Judy Zarrow Kishner

Being a member of Tulsa’s storied Zarrow family comes with its share of privileges and pressures, and every member seems to understand his or her role in improving the lives of others. Judy Zarrow Kishner (BA ’74, JD ’77) is no exception. Her practical outlook and humble personality make her devotion to social causes even more profound.

The Zarrow name was built upon solid business sense and today is synonymous with philanthropy. Kishner’s father, Henry Zarrow, established Sooner Pipe & Supply, a pipe and oil field supply company, in 1938. Nine years later, his brother, Jack, joined the company. Together, the business grew into one of the world’s largest oil and gas suppliers. They diversified and found success in oil transportation and manufacturing equipment for energy giants.

As their company flourished, the Zarrows were eager to share their good fortune and established charitable foundations with justice and compassion at their cores. Today, Kishner presides over the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation and is a trustee for the Zarrow Families Foundation.

“I was a nontraditional student. I had two small children, and TU seemed like a great place to go to school,” Kishner says, harkening back to the days when The University of Tulsa was largely a commuter campus. “I set out to study biology, and then I hit organic chemistry. That’s when I switched to economics,” she laughs.

Raising a son and a daughter didn’t slow Kishner, who graduated in three-and-a-half years and went on to law school. She credits her legal education and, indeed, her academic career at TU with teaching her as much about society and the world as about the subjects in all of the books she lugged to and from class. She said the attention from dedicated faculty such as then-Professor Al Soltow made all the difference.

Kishner served as a senior vice president at Sooner Pipe before taking on her current role at the foundations. Along the way, she’s given her time and energy to a variety of noble efforts – from libraries and animal aid to health and justice programs. But none has been quite as touching as Building Tulsa, Building Lives, a project that seeks to end chronic homelessness. Kishner and her cousin Gail Richards chaired the group, proving again that bettering the community and its residents is a mission the Zarrow family takes to heart. Building Tulsa, Building Lives provides affordable housing to get people off the streets and then provides support to help relieve the underlying causes of homelessness, such as mental illness.

In her role as philanthropist, Kishner sees her alma mater standing with her and her family to lift up Tulsa. “I give a lot of credit to President Steadman Upham. He has built on past accomplishments and invested in the community,” said Kishner, who served on the university’s Board of Trustees from 1997 to 2000. “TU has earned its reputation as an asset to the Kendall Whittier neighborhood, the Brady Arts District and beyond. It truly is one of the gems of our city.

“Although my father never graduated from college, he was awarded an honorary doctorate in law from TU in 1993, and education was always very important to him,” said Kishner. “It is impressive to see The University of Tulsa care for its neighbors and pour its resources into institutions like the Henry Zarrow Center for Art & Education, which is a remarkable place and such a tribute to my dad.

“I am honored to be a Distinguished Alumna and proud to be a TU graduate.”