Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
(405) 521-5698
For Immediate Release:
March 6, 2008
Sen. Cliff Branan
Senate Honors Oklahoma Civic Leader and
Philanthropist
The State Senate honored the life of one of Oklahoma's great civic
leaders and philanthropists this week. Senate Resolution 56, by
Sen. Cliff Branan, commended Jeannine Rainbolt for her tremendous
contributions and support of the arts, higher education, college
athletics and cancer research in the state.
"I’ve known Mrs. Rainbolt for many years and I would
consider her one of Oklahoma’s great thinkers,” said
Branan, R-Oklahoma City. “Throughout her lifetime, there is
no telling how many lives she touched, but we know that her selflessness
and dedication had a tremendous impact on many things in our state
including higher education and the arts. She was an incredible person
and will be greatly missed.”
Rainbolt and her husband of 57 years Gene were great supporters
of the University of Oklahoma and higher education in general serving
on the President's Circle of the University's David and Molly Boren
Mentoring Initiative and the University of Oklahoma's Endowed Members
of President's Associates. Jeannine was a member of the University's
Sooner Stilettos, supporting women's basketball, and was also a
committee member of Red Tie Night. The couple was also major private
contributors to the University's Cancer Institute and sponsored
one of Oklahoma's 100 Academic All-State Scholars.
Education was not the Rainbolt's only focus however. They also served
on the Heartline President's Club of the Central Oklahoma Community
Connection and the Circle of Comfort of the Founders Society of
the Oklahoma City National Memorial. They also served as Friends
for James Garner, as sponsors of the James Garner Plaza and were
donors to the Women's Foundation of Oklahoma. They were also particularly
fond of the arts serving as Friends of ArtSpace and being named
as Honorary Chairs of the 2008 Allied Arts campaign.
Besides the philanthropic efforts the couple made in the state,
Jeannine also served on the Board of Trustees of the Communities
Foundation of Oklahoma; on the Board of Directors of Lyric Theatre;
and on the Board of Directors of the Myriad Gardens Foundation.
In 1990, she won the Marilyn Douglass Memorial award, which is the
Governor's Arts Award.
Jeannine passed away on September 30, 2007, just one month after
the couple's 57 wedding anniversary, following a five year long
battle with lung cancer.
For more information contact:
Senator Branan's Office: (405) 521-5543
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