Like everything last year, The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools’ Wall of Fame Humanitarian Awards event looked different. The gala was cancelled and our four honorees came from a newly designated “unsung heroes” category. This year, we’ve gone back to our traditional, high profile Oklahoma City Public Schools alumni honorees, but liked the unsung hero category so much that we’ve kept it.

Our honorees this year are:

Judge Robert Bacharach is a graduate of John Marshall High School. He serves as a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Judge Bacharach was previously a Shareholder at Crowe and Dunlevy, where he often volunteered to perform pro bono work and in the community. In 1999, he joined the Western District of Oklahoma as a federal magistrate judge, and served in that capacity until he was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve in his current seat.

Hal Smith is a graduate of U.S. Grant High School. He founded and owns Hal Smith Restaurant Group, which operates more than 60 restaurants in seven states, employing more than 6,000 people. Smith began his career in the restaurant industry while attending the University of Oklahoma and working at Across the Street Restaurant. In 1973, he joined Steak & Ale Restaurant Corporation and ultimately became chairman and CEO. In 1992, he founded Hal Smith Restaurant Group. Along with his wife Sandy, Smith founded the Norman Youth Foundation to support Oklahoma youth-oriented charities.

Dr. Marvin Williams is a graduate of Douglass High School. He serves as Professor, Section of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of OB-GYN at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. He began his career as an active duty U.S. Army physician, which included tours of duty in the United States, Korea and Iraq. He has served as OUHSC’s Medical director and then as Director of Clinical Services. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he remained on the front lines of women’s health, regularly caring for patients in hospital and clinical environments. He has dedicated his life to public service and proudly credits his OKCPS education as the initial catalyst for his career.

Anna King is the recipient of the 2021 Unsung Hero award. She is a graduate of Emerson High School and was recently elected president of the National Parent Teacher Association and will take office later this year. She has over 20 years of leadership experience at all levels of PTA, including Oklahoma PTA President. She has been a tireless advocate for children in Oklahoma and believes everything is possible for all children through inclusive work with all families and communities across the country.

The Wall of Fame Humanitarian Awards program is in its 37^th year. It was started in 1984, by the Foundation’s first Board Chair Ray Potts.