Heritage Step-on Guide:

This tour highlights the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement in Oklahoma City. The focal point of the tour is Calvary Baptist Church, located in Oklahoma City's historic "Deep Deuce" area. Calvary's stained glass features black religious figures, the only such display in the entire region. It was here that Ms. Clara Luper, a civil rights activist, planned the nation's first sit-ins which occurred in Oklahoma City during 1958. In addition, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke at Calvary in 1960.

Guide Biography:

Linda Graves was born in Oklahoma City in 1947 to Mr. and Ms. Luther Edmondson, a successful black entrepreneur from Tulsa, who owned black businesses in Oklahoma City from 1945-1966. It was a time when Oklahoma had a line drawn between the races which forced her parents to deliver her in the basement of University Hospital. It was during these formative years that Linda developed an interest in civil rights, which eventually led to her participation in the civil rights marches that took place in downtown Oklahoma City from 1957 to 1964. After spending kindergarten through the second grade in a predominantly black elementary school, her parents moved the family to one of the first integrated neighborhoods in Oklahoma City, across 10th Street to what is now Park Street. Linda graduated in 1966 from Central High School, one of Oklahoma's first integrated high schools. She attended Langston University briefly and graduated from the Oklahoma Vocational School of Practical Nurses in 1972. She has been a practicing nurse ever since. Linda is married to Robert Lee Graves and has four children and 14 grandchildren.

“I chose to be a step-on guide in order to have the opportunity to relive my childhood and relate to others what life was like for me and other black people here in Oklahoma long ago," she says. "To have been chosen to participate in the program is like overcoming a milestone, and it is one of my greatest achievements. I have enjoyed the classes and the tours provided and am looking forward to doing many more.”

This tour highlights the aviation legacy of African American Oklahomans. Focus of the tour is the Kirkpatrick Science & Air Space Museum at Omniplex, which houses an exhibit entitled "African Americans in Aviation." The exhibit commemorates the pioneering efforts of the Tuskegee Airmen, who were partially trained at Langston University; the "Flying Hobos," who were the first pilots to make a transcontinental flight across the United States and Bessie Coleman, the first licensed African American female pilot.

Waymon is a native Oklahoman born in Oklahoma City the year of our lord Nineteen Hundred and Forty Seven. He is the 13th of 14th children of Mr. and Mrs. Willie Gaddis. Gaddis graduated from Douglass High School in May of 1965, where he developed a keen interest in English and electronics. After graduation he enrolled at Central State University graduating with a major in sociology and political science minor. His intent was to become a lawyer and help bring an end to some of the economic injustice facing African Americans. This goal was interrupted when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in November of 1966, at the height of the Vietnam War. His tour of duty landed him in Korea where he spent 13 months as a company commander driver with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

Gaddis has a working degree in computer electronics and takes pride in having opened the first computer store in the U. S. wholly owned and operated by an African American. The economic depression (caused by the oil bust) made it impossible for his store to last longer than four years. He presently works as a self-employed computer consultant.

As to the Step-On Guide Program, Mr. Gaddis states, “I am so elated that I became involved. Instead of taking the position of a conformist, I elected to take the lead and be a part of the solution rather than be a part of the problem. Talk is cheap and there is so much of it going around.” The program has given Gaddis an opportunity to realize a part of his original 1965 goal, to help bridge the gap between the races by telling the story of African American accomplishments in helping to build this great nation that we all refer to as the United States of America.

This tour highlights the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers in El Reno, OK. The central point of the tour is historic Ft. Reno, located in El Reno, which is the final resting place for more than 15 Buffalo Soldiers. Ft. Reno, a military camp in 1874, Ft. Reno was established as an official military post in 1875. Companies from both the 9th and 10th black regiment units played an important role in ejecting "Boomers" from Indian Territory and preventing "Sooners" from entering the territory prior to the land run.

Born in Kansas City, in 1923, Benson is the proud father of two children, five grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. He and his wife, Lillie, recently celebrated 50 years of marriage. Benson has devoted his life to community and civic organizations. He served the Kansas City Police Department as one of its first vice detectives and as one of its motorcycle officers. At the Compton, California Police Department, Benson was the top cadet in his class with a 99.8 grade average! He was promoted to Sergeant and headed the Internal Affairs Department for 12 years, retiring as a 1st Lieutenant in 1987 after more 28 years of service.

