Western Oklahoma State College

 Howard Paul Cotner

Howard Paul Cotner attended Altus Junior College, now Western Oklahoma State College, during 1943-44 where he served as president of the freshman class. Upon his transfer to the University of Oklahoma, he recieved a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1948. That same year, Cotner returned to Altus where he and his father established the Jackson County Abstract Office. In 1958, he was voted one of three Outstanding Young Men in Oklahoma by the Oklahoma Junior Chamber of Commerce. He has held numerous offices in the Kiwanis International Ogranization, in the Oklahoma Land Title Association, and in many fraternal, civiv and cultural organizations. He was instrumental in the relocation of Western Oklahoma State College to its present site. He was one of the founders of the Museum of the Western Prairie in Altus. In 1971, Cotner was elected to the 33rd Legislature in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and since that time has served a total of 26 years.