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State Poet Laureate

Selection of the State Poet Laureate

In coordination with the office of the Governor, the Oklahoma Humanities Council (OHC) is accepting nominations for Oklahoma Poet Laureate from poetry societies and other cultural organizations, such as libraries, local arts and humanities councils, colleges and universities, and other writers' groups. Each organization may submit only one nomination.

OHC will coordinate the work of the Poet Laureate Nomination Review Committee, which will make recommendations to the Governor. Selection of the State Poet Laureate rests solely with the Governor. The Poet Laureate will serve a two-year term from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2014.

Eligibility

The nominee must be a distinguished poet who is a resident of Oklahoma and has a published body of work. The nominee should also be committed to outreach and the promotion of poetry statewide as we ask the successful candidate to donate six days a year for free events that we will facilitate. The Poet Laureate may decide on his/her own "platform" and audience for these events. The nominee must also indicate agreement to be nominated.

Compensation

The State Poet Laureate is an honorary position established by the Oklahoma legislature. For any free public events coordinated by the Oklahoma Humanities Council, the State Poet Laureate will be provided travel reimbursement as needed.

Selection Committee

The Nomination Review Committee will consist of individuals with expertise in literary art forms.

Deadline for Nominations

Nominations must be postmarked no later than June 1, 2012. Click here to access these guidelines and the nomination form.

Eddie D. Wilcoxen, Oklahoma State Poet Laureate, 2011-2012

Eddie Wilcoxen is a career radio broadcaster with a popular morning show on KWHW in Altus. He has written seven volumes of poetry and one non-fiction work. His newest book, Faith, Hope and Poetry, is scheduled for a February release.

Wilcoxen is widely recognized for landscape design; his home gardens were featured in Oklahoma Gardener magazine. He is also a three-time national karate champion and established “Kihido Karate,” a character-building curriculum emphasizing personal responsibility as the key to personal success. In 1996 he was designated an “Official Olympic Hero” and chosen to carry the Olympic Torch on its historic journey across the United States to Atlanta, Georgia.

Eddie Wilcoxen Appearances

Application for Appearances [Click to download application]
Requests for Poet Laureate appearances must be made in writing on the attached application form. For information on arranging an appearance, contact Kelly Elsey, Program Associate.