A support letter for the nomination of Stephen Reel noted that while he may resist the title, his efforts qualify him as one of the early “pioneers” in building local government support organizations that now number in the hundreds throughout the USA, Canada, Australia and in Europe. In addition to his significant accomplishments, he was also a prevailing co-counsel in a landmark case that held unconstitutional an attempt by the state legislature to impose a fee on municipalities for autopsies performed by the State Medical Examiner. And, if you have ever attended a training session he presented you are well aware that the photo of him in the clown suit is not the only time he has used his sense of humor to help us feel good about what we do.

Rupp has an extensive list of involvement in various organizations, local, county, and statewide, that relate to her positions with Stillwater and Perry. These organizations aid both local government and communities in working together to address the needs of local youth, assist in strengthening neighborhoods, promoting economic development and service response, and delivery.

He retired in May 2015, for the third time, after a nearly 45 year career that began in the fire service, then as a City Clerk and finally as a City Manager and Town Administrator. He is the only inductee to serve as the chief official over two municipal departments, as well as the executive officer of both a city and a town; and as president of two-statewide professional associations.

Not many in Oklahoma can say that their community grew nearly six-fold in population while they were in office. But if you have been on the Broken Arrow City Council since 1975, you can. However, people are not selected for this Hall of Fame only for their leadership or accomplishments in their community. In addition to numerous local achievements during the more than 27 years James Reynolds has served as a Councilman and Mayor in Broken Arrow, he also has been a vital force for municipal government in other arenas.

For more than forty years Drake Rice has consistently demonstrated a servant's heart in local government management in three (3) Oklahoma communities and as Director of Member Services of the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority (OMPA). Drake has been a mentor to more than two generations of elected and appointed city officials. It does not matter if these officials represented a community which owned its own municipal electric distribution utility or not, Drake has been a steady, calm, knowledgeable, creative source of encouragement and insight on a multitude of issues for a host of municipal officials across Oklahoma. At the same time, Drake is a strong proponent of local control who provided outstanding insight without seeking to impose his ideas or will on any community.

The Hall of Fame for City and Town Officials each year may induct one person posthumously. For 2003, that person never held public office in Oklahoma. However, most of the laws or services municipal officials work with today, as well as the breadth of appreciation among state agencies for municipal government, is due in large measure to one individual. That person was Donald C. Rider, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Municipal League from 1972 until 1988.

As City Manager of Woodward for the past 13 years, he was recognized in 2004 by the International City-County Management Association (ICMA) as a Credentialed City Manager; and then in 2008, he graduated from the ICMA Gettysburg Leadership Institute. He began his municipal career as a firefighter in Anadarko, where he later served as City Manager for seven years.

Carl Frederick Reherman’s nomination noted that he is always able to see the future, to dream bigger and farther than others, but as one who also has the ability and drive to find the people and resources to fulfill those dreams. In the past 37 years Carl has turned his dreams into programs that have had a profound affect on all Oklahoma cities and towns as well as municipal leadership throughout Oklahoma and beyond.

Tony Rivera retired at the end of July after a 46-year career with municipal governments in Oklahoma, Texas, and Alabama. He began his municipal government career in 1971 as a city electrician for the City of Okmulgee, advancing through several positions until appointed as City-Clerk-Treasurer in 1978.