The Oklahoma Historical Society will celebrate excellence in preserving and interpreting the state’s past when it hosts its annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, March 19, at the Oklahoma History Center.
Held each spring, the banquet brings together historians, educators, authors and civic leaders from across the state to honor individuals and organizations whose work has deepened public understanding of Oklahoma history. The evening’s highest honor, induction into the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame, will be awarded this year to four individuals recognized for a lifetime of scholarship, leadership and service to the field.
The 2025 Hall of Fame inductees are Donald L. Fixico, David W. Levy (posthumously), Linda D. Wilson, and Timothy A. Zwink. Each is being honored for distinguished contributions to researching, preserving and sharing Oklahoma’s story.
In addition to lifetime achievement honors, the banquet will recognize outstanding work by educators, students and authors whose recent efforts have advanced historical understanding. Among those to be honored is Caleb Gayle, who will receive the E. E. Dale Award for writing the outstanding book on Oklahoma history for 2025 for Black Moses: A Saga of Ambition and the Fight for a Black State.
A cocktail reception will begin at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards program at 6:30 p.m. Cocktail attire is requested. Guests are asked to RSVP by Monday, March 9.
Tickets, a complete list of awards and honorees, and additional event details are available at okhistory.org/awardsbanquet. Those interested in sponsorship opportunities or additional information may contact Development Officer Brittney Berling at brittney. berling@history.ok.gov.
Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the Oklahoma Historical Society is dedicated to collecting, preserving and sharing the history and culture of Oklahoma and its people. The organization oversees museums, historic sites and affiliates statewide and provides public access to extensive research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications that chronicle Oklahoma’s rich and diverse past.
