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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Then
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Linda Chambers Bradshaw
Business & Technology Gymnastics business owner and Will Rogers Memorial authority who founded the Rotary-sponsored Will Rogers Gala. View bio -
Then
Now
Linda Sellen Frazier
Arts & Culture Arts advocate who helped found Artists in the Schools and chaired the Oklahoma Arts Council from 1996 to 2000. View bio -
Then
Now
Lynette Bennett Danskin
Arts & Culture Broadway, film and TV performer who wrote and starred in the PBS one-woman show Will Rogers' Romance with Betty and America. View bio -
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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 -
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Now
Nancy Jo Daulton Beier
Arts & Culture Made her European debut as Tosca in Flensburg and sang dramatic soprano roles in German and Danish opera houses. View bio -
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Now
Neil R. Sparks
Military Service Awarded the Navy Cross for a 1967 helicopter rescue 200 miles inside North Vietnam under intense enemy ground fire. View bio -
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Now
Pat Kelley
Arts & Culture Session and touring guitarist for George Benson, Al Jarreau and Chick Corea, and a USC professor for 24 years. View bio -
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Now
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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Now
Paul Davis
Arts & Culture Push Pin Studios illustrator known for his posters for Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival and solo museum shows. View bio -
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Paula Combest Unruh
Civic Leadership Reagan appointee who became the first woman to serve as principal deputy director general of the Commercial Service. View bio -
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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 -
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Phillip Butler
Military Service Naval aviator whose own bombs destroyed his jet in 1965; he was then held as a prisoner of war for 2,855 days. 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)
