Delores Mitchell and Kelly Mitchell Honored at CASC

Carl Albert State College Development Foundation and Carl Albert State College (CASC) hosted "A Night with The Stars" on Thursday, June 11, 2015. Kelly Mitchell, originally of Sallisaw, was named the 2015 Statue of Liberty Recipient Thursday when the Carl Albert State College Development Foundation and Carl Albert State College hosted "A Night with The Stars."

Kelly Mitchell has also established the Delores O'Guin Mitchell Endowed Professorship in honor of his mother, Delores, of Sallisaw. The reception and dinner to celebrate both Kelly and Delores was emceed by CASC Regent Jerry Hetherington of Sallisaw at the library bearing Delores' name on the campus of CASC-Sallisaw.

Delores O'Guin Mitchell has been a friend and key supporter of CASC for more than 30 years, Hetherington noted. A spearhead of fundraising efforts, Delores is one of the most dedicated contributors to the college. She has established scholarships for both traditional and non-traditional students, and is an active member of the CASC Sallisaw Committee for Excellence. Now a Trustee of the CASC Development Foundation, Delores previously served as a member of the CASC Board of Regents. Gov. George Nigh appointed her in 1978 to serve as the first Regent from the Sallisaw area.

In addition to her love for education, Delores' extensive list of accomplishments includes previously being a part-owner of Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw. Delores's love of quarter horses took her around the world including to Egypt, France, and the United Arab Emirates. She was the first person appointed to the newly-formed Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission in 1983. After 11 years on the commission, Delores became the second woman to chair the Association of Racing Commissioners International. Another of Delores' areas of expertise is flying. She has her pilot's license and joined the Arkansas 99s, a group of women pilots founded by Ameila Earhart.

Delores has two sons, Dr. Mike Mitchell and Kelly Mitchell, and two daughters, Angela Tabor and Dr. Marcinda Mitchell. She also has nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren

Through his generosity to Carl Albert State College, Kelly Mitchell has shown his commitment to support the area where he grew up. A star athlete at Sallisaw High School, Kelly went on to play football for the University of Oklahoma. Following his OU graduation, he began a career in Petroleum Land Management. While working in California, he started law school, and then in 1988 moved back to Oklahoma where he completed law school at the University of Tulsa. In addition to passing the Oklahoma Bar, he also graduated from the Nursing Home Administrators School at the University of Oklahoma and passed the Arkansas Bar.

Kelly joined the family business of Skilled Nursing Facilities in 1989. After several years of managing the operations of 25 facilities, he became interested in Hospice Care for the elderly and in 1995 formed Hometown Hospice. He went on to found Heart to Heart Hospice of Texas in Dallas, a start-up business that has grown to 25 locations in Texas, Michigan and Indiana caring for more than 2,500 patients daily. Kelly also formed the Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to the education and charitable giving around end of life decision making.

Kelly is married to Dana Mitchell and they make their home in Dallas, Texas and Prague, Czech Republic. He has four children and four grandchildren.

Carl Albert State College President Garry M. Ivey presented the Delores O'Guin Mitchell Endowed Professorship after Kelly had the privilege of introducing his mother. Following remarks by Delores, Regent Hetherington had the opportunity to introduce Kelly Mitchell as the 2015 Statue of Liberty recipient. Ivey presented the award, which was followed with remarks by Kelly.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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