2010 Wall of Fame Awards

Honoring
Jim C. Clark
Anthony L. Watson
A. Max Weitzenhoffer, Jr.

October 21, 2010

The Wall of Fame Awards celebrates the long, rich history of the Oklahoma City Public School District by Inducting Alumni and Community Leaders Who Have Added Significantly to the Quality of Life in our State and Country.

Proceeds support The Foundation programs that ensure students become the next generation of strong leaders and active citizens.

Jim C. Clark
Cleveland Elementary, Taft Junior High, Northwest Classen High School
Introduced by Dr. Norman Neaves

If you ask Jim Clark what his greatest achievement is, he'll answer without hesitation, "marrying my high school sweetheart, Carolyn, more than 50 years ago." Together Jim and Carolyn raised four children, Cheryl, Ashley, Coleman and Mitchell, and are now the proud grandparents of 14 wonderful grandchildren.

It's not surprising that family plays an important role in Clark's life. He is chairman of B.C. Clark Jewelers, a family-owned retail jewelry firm started in 1892 in Indian Territory. Recognized both nationally and locally for his work on behalf of the jewelry industry, Clark is in the National Jeweler Retailer Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Jewelers Association Hall of Fame. He also received the Oklahoma Jewelers Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.

To this day, lessons learned in school influence Clark's life. He credits his teachers in Oklahoma City Public Schools for teaching him that school was an adventure to enjoy, giving him confidence and a belief in himself, and showing him that having a passion for what you do always influences the outcome. Clark graduated with distinction from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He earned his MBA degree with distinction from the Graduate School of Business at New York University.

Clark's life has always followed a path of service. He is an Eagle Scout who served two years in the Army as Post Adjutant of Dugway Proving Ground for which he received the Army Commendation Medal. Today he serves on numerous boards for non-profits and service groups. He credits his faith, family and Men's Faith Sharing Group of Church of the Servant for keeping him "grounded" in life's experiences that matter most.

Anthony L. Watson
Dunbar Elementary, F.D. Moon Junior High, Douglass High School
Introduced by W. George Allen

Transforming a health-plan founded in the 1940s for New York City workers into an innovative, technology leader for the 21st century was the mammoth task Anthony L. Watson undertook when he accepted the role as Chairman and CEO of HIP Health Plan of New York (HIP) in 1991. Today his role has expanded to include serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EmblemHealth, Inc. (founded in 2006), whose companies include HIP and Group Health, Inc. serving more than 3 million people in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.

Watson's resolve to be "the best at whatever I do" was instilled in him on the playing fields of his youth by coaches Bill Carroll and Jake Diggs. Highlights of his Douglass High School days include beating the state's number one ranked basketball team and winning the state championship in both the long jump and high jump. His track career reached its pinnacle in 1960, when Watson competed in Rome, Italy as a member of the United States Olympic track and field team.

According to New York Governor, David A. Paterson, Watson has brought outstanding leadership and innovative ideas to not only his companies, but the entire health care industry, the state of New York and the nation. He has held leadership roles for the Department of Health, Education and Welfare of the Public Health Service Center for Disease Control, New York City Comprehensive Health Planning Agency and Health Systems Agency of New York City. He also served on the New York Governor's Health Care Advisory Board and the New York State Hospital Review and Planning Council, and was appointed to the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare by President Clinton. A few of his many honors include the Schlesinger Award for Outstanding Contributions to Community Health Planning; the Congressional Recognition Award of the United States House of Representatives (3 times); and the New York Urban League Award.

Watson continues to live in New Jersey with his wife Desiree and their daughters Alayjah and Sheridan. His son Anthony L. Watson, Jr. resides in Portland, Oregon.

A. Max Weitzenhoffer, Jr.
Edgemere Elementary and Nichols Hills Elementary
Introduced by Mark Steyn

Max Weitzenhoffer's love of the theatre has led to a lifetime of achievement realized on the stages of New York and London. He has received Tony Awards for The Will Rogers Follies and Dracula as well as numerous Tony nominations. Additionally, he has won Drama Critics Awards as well as an Olivier Award (Britain's equivalent of a Tony Award). Today he owns five theatres in the West End in London and is regularly named among the Top 10 most important individuals in British theatre by The Stage newspaper.

Weitzenhoffer became interested in theatre while attending the University of Oklahoma (OU), participating in everything from acting to designing and building sets. He then served as company manager at the La Jolla Play House (in California), also directing children's theatre. Foregoing the opportunity to enter the movie business, Weitzenhoffer returned to Oklahoma to work with Marty Gottlieb at OU, who "knew more about the theatre than anyone. To produce well you have to know what everyone else does. I was allowed to do everything in the theatre at OU; it was a great foundation."

Proud of his family-ties to Oklahoma pre-dating statehood, Weitzenhoffer and his wife Ayako Takahashi Weitzenhoffer returned to Oklahoma in the 1990s to raise their children Nikki and Owen.

Since his return, Weitzenhoffer has served on and chaired the Board of Regents for OU, Cameron University and Rogers State University as well as served as a Trustee for Casady School. He also provided support for several OU departments, helping create the A. Max Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre. OU's Fred Jones Art Museum is the benefactor of his family's prestigious Impressionistic art collection. In 1994, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. He has also been honored by OU with the Regents' Alumni Award, the Alumni Association's Distinguished Service Citation and an Honorary Doctorate.

2010 Wall of Fame Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

BancFirst

James R. Daniel

Inasmuch Foundation / Ethics and Excellence
in Journalism Foundation

INTEGRIS Health

Nancy and George Records

The University of Oklahoma

Gold Sponsors

American Fidelity Group

Charles and Cassandra Bowen

Cameron University and Rogers State University

The Center for Education Law

Cox Communications

Crowe and Dunlevy

IBC Bank

Independent Insurance Agents Association of Greater Oklahoma City

Wallace Johnson

Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores

Mustang Fuel Corporation

OGE Energy Corp.

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

Silver Sponsors

AT&T

Michael and Lori Dickinson

Dr. and Mrs. Robert Ellis

First National Bank of Oklahoma — Pat and Marianne Rooney

Foundation Management, Inc.

KOCO-TV/KOCO.com

Mark and Patti Mellow

Norick Investment Company

The Oklahoman

Larry and Cynda Ottaway

Catherine and Karl Springer

St. Anthony Hospital

Helen and Robert Sullivan

Mark and Lela Sullivan

Bronze Sponsors

Ackerman McQueen

John L. Belt & Joy Reed Belt

Bob and Debbie Blackburn

Libby and G.T. Blankenship

Sharon and John R. Bozalis

Capitol Abstract & Title Co.

The First State Bank

Rod and Joan Frates

Vicki and Leland Gourley

Great Plains Coca-Cola Bottling Company

Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce

Jane B. Harlow

Jeanne Hoffman Smith

The Journal Record

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Edward J. Konieczny - Bishop of Oklahoma
(In Honor of A. Max Weitzenhoffer, Jr.)

Lasso Corp

Jan & James Loftis

Oklahoma City Community College

Mr. and Mrs. William J. Threadgill

Carol and Mac Troy

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Mautra Jones, The Foundation’s Development Director, at (405) 879-2007 or e-mail mautra@okckids.com.