Wall of Fame
October 29, 2018
The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools will induct new members into the Wall of Fame on Oct. 29 at the 34th annual Wall of Fame Humanitarian Awards dinner. The 2018 class will join 81 other alumni who have been inducted since the Wall of Fame was created in 1985.
Over the past 34 years, the Wall of Fame has celebrated the long, rich history of Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS). It includes some of the city’s and nation’s most influential business, community and artistic leaders. The awards event will begin with a reception at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. on October 29 at the Skirvin Hilton in downtown Oklahoma City.
To sponsor the Wall of Fame event, please contact debby@okckids.com.
2018 Honorees
Rick Bayless
Mayfair Elementary School, Taft Junior High School, Northwest Classen High School
Most people know him from winning the title of Bravo’s Top Chef Master beating out the French and Italian with his authentic Mexican cuisine. His highly rated on-going Public Television Series, Mexico—One Plate at a Time can be found on television sets coast to coast, as well as his award winning, seven cookbooks. In 2012, Rick was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Best Culinary Host.
His side-by-side award-winning restaurants in Chicago were founded in 1987 – the casual Frontera Grill and the 4-star Topolobampo. In 2007, Frontera Grill won for Outstanding Restaurant by the James Beard Organization. His award-winning Frontera line of salsas, grilling sauces and organic chips can be found coast to coast.
Bayless has won James Beard awards for Midwest Chef of the Year, National Chef of the Year and Humanitarian of the Year. He opened his third restaurant: XOCO—a quick serve LEED certified restaurant featuring house-ground chocolate and wood grilled tortas. This year, Tortas Frontera opened at Chicago’s O’Hare airport and in downtown Chicago.
In 2016, he opened Leña Brava, a wood-fired seafood restaurant, and the adjacent Cruz Blanca Cervecería, which focuses on craft beer and Oaxacan-style tacos. Also in 2016, Rick won the prestigious Julia Child Award. In 2017, his restaurant Topolobampo won the James Beard award for Outstanding Restaurant in the nation.
Dr. Legand L. Burge, Jr.
Edwards Elementary School, Truman Elementary School, F.D. Moon Junior High School, Frederick Douglass High School
Dr. Legand L. Burge, Jr. currently serves as president, LLBurge&Associates, LLC. He brings leadership through a career of selfless service to our nation, a tenacious capture and insertion of talent through academia, and management and provision for acquisitions, contracts and grant awards for customers. He is keenly aware of the national interest in developing STEM talent for the workforce by his role in supporting a generation of underserved populations for corporate, government and academia. His breadth of experience includes planning, programming and budgeting for national and international venues. Burge is a veteran who placed his footprint on federal, state and higher education in the acquisition and management of resources.
Burge served on the Secretary of Defense and Air Staffs, Pentagon, Washington DC; Division
Chief, Information Security/Communications Security/Computer Security/Cyber Security at National Security Agency, MD; and, Operations Officer for Secretary of the Air Force Special Projects. He retired from the Air Force at the rank of colonel.
Burge is a graduate of the Class of 1967 Douglass High School. He attended Oklahoma State University where he received the BS, MS and PhD in Electrical Engineering. His research interests include signal processing, coding theory, information theory, communications, engineering education, and effective leadership and management. He is a member of several prestigious fraternities and honor societies and the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions.
Faye Norton
Heronville Elementary School, Valley Brook Elementary School, Wheeler Elementary School, Capitol Hill Junior High School, Capitol Hill High School
Faye Norton has resided in Oklahoma City nearly her entire life. In addition to being a wife and mother of three, she joined the work force after her youngest started school. While working as a secretary at ABS Enterprises in the mid-70s, she started self-training at night to be an Architectural Hardware Consultant. In 1982, with financial assistance from her brother and others, Norton started her own business, Designer Hardware by Faye, being only the second female-owned company in her industry. She sold her lucrative business in January 2014 but still maintains strong ties to the general manager and staff.
Norton was a member of the core group of five who started the National Decorative Hardware and Plumbing Association. She served on their board for eight years and was chair of their Education Committee for seven. She was also the first woman appointed to the Council of Fellows and currently serves as secretary of the Fellow Scholarship Investment Fund. She was named to The Journal Record’s Woman of the Year, Circle of Excellence after being honored by the program as one of their 50 Making a Difference in 2004, 2005 and 2006. In 2014, The Journal Record named her as one of Oklahoma’s Most Admired CEOs. Her personal mission is to support and encourage growth and development in Oklahoma City, pursue volunteer opportunities and travel.
