The mayor of the newly-minted NBA champions OKC Thunder’s hometown, David Holt, topped OKC FRIDAY’s independent poll of community and business leaders.
This isn’t Holt’s first time at No. 1. In 2023 he led over Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby, with Anoatubby taking the first slot last year.
A fixture in the top three, Thunder chairman Clay Bennett secured second place this year.
1. David Holt is Oklahoma City’s biggest cheerleader, leading the push for a special a six-year, one-cent sales tax extension to fund a new arena, which was approved by voters. He told OKC residents that we had to become a Big League City in order to keep the Thunder here. He is also the dean of the Oklahoma City University School of Law.
2. In addition to owning the Thunder, Clay Bennett is the CEO of Dorchester Capital, a diversified, private investment company.
3. U.S. Representative Tom Cole is the U.S. representative for Oklahoma’s 4th congressional district, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.
4. Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby saw the opening of the OKANA Resort and Indoor Waterpark this spring, which is promoted as a world-class destination.
5. Tricia Everest is the Oklahoma secretary of public safety, the founder of Palomar, Oklahoma City’s Family Justice Center, and founding chair of ReMerge which diverts mothers from prison and empowers them to build healthy foundations for their families.
6. David Rainbolt, the executive chairman of BancFirst, tirelessly promotes OKC nationwide.
7. U.S. Senator James Lankford has served as United States senator from Oklahoma, a seat he has held since 2015. A member of the Republican Party, he represented Oklahoma’s 5th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015.
8. Harold Hamm is known for pioneering fracking shale oil and estimated to be one of the wealthiest men in the world. He is the founder and chairman of Continental Oil.
9. Gentner Drummond is the attorney general of Oklahoma. The rancher, banker, politician and pilot flew in the Gulf War campaign.
10. Gov. Kevin Stitt is serving his second term as Oklahoma’s chief executive.
11. Thunder General Manager Sam Presti just led the team to an NBA championship.
12. Larry Nichols is the co-founder of Devon Energy with his father, John Nichols. He is a former chairman of both the American Petroleum Institute and the American Exploration & Production Council.
13. Sue Ann Arnall, president of the Arnall Family Foundation, is focused on criminal justice reform and lower ing the incarceration rate impacting the poor and people of color.
14. Cindy Byrd, CPA, is Oklahoma’s 13th state auditor and inspector and the first woman elected to serve as the taxpayer’s watchdog.
15. Rick Warren, Oklahoma County Court Clerk, presides over the largest, and busiest, Court Clerk’s office in the state.
16. David Green is the founder of Hobby Lobby, a chain of arts and crafts stores. He funded the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.
17. Barry Switzer is the former football coach of the Dallas Cowboys and the University of Oklahoma Sooners.
18. Vicki Behenna is the district attorney of Oklahoma County.
19. Markwayne Mullin has served as the junior United States senator from Oklahoma since 2023.
20. Christy Gaylord Everest is a board member of Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and pledged a $7.5 million gift to benefit cancer care and research.
