B.A. Chamber Honors Dr. Clarence G. Oliver
The Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce honored a Greater Tulsa legend at its recent Annual Awards Banquet. For the first time ever, the chamber handed out a Lifetime Achievement Award. At the same time they named that award after its first recipient, Dr. Clarence G. Oliver, Jr.
“Dr. Oliver is worthy of amazing honors. This award only skims the surface on showing him just how much we respect the work he has done and continues to do in our community,” states Wes Smithwick, president and of the Broken Arrow Chamber. “To borrow the words of Chuck Palahniuk, ‘The goal is not to live forever. The goal is to create something that will.’ Dr. Oliver embodies this statement completely.”
Dr. Christee Jenlink, B. A. Chamber board chair for 2013 and 2014, introduced and handed the award to Dr. Oliver. “Dr. Oliver inspires me; he inspires everyone who has the opportunity to meet him. I am beyond proud to be a part of giving him this award and naming this award after him,” she said.
More about Dr. Oliver:
In 1955, Dr. Oliver moved to Broken Arrow from Ada, sight unseen, to teach at Broken Arrow Public Schools. In his tenure at , he rose to the rank of superintendent. He served in that role from 1974-1992, leading through its significant growth years.
He went on to serve as the dean of education for Oral Roberts University from 1993-1999. Though he retired as the Dean of Education at Oral Roberts University in 1999, he continues with the university in a volunteer capacity, serving as emeritus professor and former dean and as an adjunct professor in the Graduate School of Education.
Although he is perhaps best known in Broken Arrow for his contributions as the superintendent, Dr. Oliver has enjoyed stints as a teacher, journalist, Army officer, newspaper editor, publisher, author and community leader.
He is also active in his church and engages in civic work in the community; is a member of boards of directors of several civic, business and professional organizations, including the Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Southwestern Regional Medical Center, Junior Achievement of Oklahoma, Inc., the Broken Arrow Community Foundation, Broken Arrow Historical Society, Thunderbird Youth Academy Foundation, Inc., advisory council of Northeastern State University-Broken Arrow and the advisory council for the College of Education and Psychology of East Central University, Ada.
He was selected as the Broken Arrow Chamber’s “Outstanding Citizen of the Year” in 1975 and 1992, and he was awarded the “Legacy Award” in 2011.
Updated 03-23-2015
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