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For four decades, the OKCPS Foundation’s Wall of Fame has celebrated the long, rich history of Oklahoma City Public Schools by recognizing alumni and OKCPS trailblazers who are influential leaders and have made a lasting impact in our city, state and beyond. The 2024 honorees will join 106 other Oklahoma City Public Schools alumni who have been inducted since the creation of the Wall of Fame in 1985.

Introducing the 2024 Wall of Fame Honorees:

Posthumous Honoree Dr. Kenneth Blair, Sr. (Classen High School) led a multifaceted, impactful career that ultimately ended where it started – in Oklahoma City Public Schools. After a successful college football career at the University of Missouri, Blair was drafted to the Philadelphia Eagles and was a member of the team during their first Super Bowl appearance in 1981. He also went on to play for the St. Louis Cardinals. Following an eight-year NFL career, he played with the Orlando Renegades and the Oklahoma Outlaws in the United States Football League. Blair later accepted a position with the Walt Disney Co. in Orlando, Florida, where he helped develop a sports and fitness complex called the Disney Institute. There, he served as a personal trainer to various celebrities and professional athletes like Shaquille O’Neal, Tiger Woods and the 1996 Dream Team. He then returned to Oklahoma and joined the OKCPS staff as a coach at Capitol Hill High School, Northwest Classen High School, Northeast High School, Southeast High School and Douglass High School. His commitment to giving back to kids didn’t stop there – it spread even further as he began dressing as Santa Claus during the holidays, becoming affectionately known as “Santa Blair.” Through social media, he gained worldwide recognition for his extraordinary custom suits and the joy he spread to children. His impersonation of this Christmas icon gave kids across the globe an opportunity to see themselves represented during the holidays.

Phil Busey, Sr. (Classen High School) is the Founder and Chairman of Delaware Resource Group (DRG), a leading global aerospace defense contractor based in Oklahoma City that provides critical training and logistics services for many of today’s modern military programs and aircrafts. Since founding DRG with his wife Cathy in 2002, the family-owned company has grown to over 125 locations internationally. The contractor serves the U.S. military and other large aerospace companies including Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Mr. Busey received his Bachelor of Arts from Oklahoma City University and his Juris Doctorate from OCU School of Law. He practiced law nationally for over 20 years and is recognized in the top 1% of attorneys in the nation by Martindale-Hubbell as an AV-rated attorney. He was inducted into the OCU Business Hall of Fame in 2013. He is a proud citizen of the Cherokee Nation and the Delaware Tribe and is an advocate for minority small businesses, Native American tribal economic partnerships and cultural inclusion. Busey has previously served as a Distinguished Professor at OCU School of Law, a Professor Lecturer at American University in Washington, D.C. and is currently a Professor Lecturer for the OU Aerospace Master’s program. In 2013, Cathy and Phil Busey founded El Sistema Oklahoma, a nonprofit organization that provides a free after-school music program for students attending Oklahoma City and Edmond Public Schools, serving approximately 200 students each year.

L. Michael Dillard (Southeast High School) is a prominent real estate entrepreneur, business owner, area developer and Owner and Founder of Century Martial Arts, LLC. In 1995 he founded Waterford/Raptor Properties in Oklahoma City, a regional commercial real estate holding company with substantial investments in commercial, office and warehouse real estate. His participation on the wrestling team at Southeast High School led to his interest in martial arts. He officially began his martial arts training in 1969 while obtaining his Accounting Degree from Oklahoma State University. He won his first championship in 1972 and continued on to fight in over 300 tournaments, including several Oklahoma State Championship titles and two National Championships. In 1976, he started the Century Martial Arts company out of his parents’ garage where he began creating high-quality martial arts uniforms. Century has since become the leading supplier of martial arts equipment across the world. The company has also designed some of the most iconic pieces of martial arts gear including the first freestanding punching bag, Wavemaster, and the first Body Opponent Bag (BOB) which has been featured in several TV shows and movies. Chuck Norris became his instructor in 1980. For 20 years, Dillard performed stunt work featured in numerous action movies for Mr. Norris. He holds a prestigious ranking of 9th degree Black Belt in Karate. Dillard also established the Martial Arts Industry Association (MAIA), a consulting agency that provides resources and support to help owners of Martial Arts Schools across the country to thrive.

