The late President Emeritus Ben Graf Henneke was an enthusiastic TU alumnus who served the university in a number of vital roles, including writer/composer of the school fight song as an undergraduate student, faculty member, and academic vice president before serving as president from 1958-1967. He is remembered for guiding The University of Tulsa to the status of a major institution of higher education, expanding the university’s campus, increasing enrollment, and establishing KWGS radio.

Henneke’s remarkable relationship with The University of Tulsa spanned nearly 80 years, from 1931 until 2009. TU’s history and traditions were very important to Dr. Henneke, and he made great efforts to see that they were preserved for future generations.

In honor of his 90th birthday in 2004, TU created The Ben Graf Henneke Endowment Fund for KWGS to support his namesake lecture series. This endowment provides funding for a distinguished writer or scholar to visit campus each year to present a public lecture and a KWGS broadcast.

The same year, the TU Alumni Association established The Ben Graf Henneke Endowment Fund for the TU Heritage Committee as a tribute to Dr. Henneke and as a permanent source of funding to help preserve and protect the university’s history and heritage.

President Emeritus Ben Graf Henneke passed away in 2009, leaving an indelible mark of excellence on The University of Tulsa.