Weatherford, OK – On Thursday, October 29, Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) and the SWOSU Foundation, Inc. will jointly host a reception celebrating the renaming of the former Chemistry, Pharmacy, & Physics (CPP) Building as the Randy L. Beutler Building (RLB).

The facility name change was formally approved by SWOSU’s governing body, the Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO) Board of Regents, on November 6, 2025. The name change was necessitated by the relocation of the SWOSU College of Pharmacy from the former CPP to the new Jerry & Margaret Hodge Center for Pharmacy & Rural Health (Hodge Center).

Randy Beutler is a 1983 and 2003 alumnus of SWOSU who earned a Juris Doctor in 2011. Beutler spent nearly a decade teaching History and Government in Oklahoma’s public schools and was twice elected “Teacher of the Year” by his fellow educators. He was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1992 where he served four terms and was elected Majority Whip before joining the staff of Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry as a Senior Advisor and head of legislative affairs. Following four years of service as SWOSU’s Vice President for Public Policy, Beutler began his tenure as SWOSU’s 17th President in 2010. During his presidency, SWOSU marked its largest-ever building project and secured its largest-ever charitable gift. He helped forge new partnerships with technology centers and public schools that helped expand SWOSU’s reach and impact and he led the institution through challenges including the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown before his retirement in July 2021. Beutler is the third longest-serving president in SWOSU history. In 2023, Beutler received SWOSU’s highest honor: induction into the SWOSU Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.

The dedication reception will take place in the RLB from 4:00-5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 29 in conjunction with the activities of the 2026 SWOSU Homecoming Week. Registration is required and may be completed by visiting https://swosufoundation.com/beutler-building-dedication/ or by contacting Ms. Kari Jones at kari.jones@swosu.edu, 580-774-3289. Parking and venue information will be provided to registrants.

“We are thrilled to dedicate the Randy L. Beutler Building here at SWOSU,” said SWOSU President Dr. Joel Kendall. “President Beutler left a lasting, positive mark on his alma mater and continues to be an involved and generous part of the SWOSU community. He played a pivotal role in the establishment of SWOSU’s Hodge Center as the new home of the SWOSU College of Pharmacy, and all of us who served with him here on the Hilltop are delighted to be able to celebrate the renaming of our former Chemistry, Pharmacy, & Physics Building in Dr. Beutler’s honor.”

For more information, please contact Ms. Kari Jones at kari.jones@swosu.edu, 580-774-3289.

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