Dr. Clarence G. Oliver, Jr., Tulsa Tech Hall of Fame

Notable historian and educator, Dr. Clarence G. Oliver Jr. made history himself as he was selected as the first inductee into the Tulsa Tech Hall of Fame.

Oliver’s presentation was made by the Tulsa Tech Board of Education and Superintendent/CEO Dr. Steve Tiger.

The induction was part of the back-to-school staff “Reunion” event on Aug. 7.Oliver is an emeritus professor and former Dean of the College of Education at Oral Roberts University and a retired superintendent of Broken Arrow Public Schools.

At the ceremony, Oliver said he was both embarrassed and humbled by the honor.

“I am very grateful to the Tulsa Tech Board of Education, Dr. Steve Tiger, the Superintendent and CEO, and all the wonderful friends on the Tulsa Tech team who had any part in this decision,” Oliver said.

He shared a bit of the history of the former Tulsa County Area Vocational-Technical School, now known as Tulsa Tech.

“In my opinion, it is the finest such program in Oklahoma—and a good argument can be made that it is the finest—or among the very best—in the nation,” he said.

One reason this district is “the best of the best,” according to Oliver is the collaboration between school districts and counties.

Best Christmas movies of all time, according to critics. He called it “one of the rarest cooperative movements ever experienced.”

“You do not know how close we came to having five or six career tech districts in Tulsa County — instead of a magnificent one,” Oliver said.

He described how the mid-1960s were challenging years. After the establishment of a separate State Department of Vocational-Technical Education, with accompanying authorization to create area vocational-technical school districts, there were school leaders who wanted smaller districts.

Sand Springs already had several vocational-technical programs in place and wanted a district.

Likewise, Tulsa also wanted a district. There was a group that wanted Jenks, Union and Broken Arrow to form what some viewed as an “elitist” district in south Tulsa County, probably to include Bixby and later some other nearby districts.

Another group wanted a north-side district for Owasso, Skiatook, Collinsville and Sperry.

“But, a few of us argued that a single district for the entire metropolitan area would be the best option,” he said.

Reaching agreement among the school superintendents at that time did not occur easily. Some mistrust was eventually overcome, and agreement on one district was achieved.

The school leaders encouraged Boards of Education, and the citizens in the participating school districts, to vote to become one district.

“That was 50 years ago,” Oliver said. “I find it hard to believe that five decades have passed since those days.”

Though the program celebrates its 50th anniversary, Oliver said it is the fruit of a 60 to 70 year vision.

Tiger said Oliver was the “unanimous choice” for this award.

“It is a true honor to be able to recognize one of the leaders in education, not just in Oklahoma but across the nation,” said Tiger. “All of the hard work as an advocate for public education, and CareerTech education in our state makes him a unanimous choice by our Board and administration for this recognition.”

Oliver and his family moved to Broken Arrow in 1955, when he joined the Broken Arrow High School faculty as an English and journalism teacher.

After returning to education from a newspaper management position at the Broken Arrow Ledger in 1962, Oliver became vocational education certified and was a Distributive Education (DECA) – now Marketing Education – teacher and coordinator at Broken Arrow High School.

He is a former, long-time member of the Oklahoma State Board of Vocational-Technical Education, now called the Oklahoma Career and Technology Education State Board of Education, serving during the administrations of Governors George Nigh, Henry Bellmon and David Walters.

Oliver is also an inductee in the Oklahoma Educators’ Hall of Fame and has been honored as a “Distinguished Alumnus” by both the University of Tulsa and East Central University. He also has been inducted into the Educators’ Hall of Fame for both the University of Tulsa and East Central University.

He was twice chosen as the Oklahoma Superintendent of the Year and represented the state in the American Association of School Administrators recognition program.

In June 1999, the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators recognized Oliver for four decades of service to education with the presentation of the “Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Service to Education.”

Executive Educator Magazine twice selected him in the “100 Outstanding Educators of the United States and Canada” awards program. He was honored by the Oklahoma Chapter of the Teachers of the Year organization for the group’s “Vision” award in 2011.

The Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce twice recognized him with the community’s “Outstanding Citizen of the Year” award in 1975 and 1992. He was recognized with the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce “Legacy” award in 2011.

In February 2015, he was recognized by the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce with the first and newly created “Dr. Clarence G. Oliver Jr., Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Tulsa Tech, the oldest and largest technology center in Oklahoma’s Career Tech System, is a career and technology center school district dedicated to educating people.

For Oliver, the occasion marked a passing of the torch. “The “torch” is now in your hands,” he said. “Hold it high. Carry it carefully and with great respect.”