The University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs announced Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt as the inaugural recipient of the Howard H. Baker Jr. Award for Public Service at its annual gala on Nov. 14.
Created as a tribute to Baker’s enduring legacy, the award recognizes an exceptional rising national leader whose work embodies confidence in America’s democratic institutions, respect for diverse perspectives and the ability to find common ground.
“What made Senator Baker so special was everyone who spoke with him felt like he listened, understood and accommodated their point of view,” said Baker School Dean Marianne Wanamaker. “In a time when conciliation and compromise have become so rare, we hope to honor those who still dare to do that essential work.”
Exemplifying Baker’s values
Holt, who also serves as the president of the United States Conference of Mayors, has been a prominent voice against political violence, leading the effort for the Oklahoma City Declaration Against Political Violence, which has been signed by more than 230 mayors across the United States.
Holt said, “Senator Baker stood for civility. He stood for bringing people together who maybe had different political views, but finding some common purpose to move forward together. To be mentioned in the same breath as somebody who really modeled near-perfect public servant behavior for decades is an incredible honor. It’s overwhelming, and I am grateful.”
“The Baker Award is intended to reinforce and celebrate the values that Senator Baker exemplified,” said Baker board member Pat Butler. “Mayor David Holt of Oklahoma City has demonstrated these qualities in abundance, most notably by persuading hundreds of his fellow mayors to sign on to the Oklahoma City Declaration, committing them to respect differing views, engage in constructive compromise and make the power of persuasion mightier than any resort to violence. You can’t get more Howard Baker than that.”
The declaration was signed on Sept. 26, 2025. At the time, Holt said, “This declaration from America’s mayors comes at a pivotal time in our nation’s history. If everyone in American political life affirmed their commitment to principles found in this declaration, we would see a dramatic shift in this country overnight.”
Elected mayor in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, Holt is the youngest mayor of Oklahoma City since 1923. He is a member of the Osage Nation and is Oklahoma City’s first Native American mayor. In 2023, he was named to Time magazine’s “100 Next” list. He previously served in the Oklahoma Senate for eight years and in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs under President George W. Bush.
In addition to his mayorship, Holt serves as dean of the Oklahoma City University School of Law. He has a bachelor’s degree from the George Washington University and a juris doctorate from the Oklahoma City University School of Law.
Holt will visit the Baker School to spend time with students and faculty and deliver the Baker Memorial Lecture on Feb. 2, 2026.
About the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs
The Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, prepares skilled public problem solvers grounded in the legacy of Howard H. Baker Jr. and prepared to take leadership roles in their communities. The first and only institution of its kind in Tennessee, the Baker School offers academic programs, research opportunities and outreach initiatives that foster thoughtful dialogue and informed decision-making at the local, national and global levels. For more information, visit baker.utk.edu.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Stacy Estep (865-974-8304, sestep3@utk.edu)
Kate Reagan (865-974-1519, kmahar@utk.edu)