Video – Page 3

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…

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…

Jesse Lingenfelter

Business woman, wife and mother. A pioneering Claremore business owner’s wife. Biography Born December 11, 1914 in Perkins, Oklahoma to Robert and Ethel (Hedrick) Webb, Jessie was reared and educated in Pryor, Oklahoma. She graduated with the class of 1933, and in 1934 Jessie married…

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…

Curtis Rohr

A fifth generation Cherokee whose ancestors came here on the Trail of Tears. Biography Curtis Rohr's life and family history belong to the town of Verdigris as much as they belong to the man. Rohr is a fifth generation Cherokee, whose ancestors came here…

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…