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Wheat Field

OTA History

Past Presidents

Past Presidents of the Oklahoma Telephone Association

2022-2023   Trent LeForce, Dobson Fiber

2021-2022   Kirk Petty, Santa Rosa Telephone Cooperative

2020-2021   Jana Wallace, Panhandle Telephone Cooperative

2019-2020   Jill Kuehny, KanOkla Networks

2018-2019 - Doug Hilliary, Medicine Park Telephone Company &  Oklahoma Western Telephone Company
2017-2018 - Larry Jones, Chickasaw Telephone Company
2016-2017 - Richard Ruhl, Pioneer Telephone Coopertive
2015-2016 - Bob Rozell, BTC Broadband
2014-2015 - Mark Gailey, Totah Communications
2013-2014 - Keith Gibson, Pinnacle Communications
2012-2013 - Jeff Handley, TDS Telecom
2011-2012 - Larry Jones, Chickasaw Telephone
2010-2011 - Dr. Kay Mount, Beggs Telephone Company
2009-2010 - Richard Ruhl, Pioneer Telephone Cooperative
2008-2009 - Mark M. Gailey, Totah Communications Inc.
2007-2008 - Greg Aldridge, KanOkla Telephone Association
2006-2007 - Lyn Johnson, Carnegie Telephone Company
2005-2006 - Tom Riley, Chickasaw Telecom
2004-2005 - Bobby Douglas, Alltel, Inc.
2003-2004 - Bob Gray , Valor Telecommunications
2002-2003 - Gary Jay, Salina Spavinaw Telephone Company
2001-2002 - Benny Ross, Pioneer Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
2000-2001 - Gary Torbett, TDS Telecom
1999 -2000 - Greg Aldridge, KanOkla Telephone Association
1998-1999 - Nancy Cain, Salina-Spavinaw Telephone Company
1997-1998 - Jim Williams , Alltel, Inc.
1996-1997 - J. R. Carter, Chouteau Telephone Company
1995-1996 - Tom Riley, Dobson Communications Corp.
1994 - Gary Kennedy, Panhandle Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
1993 - Tom Duke, GTE
1992 - Thurman Hayes, Pioneer Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
1991 - Don Strube, Oklahoma Communications Systems, Inc.
1990 -  Don Strube, Oklahoma Communication Systems, Inc.
1989 -  J. B. “Sonny” Bright, Chickasaw Telephone Company
1988 - Ron Mount,  Beggs Telephone Company
1987 - Dan Overland, Pottawatomie Telephone Company
1986 - George Frazier, Pioneer Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
1985 - Margaret Goatcher, Cimarron Telephone Company
1984 - Ken Doughty, Hinton Telephone Company
1983 - Gary Kennedy, Panhandle Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
1982 - Mike Trower, Cimarron Telephone Company
1981 - Don Strube, Oklahoma Communication Systems, Inc.
1980 - Allen Daniels, Alltel, Inc.
1979 - Gloria Sheinbein, Sooner Telephone Company
1978 - J. D. Dorries, Valliant Telephone Company
1977 - W. A. Legion, GTE
1976 - Robert C. Lewis,  Terral Telephone Company
1975-  V. David Miller, Cross Telephone Company
1974 - Russell L. Dobson, Dobson Telephone Company
1973 - Jesse R. Gailey, Totah Telephone Company
1972 - W. O. Bill Young, Cherokee Telephone Company
1971 - E. R. Dobson, Dobson Telephone Company
1970 - H. Zeine Goacher, Cimarron Telephone Company
1969 - Royce C. Gauntt, Chickasaw Telephone Company
1968 - Ervin Raus, Atlas Telephone Company
1967 - Robert D. Majors, GTE
1966 - V. David Miller, Cross Telephone Company
1965 - Carroll Cook,  Cook Telephone Company
1964 - J. R. Hollis, Hinton Telephone Company
1963 - O. H. Mullen, Inola Telephone Company
1962 - Truman Wood, Pioneer Telephone Cooperative
1961 - Jack Holt Stillwell Telephone Company
1960 - Harold R. Peterson, New State Telephone Company
1959 - Leroy C. Guest, Central Oklahoma Telephone Company
1958 - Joe E. Trower, Cimarron Telephone Company
1957 - F. F. Wright, Western Light & Telephone Company
1956 - A. L. McFadden, Ringwood Telephone Company
1955 - D. R. Majors, Carmen Telephone Company
1953 - R. E. Harris, Southwestern States Telephone
1951 - A.L. McFadden, Ringwood Telephone Company
1952 - A. L. McFadden Ringwood Telephone Company
1950 - C. C. Browne, Western Light & Telephone Company
1949 - V. S. Reynolds, SW Associated Telephone
1948 - W. T. Autry, Oklahoma Telephone Company
1947 - Forrest Hand, Beggs Telephone Company
1946 - Endsley Jones, Western Light & Telephone Company
1945 - Endsley Jones, Western Light & Telephone Company
1944 - J.W. Holt, Stillwell Telephone Company
1943 - J. W. Holt, Stillwell Telephone Company
1942 - J. W. Walton, Oklahoma Telephone Company
1935 - 1941 C. E. Devin Apache Telephone Company