Dr. Colleen J. Payne-Nabors (Star Spencer High School) is a nuclear medicine technologist and the Founder, President and CEO of MCI Diagnostic Center, LLC. She is also a published author, entrepreneur and professional speaker. In 1998, Dr. Payne-Nabors founded a mobile nuclear testing business called Mobile Cardiac Imaging, intended to make patients’ healthcare options more accessible and convenient. It has since grown into a multi-million dollar company that now operates as MCI Diagnostic Center, a nationally acclaimed, award-winning testing laboratory center located in Dallas, Texas. This full-service diagnostic laboratory is recognized as one of the most accredited laboratories in the nation as well as one of the largest Service Disabled Veteran Woman owned laboratories in the country. MCI Diagnostics is one of only three laboratories in the county that provides services in all 50 states; it also serves Puerto Rico. In 2008 she authored and published her first book, I Did It My Way and… It Worked!, a savvy, no-nonsense approach to business and entrepreneurship. Her story demonstrates what is possible for entrepreneurs and provides a blueprint on how to effectively run an organization. Dr. Payne-Nabors has previously been recognized as one of the 10 Most Innovative Women Leaders in Life Science, the Small Business Person of the Year in Oklahoma, 50 Making a Difference in the Journal Record’s Woman of the Year program, and the Black Enterprise Magazine Business Innovator of the Year.

Posthumous Unsung Hero Honoree Christina Rehkop was the Director of Community Relations at Devon Energy. Christina received her bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a master’s degree in Community Planning and Organizing from the University of Oklahoma, and a Certificate in Corporate Citizenship from Boston College. She served on numerous philanthropic and nonprofit boards that work to better the community. Christina believed in equitable opportunities for all students and, through her role at Devon Energy, created lasting change as a true advocate for public education. She established a partnership with the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation and spearheaded efforts to install over 150 science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) centers at elementary and middle school students across the country. This included STEM Centers for all 33 elementary Oklahoma City Public Schools in 2019. A few years later, Christina and Devon placed mobile STEM labs in every OKCPS middle school. Christina continued to demonstrate her commitment to OKCPS through Devon’s long-standing partnership with Mark Twain Elementary. She received many awards and recognitions throughout her life that was cut too short; it is without doubt that there would have been many more. Christina’s devotion to give back did not end with her life – she was an organ donor whose legacy includes saving the lives of at least five people with the potential to save more. Her heart for service leaves a lasting impact felt for years to come.

“For 40 years the OKCPS Foundation has recognized OKCPS alumni who are truly making a difference, and we are deeply honored to announce this year’s class for our renowned Wall of Fame,” said Mary Mélon-Tully, president and CEO of the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation. “Each inductee is an example of the remarkable impact our district and public education has on the students they serve. We are looking forward to honoring these outstanding individuals, and their families, by providing them with this well-deserved recognition at October’s event.

The 40th annual Wall of Fame Humanitarian Awards will take place on Monday, October 28, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Doors will open at 5:30pm for a welcome reception, with the program and seated dinner starting at 6:45pm.  The 2024 event co-chairs are Pastor Derrick Scobey, 2020 Wall of Fame member and Tana Cashion, OKCPS Foundation Board of Directors Chair-Elect.

If you are interested in becoming an event sponsor or would like to purchase tickets, please contact Abbie Vaughan at abbie@okckids.com or visit www.okckids.com/wall-of-fame.

The Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation, celebrating its 40^th anniversary this year,  is a nonprofit organization with a mission to advance excellence, advocate for equity, and build strong community support for Oklahoma City Public Schools. The Foundation works closely with the district and community to align strategies and priorities for sustained performance improvements for students and staff. To learn more about the Foundation’s focus areas, as well as volunteer and giving opportunities, visit www.okckids.com.

MEDIA CONTACT

Beth Harrison | Gooden Group | 405-625-5258 | bharrison@goodengroup.com