TALK OF GREENWOOD
Dr. Jerry Goodwin, The Oklahoma Eagle
Photo Provided
As of 2023, the foundation has inducted 86 alumni, faculty, and administrators, such as James Batton, Ph.D., Ed Lacy, Don Barnum, Allen Heinberg, Dr. Julia Hare, and DeMarco Morgan, as Hall of Fame honorees. Twenty-five seniors have received four-year scholarships, and six seniors have been awarded one-year scholarships.
The purpose of the HOF is to identify and honor graduates, retired faculty and administrators, and patrons of Booker T. Washington High School who have exhibited high qualities of leadership, attained high levels of achievement, or made meritorious contributions to the school, local, national, or global communities. Alumni are invited to submit nominees who have distinguished themselves.
Additionally, regarding student scholarships, the board of directors solicits Booker T. Washington High School student applications and selects the most qualified seniors for scholarships.
The foundation was established at the beginning of the 1996-1997 school year as a function of the administration of the school. At that time, the foundation began to identify outstanding alumni to be recognized in the Hall of Fame. In the 2011-2012 school year, the foundation started to award college scholarships.
The next year in the 2012-2013 academic year, the foundation became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and was officially named as the Booker T. Washington Distinguished Hall of Fame Foundation.
According to a press release from the foundation, its future will include inducting alumni and BTW high school supporters with HOF honors and offering student scholarships. Throughout the year, the foundation seeks donations and sponsors fundraising events to support its HOF and college scholarship programming.
The foundation says the history, experience, and expertise of its board of directors guides and directs the decision-making process in support of the HOF vision and mission.
The press release states the foundation will continue the legacy of the organization for the school in the great Southwest region of the country.
Members of the Board of Directors of the Booker T. Washington High School Distinguished Hall of Fame Foundation are Janice Bayouth, Susan Braselton, Whitney Downie, Ioder Fisher, Matthew Fransein, Julie Horgen, Reggie Ivey, Rebecca Marks-Jimerson, Matt King, Zenobia Mayo, Dr. Joyce McClellan, Michael Pierce, Dr. Lester Shaw, Dr. La Verne Ford Wimberly, and Dr. Melissa Woodridge.
For more information, visit the foundation’s website, https://www.btwhalloffame.org/, or its Facebook page, tulsa.btw.hof
