Foundation

Bill Oban

The Oban Special Education Scholarship was made possible by a generous gift from the Oban Family.  It is for an undergraduate student pursuing a career in special education.  The original donation is being held in a permanent trust with the earnings being used to fund the scholarship.

The Oban gift was the first endowed scholarship managed by the Foundation.  Additional designated donations, in any amount, may be made by anyone at anytime.

Bill Oban was an advocate for education of all children, for injured workers, and for people with the lowest incomes in our society.  One of his most treasured honors, which he received in 1991, was the Ruth Meiers Service to Children Award.

Oban started his teaching career in Grafton.  In 1976, he and his wife, Alice, moved to Bismarck where he taught at Bismarck High School and later moved into administration.  In 1984, Oban was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives from District 32.

He served on numerous committees during his tenure in the Legislature and was the House Minority Leader during the 1993 and 1995 sessions.  Oban was elected to the Legislative Council in 1993, 1995 and 1997.  He served as vice chair of the Legislative Council in 1993 and 1995 and was a member of the House Appropriations Committee in 1997. 

A highlight of Oban's political career was being able to meet President Clinton and Vice-President Gore and to hold "Socks," the nation's first cat.