Sanjay Meshri was inducted into the Tulsa Hall of Fame in 2023

Sanjay Meshri was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Tulsa. He continued his education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University.

Sanjay is not only an academic; he is a dynamic leader with a profound dedication to community service. He currently serves on the boards of Meals on Wheels, Ozark Fisheries, St. Joseph Monastery Investment Committee, Inhance Technologies, and the PGA Reach Board.

His previous board service includes: Tulsa Community Foundation, Folds of Honor Foundation, University of Tulsa, Commerce Bank, Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, Southern Hills Country Club, Monte Cassino School, Philbrook Museum of Art, University of Tulsa, St. Francis Health System, and Oklahoma Conference for Community and Justice (OCCJ).

Sanjay’s outstanding leadership has garnered recognition throughout the years. He has been honored as one of Tulsa’s Twenty New Leaders and nominated for “40 under 40” by Oklahoma magazine. OCCJ recognized him for his inclusive leadership, and he received The Patriot Cup International Col. David Kirst Patriot Award from Col. Dan Rooney. The Indian Nations Council/Boy Scouts of America presented Meshri with the prestigious Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award. Sigma Chi Fraternity recognized his excellence with the 2019 Significant Sig Award, and the University of Tulsa celebrated his contributions with the 2019 Distinguished Alumnus title.

Sanjay is the past Chairman of Advance Research Chemicals, Inc. (ARC) and had worked for ARC for 29 years before his retirement at the end of 2021. Sanjay was also the Chairman and President of ABD Commercial Chemicals, ARCM, and ARC Products – all three entities were sold in 2021.  Sanjay still owns and is Chairman of Thompson Chemical Corporation.

Advance Research Chemicals, Inc. (ARC), founded by Sanjay’s father, Dr. Dayal Meshri, in 1987, is a renowned specialty fluorine chemicals manufacturer. With four manufacturing sites in Catoosa, Oklahoma, and a Maquila Dora site in Monterrey, Mexico, ARC plays a pivotal role in diverse industries, from pharmaceuticals to electronics. ARC underwent a significant transformation with its sale on November 30, 2021, yet Sanjay remains actively involved as a board member and shareholder of the new company Inhance/ARC.

Beyond his professional and civic engagements, Sanjay treasures his 27-year marriage to Julie and the joys of raising three remarkable daughters, Madeline Asha, Bella Grace and Daya Faith. 

Teresa Knox was inducted into the Tulsa Hall of Fame in 2023

Born in Tulsa, fourth generation Oklahoman Teresa Knox is the Founder and former CEO of Community Care College, Clary Sage College, and Oklahoma Technical College which she started nearly 30 years ago. The accredited colleges offer diploma and associate degree programs in the skilled trades, healthcare, business, and personal care professions. She grew the institution from a single program to one of the largest career colleges in America offering 46 academic programs leading to an associate’s degree. Thousands of graduates have filled critical occupations and workforce needs, contributing billions to Oklahoma’s economy. Knox continued her own education, earning her MBA from Oral Roberts University.

Teresa’s journey began as a dental assistant, where she spent seven years honing her skills. During this time, the idea of opening a dental assisting school took root, marking her first “official” business venture. Her message is clear: one doesn’t have to settle, regardless of the circumstances. A rewarding career can be the catalyst for positive change.

Teresa is a vocal voice against drug abuse, recognizing its devastating effects on families and communities. She founded Knox Laboratory Services, a drug and alcohol testing laboratory, with a mission to maintain clean and safe drug-free workplaces and educational environments. Although she sold the business, her commitment to this cause remains resolute.

Beyond education and advocacy, Teresa is a prominent commercial real estate developer and historic preservationist. She specializes in developing business models that support property sustainability and serves as a landlord to numerous commercial tenants. One of her notable projects is the historic Harwelden Mansion, where she successfully created an event center and bed & breakfast. She also undertook a 5-year restoration of The Church Studio, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it stands as a fully operational recording studio, audio engineering school, event center, and tourist attraction.

Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum issued a proclamation declaring Saturday, April 15, 2023 as Teresa Knox Day for her contributions to making Tulsa a better place for all of its citizens. A true visionary, Teresa has successfully combined her love of music, historic preservation and education.  She is a two-time recipient of Tulsa Economic Development Corporation’s “Small Business of the Year.”  Teresa received a Newsmaker Award from American Women in Communication and was named 2017 Tulsan of the Year.   

Her businesses have been recognized among the “Best Places to Work in Oklahoma” and she is the Crystal Star recipient for Entrepreneurial Success.

Family life is the best for Teresa! Her loving husband, Ivan, hails from the beautiful island of Puerto Rico and her cherished children –  Ronnie, Lilliana, and Annabel – are proud of their mom.

