VOC business

JOANNE GREEN

Long time Claremore businesswoman and ordained minister Biography Joanne Green was born in 1950 in Claremore at the old Franklin Hospital to Junus and Gussie Bentley. She was raised with 5 siblings on a farm north of Claremore near the Round Mound. Joanne…

DONNA FROMAN

Long time Claremore business woman and community service volunteer Biography Donna Froman was born in 1942 at home in Sequoyah, Oklahoma. Born into a family with a long history in Northeast Oklahoma. Her parents were Albert Casto Knight and Edith Gravitt Knight. Donna graduated…

JOHN BURROWS

Claremore insurance businessman and community servant Biography The son of John Henry and Alice Mae (Donnell) Burrows, John Burrows was born April 10, 1928, in Dallas, Texas. John graduated from Claremore High School in 1945, and went on to serve in the U.S. Navy during…

DAVE FAULKNER

Pioneer Claremore family member and long time owner of Rogers County Abstract Biography Dave Faulkner was born December 1, 1951 in the Franklin Hospital in Claremore. Born into a family with a long history of public service, he also shares a family name. His great-grandfather,…

RAY AKIN

Long time resident, local businessman and Claremore Mayor Biography Ray Akin III was born on January 15, 1950 to parents Raymond Payton Akin and Muriel Peggy Bibby. Ray graduated from Claremore High School in 1968. As a child, Ray had a paper route that…

ALICE FARBRO

Pioneer family member and long time resident of Claremore Biography Alice Cline Farbro was born on December 17, 1929, the year of the big depression. When the stock market fell, people committed suicide, and many Oklahomans left the state of Oklahoma to try to find…

DAN SMART

Claremore resident, pharmacist and son of Ernie and Jessie Lou Smart Biography Dan Smart was born January 3,1955 to Ernie Jr. and Jessie Lou Lane Smart in Claremore. He is the youngest of two sons. Dan graduated from Claremore High School in 1973. Dan is…

PAUL PIXLEY

Local businessman and community supporter Biography Paul Pixley was born in 1950 to parents Warren and Pat Pixley. The eldest of five children, Paul has been involved with the Pixley Lumber family owned business since 1972. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board…

ROB MELTON

Many decade family car dealership owner and Claremore historian Biography Rob Melton is a progressive Claremore businessman who has grown his family dealership into its fifth generation. His love of cars, combined with his business acumen, has enabled him to streamline the auto buying process…

MELINDA KNIGHT

Dot’s Café owner and long time resident Biography Melinda Kay Washom Knight was born July 26, 1955 to Robert and Dorothy Washom. She was born on the family farm in Claremore, Oklahoma where she was still living until the flood of 2019. Robert was a…

Wayne McCombs

Museum Director, Radio Broadcaster and Local Sports Historian Biography Wayne McCombs’ family moved to a farm south of Claremore in 1958. In the ninth grade he began working at the local radio station, KWPR. The station was a 500 watt, AM daytime station at the…

Pat Reeder

Journalist - Long time Claremore Progress writer and Will Rogers Memorial Public Relations Director Biography Born and raised on a rocky hillside of her father’s Cherokee allotment, overlooking the Verdigris River bottom, northeast of Nowata Oklahoma, Patty Reeder was the daughter of Jim and Juanita…