Caron Lawhorn

Caron Allen Lawhorn (BS ’83) began charting the course of her successful career at a young age. “It’s kind of embarrassing to say it out loud,” she says with a smile, “but I always knew I wanted to be an accountant. Since grade school, that’s what I had my sights set on, so that’s what I did.”

Lawhorn hails from Dallas, but considers herself an Oklahoma girl at heart after moving to the Tulsa area at the age of 10. The Broken Arrow High School graduate initially chose to attend a state university, though it didn’t take her long to realize that sitting in a classroom with 200 other students wasn’t for her. She transferred to The University of Tulsa her sophomore year, joined Chi Omega and soon settled in to life on campus.

Fond memories of TU include the friendships she formed living in the sorority house, participating in intramural sports (she still sports a crooked ring finger courtesy of a break sustained while playing a game of flag football) and cheering on the men’s basketball team to an NIT championship victory during its first year under then-head coach Nolan Richardson. In the classroom, accounting Professor Bill Jarnagin stands out as one of Lawhorn’s favorites. “He was one of those professors who really cared about students, not just about research.”

After graduation, she contemplated leaving Tulsa for a larger city and explored options in Dallas. “It turned out, the job opportunity I wanted was in Tulsa, so I stayed, and I’m certainly glad that I did.” Lawhorn landed a position in public accounting with KPMG as an auditor, a position she felt absolutely prepared for thanks to the solid business education she received at TU. “Early on as an accounting major, there was a lot of emphasis on writing, and I didn’t get it. Accounting is numbers; why do we have to write? But as an auditor, you must document your work, and it became crystal clear to me how important that aspect of the job really was.”

Lawhorn’s next career move took her to Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) as chief financial officer. She then joined ONEOK in 1998 as manager of auditing and quickly advanced to other corporate roles, including senior vice president and chief accounting officer and senior vice president of corporate planning and development, before moving into the operations side of business as president of ONEOK’s distribution company.

Following ONE Gas’ split from ONEOK about two years ago, she became a member of the executive management team and is responsible for customer service, gas supply, rates and regulatory and business development. “It’s quite a varied set of responsibilities, which is why I enjoy it so much. No one day is like another.” Lawhorn is quick to credit a strong employee culture and an executive team that fosters a collaborative work environment for making ONE Gas a great place to work.

Reflecting on the course of her successful career, Lawhorn says that although she didn’t initially envision herself in the role she holds today, it highlights the importance of remaining open to new opportunities and not limiting yourself to a specific career path. “When I mentor young people, I tell them, ‘The best thing you can do is excel at the job you have and the opportunities will present themselves.’ I’ve been fortunate to have those opportunities in my career, and I’m very grateful.”

Lawhorn is married to her best friend and husband of 30 years, Shawn (JD ’89), a teacher and football and golf coach at Tulsa’s Bishop Kelley High School. Sons Austin and Adam, both Bishop Kelley graduates, chose to pursue degrees at TCU. “Family is important to us,” said Lawhorn. “We have great kids, and we’re blessed to have most of our extended families here in Tulsa.” The couple is adjusting to life as empty nesters: Lawhorn jokes that Shawn adjusted much quicker than she did. They enjoy traveling and are about two-thirds through their goal to visit all 50 states.

Work and family keep her calendar full, but Lawhorn still makes time to give back through professional and charitable activities. She is a member of the board of regents for Tulsa Community College and a member of the boards of directors of the Southern Gas Association, the Tulsa Area United Way, and Saint Simeon’s Foundation. She is also a former chair of TU’s Collins College of Business Executive Advisory Board and a past president of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tulsa.

On being named a Distinguished Alumna, Lawhorn said, “I’m very honored, and it’s completely unexpected. I’m in great company this year and with those who have gone before. I just couldn’t be more proud to be associated with TU. The university continues to excel at educating students and preparing them for the world.”