VOC sports

Gerome Riley – HIstorian, Semi-Pro Baseball Player

Biography Born near Chelsea, Oklahoma, Gerome Riley attended a rural all-black school through the Eighth grade. And because of segregation he had to choose between going to Claremore, Nowata, or Vinita for high school. He selected Claremore Lincoln and became a member of Claremore’s only…

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…

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…

LARRY LARKIN

Journalist, retired US Postal Service employee and local sports history expert Biography Larry Larkin is a 1965 graduate of Claremore High School, his family having moved from Tulsa to Claremore in 1963. He was born to parents Bill and Lois Larkin. An long time admirer…

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.…

Ronald Johnson

First Oklahoma Highway Patrol Black trooper Biography Claremore’s own Ronnie L. Johnson was the first Oklahoma Highway Patrol Black trooper. Lieutenant Johnson was a trailblazer who led the way for countless other African American troopers to serve with distinction. The law enforcement community and the…

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…

Gerome Riley

Hall of Fame Athlete, Business man and local Black historian Biography Gerome Riley was born October 18, 1934in Chelsea, Oklahoma to Sylvester and Georgie Riley. Gerome was reared and educated in Chelsea at Paul Lawrence Dunbar School through the 8th grade, prior to transferring to…