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1952. Podpechan was discharged from the army a month
later.
After returning home from war, Podpechan started
working for the Stanolind Oil and Gas Company in west
Texas and was later transferred to New Mexico in 1953 and
then to Texas with Stanolind Oil and Gas Division Office. In
1957, Podpechan and a friend, Steve Helbing, joined
together and created Helbing and Podpechan, an oil and gas
company. Six years later the two dissolved their partnership
and Podpechan accepted a position with the Redfern
Development Corporation and Flag Oil Corporation in
Midland, Texas. In October 1960, Podpechan earned his
piloting license to cut down travel time for his job.
In 1968, Podpechan moved his family to Calgary, Alberta,
Canada to manage the Mesa Petroleum Corporation. He
returned to Claremore a year later. In 1970, he formed the
Sierra Coal Corporation which then merged with an oil and
gas company, which was later renamed Skye Resources Ltd.
in 1973. The company merged with Campbell Resources,
Inc. in 1982. In 1986, Podpechan traded his interest in
Campbell Resources and formed the Hickory Coal
Corporation. That same year, he purchased a 1970 model
Cessna 182 plane. His wife, Roxey, later gained her own
pilot’s license and the two flew together often. In 1987, he
bought his children’s shares of the Claremont Corporation
and became the sole owner of the company.
Frank Podpechan married Jane McMillian in August 1950.
Together they had four children, Mary Fran, Joe, Luanne, and
Jan. All four children attended OSU. The couple divorced in
1982. In 1988, Podpechan married Roxey Nelson who had
three children, Ranee, Todd, and Tanna, from a previous
marriage. Podpechan also has four grandsons, and four
great-grandchildren. Roxey Podpechan passed away January
17, 2016 in Bonita Springs, Florida.
Podpechan is now semi-retired though he remains active
in the oil and gas business. He frequently attends many of
the annual OMA Alumni reunions held at Rogers State
University in June, and often competes in the golf
tournament. He is on the board of the Indian Nations
Council of Boy Scouts in Tulsa.
PEGGY TOWNLEY RICE was
raised on a farm in Osage County
and graduated from Burbank High
School in Burbank, Oklahoma. Her
studies continued at numerous
institutions, including the Ponca City
Business College and Oklahoma
State University. She completed
courses in School of Bank Marketing,
Capital Resource Institute, and the
American Economic Development Council. She holds
certification as an Economic Development Finance
Professional.
Prior to becoming Rogers State University’s First Lady in
2008, Rice had an extensive career in banking, finance and
public trusts. In 1992, she co-founded the Small Business
Capital Corporation and continues to serve as its President
and CEO, as well as being a member of the Board of
Directors. Her previous employment includes positions as
Senior Vice President with BancFirst Stillwater, Director of
Small Business Development and Finance for the Metro
Tulsa Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of the
Tulsa Industrial Authority.
Rice currently serves on the RCB Bank Board of Directors
and has previously served on boards of the Claremore
Chamber of Commerce, RSU Innovation Center, CASA,
American Red Cross, Green Country Boys and Girls Club,
Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Oklahoma Private Enterprise
Forum, and Tulsa World Trade Association. She is a
graduate of Leadership Oklahoma Class XII.
In 1996, Rice was named the National Small Business
Administration’s Financial Advocate of the Year by President
Bill Clinton and in 2013, the Journal Record recognized her
as a “50 Making a Difference” honoree.
JENNIFER CONNER WILLIAMS
was born on "Veterans Day"
November 11, 1957 in Artesia,
California. She moved to Norman,
Oklahoma in 1971 where she
attended Norman High School. She
graduated high school in 1975 and
returned to Southern California.
Jennifer majored in psychology
during college but she changed
direction to attend cosmetology
school. She graduated with an advanced degree in 1979.
Two years later in 1981, Jennifer returned to Oklahoma
and met her Oklahoma Military Academy "Cadet" Billie G.
Williams, class of 1969. The two married in November
1982 and later opened "Cutz Salon" in 1984 in Norman,
Oklahoma where Jennifer has celebrated many happy
years in business.
