Five community leaders to join Tulsa Hall of Fame
BY MICHAEL OVERALL World Staff Writer
Sunday, April 22, 2012
4/22/12 at 2:27 AM
From a cancer survivor to a World War II bomber pilot, five community leaders will join the Tulsa Historical Society's Hall of Fame later this year.
The Rev. Mouzon Biggs, Bryan Close, Jean Bonney McGill, Joseph Morris and A.R. Tandy will be inducted with a black-tie dinner and ceremony this fall.
In 32 years as the pastor of Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, Biggs has grown the congregation's endowment from $200,000 to more than $26 million.
He's widely recognized for his interfaith and interracial efforts. And he has served as the president of the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice.
The Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University recognized Biggs as its distinguished alumnus of 2012.
Close joined his father in the manufacturing business in 1974, and today, he remains the president of CloseBend Inc., a leader in the welding fitting industry.
Close serves on the advisory boards of several local nonprofit groups, including the Oklahoma State University Foundation Board of Trustees.
McGill has served as the chairwoman of the board of Hillcrest Healthcare since 2007. And she currently serves on the board of directors for the Tulsa Community Foundation.
But as a breast cancer survivor, she is perhaps best known as a tireless volunteer for the American Cancer Society, where she received a lifetime achievement award in 2008.
Morris, a former U.S. district court chief judge for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, was dean of the College of Law at the University of Tulsa and taught oil and gas law for more than 20 years.
He currently teaches arbitration law.
Tandy, whose family started the Tandy Corporation in Forth Worth, Texas, flew a B-26 bomber during World War II.
After the war, he moved to Tulsa and helped the family business develop diversified retail holdings, most notably the RadioShack chain.
Tandy also developed his own holdings, including Tandy Industries, which has built homes, college housing, libraries and other projects.
The Oct. 1 induction ceremony will be held at Southern Hills Country Club, where individual tickets will cost $250.
For more information, contact the Historical Society at 918-712-9484.
Tulsa Hall of Fame
Started in 1987, the Tulsa Hall of Fame includes more than 125 prominent names, ranging from pioneers to philanthropists.
The list begins with James Hall, whose general store on Main Street marked where Tulsa began in the 19th century.
Others include oil tycoon Waite Phillips, country star Roy Clark, World War II Admiral John Kirkpatrick and photographer David Halper.
Original Print Headline: Joining the Tulsa Hall of Fame
Michael Overall 918-581-8383
michael.overall@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Tulsa Hall of Fame inductees include A.R. "Rant" Tandy (left), Bryan Close, Jean B. McGill, Judge Joe Morris and the Rev. Mouzon Biggs. MICHAEL WYKE / Tulsa World
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