Benson honorably served our country in the South Pacific during WWII and received five campaign medals. His numerous civic activities include: City of Compton Housing Commissioner, Chairman of the Rose Bowl Float Committee, Exalted Ruler La Cienega Elks Lodge #1419, President of Richland Farms Improvement Association, Life member of Buffalo Soldiers 9th & 10th Cavalry Horse Association, President of the Calumet Chamber of Commerce, OK Farm Bureau Resolution Committee, Life Member of the American Legion, VFW, North American Limousine Foundation, North American Hunting and Fishing Club, Past Master of Sunrise Masonic Lodge #8, United Supreme Council 33 Degree Mason.

Benson currently serves as a history interpreter for the Fort Reno Visitors Center. “To be a step-on guide provides me the opportunity and recognize of the diversity of our national heritage and the contributions of many African American that has been long overdue.”

This tour highlights the legacy of African Americans in Oklahoma City. Focus of the tour is Oklahoma City's historic "Deep Deuce" area, which was the apex of African American society in the '30s through the late '50s. It served as nurturing place for successful African Americans like Hannah D. Atkins, the first African American woman elected to a seat in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and Charles L. Owens, the first African American judge in the state.

Holt grew up in the Harrison/Walnut street area of Oklahoma City. In 1970 she chose to pursue a career as a student teacher where she developed and taught a drug prevention program for Central Middle School. Her first professional teaching appointment placed her in an inner city high school teaching U. S. history. In 1976, she opened her own psychological and business consulting firm where she worked with corporations such as Coca-Cola, New York Life, Morehouse College and the National Directors of Community Action Agency.

Her most rewarding work was with the Atlanta Missing and Murdered Children's Crisis organization, where she helped the media find a positive way to unify and give support to the community in its most tragic hour. She also developed and implemented a program to address burnout among with employees who work with the homeless in the city of Atlanta.

"My reason for taking the step-on guide training is to be able to teach and learn more about Oklahoma history. The step-on guide program is a fascinating learning experience," Holt said. "I was fortunate as an undergraduate student to have studied history under the late Dr. Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher. I would someday hope to be able to perform a historical reenactment of her experience at the University of Oklahoma with her family's blessing. The national business trends recognize the need for diversity in the business of tourism as smart. I agree."

The tour highlights the legacy of the town of Frederick. The focal point of the tour is the Pioneer Township Heritage Center, which showcases historic buildings from the '20s, such as the Frisco Train Station, which Teddy Roosevelt visited; and St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Wanda Evaige is a graduate of Boyd High School in Fredrick. Upon graduating from high school , she journeyed to the state of Texas where she completed her undergraduate studies at Huston-Tilloston College in Austin. Upon finishing her undergraduate work at Huston-Tilloston, she decided to come back to the Sooner state and begin graduate studies at the University of Oklahoma in Norman.

Her entrepreneurial spirit lead her to create "Simply Rags Fabric Store," a thriving business that she runs in Fredrick. In addition to operating a business, she is a pillar in the community and a member of several grassroots organizations, including: the Frederick Chamber of Commerce, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Oklahoma Constitution Revision Commission, Boyd High School Alumni Association, OEA/NEA and the Board of Trustees for Shorter College in Little Rock. Evaige has served as the Mayor of Frederick and the current president of ASCOG.

"I wanted to be a step-on guide because I want to see all of Oklahoma's history preserved culturally. All cultures have a colorful history in Oklahoma that all Oklahomans need to know. Many of our foreparents lived in Oklahoma before statehood and have left a colorful legacy for generations to come; therefore, I believe it up to us to see that this legacy is carried forward. Plus, I enjoy people and enjoy working to keep our way of life alive, and I feel I can do this by telling and showing our cultural contribution made to Oklahoma."

This tour highlights the legacy of the African American soldiers in Ft. Gibson, Ft. Sill, Ft. Supply and El Reno. The center point of the tour varies based on location, but is specific to the Buffalo Soldiers history. Some highlights include the erection of Ft. Supply; Henry O. Flipper, the first black graduate of West Point, commanding troops at Ft. Sill; and the Civil War Battle of Honey Springs, which is the first battle in which African Americans, whites and American Indian regiments fought together.

Harlan Ballard, or "HB" as he is often called, is a native of Muskogee, Oklahoma. He enlisted in the Oklahoma Army National Guard while a junior in high school. A graduate of Langston University with a double major in psychology and English-Secondary Education, and a minor in broadcast journalism, he later earned a Master's in education counseling psychology. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U. S. Army during his first year of graduate school and began work working as a counselor and instructor at the Guthrie Job Corps. Ballard later moved to Oklahoma where he joined the Army Reserve. He is currently employed as a Personnel Staffing Specialist and serves as the Asian-Pacific Islander Employment Program Manager at Tinker Air Force Base. In the Army Reserve, he currently holds the rank of Major and serves as Team Chief, Direct Support Detachment, 486th Civil Affairs Battalion, Broken Arrow.

