Elk City, OK – The Elk City Leadership Hall of Fame 2024 Inductees are Dr. Dennis Friesen, MD, Allen Robinson and Debra Sisemore. They will officially be inducted Tuesday February 4, 2025, between the Elkettes and Elks Basketball Games at the Pioneer Center along with a reception honoring them 5-6 pm also at the Pioneer Center downstairs in the hospitality room. Family and Friends are welcome to come and congratulate them. Qualifications for honorees include…have been a resident or have worked in Elk City and ideally have attended Elk City Schools at some point. They must have brought positive pride and recognition to Elk City for exemplary leadership in their chosen occupation leading to city/state and/or national achievement.
DR. DENNIS FRIESEN, MD
Dr. Dennis Friesen was born on July 12, 1947. He grew up in the Oklahoma panhandle and graduated from Adams High School. After graduating he attended Panhandle State University for a year before transferring to Southwestern State University, where he completed a degree in pharmacy in 1970. Furthering his education, he continued to the University of Oklahoma to earn his medical degree and then completed his residency in Tulsa.
In 1977, Dr. Friesen and his wife Judy, along with fellow resident Dr. John Perkins and his wife Jan, made the decision to begin their family practice in Elk City. A year later they were joined by Dr. Craig Phelps and his wife Susan to complete their practice.
Elk City quickly became home, and Dr. Friesen and Judy decided to stay and raise their three children here. Shelley, Allison and Nathan all graduated from Elk City High School in the 90’s. Judy was well known to many for her time spent teaching at Rainbow Lane Preschool.
Dr. Friesen continued his family practice in Elk City for 30 years until retiring in 2007.
Throughout his time in Elk City, Dr. Friesen has enjoyed a strong connection with the Elk City Fire Department, serving as a volunteer firefighter from 1977-1997 and as the Elk City Fire and EMS Medical Director from 2003-present. This year, Dr. Friesen was instrumental in creating a partnership between Elk City Fire/EMS and Elk City High School to offer a new Emergency Medical Responder course to ECHS juniors and seniors. He also serves as Medical Director for the EMS programs at the Western Technology Center.
Dr. Friesen has served as a past president and a board member for the Elk City Kiwanis Club and worked to develop the model train exhibit on display at the Old Town Museum. He is an active member of the First Baptist Church of Elk City where he has served as a Sunday School teacher and a member of the Baptist Disaster Relief Team.
He enjoyed traveling and spending summers in the mountains of northern New Mexico with his wife Judy until her passing in 2024. Today, he enjoys reading and attending his grandchildren’s numerous events.
Dr Friesen is joined tonight by his children, their spouses and his grandchildren.
ALLEN D. ROBINSON
Allen D. Robinson was born, May 31, 1943, in San Francisco, California, where his father was working in shipyards during the war. After the war his father went to work for the Shell company and relocated to Wolco, Oklahoma, then later moved to Elk City in 1951.
Allen was a very talented athlete and participated in sports through his years at Elk City. In 1961 he was instrumental in the Elk City football season achieving a 9-1 record and was named All District Fullback his senior year.
After high school he was awarded a football scholarship to The University of Oklahoma. He then attended Panhandle State University where he played fullback for the Panhandle Aggies.
Allen returned home to begin his business career, he first went to work in the oilfield and was involved in pipe pickup and laydown as a salesman. In 1974 he and his brother-in-law began their own pickup and laydown company “Tancat, Inc.”, then later started the company “White Diamond Tong Service”. He also served in the US Marine Corp. Reserve for 6 years and was an honor man in boot camp.
In 1974 Allen also became involved with the Elk City Golf and Country Club where is served on the Board of Directors for 11 years, holding offices of Chairman of the Board and as a member. He was elected to the Elk City High School Board in 1981 and served for 10 years, and as Chairman of the Board for 2 years.
In 2003 Allen was elected to the City of Elk City, City Council where he was the Chairman of the Commission for 2 years and served for a total of 10 years.
Allen was the well-known voice of the Big Elks Football Team from 1997 to 2007.
Allen and his wife Kathy have been married for 56 years, their children are Shelly Hartley, Amy Broadbent & David Robinson. They have 6 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.
DEBRA ANN COHLMIA SISEMORE
Debra Sisemore was born in Waynoka, Oklahoma.
After graduating high school Debra traveled to Switzerland where she attended summer school, then returned to Oklahoma to attend Northwestern Oklahoma State University. In 1973 she moved to Oklahoma City and taught at Edmond Memorial before coming to Elk City in 1974 where she taught Speech and Drama until retiring in 2007.
During her career in Elk City, she started the Academic (lock out system) Team for Elk City Public Schools and was instrumental in starting the Western Oklahoma teams in 1987. Her first team members were: Joe Naberhaus, Jay Coffee, John Cross and Shelly Robinson (daughter of Allen Robinson). After the first year of competition, they went to state every year, in addition sent teams to History Bowl Academic contest and Mock Trial. Debra was also the Elk City Cheer Coach for over 25 years and the team won Academic State Champions in 2002. She has been honored to receive District Coach of the Year in Oklahoma and Teacher of the Year for Elk City Public Schools.
Debra is a member of the St. Matthew Catholic Church, was also a member of the St. Matthew Catholic Church Parish Council, Elk City Education Association, Beta Sigma Phi, Oklahoma Education Association, and taught Summer Drama with the Elk City Arts Council for 42 years.
Debra’s children are Liz Webb, Derek Sisemore, Devin Sisemore and daughter in law Stacy Sisemore.
Her grandchildren:
Drake Sisemore is a senior at Northeastern Oklahoma State University where he is a member of the baseball team.
Shepherd Sisemore is a senior at Plainview High School in Ardmore and will play football for the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO.
Sadie Adele Seager is a freshman at Deer Creek in Edmond.
Debra states, “It has been an honor to be a member of Elk City High School faculty and be a part of the greatest group of teachers. Also watching my students grow and develop into amazing adults has truly been a blessing”.
