Tulsa -
It's a joining of something old with something new. The old Skelly Mansion will be the future home of the University of Tulsa's new president, Geoffrey Orsak. The university released a statement today saying:
Once owned by The University of Tulsa, the William G. Skelly House has again become a part of TU and will proudly serve as a venue for university functions and the official residence for the university's new president, Geoffrey Orsak, and his family.
The home, located at 21st Street and Madison Avenue in the historic Maple Ridge neighborhood, was built in 1923-24 by Mr. Skelly and his wife, Gertrude. After living in the residence for many years, Mrs. Skelly unexpectedly presented the home and all of its furnishings as a gift to TU in 1957, shortly after Mr. Skelly's death.
In a letter to the university, Mrs. Skelly wrote that she and her husband had "long admired the progress made by the university" and that TU was free to use the property as it wished. University leaders made the decision to sell the property in 1959, but recently they were able to acquire the newly restored home for use by the university.
"After more than half a century, we are thrilled to reclaim this TU treasure," said L. Duane Wilson, chairman of the university's board of trustees. "It is fitting that this house, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, will serve the needs of TU's first family while providing a vibrant backdrop for many of the university's academic and social gatherings."
Indeed, the Skelly House will be a welcoming space for meeting and entertaining university guests, administrators and faculty on the ground floor while offering private quarters upstairs for President Orsak, his wife, Cate, and their children, ages 8 and 12. In a different era, visitors to the historic home included Presidents Coolidge and Hoover; aviators Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart and Wiley Post; and celebrities Bob Hope and Will Rogers.
"The Skelly family and The University of Tulsa have had a strong connection for generations," said Wilson. He noted that Bill Skelly's grandchildren currently hold various leadership positions including Randi S. Wightman, who serves in a dual capacity on the TU board of trustees and the national board of Gilcrease Museum, as well as Jon R. Stuart, who is a Gilcrease national board member and committee chairman. "The Skelly family is synonymous with success and generosity in Tulsa and around the world, while TU is an economic driver throughout the community and a global education leader. We cannot imagine a more appropriate place than the Skelly House for university functions and for our university president to live."
