The Lincoln Alumni Association’s legacy continued by celebrating its 23rd Reunion from September 2-4, 2022, at the Bristow Community Center. This year’s theme: “Ain’t no stopping us now, we’re on the move.”
The Lincoln Alumni Association consists of African American students that attended Bristow’s Lincoln High School, Rosenwald and Depew Schools from 1922-1959, before integration of the school systems in 1958. Current chapters of the Lincoln Alumni Association are Bristow, Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Northern California. The Lincoln Alumni Association also consists of students that attended the surrounding schools of Lincoln, Rosenwald, Newby, Morning Star, Harlinsville, Deep Fork, Sunny Slope, Depew and Sunset.
To celebrate this momentous reunion event, the Lincoln Alumni Association planned and executed the following itinerary below.
• Friday, September 2nd:
Welcome by the President-Ted Alexander, meet and greet reception, Mistress of Ceremony- Dr. Addie Ellis, Fashion show, entertainment featuring (local talent) guest comedian and actress Tisha Alexander Bradford, and jazz artist Carmen Bruner.
Saturday, September 3rd:
Breakfast and general assembly held at the Bristow First United Methodist Church with the welcome by Ted Alexander President of Lincoln Alumni Association.
State of the Bristow School System update, and a memorial service for recent Lincoln Alumni Association members that passed since 2019.
Recognition of past Lincoln Alumni Association Scholarship winners.
The group traveled to Tulsa to the Greenwood/Black Wall Street area with a tour of the New Greenwood Rising Museum and Culture Center.
Evening events: Annual Banquet and Dance, Master of Ceremony Class of 1955 - Mr. Frank Simmons. Guest speakers were Toni Godwin, Director of Bristow Social Services, and Reverend Ivoria Holt, Associate Pastor of Judah Church, Oklahoma City.
The Dance featured DJ Lyrics of Broken Arrow and the Kerry Wayne’s Rock Star Band of Oklahoma City. Dinner was catered by locally owned, Sunday Dinner LLC. Caterers.
• Sunday, September 6th:
Service was held at Cooper Chapel A. M. E. Church, pastored by Reverend Billy C. Counter.
Closing activities that were open to the public, included a picnic catered by locally owned, Kenny’s Barbeque. The auction consisted of items donated to raise funds for the Lincoln Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. The funds offer five scholarships to descendants of Lincoln and Depew High Schools. In the past two years, the award amounts increased from $500 to $1000 per student and will be presented each year at the Bristow High School Senior Awards Assembly.
Currently, the Lincoln Alumni Association offers five $1000 scholarships per year to descendants of Lincoln High School.
The reunion was closed by President-Ted Alexander. He thanked over 100 attendees for their dedication in supporting this reunion and sharing the history of Lincoln, Rosenwald, and Depew schools, with their descendants and friends. Alexander stated how proud he was to serve and lead the association for the past 20 years, and he looks forward to the next reunion.
Alexander wanted to thank all Bristow patrons who supported this reunion by purchasing ads for their collectable souvenir book, showing support for the biannual event and soon to be annual event. A special thanks to Superintendent Curtis Shelton, and Director of Instruction, Krista Burden of the Bristow Public Schools for their continued support of the reunion, and the students of this Bristow community. The next reunion is scheduled for Labor Day Weekend 2023 in Bristow, Oklahoma.