Sarah and John Graves were inducted into the Tulsa Hall of Fame in 2023

Born in Norman, OK, John Graves moved briefly to Bartlesville before his family made their home in Tulsa. John learned his multiplication tables at Tulsa Public Schools then attended the University of Tulsa majoring in Criminal Justice. He earned money teaching guitar lessons and chartering the Tulsa Para-Divers Sport Skydiving Club.

After graduation from TU, John joined the Tulsa Police Department and spent two years as a Patrol Officer, fulfilling his long-held goal being part of law enforcement. 

Another lifelong dream was fulfilled when John spent a year in the Caribbean with a college buddy running a charter sail and dive boat. Upon returning to Tulsa, John’s life took a pivotal turn when he met Sarah. They married and began their family. 

 With his father and brother Mike’s prior tutelage, the family formed their own small drilling and production company. Daily production operations and challenges cracked open a knack for ingenuity and John was granted seven U.S. Patents in the 1980s and 1990s.

John’s search for an existing valve manufacturing company to develop his valve designs led to a dead end, so he and Sarah built their own valve company from the ground up. They decided to centralize all corporate and manufacturing operations on one easily accessible campus: their detached two-car garage in Brookside.

Together, Sarah and John designed their prototypes and local machine shops built the components. Then, in the garage, they were assembled, tested, re-designed, re-tested and finally received interest in field testing from a major oil company. The day Occidental Petroleum called and informed the Graves that they were coming from California to inspect the factory, John and Sarah knew they had a problem. The garage! They stalled, found a small shop to rent out by the airport, and moved in just in time. 

Today, Cyclonic Valve Company’s plant in Broken Arrow manufactures and distributes thousands of high-pressure control valves to oil and gas companies throughout the country and internationally.

John’s dedicated work on the boards of The Salvation Army and the Indian Nations Council earned him the Salvation Army’s “William Booth” award and “Others” award and the Indian Nations Council “Silver Beaver” award. Further, he is a member of TU’s College of Engineering Hall of Fame.

Sarah was raised in Duluth, Minnesota and graduated from college at Montana State.  She moved to Tulsa in 1976 and married John in 1981 at Harwelden Mansion. Each year on their anniversary, they drink champagne while looking at their wedding photos and talk about the memories they have made together. 

Sarah’s commitment to giving back to the community has been a consistent theme in her life. Sarah delivered with Meals on Wheels and actively participated in the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle fund drive. Her deep involvement with the Bartlett Regatta spanned a decade, culminating in her co-chairing the 2011 event, benefiting the Center for People with Physical Challenges.

She has been involved with Family and Children’s Services since 1978.  Sarah has experienced the organization from various angles—as a client, staff member, volunteer, and eight years as a board member. She chaired Black Tie Bingo for two years and Brainiac Ball for two years. Currently, alongside John, she holds the position of Honorary Chairs for this year’s event, and Cyclonic Valve Company has been the Presenting Sponsor for 15 years. Their names now grace the Family and Children’s Services Sarah and John Graves Center, located at 23rd and Harvard.

In 2017, John and Sarah embarked on a new venture, founding the “Shining Honor Project,” providing patriotic employment opportunities to adults with developmental challenges. Collaborating with care-giving organizations like A New Leaf and the Gatesway Foundation, they have undertaken the significant task of cleaning and honoring thousands of veterans’ headstones while offering meaningful work.

The Graves’ philanthropic reach extends to organizations such as OSU/Veterans Hospital, Indian Nations Council/Scouting USA, The Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges, Greenwood Rising, The Gathering Place, Tulsa University, and many more.

They have two sons, two wonderful daughters-in-law and four beautiful grandchildren.

Yolanda and Harold Charney were inducted into the Tulsa Hall of Fame in 2023

Upon graduating from law school at the University of Oklahoma, Harold married Yolanda Velarde, who became his wife of sixty years. Together, in 1956, they established Harold’s law practice in Owasso, Oklahoma. They grew into a prominent, civic-minded couple, actively addressing local issues concerning education, community relations and social justice.

Harold Charney was born in Henryetta, OK in 1930. His parents, Leon and Esther, ran a department store there after immigrating to America in the early 1900s as a part of a large wave of Jewish immigration through Ellis Island. 

Harold graduated from Henryetta High School in 1948, and enlisted in the Army where he completed active-duty service before finishing his education.   

Early in his legal career, Harold worked for Tulsa County Legal Aid, serving indigent clients from all backgrounds. He also served on the Owasso City Council and later served as the Owasso City Attorney. Harold worked passionately on behalf of Owasso, helping to establish the vision and the foundation that would allow for Owasso’s tremendous growth over the last 20 years from a small bedroom community to a thriving suburb.

In addition to an active law practice, Harold served as the inaugural President of the Tulsa County Vo-Tech School Board, now known as the Tulsa Technology Center, and the President of the Oklahoma Professional Theatre Foundation. An avid reader and writer of poetry, he spoke annually for many years at the Tulsa Library’s “Harold Charney Poetry Festival for Children.” He also loved the great outdoors and enjoyed teaching his children and grandchildren about different species of trees, birds, and animals. His greatest love was his wife, Yolanda.

