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 school, he attended the University of Mississippi to play football and he majored in accounting. He transferred to the University of Tulsa where he earned a scholarship as quarterback for the football team. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from TU in 1996.
Tad worked in the family business, Green Country Oil and Gas, and then was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1998 and served for 12 years. He was Vice-Chair of the Mental Health Committee and became the House Education Appropriation Chairman in his fourth term and served in that position for four years. He created the Academic Achievement Awards, providing teacher bonuses for school success and teamwork. He served as the House Majority Floor leader his last two years in office.
In 2014 he became the 6th Executive Director of the Will Rogers Memorial Museum and is currently working on a multi-million renovation and rebranding of the Museum. He secured $1 million in HVAC renovation money in his first year and secured $7 million in 2022 for facility upgrades.
Tad has served on numerous Boards including the State Legislative Leaders Foundation, Safenet, Claremore Chamber of Commerce and the Claremore Hospital Board. He is currently serving on the NE Tech Foundation Board, the RSU TV Advisory Board, Will Rogers Medallion Awards Board and the Grand Mental Health Board. Tad is a Rotarian and served as President in 2022-23. He and is married to Sammi Jones, they have four boys and live in Claremore.