About
Founded on November 22, 1977, the Oklahoma City/County Historical Society is the oldest organization focused on preserving, sharing and celebrating local history.
Our board meets monthly. We host membership gatherings throughout the year where we enjoy tours of historic sites and enjoy presentations by historic figures, historians and authors.
Our featured event is the annual Pathmakers banquet, in which we honor individuals, past and present, whose efforts and accomplishments have shaped the fabric of city and county.
Since taking Retro Metro OKC under our umbrella, we also host thousands of photos, videos, documents and memorabilia that span from the first day of the April 22, 1889 Land Run to present.
Our new event calendar is set up to keep visitors informed about events of interest to those wanting to learn more about our history.
People can join the Oklahoma City/County Historical Society for a $35 tax-deductible donation. OKCCHS is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer organization. We welcome anyone who would like to become involved in our efforts.
Board of Directors
Marva Ellard – President
John Michael Williams – Vice President
Kala Beard – Secretary
Randy McMillin – Treasurer
Dr. Gloria Anderson – Board Member
Anita Arnold – Board Member
Jack Money – Board Member
John Dunning – Board Member
Steve Lackmeyer – Board Member
Cathy O’Connor – Board Member
Michael Schwarz – Board Member
Katie Friddle – Board Member
Jennifer Day – Board Member
John Coyle – Board Member
Pathmakers
The Oklahoma City/County Historical Society launched its annual Pathmaker Awards in 1990 in celebration of the city and county’s 100th birthday. The awards were established to recognize individuals for lasting paths which they’ve created in the development of Oklahoma County. Honorees that first year included Henry Overholser, often referred to as the father Oklahoma City; Dr. Angello Scott, one of the city’s principal cultural leaders longtime newspaper publisher E.K. Gaylord; and Nan Sheets, often credited with starting the city’s arts community. Living honorees that year included banker Jack T. Conn; civic leader Harvey P. Everest; W.P “Bill” Atkinson, founder of Midwest City; and philanthropist John E. Kirkpatrick.
Life Members
Margaret Baker
Bob Burke
Lou Burris
Mary Gilmore Caffrey
Scott & Carol Davis
John & Anita Dunning
William Durrett
Tom Dykstra
Warren Edwards
Diana K. Flynn
Deenen Gambrell
Mr. & Mrs. Byron Gambulos
Helen Gretz
Jay Hannah
Shirley Harris
Melvina Heisch
Joy Hill
Teresa R. Hill
Dr. Michael W. Krug
Robert & Betty Mccoy
Catherine O’Connor
Deborah Oliver
Kendra Orcutt
Oren L. Peters
Charlie & Nancy Potts
Rev. John A. Reed Sr
Kathryn Stone
R&Y Thurman
Jack L. Werner & Suzanne Broadbent
Paul & Margaret Woods
1980 Charter Members
This 1980 listing of charter members shows the depth and standing of those who dedicated themselves to ensuring the history of the city and county is preserved to be shared with future generations.
Charter Life Members
Marle and Kathleen Abshere
Fisher Ames
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Anthony
Irene Bracht Beals
Edward F. Beltram
Laura M. Bleakley
Carole Bourlon
Edward Denton Brewer
Lawrence E. Brock III
Michelle Brown
Livette Douglas Burt
Catherine McKinney Butler
Bernest Cain
Bud R. Carson
Don V. Cogman
Barbara Coleman
Mrs. Vernon E. Cook
Dr. and Mrs. Tullas Coston
Edna Mae Couch
Judge Fred Daugherty
Mrs. Olen Delaney
Harry L. Deupree, M.D.
Almyra M. Duval
Dr. Josef Faust
Mrs. Gordon Ferguson
Streeter B. Flynn, Jr.
T. Bernice Flynn
Joan E. Gilmore
Mr. & Mrs. Charles E. Grady, Jr.
Dr. Donald E. Green
Robert A. Hefner, Jr.
Carolyn G. Hill
Herschel H. Hobbs & Mrs. Hobbs
John Kilpatrick, Jr.
Irene Strum Lefebvre & Paul E. Lefebvre
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Loeffler, Jr.
Ona Loewenstein
Mrs. Wendell Long
Mrs. Mildred Lundberg
Frank D. Lyons
Richard Magann
Dean A. McGee
Bishop Paul W. Milhouse
Mr. and Mrs. John M. Murphy
Mary Jo Nelson & Monteray Nelson
Don R. Nicholson
W. H. Pat O’Bryan
Dr. Don H. O’Donoghue
Mrs. Joe M. Parker
Art E. Pemberton
Dr. and Mrs. Richard B. Price
L. E. Rader, Sr.
Jordan B. Reaves
Dub Richardson
William J. Ross
Elmer E. Rubac
Mrs. Sam P. Shelburne
Lucyl Shirk
Marilyn Shuman
William H. Silk
Dr. and Mrs. Armond H. Start
Roy P. Stewart
Mrs. R. T. Stuart
Edward F. Sweeney
Michael C. Thomas
Mr. and Mrs. Louis H. Thompson
Dr. and Mrs. Wayman J. Thompson
Kathleen Upshaw
Edgar S. Vaught, Jr.
May P. Walley
Jean & Larkin Warner
Dr. and Mrs. Alton Watson
Nancy S. Weatherly
William D. Welge
Charter Members
Sarah Ellen Hancock Adair
Reberta Lee Adams
Dorothy F. Anderson
Mildred Armor
Mrs. James R. Askins
Manon T. B. Atkins
Robert L. Atkins
Ida Mae Bacon
Mary Jo Barrett
Van R. Bielstein
Debbie Blackburn
Mrs. F. G. Blackwood
William P. Bleakley
Jane T. Bozeman
Deloris Bradford
Marion E. Branson
Ron Capshaw
Helen Carswell
Lorene Adair Childers
Mrs. H. H. Clifford, Jr.
Glenna J. Cornell
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Nix, Jr.
Joe R. Oldham
Virginia Phillips
Blanche Portwood
Mrs. Frank J. Quan
Charles C. Reese
O. V. Richardson, Jr.
Susan Sam
Mrs. Margie H. Schuler
E. Elaine Schuster
Beverly Sue Shelden & David S. Shelden
Michael D. Sheriff
Marilyn Sims
Mrs. Delbert G. Smith
Sandra S. Stratton
Vicki Sturm
Mrs. Charles W. Sutton
Dorothy Thomas
Beulah M. Thomlinson & Frank S. Thomlinson
June Traska
Etalea Unferth
Thomas W. Utterback
Charles C. Waddle, Sr. & Mrs. Waddle
Charles C. Waddle, III
Mrs. David G. Wade
