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
Now
Art Fleak
Law & Public Service Wrote Oklahoma's first juvenile criminal code and became Tulsa County's first Juvenile Public Defender in 1973. 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
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 -
Then
Now
Richard Risk
Law & Public Service Air Force veteran and Reagan appointee who became an attorney at age 60 and formed the Will Rogers High School Community Foundation. View bio -
Then
Now
Dave Banks
Media & Journalism Emmy-winning cameraman who spent forty years filming news and history in remote and hostile locations worldwide. View bio -
Then
Now
David Finch
Media & Journalism Nineteen-time Emmy winner whose handheld camera work walking with golfers changed how sports looked on television. View bio -
Then
Now
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 -
Then
Now
Tom Harrison
Faith & Ministry Senior pastor at Asbury United Methodist in Tulsa since 1993 and author of twelve books heard on Tulsa FM radio. View bio
No inductees match those filters yet.
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)
