Through the storm, the Bison spirit guides OBU

Nearly three years after the 2023 tornado, Oklahoma Baptist University President Dr. Heath Thomas reects on recovery, renewal, and a vision built for the future.

The devastating damage to Shawnee Hall is evident the morning after the April 19, 2023, tornado tore through Shawnee. Photo provided by OBU
The devastating damage to Shawnee Hall is evident the morning after the April 19, 2023, tornado tore through Shawnee. Photo provided by OBU

It has been almost three years since the April 19, 2023, tornado ripped through Shawnee and the surrounding areas. At Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU), the tornado recovery was only the beginning of the “flex toward the future.”

The focus immediately after the storm was clear. OBU President, Dr. Heath Thomas, said, “Safety, security, and students were really the first priority. After that, we bega…