From tribal leaders to athletes, these are the newest Oklahoma Hall of Fame members
The newest class of Oklahoma Hall of Fame members were inducted into the illustrious group Thursday night.
The group of eight includes one member inducted posthumously.
Founded in 1927, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame honors extraordinary Oklahomans and provides educational programming for students of all ages. The organization supports education through numerous pathways, including awarding tuition grants and scholarships, providing free statewide field trips, and donating books to schools and libraries across Oklahoma.
Here's what we know about each member, according to their hall of fame biographies.
Dwight Adams, Edmond
As part of the FBI Laboratory's Research Team, Dwight Adams pioneered DNA techniques and testified more than 130 times for both the prosecution and defense.
He served on the National DNA Advisory Board and established the National DNA Database, helping solve over 500,000 cases nationwide.
He served with the FBI for 23 years, including as director of the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia. He then returned to the University of Central Oklahoma, his alma mater, where he became the first director of the W. Roger Webb Forensic Science Institute.
Adams earned his bachelor's from the University of Central Oklahoma and his Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma.
John A. 'Rocky' Barrett, Shawnee
John A. "Rocky" Barrett Jr. became tribal chairman of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation in 1985.
The Nation's assets have grown from $550 to more than $800 million, with its annual economic impact exceeding $550 million under Chairman Barrett's leadership.
The Nation has also seen an average of 15% annual growth over two decades and is now the largest employer in Pottawatomie County.
Barrett presides over the Tribal Legislature, shapes administrative functions and helped create the current constitution and statutes.
Judith James, M.D., Ph.D, Pond Creek
Judith James is an internationally recognized physician and scientist and is the executive vice president at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.
After earning her bachelor's from Oklahoma Baptist University, James was the inaugural graduate of the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center's M.D./Ph.D. dual degree program.
She's now a board-certified rheumatologist with more than 330 published articles and leads national consortia for improved autoimmune disease therapies. In 2022, she became the first Oklahoma woman elected to the National Academy of Medicine.
Bill Lance, Sulphur
Bill Lance is the first-ever secretary of state for the Chickasaw Nation and is a trusted confidant to Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby.
Before being named secretary of state, Lance was the longest-serving secretary of commerce in Chickasaw Nation history. During his leadership, the Nation's annual net income tripled, more than 7,000 jobs were created and the 370,000-square-foot Chickasaw National Medical Center opened in Ada.
Lance serves on community and corporate boards and has earned honors like the Global Achievement Honoree by Sister Cities Oklahoma City International and induction into the Oklahoma Commerce and Industry Hall of Honor at Oklahoma City University's Meinders School of Business.
J Mays, Maysville
J Mays graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, before gaining the attention of Audi.
He spent more than four decades working with multiple prestigious car manufacturers, incorporating "the latest trends in automobile culture with his unique intuitiveness for the emotional connection we have with our cars to create the most iconic models in automobile history."
He's responsible for designs like Concept One, the precursor to Volkswagen's New Beetle, the Audi TT, Ford Mustang and F-150.
Madeline Manning Mims, Tulsa
Madeline Manning Mims became the first American woman to win Gold in the 800 meter at the 1968 Games in Mexico City.
She was a member of four Olympic USA teams, and her international career spanned 16 years, including 10 national titles and a number of American records.
"Mims opened the global door for women of color to participate in distance running," according to the hall of fame.
After retiring, she founded and continues to serve as president of the U.S. Council for Sports Chaplaincy. She served as chaplain for nine Olympic Games, six years as chaplain for the WNBA's Tulsa Shock and has been inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame.
Barry Pollard, M.D., Waukomis
Barry Pollard graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in biochemistry and the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, specializing in neurosurgery.
Pollard established his practice in Enid, expanding medical access in rural Oklahoma and performing over 20,000 life-saving surgeries.
He also owns a 10,000-acre farm, is vice president of the American Angus Association and founder of P&K Equipment.
He has previously been inducted into the Oklahoma State University Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Agriculture Hall of Fame.
Mary Golda Ross, Park Hill
Mary Golda Ross was the first known Native American female engineer and first female engineer in the history of Lockheed.
Ross was born in Tahlequah and earned a mathematics degree from Northeastern State Teachers College and a master's from Colorado State Teachers College.
She joined the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in 1942 during World War II, helping improve the P-38 Lightning's design. She also later worked on classified projects for Lockheed's Missiles and Space Company, specializing in aerodynamic forces.
She was a lifelong advocate for women and Native people in engineering, was a charter member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Society of Women Engineers and was active in the American Indian Science and Engineering Society.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: These 8 Oklahomans have been inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame
