 13) named a major campus street in Mike Oatman's honor. Mike Oatman, businessman, community leader, broadcast personality and WSU supporter, died last year, but his name will not be forgotten. More than 18,000 vehicles per day drive by Wichita State on 21st Street, and people will see the street sign Mike Oatman Drive.

Mike Oatman Drive runs from 21st Street and adjacent to the Welcome Center, Braeburn Golf Course and Eck Stadium, until it meets WSU's Perimeter Road. Mike Oatman Drive will lead to the university's "front door," when the new Marcus Welcome Center, now under construction, opens next year.

"No one was a stranger for long when meeting Mike Oatman," said WSU President Don Beggs. "He was a humanitarian, generous,soft-hearted -- everyone's neighbor and a true friend of Wichita State."

Oatman served on WSU's board of trustees from June 1992 and was chair of the board from October 1994 until he died in January 2003. His unprecedented tenure on the board of trustees made him instrumental in maintaining the local tax base that WSU receives. He was awarded the President's Medal and spoke at commencement in 1999 and received an honorary alumnus award in 2001.

Oatman also was named entrepreneur in residence for 2002 -- the first time anyone held that distinction for a year, as opposed to participating in a two-day series of programs. The Mike Oatman Scholarship in Entrepreneurship was created out of his memorial.

Oatman and business partner Mike Lynch started with KFDI and created Great Empire Broadcasting, at the time one of the strongest companies of its kind in the nation. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame as a disc jockey in 1992. He was on the air more than 35 years, finally signing off in 1999. After that, he was involved with The Mikes' Investment Co. and wrote a weekly column for The Wichita Eagle.

In addition to in-kind air time on his radio stations, Oatman contributed to WSU athletics, the Shocker Auction, scholarships and the Elliott School of Communication.

Upon receiving the President's Medal, Oatman said, "It may appear that I contribute something to WSU, but I can tell you that WSU and the folks that make it tick have contributed a hundredfold to me."