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
-
Then
Now
Bill Hinkle
Business & Technology Advertising creative director who won 28 national ADDY awards and co-founded TU's advertising program in 1994. View bio -
Then
Now
Charles Bell
Arts & Culture Corporate comptroller turned full-time painter, recognized as a pioneer of Photorealism for his large-scale still lifes. View bio -
Then
Now
David Stewart James
Medicine & Science Championship wrestler who became Oklahoma's first D.O. gastroenterologist and led over 150 clinical research projects. View bio -
Then
Now
Jim Frasier
Law & Public Service Senior partner in a firm dedicated to representing working people, and former chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party. View bio -
Then
Now
Billy Joe Johnston
Arts & Culture Dove Award songwriter and advertising executive who helped pioneer McDonald's Happy Meal and won two Will Rogers Medallions. View bio -
Then
Now
Jay Thomas “Tommy” Evans
Athletics Two-time state champion wrestler who won Olympic silver in 1951 and coached Oklahoma to two NCAA national titles. View bio -
Then
Now
JoAnne Meade Lewis
Arts & Culture Interior designer and community organizer who created the Price Tower Museum Store and led the Will Rogers High School Community Foundation. View bio -
Then
Now
Mikel Donahue
Arts & Culture Advertising art director who turned to painting full time and was voted into the Cowboy Artists of America in 2016. View bio -
Then
Now
Paula LeFan Stover
Arts & Culture Led Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma for 26 years, saving it from closure in 1996 and founding its academy for children. View bio -
Then
Now
Charles Kimball
Education Middle East scholar who met with the Ayatollah Khomeini at age 29 to help open talks during the Iran hostage crisis. View bio -
Then
Now
Charlotte Wilson Heth
Education Ethnomusicologist of American Indian music, UCLA professor emerita, and citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. View bio -
Then
Now
Frank Pitezel
Civic Leadership Bronze Star engineer and utility engineering director who served ten years in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. View bio
No inductees match those filters yet.
Showing 36 of 80 inductees
Load More Inductees
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)
