The college’s sixth president was John H. Connell, the former editor of Farm and Ranch Magazine and a former teacher at Texas A and M. He worked to increase programs and enrollment during his presidency from 1908 to 1914, and guided a building boom on campus.

Connell headed the campus during the formal launch of the Agricultural Extension Service and extension programs and published two newspapers to promote them throughout the state. He also strengthened academic programs and offered more undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Problems over the use of federal funds, a lawsuit on a newly enacted filing fee at the college and political conflict on the Oklahoma State Board of Agriculture led to Connell’s termination.