Legends
Jim Noble – Moved state seal from Guthrie to Oklahoma City thereby making Oklahoma City the State Capital instead of Guthrie
Edwin P. McCabe – Assisted with movement to make Oklahoma an all-black state, helped to found Langston City
African American Towns and Settlements of Indian and Oklahoma Territories
(African American Ghost Towns)
Arkansas Colored, Bailey, Brooksville, Canadian Colored Chase, Cimmaron City, Douglas, Emanuel, Ferguson, Foreman, Gibson Station, Homer, Huttonville, Lee, Lewisville, Liberty, Lima, Lincoln City, Mabelle, Marshall Town, North Forktown, Old Vinita, Overton, Rentie, Sanders, Summit, Udora, Wellston Colony, Wiley, Wybark
Roscoe Dunjee – Founder and editor of the Black Dispatch. Worker of Civil Rights and Human Relations
Charlie Christian – Father of Bebop. Critics called him the greatest of all Jazz Guitarists
Inman Page – Educator, First President of Langston University for, 17 years.
Zelia Breaux- Daughter of Inman Page, was Prominent Musician, Educator, influenced the careers of Charlie Christian & Jimmy Rushing. Built 1st African American Movie Theater and Performing Arts Venue with F. E. Whitlow
Dr. William Lewis Haywood – Physician, Founded First Hospital for Black People in OKC. The Utopia Hospital with two beds. Office still standing and 300 NE 2nd street
Walter J. and Francis Edwards – Business, Real Estate Developers and Investors. Built more than 800 homes. Founder of the Frist African American Owned Hospital.
Thomas Allen and J. Herman Banning – In 1932 build own airplane and flew 1st transcontinental flight. Taught students at Tuskegee who became core of 99th Squadron, first to fly for the U.S. Military
General Roscoe Conklin Cartwright – Third in the history of the U.S.A, in 1971 to become a Brigadier General. 1st Black Commissioned in History of Oklahoma.
Captain Riley Pitts – 1st Black Officer in U.S.A. History to be honored with a Medal of Honor. Killed in action while trying to aid another company.
Dr. Wyatt Slaughter – Doctor, Architect, Builder of 99% of two story or more buildings on 2nd street. He was largest property owner in OKC. He was 1st to build his own airport at 63rd street near I-35. He financed most buildings and businesses on the east side.
Le Ora Hodge – State President of the Beauty Culturist League Inc. Promoted hair care and fashion modeling in OKC. Owned 1st class beauty salon still standing on NE 4th Street. Was invited to by President Lyndon Johnson and served with Mary Mcleod Bethune on committee for Eleanor Roosevelt in 1943 in Washington, DC.
A.C. Hamlin – Was the first black to be a member of the state legislature.
Percy James – Owner of oldest African American Bottling Company in the country from 1915-1950 called “Jay Cola.” Specialty was strawberry. “Nehi” Bottling Co. Bought out “Jay Cola” Founded Jewel Theater.
James “Jimmy” Andrew Rushing – Known as the Blues Shouter, Played in Jazz world of Kansas City, MO. Played with count Basie (1935-1950) and formed own band Toured USA and Europe, recorded for several motion pictures, albums, jazz festival and honored on history stamp.
J.D. Randolph – Founder and teacher of the first Douglass High School in 1891.
E.W. Perry – Founder of Oklahoma School of religion at Langston University 1941. First African American Pastor to deliver major message to Southern Baptist convention. He became a national figure. President of Oklahoma Baptist Negro Convention. VP at large of National Baptist Convention Inc. Director of National Council of Churches of USA, named delegate to world Baptist Alliance in Berlin, Germany.
James “Jimmy” Stewart- Activist for the Civil Rights movement in Oklahoma was only African American to serve on the National Board of the NAACP, 1958. Writer for Black Dispatch Newspaper. 1st to have office in the Oklahoma Natural Gas Co., Industrial Park named after him. Park and Golf Course named after him
Ada Lois Fisher Sipuel – Her court case broke the barrier that kept blacks out of all state colleges and universities attended by whites, was admitted on segregated basis.
Bill Pickett – Legendary black cowboy died April 2, 1932, in Ponca City, OK. Inventor of Bull dogging 1st to be voted in the Cowboy Hall of Fame. Performed in the USA, Canada, Mexico, South America and England.
Ralph Ellison – Internationally known author of “The Invisible Man.” Won many national awards such as the National Book Award, Russworm Award, and the Newspaper Publishers Award, which was highly prized among writers. He received Medal of Freedom from President Lyndon Johnson.
George McLauren – Educational Pioneer, 1st to break barrier in major institution of higher learning in Oklahoma. Paved way to integrate the University of Oklahoma, and was admitted on an equal rights basis with whites.
F.D. Moon – 1st African Americans to be elected to city Board of Education. Dr. Carter G. Woodson “Father of African American History” appointed him to the National Board of Directors for the Association for the study of African American life and history.
Buffalo Soldiers – African American soldiers who played vital roles in both the Civil War and Native American Wars. In 1965 Congress named the troops the 9th and 10 Calvary. For their bravery Native Americans named them the Buffalo Soldiers
Dr. G. E. Finley – Doctor in the Deep Deuce area and was a philanthropist whose contributions included work with Oklahoma Habitat for Humanities, Langston University and the 1966 built the finley Clinic and was honored with a bridge dedicated, which still currently stands in downtown OKC.
Theodore G. X – Dynamic Entrepreneur, and Minister. Established 12 businesses, all black owned and operated. He controlled Muslim owned businesses on the city’s northeast side, including a fish market, a school and Muhammad’s Temple of Islam.
Top Ladies of Distinction Local Oklahoma Chapter and the Northeast 23rd Area Beautification Coalition – President Rosetta Funches, Vice President – Thelma R. Parks Secretary – Angela Smith, Recording Secretary- Lucile Williams, Legal Advisor – Teresa Rendon
Prentice Gault – First black to play football for the University of Oklahoma.
