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University pays tribute to life of Judy Love

President Kenneth Evans and the ӰAV community extend deepest condolences to the Love family as we learn today of the passing of Judy Love.

Love, one of America’s most successful businesswomen and a renowned philanthropist, had been a long-time member of the ӰAV Board of Trustees. A regular benefactor of educational causes in Oklahoma and beyond, Love and her family have been generous supporters of ӰAV.

Love and her late husband, Tom, founded Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores in Watonga, Oklahoma, in 1964, growing the venture into a multi-billion-dollar company headquartered in Oklahoma City. The success of the company paved way for the formation of the Love Family Fund, which has been a major source of philanthropic giving since its inception.

ӰAV honored Judy Love’s business success in 2009 with induction into the university’s Commerce & Industry Hall of Honor. This followed her husband’s induction in 1998, and preceded the induction of her daughter – Jenny Love Meyer – into the hall last month.

In 2010, Judy Love was given one of the state’s highest honors when she was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. In 2015, the university awarded her an honorary doctorate degree in Humanities and Letters. In 2021, she was recognized by the Societies of ӰAV as the recipient of the Societies Lifetime Servant Leadership Award, acknowledging her exceptional involvement and service toward the nonprofit community and university. She was also recognized by the Societies of ӰAV in 2002 with the Distinguished Philanthropist Award.

Judy and Tom’s support of the university included the establishment of the Love’s Entrepreneurial Center within the Meinders School of Business and a significant contribution to help fund construction of the Wanda L. Bass School of Music building, as well as regular support of various performing arts initiatives at ӰAV.

“Judy Love was nothing less than a giant in the American business and philanthropy communities,” President Evans said. “We are deeply grateful for her service and support of ӰAV and its students throughout the years.”

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