Oklahoma State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
(405) 521-5698

For Immediate Release: March 6, 2008

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