A celebrated storyteller, a renowned art scholar, a legacy wrestling duo and an esteemed judge make up the 2016 class of the Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame.
Induction ceremonies will be 6 p.m., Tuesday, June 21, at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Norman, Oklahoma.
Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby will induct the new class of honorees.
Lynn Moroney, Wilmette, Illinois; Margaret Flansburg, Oklahoma City; Floyd Gerald “Gerry” Brisco, Odessa, Florida, and the late Freddie Joe “Jack” Brisco and George Dixie Colbert will be inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame during the ceremony.
“Each of these worthy individuals have dedicated their life’s work and talents to making a positive impact upon the world in which we live,” Gov. Anoatubby said. “While each of these individuals accomplished unique goals, all share a dedication to excellence which enabled them to accomplish great things.
“It is our privilege to honor these individuals for the significant contributions they have made to the Chickasaw Nation and to the larger community.”
Lynn Moroney
What astronomers do with science, Ms. Lynn Moroney does with stories. An internationally recognized ‘skyteller,” Ms. Moroney studied the art of storytelling under the tutelage of well-known Chickasaw storyteller Te Ata.
In many ways, the spirit of Te Ata carries on through Ms. Moroney, as well as those who worked with her in the Chickasaw tradition.
Through the tapestry of storytelling, Ms. Moroney has positively influenced several Chickasaw storytellers who continue to share Chickasaw stories with audiences throughout the world.
She has worked extensively with Chickasaw astronaut John Herrington creating an extensive NASA Outreach project which involves storytelling.
Ms. Moroney served as director of the Kirkpatrick Planetarium, providing regular programs on Native American sky stories and histories.
She founded “Wintertales” an annual, statewide storytelling workshop conducted in Oklahoma City, which was funded in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council. She also created “Territory Tellers,” a storytelling organization who meets, conducts classes, presents and educates. She also volunteered numerous hours while working at the planetarium and Oklahoma City Arts Council.
Ms. Moroney has also published numerous books, CDs and DVDs.
Ms. Moroney continued her leadership role in storytelling and as an ambassador representing the Chickasaw Nation and Oklahoma traveling the country sharing her stories, teaching the importance of keeping culture thriving through stories.
With her assistance, tribes such as the Blackfeet and Crow developed science teaching projects in conjunction with the Lunar and Planetary Institute.
She conducted workshops for NASA Outreach, the Lunar and Planetary Institute, the International Planetarium Society and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. She’s worked in settings that range from the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. to California Academy of Science in San Francisco.
Born in 1935 in Duncan, Oklahoma, Ms. Moroney now resides in Wilmette, Illinois.
Dr. Margaret Flansburg
Dr. Margaret Flansburg has a distinguished career as an artist and scholar of art history and the humanities.
Soon after earning a degree in painting from the University of Oklahoma in 1958, Ms. Flansburg began exhibiting art in far-flung locations such as the Denver Museum, Carnegie Museum and juried competitions including Iowa, Missouri, and Bristol, England.
Upon earning a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Renaissance Italian Studies from the University of Oklahoma, Dr. Flansburg served as a full professor in the Department of Humanities and Philosophy at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) for more than 20 years, she also served as department chair as well as acting assistant dean of the College of Liberal Arts. She was also an adjunct art history professor at Oklahoma City University (OCU).
She also served as field director for several international study trips with students in both Italy and Mexico.
Upon retirement in 2001, she was awarded emeritus professor status at UCO.
During her career she has published numerous articles, chapters and books in her field, and led presentations in numerous venues.
Active in the Oklahoma City community, Dr. Flansburg served many years on the KCSC classical radio board of directors and Chamber Music Oklahoma. She is also a board member of Wilson Arts, a foundation that helps a neighborhood public elementary school find arts programs. She also helped identify and preserve some WPA murals in the school, which were discovered during renovations.
Dr. Flansburg has won many awards for both her art and scholarship, and has been honored with induction into the Duncan Public Schools Foundation Hall of Fame. She was also recognized as a church “treasure” for a lifetime of contributions and service. In addition to singing in the church choir for many years, she has sung in Canterbury Chorus, an auditioned community choir, for almost 15 years.
Dr. Flansburg has always been proud of her Chickasaw heritage and family and has passed along her pride to her children and grandchildren, who continue to be connected with the Chickasaw Nation through activities and programs.
She has been active in the local Chickasaw Council, and has attended several Chickasaw Nation Annual Meetings and Festivals. Through a workshop on Cherokee basket weaving, Dr. Flansburg has created some beautiful, traditional style baskets.
When visiting the Chickasaw Cultural Center with friends and family, she is also quick to visit the Aaholiitobli’ Honor Garden and the plaque dedicated to her ancestor Colbert Ahshawlatabi Burris.
Floyd Gerald “Gerry” Brisco and the late Freddie Joe “Jack” Brisco
Described by many as two of the greatest wrestlers of all time, siblings Floyd Gerald “Gerry” Brisco and the late Freddie Joe “Jack” Brisco were instrumental in laying the foundation for the phenomenon of what became World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
As young men, both were awarded wrestling scholarships to Oklahoma State University.
Gerry was born in 1946 in Seminole, Oklahoma. An all-around exceptional athlete, he started wrestling at age 9, earning a 50-5 record and thrice qualifying for state finals.
At Oklahoma State University, he was a member of the 1968 National Championship team. He left college in 1968 and embarked upon an 18-year professional wrestling career. During his professional wresting career, he won more than 20 championships, and one Junior Heavyweight World Championship belt. He and his brother Jack also won three Tag Team World titles.
Upon retirement, he worked to help make World Wrestling Entertainment the global business it is today. He worked with talent development and discovered Hulk Hogan and other superstars.