Ballard is actively involved in several community-based organizations, including: the 9th and 10th Horse Cavalry Association (Buffalo Soldiers), Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated, Negro Airmen International, Black Pilots of America, National Association of Black SCUBA Divers and the National Brotherhood of Skiers. He also serves on the Oklahoma Historical Society, Fort Reno Historical Preservation Society, Oklahoma City Urban League and Urban League Guild, Black Liberated Arts Center Incorporated, Oklahoma City Express Connection Investment Group, Langston University National Alumni Association, Oklahoma City Public Schools Scholars Program, Oklahoma Federal Executive Board, Leadership Oklahoma City Class XVI, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, Association for the Study of Higher Education, National Association for African American Studies, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated and the Evangelistic Baptist Church of Christ.

Ballard began researching and collecting information on the U. S. military’s all-Black regiments in 1991. His personal collection is a chronicle of many books, magazines, films, and artwork of African Americans in the U.S. military. As a Civil War reenactor he feels that it is important for all people, especially youth, to learn about the history and contributions of all peoples. In addition to portraying members of either the 9th or 10th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, he also plays the role of the 1st Kansas Volunteers U.S. Colored Troops, mountain men, slaves, freedmen and Black Indians. He formed a group of volunteers known as REAL Playas (Reenactors, Educators, Actors, and Living Historians). He continues to research, develop and update his subject in order to present an accurate portrayal of the Buffalo Soldiers, United States Colored Troops, Tuskegee Airmen, and other African Americans in the military.

Ballard is known to school aged children throughout the greater Oklahoma City area as “Mr. Buffalo Soldier.” His presentation has been featured on news, radio, television and magazines. In 1995, Governor Frank R. Keating presented Ballard with a special commendation and declared January 29-February 4, 1995, Buffalo Soldier Week in the State of Oklahoma.

"Being a step-on guide has given me the opportunity to learn first hand just how rich and diverse Oklahoma history actually is," he said. "The wonderful training coordinated by Bryan K. Hotchkins and conducted by Gwyneth Windon is second to none. Sharing with other like-minded people has only spawned my interest in history even more. I welcome those new to our state, as well as our present sons and daughters, to climb aboard, sit back, relax and enjoy the ride as we tell a side of Oklahoma history few have heard but all need to hear."

The tour highlights the legacy of the African American entrepreneurial spirit, focusing around the historic "Deep Deuce" area, which was the apex of African American society in Oklahoma City throughout the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Tourists will experience historic sites like the G. E. Finley building, a medical clinic for African Americans in Oklahoma City; the J. S. Littlepage Hotel, which was a primary resting place for African American jazz musicians coming to Oklahoma City to perform; and the East India Hair Products factory, which was owned by businessman Sydney Lyons.

Marilyn Murrell was born and raised in Arcadia, Oklahoma. Where her parents gave her a strong foundation for a successful adult life. Ebbie and Inez Parks raised eight children to be active, contributing members of society. Murrell herself has three adult children: Monica, Alfred “Buzz” and Cypreanna, and one grandson, Taylor Allen Duncan.

Marilyn graduated from Arcadia High School and went on to a career in business and economic development. She has spent her professional career as a business consultant providing management and technical assistance to small and minority businesses. She spent 19 years as the Manager/Executive Director of the Minority Business Development Center in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. In 1988 she launched M & M Business Enterprises and in 1998 M & M Business Consultants, Inc.

After leading a successful four-year legal battle to reestablish the identity of Arcadia as an official town, Murrell was elected its first mayor in May of 1988. She holds the distinction of being the first mayor, first female mayor and first black mayor of Arcadia. She has been reelected to the past three times. Mayor Murrell sums up her service as Mayor of Arcadia : “Arcadia is my home. Being Mayor of Arcadia is a labor of LOVE. It’s easy for me to make sacrifices and commit time to a cause in which I really believe,” says Murrell.

“Tourism is an integral part of the growth and development of Arcadia. Therefore, I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the Step-on Guide Training Program. I have learned a great deal about the exciting contributions which African Americans have made to Oklahoma and look forward to sharing that information with the world.”