Bill Barnes Award Recipients

The Bill Barnes Award was established in 1988.  This award is given each year to individual(s) dedicated to the enrichment of the telephone industry's provessional knowledge for the Advancement of customers' welfare, participation in honest telecommunications enterprises, commitment of service before profit, to public welfare above all other considerations, and for the divine guidance in professional competency, initiative, leadership, mature sound judgment, and in all endeavors.

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1988   Frank Morrison, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company
1989   Cecil Elliott, Panhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc.
1990   Allowe Hand, Beggs Telephone Company
1991   Roye E. Gauntt, Chickasaw Telephone Company
1992   V. David Miller, Cross Telephone Company
1993   Jewel B. Callaham, Pine Telephone Company
1994   William H. "Billy" Stanley Jr., KanOkla Telephone Company
1995   Johnnie Ruhl, Pioneer Telephone Cooperative Inc.
1996   Don Strube, Oklahoma Communications Systems Inc.
1997   W.O. "Bill" Young, Cherokee Telephone Company
1998   Gary Kennedy, Panhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc.
1999   Leroy "Dutch" Guest, Central Oklahoma Telephone Company
2001   Jesse R. Gailey, Totah Telephone Company
2002   J.R. Carter, Chouteau Telephone Company
2003   Jim Williams, Alltel, Inc.
2004   Bob Stafford, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company
2005   E.D. "Bud" Raus, Atlas Telephone Company
2006   Margaret and Zeine Goatcher, Cimarron Telephone Company
2007   Donald Heitschmidt,  Panhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc
2008   J.B. "Sonny" Bright, Chickasaw Telephone Company
2009   Gary M. Jay, Salina-Spavinaw Telephone Company
2010   Jack Hester, Chickasaw Telephone Company
2011   Carolyn O'Hair, Sartain Fischbein & Co.
2012   Charles O. Smith, Canadian Valley Telephone Company
2013   Monte R. Lee, Monte R. Lee & Company
2014   Ron Strecker, Panhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc.
2015   Ron Comingdeer, Ron Comingdeer & Associates
2016   Pauline Van Horn, Oklahoma Western Telephone Company
2017   Greg Aldridge, KanOkla Networks
2018   Bob Rozell, BTC Broadband
2019  Lyn Johnson, Carnegie Telephone Company

2021  Dr. Kay Mount - Beggs Telephone Company

2022  Richard Ruhl - Pioneer Telephone Cooperative

Oklahoma "Hall of Fame"

The Oklahoma "Hall of Fame" Award was established in 1991 to properly recognize those men and women who pioneered telephone in Oklahoma.  It further recognizes those individuals who have worked, supported, and made contributions to help further Oklahoma telephony.

1991  Hugh Straughn, Oklahoma Telephone Association
1991  Ernith & Lela Belle Gailey, Totah Telephone Company
1991  Murle & Mildred Tutty, Chouteau Telephone Company
1991  O.H. & Minnie Mullen, Inola Telephone Company
1991  Everett "Doc" & Ruby Dobson, Dobson/McLoud Telephone Company
1991  Maravin Osborne, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company
1991  Truman Wood, Pioneer Telephone Cooperative Inc.
1991  Johnny Hollis, Hinton Telephone Company
1991  Jewel Callaham, Pine Telephone Company
1991  Irene Witter, Cross Telephone Company
1991  Cecil Elliott, Panhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc.
1991  Frank Morrison, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company
1991  Allowe Hand, Beggs Telephone Company
1991  Royce Gaunt, Chickasaw Telephone Company

1992  V. David Miller, Cross Telephone Company
1992  Leroy "Dutch" Guest, Central Oklahoma Telephone Company
1992  Ervin Raus, Atlas Telephone Company
1992  Monte R. Lee, Monte R. Lee & Company

1993  Zeine & Margaret Goatcher, Cimarron Telephone Company
1993  W.O. "Bill" & Ruth Young, Cherokee Telephone Company
1993  Tom & Addie Sheard, Salina-Spavinaw Telephone Company
1993  Isadore & Gloria Sheinbein, Midwestern Telephone Company & Sooner State Telephone Company

1994  Allen Daniels, AllTel, Inc.
1994  Ray League, Totah Telephone Company
1994  William H. "Billy" Stanley Jr., KanOkla Telephone Company
1994  Leonard Thorne, Pioneer Telephone Cooperative Inc.