His achievements include Cauliflower Alley Club Hall of Fame, Dan Gable Museum- Lou Thesz/George Tragos Hall of Fame and World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame.
In 2010, he was named USA Wrestling Indigenous Committee, an organization with a goal to provide Native Americans and other minorities the opportunity to attend wrestling camps sponsored by USA Wrestling. He also helped form the International Olympic Committee, whose goal is to have North American Indigenous people represent their respective tribes as a sovereign nation in the Olympic Games.
Gerry was inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2006
In his local community, Gerry formed the Guardian Wrestling Club in Tampa, Florida, for ages 6-18. It has grown to one of the largest clubs in the state.
Gerry also served as a volunteer assistant coach at a local high school and was honored by Fox TV 13 as “What’s Good About Tampa Bay” in 2009.
He retired from working with the WWF/WWE in 2009 and resides in Odessa, Florida.
Jack Brisco
Better known as Jack Brisco or “Ulvalde Slim”, the late Freddie Joe “Jack” Brisco was a two-time National Wrestling Alliance Heavyweight Champion and a multi-time Tag Team Champion with his brother Gerry.
In 2005, Don Leo Jonathan described Jack as “probably the greatest champion of the 20th century.”
Born in Blackwell, Oklahoma, in 1941, the athletic Jack declined a football scholarship at the University of Oklahoma to attend Oklahoma State University and wrestle. In 1965, Jack became the first Native American to win a NCAA Wrestling National Championship while wrestling as a junior at OSU.
His first documented professional championship was also in 1965, when he won the NWA Missouri Junior Heavyweight Championship. He also won his first tag-team title, teaming with Haystacks Calhoun for his first reign as co-holder of the Tri-State version of the NWA United States Tag Team Championship.
Jack’s first NWA World Heavyweight Championship won was in Houston, Texas, in 1973.
Wrestling with his brother, the duo won several Tag Team Championships.
The duo brought enormous honor to the Chickasaw Nation in their achievements as Native American wrestlers.
Jack died Feb. 1, 2010, leaving one of the most remarkable legacies in wrestling history.
George Dixie Colbert
The late George Dixie Colbert was known as a man of integrity who dedicated his life to service to his country, family, the judicial process and the Chickasaw Nation.
Shortly after graduating Oklahoma City University Law School in 1954, Mr. Colbert returned to the Chickasaw Nation to make a positive impact on his community.
His subsequent 26-year distinguished career served as an excellent example of Chickasaw servant leadership, perseverance, distinction and commitment.
Mr. Colbert was appointed county attorney in Murray County, Oklahoma, in 1954, serving until 1962, when he was elected associate district judge. He served as associate district judge until 1971, when he ran unopposed for district judge for the 20th Judicial District: which includes Murray, Love, Marshall, Carter and Johnston counties; most of the southern half of the Chickasaw Nation.
He served as associate district judge with honor and integrity until his death in 1980.
Born in 1925, Mr. Colbert was the son of Elmer and Julia Colbert and the grandson of Dixie H. Colbert, a member of the last Chickasaw Nation legislature before statehood and whose Chickasaw allotment encompassed what is now the town of Sulphur.
In his youth, George Dixie Colbert attended school at Carter Seminary, Ardmore and Sulphur schools.
In his teens, Mr. Colbert began boxing at Oklahoma City’s Wheeler Park to earn grocery money to help feed his family.
Boxing for Chief Parris’s Indian club, Mr. Colbert became a two-time Golden Glove boxer and Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) champion. Boxing in 10 tournaments, he won seven titles and runner-up in the other three. He was awarded both the state and Oklahoma City Golden Glove title.
At 16, Mr. Colbert dropped out of school with his mother’s permission and joined the U.S. Coast Guard to participate in World War II efforts. During World War II he served in the Philippine southwest Pacific Theatre.
Upon discharge from the military, he attended Central High School, Oklahoma City, and went on to attend law school.
Judge Colbert never hesitated to devote his life and his family to public service.
In Oklahoma City, he established a youth boxing club called the Red Bud Boxing Club and he also formed a boxing club for local youth in Sulphur.
He and his wife Ruby (Burchett) had five sons and a daughter: Stephen, Timothy, D. Scott, Shelly, Mark and John Colbert. Five of the children became attorneys and one a medical doctor.
Judge Colbert’s contribution to the Chickasaw Nation is reflected in the dedication his children have shown in committing their lives to Chickasaw public service. His passion is always a strong reminder to his children that legal and judicial service is about being just and making sure justice is done.
Judge Colbert was proud of his Chickasaw heritage and instilled in his children to be proud of their Chickasaw heritage, family, culture and genealogy.
His children continue to uphold his Chickasaw legacy and instill its importance in their children and grandchildren.
Judge Colbert died May 27, 1980, and is buried at Sulphur, Oklahoma.
About the Chickasaw Hall of Fame, RSVP information:
The 2016 Chickasaw Hall of Fame ceremony will take place Tuesday, June 21.
Doors open at 5 p.m. and the banquet will begin at 6 p.m.
There is no charge to attend, but reservations are required for the event.
To make reservations contact Brielle Helm at 580-436-7258 or email
Induction to the Chickasaw Hall of Fame is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Chickasaw citizen by the Chickasaw Nation.
In 1987 the Chickasaw Nation began honoring Chickasaws who made significant contributions to Chickasaw people or the Native American community by induction into the Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame. Since then, many Chickasaw men and women have been nominated and inducted into this prestigious circle of honor.
For more information about the Chickasaw Hall of Fame, visit www.chickasaw.net.
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Chickasaw Nation announces Hall of Fame inductees
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- Written by: TONY CHOATE, Chickasaw Nation Media Release
- Parent Category: News
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