Robert Biolchini
CHAIRMAN, PENNWELL CORP.; CHAIRMAN, VALLEY NATIONAL BANK SEPT. 22, 1939-NOV. 8, 2017 Biolchini, an attorney, was known for his leadership of PennWell, where he had worked since 1970, first serving on its board of directors and as general counsel. He also served on numerous industry boards. He was a past president and board chairman for Gilcrease Museum, and was devoted to his family and his alma mater, Notre Dame. At his death, he was chairman and owner of Valley National Bank.
BIOLCHINI: COURTESY PENNWELL CORP.; CLARK: CHRIS HOLLO; DAVIS: COURTESY LEONARD AND MARKER FUNERAL HOME; ELIAS: COURTESY ELIAS FAMILY
“Bob was a brilliant lawyer and a passionate businessman with incredible instincts; therefore, always a force to be reckoned with, and you wanted him on your side. When Bob became president and CEO of PennWell in 2000, he accelerated the expansion of the company that he had worked for 30 years before that. I miss him as a boss and as a friend who loved life and was larger than life.” — MARK WILMOTH, PRESIDENT AND CEO, PENNWELL CORP.
Bill Davis
ARTIST JAN. 9, 1954-JUNE 24, 2018
With his signature Panama hat and reputation as “the blue-eyed soul singer,” Davis was a local legend, enjoying a more than 45-year music career in Tulsa. He sang just about everywhere — churches, bars, the Tulsa State Fair. He idolized black singers, and sought to honor them with his music. He opened for Leon Russell and Joe Cocker, and had the talent for the big time, but preferred his hometown.
Gilpin’s world revolved around art and animals, and she owned a personal menagerie of dogs, cats and parakeets. She loved her studio “because it is my home, and this is where my heart is … the place where I find my inspiration,” she once told TulsaPeople. She taught art, exhibited her own colorful, quirky work and often used it to benefit others, including co-chairing the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals Fur Ball.
“The first time I saw Bill was many years ago at a bar on Admiral. I was blown away with his singing; it was so impeccable. Bill was one of the best singers I ever played with, better than Bob Seger. He had boundless energy and always had funny things to say. He was an amazing person.” — DAVE TEEGARDEN, FRIEND AND FELLOW MUSICIAN
“She could make the most ordinary thing into something extraordinary through her beautiful art. Sometimes when I look up at the sky at night, I think to myself that someday the stars will be a little more colorful after Dana decorates them.” — JAMEE SUAREZ-HOWARD, PRESIDENT/FOUNDER, OKLAHOMA ALLIANCE FOR ANIMALS
Tyrone Elias
Roy Clark
INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN COUNTRY MUSICIAN APRIL 15, 1933-NOV. 15, 2018 Known as the “superpicker,” the Country Music Hall of Fame and Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame inductee also was the recipient of Grammy, Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music awards. Millions enjoyed his 24 years on “Hee Haw,” a country variety show. He became a Tulsan in 1974, and along with Bill Rollings, helped save the Tulsa Drillers. “Roy was a kind friend to the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame since the birth of our organization in 1996. We inducted Roy into the Hall in 2000 and he made many friends and gained many admirers throughout our community. Roy was a fantastic human being and artist. He gave Oklahoma and the world the beautiful gift of his music. Thank you, Roy Clark ... you are missed.” — AMY LOVE, BOARD PRESIDENT, OKLAHOMA MUSIC HALL OF FAME
Dana Gilpin
TULSA SOUND SINGER DEC. 2, 1937-JUNE 5, 2018
LONGTIME OWNER, JAMIL’S STEAK HOUSE OCT. 12, 1938-JUNE 8, 2018 The son of restaurant founder Jamil “Jim” Elias, Tyrone Elias was an avid pilot by inclination and a restaurateur by breeding. He opened two Jamil’s locations, in Oklahoma City and Houston, returning to Tulsa in 1977 to take over the landmark Lebanese dining establishment at his father’s death. He became the new face of the popular eatery, which introduced Tulsans to such delicacies as hummus and tabouli. “Dad believed in the tradition of the restaurant. It meant the world to him. People have come in and told us this was where they had their first date, or celebrate their anniversary. I am trying to carry on the family tradition. He would have wanted me to do so.” — JENNIFER ALCOTT, DAUGHTER
Cindy Hulsey
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TULSA LITERARY COALITION; CO-FOUNDER, MAGIC CITY BOOKS NOV. 17, 1959-SEPT. 19, 2018 Hulsey believed in the power and magic of books and reading. So much so, she changed careers and became a librarian. After 17 years with the Tulsa City-County Library, in 2015 she led the creation of the Tulsa Literary Coalition, which celebrates reading with programs and with nonprofit groups. She co-founded Magic City Books, proceeds of which help fund Coalition programs. “I hired Cindy at the library in 1999, then when she was opening the bookstore, she asked that I come work for her. It was all about the books. … Her passion and goal was to connect people with books and to advance the cause of literature in Tulsa.” — BARRY HENSLEY, FRIEND, FORMER BOSS, CO-WORKER, EMPLOYEE
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