Hall of Fame Members BY INDUCTION YEAR

2025 Inductees

Christy Kelley Tate, c/o 1997

Actress, Community VolunteerChristy Kelley Tate earned her way to be one of Oklahoma’s lead Television and Film Actors. She is […]

Gary Fife, c/o 1968

Journalist Gary Fife was a career veteran of journalism with 50 years of experience in print, radio, and television. An […]

Robert A. Cary, c/o 1963

Air Pollution Scientist Robert Cary’s research, development, and commercialization of the first automated instrument for the measurement of carbon aerosol […]

Dr. Bill Van Burkleo, c/o 1960

Professional Athlete, Physician Bill Van Burkleo’s outstanding high school athletic achievements led him to continue his education at the University […]

Walter Lipke, c/o 1960

Engineer Walter Lipke’s long and distinguished career of federal service garnered several awards, including the Exemplary Civilian Service Award, and […]

Jim Wixson, c/o 1958

Professional Athlete Jim Wixson is the first and only Will Rogers High School alumnus to be named an “All-American” in […]

Jean Winfrey ’69

Inducted in 2024 A life-long administrator for children with special needs, Jean Winfrey was the Executive Director at Tulsa’s Little […]

Patrick Waddel ’59

Inducted in 2024 Patrick Waddel began his college experience on a wrestling scholarship at the University of Pittsburg. He earned […]

Anna Seago ’59

Inducted in 2024 Anna Lea Brixey Seago was a trailblazer for women in the military with the distinction of becoming […]

Joseph Pelton ’61

Inducted in 2024 Dr. Joseph Pelton is a noted figure in the realm of space exploration and education. During his […]

Gil Cloud ’64

Inducted in 2024 Gil Cloud has been a transformative figure for over five decades, namely in his role of Executive […]

Dave Banks ’68

Inducted in 2024 Three-time Emmy-winning cameraman, photojournalist and documentarian, Dave Banks has spent forty years in the field, chronicling the […]

David Finch ’71

Inducted in 2022 David is an Eagle Scout who began his television career while a student at Rogers, working evenings […]

Linda Sellen Frazier ’58

Inducted in 2022 Linda Frazier earned a B.A. in Music and French at DePauw University. After teaching French, she earned […]

Frank Marcum ’61

Inducted in 2022 Frank Marcum ran hurdles on the Roper track team and became a record-setting hurdler at the University […]

Ron Woods ’57

Inducted in 2022 While a student at Will Rogers, Ron Woods played the trumpet and led the Round-Up Orchestra. Thanks […]

Walter S. Yager ’54

Inducted in 2022 Walter Stuart Yager earned a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from OU, joined the Air Force as a […]

Linda Barton Paul ’69

Inducted in 2022 Linda Paul played piano and trumpet, beginning harp lessons in 9th grade. At Will Rogers she performed […]

Pat Kelly ’70

Guitarist, Composer, Producer, Educator Inducted in 2019 Pat Kelley knew from the age of five, when his dad gave him […]

Sherryl Mellott McGuire ’65

Inducted in 2019 College was not a focus for Sherryl Mellott McGuire’s family, and there was no money for it. […]

Richard Meydag ’58

Inducted in 2019 Military Aviator, Presidential Pilot Lt. Col. Richard Meydag, USMC RetIred, earned an associate degree in Aviation Technology […]

Art Fleak ’65

Inducted in 2019 Public Defender, Juvenile Justice Pioneer At Will Rogers, Art Fleak was all-state in football. He became a […]

R. David Bynum, Ph.D. ’58

Inducted in 2019 David Bynum graduated Westminster College and entered the oil business, but struggled to find meaning in his […]

David Stewart James ’58

Inducted in 2018 David Stewart James was a member of Will Rogers’ first state championship wrestling team, where he finished […]

Charles Bell ’53

Inducted in 2018 Charles Bell is an internationally-known artist, renowned as a pioneer of Photorealism. Charles earned a bachelor’s degree […]

