Past Inductees — The Oklahoma Hall of Fame for City and Town Officials

Gene Brown Jr.

Gene Brown Jr.

Winnsboro, Louisiana, native Gene Brown first came to Oklahoma as a soldier at Fort Sill in Lawton and later moved to Duncan with Sun Oil Company. There he met and married his wife, Mary. After 18 years Sun Oil closed the Duncan refinery and the Brown’s were faced with the decision of whether to stay with the company and move to Los Angeles, California or to remain in Duncan, where Gene had recently been elected to the City Council. They chose Duncan as the place to raise their two children, and he has served on the city council for a record-setting 22 years.

BMatthew BurlesonMay 7, 20202006

Gary Michael Burdge

Gary Michael Burdge

In addition to his extensive involvement and leadership roles in Oklahoma local government, Sand Springs Mayor, Mike Burdge, has served as a volunteer high school cross-country running coach and as a board member for local Veterans International Outreach and Freedom Ministries organizations. In addition to the organizations listed in the brochure, Mayor Burdge also serves on the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Transportation Policy Committee.

BMatthew BurlesonMay 7, 20202015

Gary Pruett

Gary Pruett

Gary recently retired as General Manager of the Municipal Utility Board in Pryor Oklahoma after serving in various capacities for 46 years of service. His career began as a mechanic in the Gas & Water department and after 2 years he moved into an apprentice lineman position in the electric department. After several more promotions he was named General Manager in 1996, a position he held until his retirement.

PMatthew BurlesonMay 7, 20202019

Gary Martin

Gary Martin

Gary Dale Martin retired on February 28, 2009, after a 36-year career with the City of Ponca City, serving as city manager for the past 15 years. Born in Okemah, his family moved to Ponca when he was four. He received an Associate degree in Business Administration from Northern Oklahoma College and in 1973 his BS degree from Oklahoma State University. Martin worked as an accountant before joining the city as Park Superintendent in 1973. He subsequently served as Public Works Director from 1977 until 1993 when he became City Manager. He served in 1991 as President of the Oklahoma Chapter of the American Public Works Association and in 2002 as President of the City Management Association of Oklahoma.

MMatthew BurlesonMay 7, 20202009

Gary Marrs

Gary Marrs

Tragedy, it is said, brings out the best or worst in people. And our final inductee showed the world that in Oklahoma, tragedy brings out the finest and best in the dedicated municipal employees who labor in our 580 plus communities every day. "The Oklahoma Standard" was emblazoned in the world's psyche in the moments, hours, days, and weeks following 9:02 AM on April 19, 1995. And the epitome of this Standard is a very humble and quiet man who sought only to serve his community as best he could.

MMatthew BurlesonMay 7, 20202002

Ernest E. Dirks

Ernest E. Dirks

While a Kansan by birth, our first inductee this evening has probably traveled Oklahoma more extensively than most natives. The travel came as he labored to mentor, tutor, motivate, and challenge for the best in local government performance and practice. As State Director of the Oklahoma Commission for Training Municipal Clerks and Treasurers, he traversed the state for 19 years to conduct training for over 1,000 clerks, treasurers, and deputies, annually. Ernest R. Dirks distinguished himself in his unfailing devotion to bringing a high degree of professionalism among these essential municipal officers.

DMatthew BurlesonMay 7, 20202002

Elaine Grace Carr

Elaine Grace Carr

Elaine Carr was first asked to run for West Siloam Springs town council in 1998 so after much thought, she filed for the Ward 4 position and won. She’s served on the town council for 19 years and was appointed mayor in 2003, a position she continues to hold. Elaine has been the longest mayor to ever serve West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma, where she strives daily to make a great place to live. She loves what she does to help bring jobs and economic development to the community.

CMatthew BurlesonMay 7, 20202017

Edward Smith

Edward Smith

Widely recognized for his leadership in law enforcement professional development, Edward Leonard Smith hoped in 1973 simply to become a Seminole police officer upon graduation from the local junior college. He wasn’t hired. But now 35 years later, after having served in eight other Oklahoma municipal police departments - and as Chief in seven of them – he is now Chief in Seminole. Ed later earned his Master in Criminal Justice Administration degree from Oklahoma City University.

SMatthew BurlesonMay 7, 20202008

Drake Rice

Drake Rice

For more than forty years Drake Rice has consistently demonstrated a servant's heart in local government management in three (3) Oklahoma communities and as Director of Member Services of the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority (OMPA). Drake has been a mentor to more than two generations of elected and appointed city officials. It does not matter if these officials represented a community which owned its own municipal electric distribution utility or not, Drake has been a steady, calm, knowledgeable, creative source of encouragement and insight on a multitude of issues for a host of municipal officials across Oklahoma. At the same time, Drake is a strong proponent of local control who provided outstanding insight without seeking to impose his ideas or will on any community.

