Garton established Red Chair Press in 2009. by the time they start school. Red Chair Press was created on the idea of parents pulling up a chair and telling their child a good story.” Creating custom newsletters and reporting for his high school paper is where Garton gained an interest in publications. But it was his time at Oklahoma State University, where he earned degrees in journalism and mass communication, that prepared him for professional success. To give back to the university he loves deeply, Garton and his partner, David Sheehan, have committed the largest single gift ever directed to the OSU School of Media and Strategic Communications. The gift will establish the Garton Family Endowed Chair for Media and Strategic Communications, as well as endowed funds for rural journalism and student organizations. “We are immensely grateful to Keith and David for this transformative gift to SMSC, which plays a crucial role in shaping the future of media by educating the next generation of journalists and communicators,” OSU President Jim Hess said. “This generous support will significantly enhance our ability to provide students with unparalleled resources and opportunities, empowering us to continue producing top-tier professionals who will impact the industry.” While considering the gift, Garton spent time learning about the current needs and challenges of SMSC so he could make a difference in meaningful ways. “This extraordinary gift is more than an investment in SMSC — it’s a commitment to the future of ethical, impactful storytelling,” said Dr. Melinda Cro, College of Arts and Sciences dean. “Keith and David’s generosity ensures that our students will not only learn the craft of communication, but also use it to elevate voices, build community and shape a better world.” In today’s modern media climate, it is as important as ever that the state, nation and world are supplied with “Keith and David’s generosity ensures that our students will not only learn the craft of communication, but also use it to elevate voices, build community and shape a better world.” DR. MELINDA CRO, DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES capable media members. Along with multimedia and communications skills, SMSC strongly emphasizes ethics and media literacy, so graduates are equipped to serve effectively and ethically. These skills propelled Garton throughout his professional journey. While his experiences typically focused on sharing positive narratives with young readers, sometimes difficult stories needed to be told. On Sept. 11, 2001, Garton was living in New York City, working at TIME for Kids. As president of the division, he had the responsibility of helping to determine how the magazine should explain the terrorist attacks to young children. In the aftermath of one of the most horrifying days in U.S. history, he leaned on skills he learned at OSU to make the right decisions for the magazine. The cover featured firefighters planting a flag in the rubble as a symbol of hope. “Even though at SMSC we didn’t focus specifically on how to write for children, SMSC did teach me the ability to write for different audiences and how to make ethical decisions,” Garton said. “That automatically applied when we had to figure out how to explain things to children while still using all the elements of good writing, journalism and ethics.” Journalism plays a role in communities of all sizes, from New York City to Garton’s own Stephens County, Oklahoma. OSU COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 21
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