Three men with local ties to be inducted into the Career and Technology Education Hall of Fame

The Oklahoma CareerTech Foundation will induct six people into the Oklahoma Career and Technology Education Hall of Fame, including three with ties to Lawton.

Tom Friedemann, Randy Gilbert and Joe Robinson will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in October, along with Velta Reed-Johnson, Denise Morris and Jack Staats.

Friedemann, a one-time assistant superintendent at Great Plains Technology Center, spent 49 years in career and technology education, 19 of it at the state agency. He began his career teaching marketing education at Putnam City West High School before becoming assistant superintendent at Great Plains Technology Center, then joining ODCTE. He moved to Francis Tuttle Technology Center as chief of staff in 1997 and became superintendent in 2009, retiring in 2019. Friedemann received Oklahoma Association of Career and Technology Education’s Arch Alexander Award in 2009 and Francis Tuttle Career Excellence Award in 2013.

Gilbert has served on the State Board of Career and Technology Education for 20 years. He taught agricultural education and served as FFA adviser at Lawton High School from 1983 to 1988, before becoming operations manager and vice president of Gilbert and Sons Trucking Co. in Tecumseh. Gilbert received the OkACTE Bob Funk Advocate of Excellence Award in 2023.

Robinson began his 47-year career as a marketing education teacher before serving in administrative positions at Great Plains Technology Center, Tulsa Technology Center, Indian Capital Technology Center and Meridian Technology Center. He held leadership roles in professional CTE organizations and was a member of local, state and national boards and committees. He joined ODCTE in 2001 as a field service coordinator before leaving in 2003 to be assistant principal at East Valley Institute of Technology in Mesa, Arizona. He returned to ODCTE in 2006 as associate state director, retiring in 2016. He received the OkACTE Arch Alexander Award in 2013.