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The TulsaPeople 25
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Over the last 25 years, Tulsa has seen a multitude of changes and challenges. But through it all, a set of leaders emerged who helped Tulsa grow and prosper, sharing their business acumen, philanthropy, political savvy and other gifts and talents with the city at large. Whether leading in the faith, education, political, business or charitable community, the following 25 Tulsans have made an incomparable impact, and our city and region are better for it.
Marcello Angelini
According to one arts critic, Marcello Angelini has launched a “community-based arts revolution.” And looking at the numbers, it’s hard to argue. Since he became Tulsa Ballet’s artistic director in 1995, the organization has hosted 43 state premieres, seven national premieres and 13 world premieres; commissioned 20 new works; and grown from a budget of $1.5 million to $5.5 million. Angelini was also instrumental in helping Tulsa Ballet add an in-house theater, Studio K, and a new wing for the company school. Already locally beloved, Angelini has helped Tulsa Ballet reach national awareness, including a recent performance run in New York, and the 2002 Governor’s Arts Award winner shows no signs of slowing down.
Keith Bailey
Few companies have had as significant an impact on Tulsa as Williams. And few names are as synonymous with Williams as Keith Bailey, who retired in 2002. Beginning as assistant to the vice president of operations in 1973, Bailey rose through the ranks, becoming president in 1992 and CEO and board chairman in 1994, the first non-family member to lead the company. Under his leadership, Williams’ workforce expanded, a telecommunications-focused business was developed and the first addition to Tulsa’s skyline in more than 15 years was added. He also continued the concentration of energy activities started by his predecessor, Joe Williams. Bailey’s impact extended to the community as well — as 1995-1996 chairman of the United Way of America’s board of governors, he helped put the national organization back on track after a financial setback. He has also served as board chair for the Tulsa Area United Way and Philbrook Museum of Art and board president of The University of Tulsa.
Dr. Mouzon Biggs Jr.
It takes a special man to demonstrate that a person can be an ecumenical and interfaith leader without compromising his or her personal convictions, but that is exactly what Dr. Mouzon Biggs Jr. has consistently done in the Tulsa community. The senior minister of Boston Avenue United Methodist Church for the past 30 years has been engaged in the interreligious life of Tulsa for decades. He is a board member, twice president and director for life of the National Conference for Community and Justice, now the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice (OCCJ). He is also a founding member and host of the organization’s Jewish-Christian Dialogue Study Group, as well as a longtime supporter of the OCCJ Interfaith Trialogue Series. Other involvements include the Martin Luther King Commemoration Society and founding trustee of the Knippa Interfaith/Ecumenical Lecture Series. Biggs has supported and hosted the annual Martin Luther King Interfaith Service at Boston Avenue nearly every year since 1998.
Chester Cadieux
Is there a more recognizable Tulsa company than QuikTrip? The ubiquitous convenience store chain is as beloved a part of Tulsa as the Golden Driller. The man to thank? Co-founder Chester Cadieux. Since the first QuikTrip store opened at 5208 S. Peoria Ave. in 1958, the company has grown to more than 500 stores in nine states with earnings of $8.5 million in 2008. QuikTrip has also landed on Fortune magazine’s list of Best Companies to Work for in America eight consecutive times. The company has made an impact on Tulsa as well — QuikTrip donates 5 percent of earnings to local charities, and Cadieux’s passion for parks (he has served as chairman of the Tulsa River Parks Authority) took form in 2008 when his company funded a new plaza and playground for the River Parks. QuikTrip is also a major supporter of the Safe Place program, which connects youth to immediate help and safety and offers supportive services to them and their families, now in place in every market in which the company operates.
Fulton Collins
Although Fulton Collins never attended The University of Tulsa, he became one of its most significant supporters. As chairman of the TU board of trustees for more than 10 years, Collins helped TU double its endowment and grow its physical plant by 1.2 million square feet at a cost of $186 million. He also spearheaded fund drives leading to the construction of two new campus buildings, Collins Hall and the Fulton and Susie Collins Fitness Center. Perhaps most notably, Collins oversaw the hiring of TU Presidents Bob Lawless and Steadman Upham, who have both been instrumental to the university’s progress and growth. In May 2008, two months before Collins’ death from leukemia, TU renamed its College of Business Administration for him. In the words of a Tulsa World editorial published on Aug. 1, 2008, “Fulton Collins was a gentleman, a man of great business acumen, an invaluable friend to The University of Tulsa and the city of Tulsa.”
Bob Dick
In many ways, Bob Dick is the ultimate civil servant. Tulsa police chief, police and fire commissioner, chairman of the Tulsa County Board of Commissioners — he’s done them all. In all, before retiring in 2006, Dick dedicated more than 40 years of service to Tulsa. He is also responsible for some of the city’s most newsworthy bricks-and-mortar additions over the past 25 years. He led the charge for a sales tax to fund the construction of the David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center, as well as advocated for the 4-to-Fix the County capital improvements program, which dedicated funds to flood mitigation, parks, roads and Expo Square. In 2005, voters extended 4-to-Fix with the approval of another economic development package, Vision 2025. In pursuit of this landmark initiative, Dick talked with business and civic leaders in every community in the county to ensure their needs were met. The result was a taxpayer-supported proposal everyone could get behind. The results include education and health care facilities, improvements to the Tulsa Convention Center and Expo Square, park and community center improvements, river development, Route 66 enhancements and the BOK Center.
Sister M. Therese Gottschalk
Described as “virtuous” and “visionary” by one Tulsa leader, Sister M. Therese Gottschalk, who retired in December, has had an undeniable impact as head of St. John Health System for 36 years. Born in Germany, she joined the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother in 1952, which led her to St. John Medical Center in 1970. By 1974, Gottschalk had become head of the hospital, and in 1982, she became president and CEO of St. John Health System. Under her leadership, St. John has become an integrated regional health care system, with a network of acute care hospitals, primary care offices, urgent care clinics, senior living facilities and other offerings throughout northeastern Oklahoma. Additionally, when OSU Medical Center was in danger of closing, Gottschalk and St. John implored the state to form a public trust, with St. John managing its operation, to ensure the OSUMC’s long-term stability. The successful efforts prevented a potential health care crisis in Tulsa.
Walter Helmerich
Most anywhere you look in Tulsa, you can find their last name. The Peggy V. Helmerich Women’s Health Center, Helmerich Park, Helmerich Library, the Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award, OSU-Tulsa’s Helmerich Advanced Technology Research Center and TU’s Helmerich Hall are all evidence of Walter Helmerich and his wife, Peggy’s, dedication to Tulsa. Walter Helmerich has not only grown a successful company — Helmerich & Payne — but as he advanced from president to chairman and CEO and chairman of the board, the company’s charitable giving also increased, including the creation of the Helmerich Foundation in 1965. Over the ensuing decades, Helmerich has supported the Tulsa Parks system; Gilcrease Museum, recently as the primary donor for the Thomas Gilcrease National Archive and Helmerich Research Center at Gilcrease; and Tulsa Public Schools, co-funding the Helm-Zar Challenge Course with Henry Zarrow. Peggy has become a philanthropic star in her own right, most notably with her service to the Tulsa City-County Library system.