2018 Wall of Fame Sponsors
Diamond Sponsors — $10,000
- EDGE Productions
- Cliff and Leslie Hudson
- KOCO-TV
- Dick and Glenna Tanenbaum
Platinum Sponsors — $5,000
- Love's Travel Stops and Country Stores
- SONIC, America's Drive-In
Gold Sponsors — $3,500
- Arvest Bank
- Cox Communications
- Dobson Technologies
- OGE Energy Corp.
Silver Sponsors — $1,500
- BancFirst
- Devon Energy
- E.L. & Thelma Gaylord Foundation
- Verizon
Bronze Sponsors — $500
- Arvest Foundation
- Bank of America
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma
- Candor
Through the Years: Wall of Fame Humanitarian Award Honorees
| Bob Barry Sr., 2009 | Wanda Jackson, 2013 |
| Rick Bayless, 2018 | Wallace Johnson, 2004 |
| Skip Bayless, 2008 | Commissioner Willa Johnson, 2015 |
| Dr. William Lee Beasley and Sherry L. Beasley, 2017 | Lou Kerr, 2001 |
| G.T. Blankenship, 1999 | Eleanor Blake Kirkpatrick, 1990 |
| Ronald E. Bogle, 2016 | John Elson Kirkpatrick, 1990 |
| Dr. Legand L. Burge Jr., 2018 | Linda Lambert, 2004 |
| Jo Carol Cameron, 2013 | Mona Salyer Lambird, 1996 |
| B.C. Clark, Jr., 1998 | James Loftis, 2013 |
| Jim C. Clark, 2010 | J.W. Mashburn, 2002 |
| Dr. Benton C. Clark III, 2015 | Aubrey McClendon, 2011 |
| Richard H. Clements, 1997 | The Honorable Vicki Miles-LaGrange, 2006 |
| Andrew M. Coats, 1998 | Bobby R. Murcer, 1994 |
| Edward H. Cook, 2014 | Donna Nigh, 1997 |
| Wayne Coyne, 2007 | Mayor James H. Norick, 1992 |
| Admiral William J. Crowe, 1987 | Madalynne Norick, 1992 |
| Edgar Cruz, 2004 | Mayor Ronald J. Norick, 1995 |
| James R. Daniel, 2009 | Faye Norton, 2018 |
| The Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti, 2012 | Paul B. Odom, Jr., 2004 |
| Marion Briscoe DeVore, 1988 | Russell M. Perry, 2000 |
| L. Thomas Dulaney Jr., 2008 | Paula B. Pretlow, 2016 |
| Rand Elliot, 2011 | Allie P. Reynolds, 1994 |
| Dr. Robert S. Ellis, 2000 | William J. Ross, 2005 |
| Ralph W. Ellison, 1994 | Thom Shanker, 2012 |
| Harvey P. Everest, 1985 | Jeanne Hoffman Smith, 2000 |
| David G. Fitzgerald, 2014 | Lee Allan Smith, 1989 |
| Kris Frankfurt, 2007 | Horace Stevenson, 2014 |
| William Frankfurt, 2007 | Lela Bennett Sullivan, 2003 |
| Mex Rodman Frates, 1986 | Kathy Taylor, 2015 |
| Rodman Frates, 2006 | The Honorable Ralph G. Thompson, 2003 |
| Prentice Gautt, 2012 | Erik Logan Toppenberg, 2011 |
| Vince Gill, 2001 | Christopher C. Turner, 2003 |
| Alan C. Greenberg, 1993 | Marylin Jones Upsher, 2006 |
| Rubye Hibler Hall, 2002 | Helen Ford Wallace, 2005 |
| V. Burns Hargis, 2002 | Larkin Warner, 2011 |
| Edith Gaylor Harper, 1999 | Anthony L. Watson, 2010 |
| Joyce Henderson, 2012 | Pete White, 2017 |
| Dannie Bea Hightower, 2001 | Thurman V. White Jr., 2017 |
| Carolyn Hill, 2008 | A. Max Weitzenhoffer, Jr., 2010 |
| Sarah Hogan, 1999 | Mason Williams, 2016 |
| J. Clifford Hudson, 2009 | Stanton L. Young, 1991 |
| Kirk Humphreys, 2007 |