RMatthew BurlesonMay 7, 20202017

Dr. Charles Spencer

Dr. Charles Spencer

Thousands of dedicated Oklahoman's have helped to build the 589 great hometowns in our state over the past century. The Hall of Fame Foundation Board early realized that one of their most difficult tasks would be to determine whether to induct some of these municipal officials posthumously. For this first induction, Dr. Charles F. Spencer is deemed to be a person deserving such recognition, even though he passed away in 1989. Dr. Spencer is perhaps best recognized for his over 23 years as President of East Central State University in Ada. He graduated from East Central in 1928 and then received his Master's degree the next year from OU.

SMatthew BurlesonMay 7, 20202001

Donald C. Rider

Donald C. Rider

The Hall of Fame for City and Town Officials each year may induct one person posthumously. For 2003, that person never held public office in Oklahoma. However, most of the laws or services municipal officials work with today, as well as the breadth of appreciation among state agencies for municipal government, is due in large measure to one individual. That person was Donald C. Rider, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Municipal League from 1972 until 1988.

RMatthew BurlesonMay 7, 20202003

Donald Alan Riffel

Donald Alan Riffel

As City Manager of Woodward for the past 13 years, he was recognized in 2004 by the International City-County Management Association (ICMA) as a Credentialed City Manager; and then in 2008, he graduated from the ICMA Gettysburg Leadership Institute. He began his municipal career as a firefighter in Anadarko, where he later served as City Manager for seven years.

RMatthew BurlesonMay 7, 20202016

David R. Morgan, PhD.

David R. Morgan, PhD.

"Those who can, do; those who can't, teach", probably applies to some people, but not to David Morgan. Through his contributions as an educator, researcher, and author, he has done much to impact the way cities and towns are managed and how they operate. Dr. Morgan went out to "do" municipal government first as an Administrative Assistant to the City Manager of Norman, then as a Personnel Technician for the City of Oklahoma City, and in 1959 as the first City Manager of Yukon. After a three-year stint in the mid-'60s as a Project Director with the Peace Corps Training Programs, he began then to "do" even more for cities and towns through his work at the University of Oklahoma.

MMatthew BurlesonMay 7, 20202002

David Weatherford

David Weatherford

It is said that David Weatherford is the most unique municipal attorney in the state of this generation. His service and influence spans state-wide and is changing communities not only for today but also for the next generation of municipal leaders. He is truly committed to his profession as a city attorney for the betterment of communities across Oklahoma.

WMatthew BurlesonMay 7, 20202018

Dan Galloway

Dan Galloway

Dan served his first three years of municipal government as City Manager of Owasso and then went on to serve as the City Manager for Clinton, Bethany, Stillwater, and El Reno before retiring after a more than 30 yr. career.

GMatthew BurlesonMay 7, 20202019

Cynthia "Cindy" Clover Shattuck

Cynthia "Cindy" Clover Shattuck

Her career began in 1979 after graduation from Oklahoma State University when she was hired as a clerk in the trust department at what was then known as Liberty National Bank and Trust. Bank officers had helped officials from OML and several cities to establish the Oklahoma Municipal Retirement Fund. Her community spirit, can-do-attitude, and compassion helped her advance quickly through promotions at the bank.

SMatthew BurlesonMay 7, 20202013

Craig Stephenson

Craig Stephenson

It’s been stated that Craig Stephenson is thoughtful, fair-minded and his character above reproach. He strives to make a meaningful contribution to every task he undertakes. Craig is an achiever in all categories and is a servant to his lord, his family, and his community. He has a very sensitive understanding of people and knows how to cultivate relationships and get things done with the proper techniques and unsolicited cooperation to achieve the goals.

SMatthew BurlesonMay 7, 20202018

Charles Lamb

Charles Lamb

When Charles Lamb was first elected to the Edmond City Council in 1993 he brought with him a wealth of experience in housing and urban development issues and quickly developed an abiding interest in public power systems. A native of Perry, he graduated in 1967 from Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, MO, and in 1970 from the University of Central Oklahoma. He received his Master’s in Urban Affairs at UCO in 1980, graduating Summa Cum Laude.

LMatthew BurlesonMay 7, 20202006

Carl F. Reherman

Carl F. Reherman

Carl Frederick Reherman’s nomination noted that he is always able to see the future, to dream bigger and farther than others, but as one who also has the ability and drive to find the people and resources to fulfill those dreams. In the past 37 years Carl has turned his dreams into programs that have had a profound affect on all Oklahoma cities and towns as well as municipal leadership throughout Oklahoma and beyond.

RMatthew BurlesonMay 7, 20202007

Bertha Ann Young

Bertha Ann Young

As an employee of the city of Shawnee for 51 years, Bertha Ann Young achieved an unprecedented career of integrity, leadership, professional development, and support for the appointed and elected officers and employees involved in municipal government. She began employment with the city as a cashier in the water department at age 20 in August 1948 and retired as the City Treasurer/Finance Director in August 1999, after having advanced through the positions of Deputy City Clerk, City Clerk, and City Treasurer.

YMatthew BurlesonMay 7, 20202005