1995  J.C. Curtis, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company
1995  Johnnie Ruhl, Pioneer Telephone Cooperative Inc.
1995  Don STrube, Oklahoma Communications Systems, Inc.

1997  Gary Kennedy, Panhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc
1997  Kenneth Aubrey, Grand Telephone Company
1997  Isaiah John White, Shidler Telephone Company

2001  Tom Riley, Chickasaw Telephone Company
2001  Kenneth Doughty, Hinton Telephone Company
2001  Barry K. Moore, Oklahoma Telephone Association
2001  Wesley Johnson, Carnegie Telephone Company
2001  Ron Mount, Beggs Telephone Company
2001  Tom Green, Southwest Oklahoma Telephone Company
2001  Russell Dobson, Dobson/McLoud Telephone Company

2002  Ron Comingdeer, Comingdeer & Associates
2002  Jim Williams, Alltel Inc.
2002  J.B. "Sonny" Bright, Chickasaw Telephone Company
2002  Jesse Gailey, Totah Telephone Company
2002  Bob Stafford, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company

2003  Bob Gray, GTE
2003  Carolyn O'Hair, Sartain, Fischbein & Co.
2003  Dan Overland, Pottawatomie Telephone Company
2003  Gary Torbett, Oklahoma Communications Systems Inc.

2004  Gary Jay, Salina-Spavinaw Telephone Company
2004  Jerry Johnson, KanOkla Telephone Association
2004  Benny Ross, Oklahoma Telephone & Telegraph Inc.
2004  Ed Smith, Cross Telephone Company

2005  Richard P. "Dick" Ellis, Utility Services Associates Construction Company Inc.
2005  Larry D. Jones, Chickasaw Telephone Company
2005  Darrell Overland, Pottawatomie Telephone Company

2006  J.R. Carter, Chouteau Telephone Company
2006  Donald Heitschmidt, Panhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc.
2006  Bob Rozell, BTC Broadband

2007  Gary Burke, Panhandle Telephone Coopertive Inc.
2007  George Frazier, Pioneer Telephone Cooperative Inc.
2007  Parker Hightower, Pioneer Telephone Coopertive Inc.

2008  Greg Aldridge, KanOkla Telephone Association
2008  Thurman Hayes, Pioneer Telephone Cooperative Inc.
2008  Charles O. Smith, Canadian Valley Telephone Company

2009  Ron Strecker, Panhandle Telephone Cooperative Inc.
2009  Jack Hester, Chickasaw Telephone Company
2009  Esta Callaham, Pine Telephone Company
2009  Marvin & Avonelle White, Shidler Telephone Company
2009 Robert J Tutty, Chouteau Telephone Company

2010  Edward A. Hilliary Jr., Medicine Park Telephone Company
2010  Richard Ruhl, Pioneer Telephone Cooperative Inc.

2011  Steve Guest, Central Oklahoma Telephone Company
2011  Kay Seymour, Oklahoma Telephone Association

2012  Lynn R. Merrill, Monte R. Lee & Company
2012  Paul Cooper, Fred Williamson & Associates
2012  Dr. Kay Mount, Beggs Telephone Company

2013  Mark M. Gailey, Totah Communications Inc.

2014  Kathy Kunc, Hollar Law Firm
2014  Conley Cathey, CHR Solutions
2014  Roger Hutton, NetAmerica Alliance

2015  Teresa Aubrey, Grand Telephone Company
2015  Lori Bright, Chickasaw Telephone Company
2015  Douglas H. Hilliary, Medicine Park Telephone Company
2015  Robert Prince, Valliant Telephone Company
2015  James O. Young, Cherokee Telephone Company

2016  John Callaham, Pine Telephone Company
2016  Mary Green, Southwest Oklahoma Telephone Company
2016  Tom Karalis, Fred Williamson & Associates
2016  Orlean Smith, Canadian Valley Telephone Company
2016  Jerry Whisenhunt, Pine Telephone Company

2017  Gary Beikmann, Monte R. Lee & Company
2017  Jim Eaton, Pioneer Telephone Cooperative Inc.
2017  Dale Fitzwater, Chickasaw Telephone Company
2017  Alice Jo Hilliary, Medicine Park Telephone Company
2017  Melody Shaver, KGP Logistics

2018  Lyn Johnson, Carnegie Telephone Company
2018  Dale Burke, Dobson Telepone Company

2019  Gary Woodruff, Carnegie Telephone Company
2019  Michael Becker, USDA - RUS

2020  Preston Williams, Metaswitch
2020  Betty R. Smith, Canadian Valley Telephone Company
2020  Dick Segress, Terral Telephone Company
2020  Cindy Houghton, OTA - The Oklahoma Rural Broadband Association

2021  Marilyn Gailey - Totah Communications

2021  Nick Kretchmar- Pioneer Telephone

2022  George Wycoff - Southwest Oklahoma Telephone Company

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