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
James W. Jones
Medicine & Science Heart surgeon who performed or supervised more than 12,000 open heart operations across a thirty-five-year career. View bio -
Then
Now
Janet Wright Kizziar
Medicine & Science Psychologist, TV talk show host and twins researcher, and a founding member of Fresh Start Women's Foundation. 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
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 -
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
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 -
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
John Ward
Athletics All-American at OSU in football and wrestling, a first-round Vikings draft pick, later called "Mr. County Government." View bio -
Then
Now
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 -
Then
Now
Lee Mayberry
Athletics Led the 1988 Ropers to a state championship, scored 1,940 points at Arkansas, and played seven seasons in the NBA. View bio -
Then
Now
Leon Russell Bridges
Arts & Culture Session musician, songwriter and performer who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by Elton John in 2011. View bio -
Then
Now
Linda Barton Paul
Arts & Culture Grammy-nominated harpist, principal with five symphonies, and an ordained minister who works with prison inmates. View bio
No inductees match those filters yet.
Showing 48 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)
