VOC education

TAD JONES

State representative and Will Rogers Memorial Museum Director Biography Tad was raised in Claremore, Oklahoma and graduated from Oologah High School. He went to Westside Elementary in Claremore and Oologah for Middle and High School. He played football, basketball and baseball for Oologah. After high…

ANDY HOGAN

Long time educator and former Will Rogers Memorial employee Biography Life has changed for Andy Hogan, an educator more than 30 years. After retiring as an elementary school principal, he says his interests are long distance running, bow hunting and anything to do with Will…

Noah Grimett

Claremore High School Teacher and Coach Biography Noah Grimett graduated from Claremore High School in 2018. He earned an Associates Degree in Arts at Seminole State University. He is now in his last year at RSU where he will earn a BA in Communications in Radio…

DR. LARRY RICE

RSU President Biography Dr. Larry Rice – a lifelong educator, administrator at the University of Tulsa and former member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives serves as President at Rogers State University. An Oklahoma native, Rice has over 40 years of experience in higher education.…

JOHN COCKRUM

Claremore graduate, Educator and Pearl Harbor survivor Biography John Andrew Cockrum is a “once in a lifetime educator” - the embodiment of what an educator should be. In the course of his tenure as Sapulpa Junior High and Sapulpa Senior High principal, he was mediator,…

Lucious Selmon

Biography Former Claremore High School Assistant Football and Wrestling Coach and teacher of Current Events and United States History. He is the son of All American Lucious Selmon of the infamous Selmon brothers who played on the OU National Championship teams. Lucious was born…

FRANK MOBRA & JOHN SMITH

Long time Claremore Football Coaches Biography Frank Mobra and John Smith sit down for a lively walk down memory from their perspectives as legendary coaches for Claremore Public Schools. Frank Mobra was a man of character, integrity and one who did things the right way…

ALGER FLOOD

Claremore High School Coach and Educator Biography Born 1949 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma Alger Flood graduated from Okmulgee high school in 1967. He made All state in football and was selected as lineman of the year by the Tulsa world. Alger received a full scholarship to…

JOHN & JUNE SMITH

Claremore Coach and CPS employees; Long time First Baptist Church members Biography John Smith was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on May 11, 1932, to Ada Gazelle and John Hartley Smith. He and his mother moved to Claremore after his father’s passing when he was two.…

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…

Tom Pool

A local educator whose love for history ultimately led him to serving in local government. Biography Tom Pool’s life in Claremore began with his family’s move here when he was in the fifth grade. He went on to graduate from Claremore High School where he…

Coach Bear Jensen

Claremore’s all time winningest football coach. Biography Lester "Bear" Jensen was born on September 29, 1924 in Weaubleau, MO to Loren and Veda Jensen. Bear graduated from Norman High School in 1945. During his time at Norman High, he played for the 1943 football state…