TULSA (Nov. 14, 2025) – On Thursday, Nov. 13, seven remarkable Oklahomans, including Oklahoma City Community College President Dr. Mautra Staley Jones, received our state’s highest honor by being inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
Tony Mason performed as the Ambassador of Goodwill, Lexi Mann received a $6,000 scholarship and the statewide impact of 50 years of Oklahoma Hall of Fame Publishing was highlighted.
Seven inducted into Hall of Fame
Masters of ceremonies and Oklahoma Hall of Fame members Hannibal B. Johnson and Mo Anderson emceed the 98th Annual Oklahoma Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Arvest Convention Center in Tulsa. The event was attended by 800-plus people who joined in celebrating Oklahoma’s remarkable people.
In order of induction during the ceremony: Eddy Gibbs was presented by Paul Bulten; Dr. Michael A. Mares was presented by Reggie Whitten; Bert Mackie was presented by Harold Hamm; Ronnie Dunn was presented by Tim DuBois; Dr. Mautra Staley Jones was presented by David Rainbolt; Sam Presti was presented by Clayton I. Bennett; and Taylor Hanson was presented by Paula A. Marshall.
With the addition of these seven individuals, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame now boasts 752 Inductees. Portraits of the newest inductees are on display at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum in the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Gallery. Information on all Oklahoma Hall of Fame members can be found online at www.oklahomahof.com/hof/inductees.
The Induction Ceremony will be available for viewing on OETA on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 3 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 23 at 10 a.m.; and several additional times in the coming year, as well as on the Oklahoma Hall of Fame YouTube page.
Ambassador of Goodwill performance
Tony Mason, a singer, songwriter and producer from Tulsa, was honored as the Ambassador of Goodwill for the 98th Annual Oklahoma Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Mason performed a medley of songs during the Induction Ceremony, adding to the celebration of the evening.
Mason began his musical career as the frontman and lead vocalist for his family-based band, MASON. The group garnered two Billboard-charting singles. Mason also has written and performed with nationally known artists including R&B superstar Charlie Wilson, a founding member of the GAP Band, New Edition, Jodeci, Israel Houghton, Smokie Norful, and Wayman Tisdale, among others. Mason appeared on Season 19 of “The Voice” and has written songs or toured with artists including Guess, Charlie Wilson, New Edition and Jodeci. Most recently Mason was invited to tour with Grammy-award winning The Daze Band.
Scholarship recipient announced
During the Induction Ceremony’s pre-show, the 2025-26 Oklahoma Hall of Fame Scholarship recipient was announced as Lexi Mann. Lexi is a senior at Drummond High School. After graduation, Lexi plans to attend Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, obtain a degree in mathematics education and become a math teacher. She wants to teach in a rural school to support students in a small community.
“Lexi is a good role model in and out of the classroom,” says Diane Pool, Lexi’s math teacher and academic team coach. “She is highly intelligent, hardworking, caring and very dependable. With her mature attitude and dedication to excellence, I am assured of her success.”
The $6,000 scholarship, awarded over a four-year period, is based on the student’s leadership roles, civic/community involvement, academic achievement and knowledge of our great state. The Oklahoma Hall of Fame Scholarship fund was created predominately by the personal donations of Oklahoma Hall of Fame Members who seek to encourage and inspire the next generation of Oklahoma leaders. The scholarship is awarded to one Oklahoma high school senior each November, and the recipient is invited to attend the annual Induction Ceremony. More information about scholarships offered can be found on the Oklahoma Hall of Fame website.
50 years of Oklahoma Hall of Fame Publishing
Each year during the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, a Mission Moment video showcases the impact of the organization’s programs. This year, the video highlighted the 50th anniversary of Oklahoma Hall of Fame Publishing. The organization’s publishing branch works with authors and illustrators to celebrate the accomplishments of impactful Oklahomans through biographies, histories, children’s books and more.
In 2025, publications include “One Lucky Cowboy: The Life of Burns Hargis,” “Ralph Ellison: More Than Invisible” from the I Am Oklahoma Children’s Series, and “Impresarios of the Rodeo Arena: The Story of the Beutler Stock Contracting Legacy,” among others. Each book published by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame is part of a book distribution program, which places the books public schools and libraries across the state.
“It’s extremely important that the Oklahoma Hall of Fame has produced all these books that provide a snapshot of each generation thus far,” said Dr. Bob Blackburn. “These stories will be preserved for future generations so those people can connect the dots of history.”
The mission of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame is Telling Oklahoma’s Story Through Its People. Oklahoma Hall of Fame Publishing is one of the many ways this mission is achieved. More information about Oklahoma Hall of Fame Publishing and available books can be found on the Oklahoma Hall of Fame website, and the Mission Moment video can be found on the Oklahoma Hall of Fame’s YouTube channel.
About the Oklahoma Hall of Fame
Founded in 1927, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame tells Oklahoma’s story through its people. From diverse statewide programming to the historic Gaylord-Pickens Museum, the organization creates an enhanced sense of pride for all Oklahomans. The Oklahoma Hall of Fame was created to honor extraordinary Oklahomans and to provide educational programming for students of all ages. Induction to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame is recognized as Oklahoma’s highest honor. For more information, visit www.oklahomahof.com.
