Will Rogers Memorial Commission Names Interim Director

CLAREMORE, Okla. (AP) -- An associate director of the Will Rogers Memorial Museum will serve as its interim director.<br/><br/>The Will Rogers Memorial Commission named Steven -K- Gragert as interim director

Wednesday, October 11th 2006, 6:27 am

By: News On 6

CLAREMORE, Okla. (AP) -- An associate director of the Will Rogers Memorial Museum will serve as its interim director.

The Will Rogers Memorial Commission named Steven -K- Gragert as interim director yesterday and announced it has begun a national search to replace departing Director Michelle Lefebvre-Carter.

Gragert has edited 17 books on Will Rogers and spearheaded the fourth and fifth volumes of "The Will Rogers Papers," published by the University of Oklahoma Press. He begins as interim director on Sunday.

Lefebvre-Carter has been the museum's director since 1999. She says she's leaving to pursue other interests and to spend more time with her family.

Greg Malak, another associate director with three decades of experience at the museum, is leaving his post October 20th.

The Will Rogers Memorial Commission is a state agency that oversees the nine-gallery museum and the 400-acre Will Rogers birthplace ranch near Oologah.