Former Oklahoma higher education chief dies

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Hans Brisch, who retired three years ago as the Oklahoma chancellor for higher education, died Wednesday after a long fight with brain cancer. He was 66.<br/><br/>Brisch, who held

Wednesday, February 22nd 2006, 11:45 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Hans Brisch, who retired three years ago as the Oklahoma chancellor for higher education, died Wednesday after a long fight with brain cancer. He was 66.

Brisch, who held the chancellor post for 15 years, was known as an affable, energetic and politically astute state official.

During his tenure, Oklahoma instituted the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, which provides free tuition to students whose families earn 50-thousand dollars or less if they make good grades.

He retired on January 5th, 2003, and was succeeded by Paul Risser, who had been serving as president of Oregon State University.