House Common Education Committee Chair Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, has been named the 2026 Legislator of the Year by the Organization of Rural Oklahoma Schools (OROS).

OROS presented Lowe with the award during its annual conference on Oct. 23, recognizing his continued commitment to advocating for rural Oklahoma schools throughout his time in the Legislature.

"I'm honored to receive this recognition from an organization that has spent more than four decades standing up for rural education in Oklahoma," Lowe said. "Rural schools are often the heart of the communities they serve and help sustain the future of our towns. I'm committed to making sure rural students have the same opportunities to succeed as students anywhere in Oklahoma, and I'll continue working to ensure our rural schools have the support they need to do that."

OROS is a non-profit dedicated to supporting and promoting the interests of rural school districts in Oklahoma. The organization now includes more than 320 rural school districts as members.

Lowe, a former agriculture teacher, has served as chair of the House Common Education Committee since 2024.