Oklahoma Teachers’ Retirement System, Oklahoma City, on Wednesday is expected to name a new executive secretary for the $8.7 billion plan, replacing Tommy C. Beavers, who is retiring Dec. 31.
The system’s board of trustees has two candidates for the post; spokeswoman Jacqueline Shannon would not identify them.
Mr. Beavers said in a telephone interview today he hopes his replacement remains focused on educating state legislators about the importance of properly funding the system.
“We spent a lot of time in the 1980s and ’90s just working to convince people how real the (underfunding) problem was,” Mr. Beavers said. “The rest of the time we’ve been working hard in legislative sessions to find some way to increase the employer’s contribution to the system. We’ve had some success, but we’ve still got a long way to go.”
Mr. Beavers, who announced his retirement in January, has worked at the retirement system since 1970, serving as a staff member, assistant secretary-treasurer and secretary-treasurer. He was promoted to executive secretary in 1988.
