Hall of Fame
The Ropers Who Made a Difference.
Celebrating the Will Rogers alumni who have gone on to shape Tulsa, and the world, through their work, their service, and the lives they’ve touched.
Will Rogers has a long tradition of honoring its distinguished alumni at special ceremonies held over the years. The Hall of Fame was the Foundation’s first initiative, long before the Foundation’s mission grew to include direct support for today’s students. It remains the Foundation’s way of saying: this school produces people worth celebrating, and their stories are worth telling.
Each year, a new class of inductees is added, chosen by a selection committee from nominations submitted by the Will Rogers community.
Search below to explore inductees by name, year, or field of endeavor.
Class of Excellence
All Inductees
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Bill Van Burkleo
Medicine & Science College football player and Cowboys draftee who became a rural family physician and Oklahoma emergency medical director. View bio -
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Christy Kelley Tate
Arts & Culture Oklahoma film and TV actress who starred in three seasons of Mike Rowe's series "The Way I Heard It" and Lifetime films. View bio -
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Gary Fife
Media & Journalism Muscogee (Creek) journalist who founded National Native News, the first Native weekday radio news service in the U.S. View bio -
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Jim Wixson
Athletics The only Will Rogers alumnus ever named All-American, and one of two pitchers to throw a College World Series no-hitter. View bio -
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Robert A. Cary
Medicine & Science Developed the first automated instrument for measuring carbon aerosol particles, now used for air quality worldwide. View bio -
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Now
Walter Lipke
Business & Technology Federal software manager who created Earned Schedule, a project management method honored in the US, Europe and Australia. View bio -
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Now
Anna Lea Brixey Seago
Military Service First woman promoted to Sergeant Major in the history of the 85th Infantry Division, after enlisting at age 34. View bio -
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Dave Banks
Media & Journalism Emmy-winning cameraman who spent forty years filming news and history in remote and hostile locations worldwide. View bio -
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Gil Cloud
Athletics Raised nearly $100 million for Tulsa school athletic facilities and won three Oklahoma Athletics Director of the Year titles. View bio -
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Jean Winfrey
Education Led Tulsa's Little Light House through an $18 million expansion and built it into a global model for special needs education. View bio -
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Joseph Pelton
Medicine & Science Satellite and space scholar, author of 70 books and over 400 articles, and founder of the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation. View bio -
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Patrick Waddel
Law & Public Service Tulsa attorney who served 25 years on the Tulsa Development Authority and shaped the city's "Uptown Urbanism" revival. View bio
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Hall of Fame Nominations
Know Someone Who Deserves This Recognition?
The Hall of Fame honors Will Rogers alumni who have made extraordinary contributions to their field and to their community. Nominations are reviewed annually by our selection committee. To be considered for an induction class, a nomination must be submitted or postmarked by 5:00 p.m. on August 31; later nominations may be held for the class after.
- Must be a graduate of Will Rogers High School (now Will Rogers College Middle and High School)
- Demonstrated excellence in their field of endeavor
- Positive impact on their community or society at large
Full eligibility requirements, the review timeline, and what to include in a nomination are outlined in our Nomination Rules and Procedures.
Nominations are closed for this year.
View Nomination Rules and Procedures (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
