The University of Tulsa is fortunate to have a large community of philanthropic partners who have helped advance the university and its mission. Arlo DeKraai and his late wife Barbara have been part of this family of supporters.

Arlo spent his career in the petroleum industry. The former president and CEO of InServ, he became executive vice president and board member of Willbros Downstream when the businesses merged. He retired in 2010.

Over the years, the DeKraais were quietly active in a wide array of community activities. Without fanfare, Arlo chaired the construction committee for one of the major Tulsa downtown improvements, ONEOK Field. Together, he and Barbara supported a number of Tulsa area charities, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, chairing its Promise Ball in 2009. In 2012, JDRF named them the event’s honorees.

Beginning in 1993, the DeKraais showed their care for The University of Tulsa through several generous gifts to support the Golden Hurricane Club (now known as the Golden Hurricane Champions Fund), the Donald W. Reynolds Center, and the TU Football Program. They were recognized as members of the esteemed President’s Council, the Circle Society, and the Chapman Legacy Society.

This philanthropic couple established the Arlo and Barbara DeKraai Endowed Scholarship for Student-Athletes in 2011, and this perpetual fund will provide financial assistance to TU’s deserving student-athletes for generations to come.

Sadly, Barbara passed away in 2021, but her caring legacy and that of Arlo will be sustained by the student-athletes who reach their goals thanks to their namesake scholarship fund.