Born and raised in El Paso, Texas. Yolanda was the oldest of four children born to Mexican immigrant parents.  She received her education at Loretto Academy in El Paso, Loretto Heights College in Denver, and University of Texas at El Paso.

After her marriage and move to Oklahoma, Yolanda quickly began volunteering and building a remarkable professional career. She has served dutifully and passionately as president, founder and board member of numerous Tulsa organizations. 

Much of her life’s work is related to her faith tradition. She impacted many lives as the Director of Community Relations for the Jewish Federation of Tulsa and the National Council of Jewish Women. Three Oklahoma governors appointed Yolanda as the state liaison for the US Holocaust Memorial Council and she was the co-convener of the Fourteenth National Workshop on Christian/Jewish Relations, held in Tulsa, in 1994.

Her love of her personal heritage manifested itself through her work on behalf of the Hispanic Community. She accepted leadership roles as co-founder, president, and continued as a consultant to the Hispanic American Foundation – Tulsa Chapter. She served as president of the Greater Tulsa Area Hispanic Affairs Commission and volunteered with the Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Tulsa Public Schools Hispanic Education Task Force.

Access to information and education are vital to any successful city. Yolanda gave of her time and energy to Tulsa Honor Academy Charter School as a Founding Board of Education member, Tulsa Technology Center Foundation, Tulsa City County Library Hispanic Resource Center Board, the Owasso Historical Society and the Owasso Friends of the Library.

The Tulsa Ballet, the Theater Guild, Tulsa Opera, Tulsa Philharmonic Family, Children’s Service Board, OU Southwest Center for Human Relations Studies, Oklahoma Human Rights Commission, Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry, Martin Luther King Society, Inc., Say No to Hate Coalition, YWCA Intercultural Service Center are all recipients of her commitment to human rights, social justice, and arts education.

Yolanda’s numerous community service awards began in 1984 and continue today. She was most recently featured in Tulsa People Magazine’s Legends Series, December 2022.

Harold Charney passed away in 2016, leaving behind a profound legacy. Together, Harold and Yolanda raised three children, Rebecca, David, and Eliot. Yolanda still enjoys dinners and fun with her five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Yolanda photo credit: Michelle Pollard/TulsaPeople Magazine

Alison Anthony was inducted into the Tulsa Hall of Fame in 2023

For more than 40 years, the favorite part of Alison Anthony’s workday is the moment when she can connect talented people, motivating them to be the best version of themselves. Since she was a sixteen-year-old Campfire Counselor in Enid, Oklahoma, Alison has been inspiring teams to accomplish more than they could ever do alone. As President and CEO of Tulsa Area United Way, Alison found the perfect calling to live the organization’s mission – uniting people and resources to improve lives and strengthen communities.

Alison moved to Tulsa in 1993 while working for Oklahoma State University. Her relationships at OSU and later in the staffing industry led Alison to a rewarding career at Williams in 1999, where she enjoyed opportunities to grow and lead in HR, Diversity, Communications, and Community Relations as President of the Williams Foundation and Director of Strategic Outreach. In 2017, Alison made the tough decision to leave Williams and join the United Way where she accomplishes great things today.

While in grad school in the late 1980s, Alison worked in Academic Services at OSU and received national recognition as Academic Advisor of the Year. During her time at OSU, Alison also taught Honors English and the first multicultural diversity section of freshman orientation. That focus continued throughout her career, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to justice, equity, and inclusion.

Leaning into her love of reading and communication, Alison earned a BA and MA in English from Oklahoma State University. She gets a kick out of telling people that she wrote her Master’s thesis on the subjugated text of seventeenth-century feminist poets. She believes one of the best things that ever happened to her was getting kicked out of her first-grade class every day at 10:00 am, dismissed to the library for being disorderly. Alison still meets monthly with two beloved book groups.

Many boards have welcomed Alison into the fold, including Leadership Oklahoma, Tulsa Community Foundation, Teach for America, the Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce and many more. In each organization, she strives to build community awareness, increase organizational revenue, and drive impact.

Among Alison’s many honors are the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women Pinnacle Award; The Journal Record’s 50 Women Making a Difference and Circle of Honor; YWCA 100 Women of Moxie; TYPros Boomtown Award; Spirit of Philanthropy from AFP; Vision in Education Leadership from Tulsa Community College, and the City Year Tulsa Red Jacket Honor.

After a particularly exhausting stretch of work travel and airport delays in 2001 while flying home to be with her husband and five kiddos, Alison wrote this question on an airplane napkin: “do the people and causes most important to me know that they are?” Alison tries to live each day so her dear friends and large extended family, including four precious grandchildren, will always answer yes. Alison looks forward to many years ahead with the love of her life, Mark Wilson, traveling, serving their community, practicing yoga, and embracing their lively growing family.