Tulsa Public Schools Honors 14 Inductees During Ninth Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony

By Terrell Lester
Contributing Editor

A total of 14 individuals were honored as the ninth class of the Tulsa Public Schools Athletics Hall of Fame during a banquet on June 10 at the DoubleTree at Warren Place.
All nine TPS high schools were represented after selections were made by a committee under the direction of former district Director of Athletics Gil Cloud, who retired in May.
Cloud created the hall of fame in 2013 and classes have been enshrined annually. Hall membership now stands at 118.
According to Cloud, requirements for nomination include:
• Exemplifying highest standards of sportsmanship, ethical conduct and moral character.
• Significant and/or long-term contributions to athletic endeavors.
• Acknowledged leadership in a chosen field, or community, state and national presence.
The 2021 class includes a retired Marine major general, a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, a one-time National Football League running back and a national tennis champion.
Three of the inductees, coach Morey Villareal, coach Gerald “Corky” Oglesby and coach/administrator Jerry Billings, were honored posthumously.

John Admire
Daniel Webster 1960
Led basketball team in scoring and assists, earning All-City honors as a senior. His 43-year career with the Marine Corps, with five combat tours, included service as Senior White House Military Aide for President Carter. Retired as major general. Authored “Darker Than Dark,” a fictionalized story of the Vietnam War based on his actual battles and personal experiences.

Jerry Billings
Daniel Webster 1953
Won state championship in wrestling for Webster in 1953 and retired as principal from the same school 41 years later. Coached at Sapulpa, Lamar (Colorado) Junior College and Webster. Also, principal at Nathan Hale. Died in 2009 at the age of 74.

Felix Jones
Booker T. Washington 2005
Was 2004 Tulsa World football Player of the Year. Recruiting network Rivals.com had him as nation’s No. 19 athlete. Three-year starter as running back at Arkansas, earning All-American honors. Selected by Dallas in first round of 2008 NFL Draft. Concluded career with Pittsburgh in 2013.

Amley “Popsey” Floyd
East Central 2005
As defensive end was three-year letter winner in football, with three letters in track and two in basketball. After playing football at University of Tulsa, joined Tulsa Police Department in 2011. Assignments included two years as department’s first community resource officer.

Phil Harmon
Central 1965
Front-court star on Coach Eddie Sutton’s best basketball team at Central. After leading 1964-65 team to undefeated regular season, selected All-State Player of the Year. Played at University of Kansas for Coach Ted Owens. Member of Big Eight Conference championship team.

Dale Hogg
Booker T. Washington 1960
Lettered in football, baseball and basketball and three-year member of Honor Society. Was Executive Director of The Urban League of Tulsa and selected U.S. Jaycees Outstanding Young Tulsan for 1969. In early 1970s, became first African American television news anchor and weatherman in Tulsa, on KOTV.

Shawn Jackson
McLain 2009
Selected as football All-Stater, playing linebacker and quarterback. At University of Tulsa, four-year starter at linebacker. Made Freshman All-American team. When TU defeated Iowa State in 2012 Liberty Bowl, singled out as Defensive Player of the Game and Player of the Game. Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year.

Mike Knox
Memorial 1981
Starred on 1980-81 back-to-back baseball state championship teams. Compiled earned run average of 0.37 in senior year. Won Jim Thorpe Award as the state’s top baseball player and drafted by Baltimore Orioles. Pitched four seasons at Oral Roberts University, finishing career in top five for wins. As a freshman, set school record for saves.

Susan Kraft Yandell
Thomas Edison 1973
In 1960s, when Tulsa Public Schools did not sanction organized girls sports, Susan Kraft was among the nation’s elite junior tennis players. Won girls 14-under national championship doubles title in 1969. Held No. 1 rankings in singles and doubles in her age groups. Won Sugar Bowl Invitational singles and double championships as 12-year-old. Was ranked nationally in girls 16 singles and doubles. Sister Kathy Kraft West was 2016 inductee.

Rodger Lefler
From 1967 through 1993, held various coaching positions at East Central. His 1970 baseball team won Class 4A state championship, teams in 1972 and 1975 finished as runners-up. His basketball teams were perennial state contenders. Graduate of Muskogee High School and Northeastern State University, member of NSU Athletics Hall of Fame.

Tom MacKenna
Central 1957
Played basketball and baseball at Central, lettering twice in each sport. Pitched for University of Tulsa baseball team for four seasons. Launched 29-year coaching career at Memorial (1966-91) and won baseball state championships in 1980, 1981, 1984. Served as director of athletics. Coached four seasons at East Central, retiring in 1995.

Gerald “Corky” Oglesby
Central 1954
Ran track and cross country at Central, graduating in 1954. Returned in 1964 to coach track. Made short stops as track coach at University of Tulsa and Western Kentucky University and as basketball assistant at Oklahoma Baptist. Hired as assistant basketball coach at Texas Tech University in 1969. Remained with Tech for 48 years: assistant basketball coach (1969-75), head track coach (1975-95), director of special projects for Red Raider Club (1997-2017). Died in November 2017 at age of 81.

Terry Rupe
Nathan Hale 1980
Consensus 1980 Oklahoma baseball “Player of the Year.” Received Jim Thorpe Award as top baseball player in state after pitching Hale into state championship game. Member of 1979 Tulsa team that reached American Legion World Series. Lefthander attended Oral Roberts University, finishing career with 20-7 record as three-year starter.

Morey Villareal
Central 1933
Graduated in 1933, playing halfback on football team, winning state championship as 135-pound wrestler, winning Golden Gloves boxing crown as welterweight. Two-time wrestling All-American at Central State Teachers College (University of Central Oklahoma). Served four years with Navy in World War II. Landed at Will Rogers High School in 1955 as head wrestling/assistant football coach. Won school’s only wrestling state championship, in 1958. Retired in 1976. Inducted into Oklahoma Coaches Hall of Fame (1973) and National Wrestling Hall of Fame (1995). Died in September 2006 at the age of 91.