Tulsa Public Schools Inducts Inaugural Athletics Hall Of Fame Class

The Tulsa Public School Athletic Hall of Fame inducted its very first class at a banquet Thursday night. The Hall of Fame has been discussed for many years, but nothing was ever put in place to make it a reality.

Gil Cloud, hired last May as the director of Secondary Schools Athletics and Activities launched the program, and by August, a selection committee was formed and approved.

The first class for the Hall of Fame is listed below:

-Grady Skillern- Central High School Coach, Tulsa Public Schools Athletic Director

Skillern compiled a basketball coaching record of 529-134 at El Reno, Oklahoma City Classen, and Central High School in Tulsa. He also officiated football games for the Big Eight and Southwest Conferences for 25 years.

-Rodney Kilgore- Daniel Webster High School student athlete

Kilgore won individual gold in wrestling three consecutive years at 148 pounds and 157 pounds. He finished his high school career with a 76-2 record. As a wrestler at OU, Kilgore was a four-time All-American, won two Big Eight conference titles and two NCAA championships. He was the first OU wrestler to win 100 matches.

-Luther Pegues- McLain High School- Coach and Athletics Director, Booker T. Washington- Student Athlete

Pegues helped lead UCO to the NAIA national tournament in 1964, later returning as an assistant coach from 1969-1976. Pegues spent 30 years at McLain, leading three boys' basketball teams and on girls' team to state runner-up finishes.

-Dr. Charles Mason- District Superintendent

Mason held the position of superintendent for longer than anyone in the district's history, serving in the position for 25 from 1944 to 1969. During his time as superintendent, Mason saw the district grow to 80,000 student and saw 63 new schools open.

-Edward Lacy- Booker T. Washington- Student Athlete and Coach, Tulsa District Director of Athletics

Lacy led the Hornets to five state championships in nine years while at Booker T. Washington. He also started the school's wrestling and tennis programs. Lacy served as the Tulsa Public Schools Athletic Director from 1974-1991.

-Spencer Tillman- Thomas Edison High School- Student Athlete

Tillman rushed for more than 5,000 yards while at Edison. He set the freshman rushing record at Oklahoma in 1983, rushing for 1,047 yards and earning Big Eight Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors. He was named captain of the 1985 national championship team and named MVP of the 1987 Orange Bowl. In the NFL, Tillman won a Super Bowl as a co-captain of the Super Bowl XXIV champion San Francisco 49ers.

-William Allen- Central High School- Student Athlete, Webster- Coach, Administrator

In 25 seasons as head basketball coach at Webster, Allen won 364 games and a state championship in 1966. Allen was the first president of the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association and a member of the inaugural class of the OBCA Hall of Fame in 2002.

-Seymour Williams- Booker T. Washington- Coach

Williams went 290-23-11 from 1921-1951 as football coach, racking up 16 state championships. Williams also rang up 13 state championships as basketball coach.

-Gary Howard- Central High School- Student Athlete, Collegiate Coach

Howard won a state championship in baseball in 1960 before attending the University of Arkansas and winning a Southwest Conference championship and going to two straight Sugar Bowls. Howard made his name as the head coach at UCO for 25 years, piling up 162 wins and the 1982 NAIA national championship.

-James Hughes- Memorial High School- Student Athlete

Hughes was the first defensive back to win the Tulsa World's All-State Player of the Year in 1970. At Oklahoma, Hughes was an All-American in 1973 and 1974 and was a captain of the 1974 national championship team. Hughes played six seasons in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys.

-Wayman Tisdale- Booker T. Washington- Student Athlete

Tisdale was a standout for the Hornets before going to OU and winning Big Eight Conference Player of the Year three times. Tisdale was a first-team All-American his first three seasons at OU. He won a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics, and was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft, going to the Indiana Pacers.

-Tony Casillas- East Central High School- Student Athlete

Casillas was a two-time consensus All-American at OU, the top defensive lineman in the nation twice, and a first round draft pick by the Atlanta Falcons. Casillas also won two Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys in 1993 and 1994.

-Donald Chandler- Will Rogers High School- Student Athlete

Chandler won a junior college national championship at Bacone College and then led the nation in punting at Florida in 1955. Chandler won two Super Bowls with the Packers after joining the team in 1965.

-Reuben Gant- Booker T. Washington- Student Athlete

Gant was a Parade All-American in football in 1969 and starred in football and basketball at OSU. Gant was named to the 1973 Football Coaches Association All-American team in 1973. Gant was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1974 and retired after the 1980 season.

-Brent Blackman- Nathan Hale- Student Athlete

Blackman was an All-State quarterback at Hale before going on to Oklahoma State. Blackman was a three-year starter for the Cowboys, earning Big Eight second-team quarterback in 1973.