Oklahoma Athletes and Sports Leaders
Learn from the oral histories of Oklahoma's most influential athletes, coaches, owners, and other sports leaders and how their legacies shaped Oklahoma.
Learn From These Influential Oklahomans
Allan Trimble
Jenks High School Football CoachBeloved high school coaching legend who won championships, battled ALS, and left an incredible legacy of leadership.
Barry Switzer
Football RoyaltyThis football legend rose from an unconventional childhood to Super Bowl royalty.
Bart Conner
Gold Medalist American GymnastOur nation's most accomplished male gymnast, the only American to win gold at every level of competition.
Becky Dixon
Television Broadcaster & First Woman Co-host of ABC’s Wide World of SportsBecky Dixon, an American television broadcaster and 2016 Oklahoma Hall of Fame inductee, shares the story of her life as a trailblazer in sports broadcasting.
Bill Rollings
Tulsa BaseballBill Rollings saved professional baseball for the city of Tulsa. He tells of the rocky history of the Oilers and the Drillers.
Bob Barry, Sr.
SportscasterFor half a century, his voice was synonymous with Oklahoma football.
Bob Kurland
Basketball PlayerOklahoma's own "7-footer" Olympic medalist.
Bud Wilkinson
Football CoachAmerican football coach, broadcaster, and politician.
Dale McNamara
Golfer and Coach, TUDale built the TU women's golf program from the ground up and it grew to be the gold standard in the sport.
Dave Whitlock
Fly FishermanWorld-renowned fly fisherman whose talents include painting, illustrating, writing, photography, fly tying, and lecturing.
David Morgan
Race Car DriverA Tulsa insurance executive during the week with a very successful 10-year weekend racing career.
Eddie Sutton
Basketball CoachWith 804 career wins, he has earned a place in Oklahoma college basketball history.
JV Haney
Coach, Legendary Oklahoma High School Sports BroadcasterJV Haney, a coach renowned for his unwavering positivity and encouragement, became the face and voice of high school sports in Oklahoma, inspiring players, coaches, parents, and fans alike throughout his legendary 30+ years in Oklahoma high school sports broadcasting.
Johnny Bench
Baseball PlayerThe small-town Oklahoman who grew up to be "Baseball's Greatest Catcher."
Julius Pegues
First Black Varsity Basketball Player at Pittsburgh University, USAF Weather Forecaster, FAA Advisor, ActivistJulius Pegues was best known for his work to memorialize Tulsa’s 1921 Race Massacre and the history and culture of Black Tulsans through the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation, with his efforts laying the groundwork for the Greenwood Rising History Center.
Ken Trickey
ORU Basketball CoachAn influential leader who brought national attention and competitive success to ORU basketball.
Marques Haynes
Harlem GlobetrotterA unique talent for basketball took him from small-town America to the world.
Porter Reed
Baseball Player, Negro LeagueAs an athlete in the Negro Leagues, he played baseball with the greats.
Reuben Gant
Football PlayerAfter a successful career in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills, Gant returned to Tulsa and became a community leader.
Ted Owens
Basketball CoachWith nine Big Eight tournament titles, he's widely recognized as one of the top collegiate coaches in the country.
Voices of Sports Legends
A collection from Wayne McCombsThis collection of events and interviews from sports historian Wayne McCombs is a treasure trove of sports history.
Warren Spahn
Baseball PitcherThe greatest major league left-handed pitcher of all time.
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