On July 11, 1944, Oklahoma voters approved a separate constitutional board of regents for Oklahoma A&M College, and other agricultural and mechanical colleges, which ended the oversight of the Oklahoma State Board of Agriculture. For years, faculty staff and students clamored for a separate board of regents, which would be free from political interference. B.D. Eddie chaired the first board, R.J. Stuart was vice chairman and C.R. Bellatti was secretary. Other members of the first constitutional board included Fred G. Drummond, Edward T. Davis, Andrew Potter, P.E Harrill, M.L. Dudley and Joe C. Scott.
