BCF’s Legacy Hall of Fame event, scheduled for May 2, 2009, honors individuals and families who have demonstrated years of service to the betterment of our community. The prestigious award recognizes the importance of serving others and the dedication that the honorees have committed to the people of the Bartlesville area.
The Gorman family, fostered by four generations, founded its business in 1904. Gorman’s businesses encompass general contracting, architecture, real estate development, and property management. Through the years, the family has not only contributed to the wellbeing of our community but has also made its mark in the construction and architectural landscape with the design and building of many notable homes, schools, and buildings in Bartlesville, including the Frank Phillips home, Woolaroc, the L.E. Phillips home, and the ITIO Building. Art and Carolyn Gorman have raised two sons, Tom and John, in Bartlesville. Art and Tom are past chairmen of the Chamber of Commerce. Art, Tom, and John are members of the Rotary Club. Tom is our city major and John is a director of the YMCA and Youth and Family Services. Carolyn co-founded the Bartlesville Public Schools Foundation and established parent support groups. She is president of the Friends of Frank Phillips Home. Tom and John continue the family’s legacy with owning the Gorman businesses and dedicating themselves to community service and the people of Bartlesville.
The May family opened their first menswear store in Tulsa in 1908, followed by a second store in Bartlesville established by H.M. and his son Ben May in 1910. The store’s long-running success has made it a Bartlesville icon, achieving the notable distinction of the oldest retail store in the state doing business in the original location with the original family ownership. From the very beginning, the May family has been actively involved in civic life. Having carried on the family business through 2009, Mike, and his wife Marty, continued the tradition of giving back to the community. Mike served as Chairman of the Bartlesville Chamber of Commerce, President of the Rotary Club, Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra, Hillcrest County Club, the Credit Bureau of Bartlesville, Jane Phillips Medical Center, and the Bartlesville History Museum Trust Authority and served on boards of the American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Bartlesville Regional United Way. Marty has dedicated herself to a number of valuable organizations, including Service League, the Boys and Girls Club, the Landmark Preservation Council, Price Tower Arts Center, Friends of the Frank Phillips Home, and the American Cancer Society. Having raised their four sons, Mark, Scott, Craig, and Billy, in Bartlesville, Mike and Marty recognize the importance of a strong community and have given of themselves to ensure that others have the same opportunities for success that their family experienced.
“Our Legacy Hall of Fame event is an evening that captures the unique spirit of Bartlesville. As we learn more about the legacy that each of the honorees has established in our community, a sense of pride and excitement fills the banquet hall,” says Beth Heaton, BCF Board Chair. “Bartlesville Community Foundation is all about providing a simple way for the people of our area to positively impact others and to ensure that our community continues to excel. This event – and, specifically, honoring families that have given so much to Bartlesville – is a perfect illustration of that focus.”
Julia Crouch, Executive Director of BCF, says “When I ponder what Bartlesville might look like today if it had not been for the families that built Bartlesville into greatness, I realize how imperative it is for all of us to stop for a moment to thank our honorees for their commitment to our community and to ask the question of ourselves, ‘What can I do to make a difference for someone else?’ Our community’s success can only be sustained when we each value the importance of helping others and invest today for the benefit of tomorrow.”
Bartlesville Community Foundation, a publicly supported foundation serving the Bartlesville area, has established the Legacy Fund to honor those who have given so much to the community. Proceeds from the fund support charitable projects and programs that honor the history of our community and encourage civic and community service in sustaining the quality of life in Bartlesville, leaving a legacy for future generations. Contributions to the fund can be made in honor of this year’s recipients or other members of the community and are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Donations to the Legacy Fund can be made simply by calling Julia Crouch at the BCF office at 918.337.2287. Event tickets and sponsorship information are also available from BCF.
