Over Labor Day weekend 2025, the history of Bristows black community came alive as the Lincoln Reunion Association gathered at the Bristow Community Center. More than just a reunion, this annual celebration brought together alumni and community members in a powerful tribute to resilience, achievement, and the rich legacy of black history. It was a powerful tribute to those who came before and a call to those rising now to honor that legacy and carry it forward.
The Lincoln Reunion Association keeps the school’s legacy active through annual gatherings that celebrate community and honor alumni. Among them is President Ted Alexander, a Hall of Fame inductee and former Langston University star athlete. Drafted by the 49ers in 1972, he went on to become a respected coach and educator after an injury ended his pro-career. His journey, featured in reunion materials, reflects how Lincoln School helped shape leaders who made their mark far beyond Bristow.
The story begins with Lincoln School, a pillar of Black education in Creek County. Built in 1932 with support from the Julius Rosenwald Fund, it served Bristow’s young black American students from 1922 to 1959, offering pride, learning, and community during segregation. In 2023, a historical marker was placed near the Bristow Community Center to honor the school’s legacy and the Rosenwald Fund’s lasting impact on Oklahoma’s Black history.
Equally important is the Lincoln Reunion Association’s Youth Scholarship Program, started in 1980 by Mrs. Omera Combs, later led by Mrs. Wanda Hill, and now by Cynthia Hill. Now in its 44th year, it has awarded over $50,000 to descendants of Lincoln High School alumni. Two of this year’s recipients, Emma Alford and Reid Robinson, represent the strength and spirit that define Lincoln’s story. Through this scholarship, they don’t just honor their families, they step into history, carrying forward the values and vision that built their community. Their journey inspires others to keep striving and to remember where they come from Black history in Bristow is not just part of the past; it’s a living vital heritage that deserves to be preserved and shared. The Bristow Historical Society is actively seeking stories, photographs, and memories of Black-owned businesses and other history. These contributions will help ensure that this important chapter of all our community’s history isn’t forgotten but honored and passed down for generations to come.
As someone who’s always fascinated by how shared histories bind communities, I'm thankful to have set at the table alongside Corene Ceasar ( Jones), Betty Tillis, Delois Mack ( Jones) and 99year-old Rosa Barns; combined filled in parts of forgotten history and opened engaging dialogue about why it’s important to remember. In Bristow or community is diverse in heritages, our black history must remain as an integral never forgotten part of Bristow.