Bill Hinkle ’65

Inducted in 2018 Bill Hinkle is widely recognized for his achievements in advertising and higher education. After graduating from the […]

Barbara Hencke Thompson ’57

Inducted in 2018 Barbara earned her Bachelor of Arts with teaching certificates in French and education, at University of Oklahoma, […]

James E. Frasier ’59

Inducted in 2018 Jim Frasier’s character was shaped early in life through the influence of an older brother who came […]

Mikel Donahue ’74

Inducted in 2017 Mikel Donahue, Class of 1974, is a western artist whose work has been exhibited in the Governor’s […]

Jay Thomas Evans ’49

Inducted in 2017 Jay Thomas “Tommy” Evans was a two time state champion wrestler for Will Rogers High School. At […]

Joe Johnston ’66

Inducted in 2017 Billy Joe Johnston, Class of 1966, is a songwriter, author, journalist, music producer, advertising executive, artist, and […]

Jo Anne Meade Lewis ’55

Inducted in 2017 Jo Anne Meade Lewis is an artist, interior designer, and an advocate for children, education and the […]

Paula LeFan Stover ’59

Inducted in 2017 Paula LeFan Stover was the former Managing Director of Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma. Paula has led Oklahoma’s […]

Frank Pitezel ’42

Inducted in 2016 Frank Pitezel, Class of 1942, was a sophomore at Will Rogers High School when the doors first […]

J. David Nunneley ’54

Inducted in 2016 J. David Nunneley, Class of 1954, is a Figurative, Wildlife and Military Sculpture Artist. After graduating from […]

Charlotte Wilson Heth ’55

Inducted in 2016 Charlotte Wilson Heth, PhD, Class of 1955, Professor Emerita of UCLA, is a citizen of the Cherokee […]

Charles Kimball ’68

Inducted in 2016 Charles Kimball, ThD, Class of 1968, is the Presidential Professor and Director of Religious Studies at the […]

Richard Risk, JD ’59

Inducted in 2016 Richard “Dick” Risk, J.D., Class of 1959, was commissioned in the United States Air Force as a […]

Ronald D. Flanagan ’57

Inducted in 2015 President and Principal Planner of R.D. Flanagan & Assoc., LLC, Ronald Flanagan was a key member of […]

Herald Givens ’69

Inducted in 2015 Community volunteer and business owner, Herald Givens spent his life in service to others. Even as his […]

Archie Goodwin ’55

Inducted in 2015 Often referred to as the Undisputed King of Comic Books, Archie Goodwin was an American comic book […]

Roberta Scott Hamilton ’60

Inducted in 2015 Recently Retired Public Information Officer of the Indian Capital Technology Center, Roberta Scott Hamilton demonstrated that adversity […]

Donald R. Mellott ’62

Inducted in 2015 From the age of 26, Don Mellott, Chairman/Owner of HIS Specialists, LLC, has owned several companies, including […]

John Henry Ward ’66

Inducted in 2015 Upon graduation from Will Rogers, John Ward played football and wrestled at OSU, where he was named […]

Lynette Bennett (Danskin) ’55

Inducted in 2013 Lynette Bennett (Danskin) was a star at Will Rogers and went on to become a star internationally. […]

Linda Chambers Bradshaw ’60

Inducted in 2013 Linda Chambers Bradshaw is known by many in the Tulsa community as the owner of Tulsa World […]

Paula Combest Unruh ’47

Inducted in 2013 Paula Combest Unruh graduated from Will-on-the-Hill and attended The University of Tulsa and The University of Arkansas. […]

Richard Counts, MD ’59

Inducted in 2013 Richard Counts could have been a successful actor, writer, musician or businessman, but thankfully for people the […]

Gordon Morgan ’53

Inducted in 2013 Gordon Morgan was an All-State baseball player for Will Rogers in 1953 and upon graduation he was […]

Janet Wright Kizziar, Ph.D. ’57

Inducted in 2013 Janet Wright Kizziar graduated from Will Rogers and The University of Tulsa, returned to Will-on-the-Hill to teach […]

James Russell, Ph.D. ’62

Inducted in 2013 After graduating from Rogers in 1962, James Russell became active in the 1960s civil rights and antiwar […]

Nancy Jo Daulton Beier ’56

Inducted in 2012 Nancy Jo Daulton Beier, known as “Jo” while at Rogers, appeared as Bloody Mary in Rogers’ production […]

Elvin Bishop ’60

Inducted in 2012 In the early 1950s, Elvin Bishop used to listen late at night to a radio station from […]

Donald “Babe” Chandler ’52

Inducted in 2012 Donald “Babe” Chandler excelled in several sports at Will Rogers and won a scholarship to Bacone Indian […]

Paul Davis ’55

Inducted in 2012 Centrahoma, Caddo, Antlers, Harthorne, Jenks. Paul Davis lived in numerous Oklahoma towns before arriving at Woodrow Wilson […]

Fred G. Sanders ’45

Inducted in 2012 Fred Sanders wanted to study aeronautical engineering after graduation from Will Rogers. Only four schools in the […]

Warren G. Gutheroth, MD ’45

Inducted in 2012 Warren Guntheroth graduated from Will Rogers and received a full scholarship to Harvard University. He earned his […]

Tom Harrison, D.Min ’72

Inducted in 2012 Rev. Tom Harrison was born in Norman, Oklahoma. He attended Sequoyah Elementary and Cleveland Jr. High in […]

Neil R. Sparks, Jr ’54

Inducted in 2012 After graduation from Will Rogers, Neil Sparks attended Oklahoma State University and was commissioned as an officer […]

2011 Inductees

Preston C. Caruthers ’45

Inducted in 2011 Preston Caruthers came to Tulsa at age three, after his father’s death. Summers were spent working on […]

Stephen D. Chesebro’ ’59

Inducted in 2011 Stephen Chesebro’ went from winning the title of “Ugly Man” and barely making the football team to […]

Russell Myers ’56

Inducted in 2011 Russell Myers, was known by his friends as “Roo” while at Will Rogers. He was born in […]

Lee Mayberry ’88

Inducted in 2011 Lee Mayberry is one of the most outstanding athletes to have graduated from Will Rogers High School. […]

2009 Inductees

Phillip Butler, PhD ’56

Inducted in 2009 After completing high school, Phil Butler graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1961. He became a […]

James D. Dunn ’60

Inducted in 2009 After graduation from Rogers, James Dunn earned a degree in engineering physics from the Colorado School of […]

James W. Jones, MD, PhD ’59

Inducted in 2009 James W. Jones, M.D., Ph.D., attended the University of Tulsa and was accepted into Tulane University School […]

William L. Lewis ’49

Inducted in 2009 William “Bill” Lewis loved baseball and singing, but singing won out and he turned down a college […]

Carol Walsh Morsani ’49

Inducted in 2009 Carol Walsh Morsani and Frank Morsani met at Will Rogers, graduated from Oklahoma State University, and have […]

Frank Morsani ’49

Inducted in 2009 A graduate of Will Rogers and Oklahoma State University, Frank Morsani served four years in the Navy […]

Leon Russell (Bridges) ’59

Inducted in 2009 Leon Russell, known as Russell Bridges when he was at Will Rogers, is a gifted artist who […]

Gailard Sartain ’63

Inducted in 2009 After graduation from Will Rogers High School, Gailard Sartain earned a bachelor of fine arts degree from […]

Robert J. Stuart ’44

Inducted in 2009 Robert Stuart was known as “Jackrabbit” while at Will Rogers because of his 1943 and 1944 state […]

1992 Inductees

Ronald Radford ’62

Inducted in 1992 Ronald Radford – known as “Hank” when he was at Will Rogers – is known internationally as […]

2025 Inductees

2024 Inductees

2022 Inductees

2019 Inductees

2018 Inductees

2017 Inductees

2016 Inductees

2015 Inductees

2013 Inductees

2012 Inductees

2011 Inductees

2009 Inductees

1992 Inductees

1989 Inductees