Jennifer and Billie raised four children together and have
been blessed with two grandchildren. The couple currently
lives in Noble, Oklahoma.
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CHARLOTTE LITTLE grew up in
northern California where she
attended Hayward and Tennyson high
schools. Charlotte met her husband
Reciel (Gene) Little, an officer in the
Navy and 1956 graduate of
Oklahoma Military Academy, while
she was in high school. The two were
married shortly after her graduation.
Charlotte spent the next 15 years as
both mother and homemaker. She
then decided to get a temporary job that lasted seventeen
years. She was a store supervisor, office manager and
assistant store manager.
Upon Gene’s retirement, the couple moved to Oklahoma
to be closer to his parents and three brothers. After
attending their first OMA Alumni Reunion, Gene was asked if
he would consider being the museum curator. Charlotte says
her husband taking the position has been a wonderful
opportunity for them both. Besides displaying memories of
OMA, she has heard great stories from the amazing cadets.
Charlotte’s first love has been quilting. She left behind an
amazing quilting guild in California and has been fortunate
to find an equally amazing guild in Pryor. They not only do
quilting for themselves but also make quilts of valor for
returning soldiers. Charlotte says she has a very satisfying
retirement life.
Gene and Charlotte Little have two sons, three
grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
NORMA ADAMS MORRISON
grew up in Claremore, Oklahoma,
and attended Claremore High School.
During her junior year in high school
she attended a dance with her friends
at Oklahoma Military Academy where
she met OMA college freshman, Jim
Morrison, OMA class of 1952. Norma
says they met on a blind date and
she’s been blind ever since.
On their second date Norma
invited Jim Morrison to a family dinner at her grandmother’s
house. He fell in love with her grandmother’s homemade
noodles and also with Norma in anticipation of her making
them. Norma says she is still working on the noodles.
Norma married Jim in 1955.
Norma attended William Woods College in Fulton,
Missouri, a college for women, during her freshman year.
She then transferred to Oklahoma University where she
eventually finished college by summer courses and
correspondence. Norma graduated from OU in 1959.
Norma and Jim have been an active part of Rogers State
University and have supported the campus during
numerous developments. Both have been exceedingly
generous over the years and have gifted the university with
funds to support many projects, including the renovation of
the Health Sciences Building and construction of the
Chapman Dining Center in 2014. However, their major
focus is assisting students who need financial aid.
Therefore the two established the Jim and Norma Morrison
Scholarship Endowment.
Norma has volunteered in numerous non-profit
organizations over the years including the Assistance
League of Tulsa and Prime Time Treasures. Currently
Norma volunteers with the Assistance League of Tulsa
which she joined in 1993. The organization sells quality
donations in a thrift store called Bargains and all profits are
used to benefit those in need. Norma is currently involved
in the Operation School Bell branch of the league. This
division helps clothe a few thousand children each year
from Tulsa and the surrounding areas. The organization is
currently branching out to include supplies for art, music,
and other pursuits.
Norma and Jim have one daughter, Karen Morrison who
graduated from OU and then went on to graduate from
Notre Dame Law School. She was an assistant women’s
basketball coach at the University of Colorado and the
Associate Athletic Director for almost ten years. She went to
work for the NCAA as the Director for Gender Equity and
Initiative. Presently, she is the Chief Diversification Officer at
the University of Central Florida in Orlando. This is one of
the top diversification divisions in the nation. Karen has one
son, Max, who is 12 years old.
FRANK W. PODPECHAN was
born in 1927 in Kansas to a family
of coal miners. His parents moved
to Tulsa two years later and founded
the Hickory Coal Company. In 1937,
the family moved to Claremore and
Podpechan attended Claremore
High School, graduating in 1945. He
enrolled in Oklahoma A&M College,
now known as Oklahoma State
University and graduated in 1950.
Podpechan joined the 45th Infantry Division of the
Oklahoma National Guard in 1948 where he met many
Oklahoma Military Academy graduates. He became friends
with Gary Henry ‘50, Wade Medbery ‘53, Bud Inhofe ‘50,
Barton Broadhead ’50, and Carrol Jackson ‘50. He was
eventually sent to Korea, where he remained until April
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