Skip to main content

Sallisaw Public Schools

Go Black Diamonds!

Legacies

Sallisaw Legacies

The Legacies of Sallisaw Public Schools serves as a permanent tribute to the visionary leaders, dedicated educators, and distinguished alumni who have shaped our history. By honoring those inducted into our Hall of Fame, we celebrate a lifelong commitment to excellence that has left an indelible mark on our students and the broader community. These legacies represent more than past achievements; they embody the passion, integrity, and spirit of service that define a Black Diamond. As we recognize these individuals, we ensure that their impact continues to inspire future generations to strive for greatness and carry forward the proud traditions of our district.

Share Your Story

Do you have a Black Diamond success story you would like to share with us? 

 

Submit Your Story

Hall of Fame

  • Bryan Warner

    Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner is a former educator and District 6 Councilor dedicated to Cherokee cultural preservation and expanded educational access. He has championed initiatives in STEM, workforce training, and rural economic growth. Additionally, as co-chair of the CDC’s Tribal Advisory Committee, Warner remains a vocal advocate for tribal health, specifically focusing on behavioral health and addiction services.

  • Tom Stites

    Tom Stites is a legendary golf club designer and the visionary behind "The Oven," Nike Golf’s elite R&D facility in Texas. After honing his craft under Ben Hogan, he founded Impact Golf Technologies, which Nike acquired in 2001 to launch its hardware line. Over his career, Stites earned 200+ patents and designed iconic products like the Slingshot irons and SasQuatch driver. Though he retired from daily operations in 2013, his innovations remain foundational to modern club engineering.

  • Curtis Fair

    Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop p

  • Gus Fullbright Jr.

    Gus Fullbright Jr. was the revered Chief of the Sallisaw Fire Department and a pillar of his Oklahoma community. A Vietnam War veteran and dedicated school board member, he was known for his commitment to youth sports and civic service. Chief Fullbright tragically died in September 1994 from injuries sustained in the line of duty. Today, Sallisaw’s fire station and a scholarship at Carl Albert State College bear his name, honoring his legacy of bravery and community leadership.

  • J.T. Stites

    J.T. Stites was a foundational figure in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, serving for decades as the Superintendent of Sallisaw Public Schools. His visionary leadership transformed the local education system, prioritizing facility improvements and academic growth. His impact on the community was so profound that the city’s main commercial corridor, J.T. Stites Boulevard, was named in his honor. A dedicated civic leader, Stites is remembered for his integrity and lifelong commitment to Sallisaw’s youth.

  • James Wilson

    James A. Wilson was a pivotal founding figure of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, essential to the town’s growth through his work with the Kansas City Southern Railway. In the late 1880s, he helped secure railroad rights-of-way and depot placement, transforming the settlement into a major trade hub. A prominent landowner and businessman, Wilson leveraged the intersection of two major rail lines to help Sallisaw become the county seat. He is remembered as a visionary architect of the city’s early success.

  • Eric Benson

    Eric Benson is a distinguished Sallisaw native and retired Navy captain who served for 28 years. A combat veteran, he flew 44 missions during Operation Desert Storm and commanded NAS Oceana, the world’s largest tactical air base. After retiring in 2001, the Oklahoma State graduate was appointed by the White House as Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs at the VA. There, he managed over 120 national cemeteries, leaving a lasting legacy of service to the nation’s veterans.

  • Herschel McDonald

    Hershel McDonald was a respected community figure and successful businessman in Sallisaw for decades. He was best known as the longtime owner and operator of McDonald’s Cleaners, a staple of the downtown business district. Deeply involved in civic life, McDonald was an active member of the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce and a dedicated supporter of local schools and youth programs.

  • De Lois Faulkner

    DeLois Faulkner was a Sallisaw standout who gained national fame as the 1955 Maid of Cotton. An Oklahoma A&M graduate, she was the first Oklahoman to win the title, serving as a global ambassador for the cotton industry. Her reign included international tours and shows featuring designs by Christian Dior and Givenchy. She later married OU football star Max Boydston. A celebrated figure in Sequoyah County history, she is remembered for her elegance and representing Oklahoma on a world stage.

  • Paul Post

    Paul Post was a legendary figure in Oklahoma athletics, widely regarded as the "Dean of Wrestling." After serving in the Army during WWII, he returned to Sallisaw High School to teach math and single-handedly revive the wrestling program. Despite a lack of local competitors, he drove his teams across the state to compete, fostering a powerhouse culture. In recognition of his decades of mentorship, the Sallisaw Gymnasium was renamed the Paul Post Memorial Field House in his honor.

  • Roy Frye Jr.

    Roy Frye Jr. was a prominent Sallisaw attorney and civic leader who left a lasting mark on Sequoyah County. A WWII Army captain and OU law graduate, he practiced law with his father before being appointed as an original member of the Cherokee Nation’s Judicial Appeals Tribunal in 1976. He was instrumental in Sallisaw’s growth, helping establish the local industrial park and the Sequoyah County Conservancy District. Today, the Roy Frye Jr. Industrial Park stands as a tribute to his vision.

  • Irene Green

    Irene Green was a legendary educator in Sallisaw who left an indelible mark on the school's spirit. A longtime English teacher and class sponsor at Sallisaw High School, she is famously credited with writing the lyrics to the Sallisaw Fight Song. Her words—set to the tune of "Washington and Lee Swign"—have been sung by generations of Black Diamonds.

  • Steve Davis

    Steve Davis was a legendary Sallisaw native who became one of the most successful quarterbacks in college football history. Leading the Oklahoma Sooners from 1973–1975, he achieved a 32-1-1 record and secured back-to-back National Championships. A "Black Diamond" icon, his #19 jersey was the first retired by Sallisaw High. Beyond the field, he was a network broadcaster for ABC and CBS and a prominent faith-based speaker. He tragically passed away in a 2013 plane crash.

  • Tommie Spear

    Tommie Spear was a beloved educator and local icon from Sallisaw, Oklahoma, who dedicated over 40 years to Sallisaw Public Schools. Best known as a high school English and journalism teacher, she founded the award-winning school newspaper and yearbooks, mentoring thousands of students. Her impact was so profound that the high school library was named the Tommie Spear Middle School Library in her honor. She was a tireless advocate for literacy and local history until her passing in 2021.