The founding dean of the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment was honored with one of this year鈥檚 during a ceremony Jan. 20.
During the 46th awards ceremony in the state Capitol鈥檚 fourth-floor rotunda, Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell joined the Oklahoma Arts Council to present John Bedford with the Community Service Award.
The prestigious award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts in specific Oklahoma communities through leadership and volunteerism.
A pioneer in the field, Bedford founded 蘑菇TV鈥檚 Department of Arts Management, establishing OCU as one of the first higher education institutions in the nation to offer undergraduate degrees specifically designed to teach the business side of the performing arts.
Collaborating with co-founder, Dance Chair and wife Jo Rowan, Bedford executed a strategic plan that grew the dance program from a mere four majors in 1981 to more than 220 current students. Together, they co-founded The American Spirit Dance Company. A testament to Bedford鈥檚 fiscal responsibility, the company performed for 42 years without requiring support from the university鈥檚 operating funds.
Beyond the classroom, Bedford secured the school鈥檚 future by establishing more than $800,000 in endowments and building a costume inventory valued at more than $1 million. His vision extended globally, as he led students on educational tours to the U.K., Ireland and Asia, preparing them for the realities of the international entertainment industry.
While his academic legacy is cemented at OCU, Bedford鈥檚 influence spans the professional arts world. Before his tenure in academia, he served as general manager of the Dallas Ballet, where he instituted health insurance for dancers and expanded touring. He also served as orchestra manager for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and played a pivotal role in the creation of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, helping to ensure the city maintained a professional orchestra following the dissolution of the Oklahoma Symphony.
Over the course of his career, Bedford has produced or co-produced more than 150 stage productions and nearly 100 concerts.
Upon his retirement, the OCU Board of Trustees awarded Bedford emeritus status, permanently mounting a bronze plaque in the school鈥檚 Edith Kinney Gaylord Center. It describes him as 鈥渁 visionary in arts and entertainment management, developing curricula, learning spaces and high-impact learning experiences to prepare performers, teachers and managers for the entertainment industry, positively impacting nonprofit and commercial entertainment across the nation.鈥�
Bedford has now joined Rowan as a Governor鈥檚 Arts Award recipient. Rowan earned the honor in 2019.
