Class of 2025

Ronnie Dunn, celebrated as half of the iconic duo Brooks & Dunn, is a highly influential voice in country music with numerous awards, including 30 ACMs and 20 CMAs. An Oklahoma native who spent formative years in Tulsa, he cultivated his distinctive musical style before achieving massive success with 24 #1 songs and over 30 million records sold as part of the duo, who were inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Beyond his work with Brooks & Dunn, who won CMA Vocal Duo of the Year in 2024, Dunn also has a solo career and is a dedicated photographer.

Born at Fort Sill and raised in Checotah, Eddy Gibbs started working after high school to support his family, eventually founding Ameristar, which became the world's largest ornamental fence manufacturer. Following the sale of Ameristar, with the condition it remain in Oklahoma, he shared proceeds with employees and revitalized the Shangri-La Resort near his Owasso home, boosting local tourism and employment. A strong supporter of education and veterans, Gibbs’ generosity resulted in the largest single gift in the United States to a private K-12 school and the building of the Legacy of Liberty Memorial Park.

Tulsa native Taylor Hanson formed the band HANSON with his brothers, achieving global success with their debut album and hit single "MMMBop". As an advocate for independent music, he co-founded 3CG Records enabling HANSON to produce their own music. Deeply committed to social change, Hanson founded Food On The Move in 2014, which has distributed millions of pounds of fresh produce in Oklahoma and works to reshape sustainable local food systems.

Dr. Mautra Staley Jones is a nationally acclaimed leader in higher education who made history in March 2022 as the 11th President of Oklahoma City Community College, becoming the first woman and first person of color in the role, and the first African American female to lead any non-HBCU higher education institution in Oklahoma. She serves on numerous prominent boards and is a member of organizations like the Young Presidents’ Organization and the Higher Learning Commission’s Credential Lab Advisory Board. Jones has been recognized as Oklahoma Citizen of the Year and Oklahoman of the Year.

Born and raised on a farm near Ames, Bert Mackie served in the Army Reserves and built a banking career spanning over six decades at Security National Bank of Enid. A strong advocate for higher education, he is a founding member of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence and a past regent for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Mackie's commitment to community service is seen through his appointment to the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service by President Reagan. Mackie and his wife Janice reside in Enid and are proud of their family.

Dr. Michael A. Mares is a museum director and scientist, renowned as a world expert on desert rodent evolution who has discovered numerous new species across the globe. As the former director of the Sam Noble Museum, Mares oversaw its opening in 2000 after raising over $45 million. With degrees from the University of New Mexico, Fort Hays State University, and the University of Texas at Austin, Mares has published extensively, held leadership positions in scientific organizations, and received numerous fellowships and honors, including induction into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame.

Over the past 17 years, Sam Presti has served as the executive vice president and general manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder, building the organization into a respected force in professional sports. His vision centered on a team embodying Oklahoma's values, achieving sustained success through player development and strategic moves, which resulted in 13 postseason appearances, including four Western Conference Finals and a trip to the 2012 NBA Finals. Presti, a native of Concord, Massachusetts, and a graduate of Emerson College, began his NBA journey with the San Antonio Spurs, where he won three championships, before bringing his expertise to Oklahoma City, where he deeply engages with community initiatives throughout the year.