Former Liberty Bank CEO publishes another book

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Jun 10, 2002

J.W. McLean, former CEO of Liberty Bank, has published his 11th book on leadership.

"Leadership Understood: What Is It Really? You, Too, Can Make It Happen" is dedicated to "that legion of would-be leaders who hunger to learn the proven steps for becoming effective leaders.

The spiral-bound and double-indexed book will soon be available in bookstores through Mid-America Marketing in Oklahoma City.

McLean said Leadership is in short supply.

"If we are to cure leadership scarcity, surely the cure must begin with an unmistakable clear understanding of just what leadership is," he said.

McLean has retired from a 40-year banking career, including 20 years as CEO of Liberty Bank, now part of Bank One. McLean served as an adjunct professor at the University of Oklahoma teaching a course he designed on managerial leadership. A book written by McLean, So You Want to Be the Boss, was used as the text for the class.

McLean is a member of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and is former chairman of the Oklahoma Heritage Association, which commissioned a book, The Persuader, about his career.

McLean now lives in Texas with Eleanor, his wife for 59 years.

Representing Josh Heupel

Former University of Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel has signed a contract with the Oklahoma City-based advertising firm of McAuliffe, Norick & Associates.

The agency will work nationally to promote Heupel's charitable efforts as well as to secure off-the-field endorsements, sponsorships and appearances. Just two years ago, Heupel and his Oklahoma Sooner teammates shocked the world of college football with an undefeated national championship season.

Heupel posted a 19-4 regular-season mark in two years as the starting quarterback at OU. The Aberdeen, S.D., native was runner-up for the Heisman Trophy Award. In 2001, he was a sixth-round draft pick by the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. Heupel is now with the Green Bay Packers.

302 vetoes for Keating

Gov. Frank Keating closed out his two terms of reviewing thousands of pieces of legislation Friday, signing a dozen bills and vetoing three.

During his eight years as governor, Keating has vetoed or line- item vetoed 302 measures, far more than any other Oklahoma chief executive.

"It's been a true honor to be involved in the legislative process," the governor said. "Throughout my administration I have tried to do what's right and do what I believe will most help Oklahoma grow and prosper."

Among the final 12 signed bills was Senate Bill 948, the "Oklahoma Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Act," by Rep. Elmer Maddux, R- Mooreland, and Rep. Bob Plunk, D-Allen.

The bill establishes a 13-member Small Business Regulatory Review Committee within the Department of Commerce to provide agencies with input on proposed rules that could adversely affect small business.

It was retooled during session so that Keating would not veto it. He turned down a similar measure last year.

After it was recalled from the governor's desk, the bill was rewritten so that the governor would appoint five of the 13 members, rather than three members of an 11-member committee. Two members would be appointed by the lieutenant governor, three each by the House speaker and president pro tempore of the Senate.

Under the bill, before submitting rules for adoption, state agencies are required to determine whether the proposed changes would adversely affect small business.

Among Keating's final vetoes was House Bill 2635, by Rep. Opio Toure, D-OKC, and Sen. Angela Monson, D-OKC, which prohibits imposition of the death penalty upon defendant with severe developmental disabilities.

The governor said that current law adequately protects against the execution of those who lack mental capacity.

Pope pledges one term

Rep. Tim Pope, R-Mustang, a Republican candidate for state labor commissioner, said Friday that he plans to serve a single term in that office highlighted by dismantling of the State Labor Department.

"My goal is to be the best labor commissioner in the history of Oklahoma by being the last," he said.

As a member of the House Commerce, Industry and Labor Committee for 14 years, Pope said that he has gained a working knowledge of the department's budget and each of its divisions' responsibilities.

"After much thought, I have come to the conclusion that they would operate just as well, if not better, if they were merged with other already-existing state agencies," he said.

Pope said that as a conservative Republican lawmaker, he has a long history of working for smaller and more responsive government.

"Even though this proposal will result in the elimination of my own job as commissioner, I believe that it is a position I must advocate as a matter of principle," he said. "It's a bold move that, in these lean financial times, will save the hard-working, taxpaying citizens of this state more than $1 million per year."

Pope said that under current Commissioner Brenda Reneau-Wynn the agency has become top-heavy while critical staff posts have gone unfilled.

"Those who will principally be affected by this much-needed and overdue action will be the incumbent commissioner's political appointees," said Pope. "It is something they should expect because it is the nature of those positions anyway."