Lincoln Alumni Association hosts 24 Year Reunion

September 11, 2023 –24 years and counting! The Lincoln Alumni Association’s legacy continued with its annual reunion, September 1-3, 2023, at the Bristow Community Center. “Ain’t no stopping us now, we’re on the move,” was this year’s reunion theme.

The Lincoln Alumni Association consists of African American students that attended Bristow’s Lincoln High School, Rosenwald and Depew Schools from 19221959, before integration of the school systems in 1958. Current alumni 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.

This year’s reunion was packed with new events starting, Friday, September 1st, with a Meet and Greet Reception for the members and their guests, hosted by the President-Ted Alexander.

Entertainment with live music, featured former descendants of a Bristow resident, namely, Dr. Fred Hammond, III and Pamela Rise. Dr. Hammond is a professional performing artist and University Central Oklahoma Music professor. Mrs. Rise is a professional song writer, recording artist, and stage performer. She’s a regular performer on TBN and President of Studio 10 Entertainment, Inc. Bristow native DJ Lyric, aka Tisha Alexander Bradford, DJ-ed. They all kept the crowd on the dance floor.

On Saturday, September 2nd, a continental breakfast, and general assembly was held at the Bristow Library, with presentations featuring Bristow School Superintendent Curtis Shelton and Director of Instruction, Krista Burden, giving updates on the state and growth of the Bristow Schools Systems.

Memorial tributes were led by Cynthia Hill for departed members of the Lincoln Alumni Association.

A new panel presentation, led by Arvell Alexander, titled-- Bristow: “The Black Perspective,” with guest panelist: Letha Caudle, former Bristow Schools History instructor; local historian, Henrietta Hick; Boley Oklahoma Historian, Paula Atwell, with the Bristow Historical Society, and Frank Simmons, former resident and 1956 Lincoln High attendee and Harlinsville resident.

The panel discussion was engaging and enlightening to the audience. A challenge from a Lincoln descendant, Dr. Addie Sellers Ellis of Stockton, California, stated that “we all have to make sure we pass this information down to the next generations of relatives and students. It is extremely important people know their family history and where they come from, since we are a global and transit society.”

Lastly, there was recognition and comments from past Lincoln Alumni scholarship winners.

After the general session, the attendees witnessed a special moment; the unveiling of the historical site marker at the Bristow Community Center at 10th and Chestnut. This historical marker was a tribute to the Lincoln School and Alumni Association, supported by the Julius Rosenwald Fund and Creek County Schools. The Rosenwald Fund will build over 15 schools for rural areas of the county.

The Lincoln Alumni Association and The Rosenwald Fund ( Jewish Society for Historical Preservation), worked with Mayor, Kristine Wyatt, and the City of Bristow, for the creation and placement of this marker.

Saturday evening’s Annual Banquet and Dance featured guest speaker-Mr. Elmer Davis, Jr., former Tulsa Public Schools Educator, Music, and Band Director at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa. Entertainment was by DJ Lyric, aka Tisha Alexander Bradford.

The 24th Reunion ended Sunday, September 3rd, with a morning worship service held at New Life International Worship Center, pastored by Reverend Eric Parker. Closing activities, located at the Bristow Community Center, included lunch and an auction that was open to the public. The auction consisted of items donated to raise funds for the Lincoln Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. The funds offer scholarships to descendants of Lincoln and Depew High Schools. In the past three 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.

Lincoln Alumni Association President, Ted Alexander, stated the reunion was well attended, especially by the older members and local residents. “I want to thank everyone that supported the 24th Lincoln Alumni Reunion and scholarship fundraiser. It was a great opportunity to partner with local vendors to make these events a success.”