08/14/2026
Congratulations to OFE Trustee Ken Busby on receiving the Oklahoma Museums Association's Service to the Profession Award!
We're so thankful to have such a committed leader and volunteer on our board.
We are excited to honor individuals and museums from across the state during its 2026 annual conference, Sept. 16โ18 in Edmond. The recognition and awards recognize exceptional leadership, service and milestones that strengthen Oklahomaโs museum community.
The OMA Recognition Dinner will be held Sept. 17 at 5:30 p.m. at the Edmond Conference Center. Pre-registration is required by Aug. 31 at https://okmuseums.wufoo.com/forms/mlewuyy1yvymqc/
Service to the Profession Award- OMAโs highest honor will be presented to Ken Busby for decades of leadership and advocacy on behalf of Oklahomaโs cultural institutions. Busby, known as the โCultural Czar of Northeast Oklahoma,โ is Executive Director & CEO of the Route 66 Alliance. He is a past OMA president and has served in numerous leadership roles supporting Oklahomaโs museums, tourism and cultural organizations.
Presidentโs Award - The OMA Presidentโs Award will be presented to Eriech Tapia, Ph.D., for outstanding advocacy on behalf of Oklahoma museums. Tapia serves as Government Relations and Public Policy Officer for the Council of Graduate Schools and advances state and federal legislative strategy for OMA. A former journalist for The Oklahoman, he has also served on the boards of the Edmond History Museum and Classical KUCO Radio.
Certificate of Recognition Recipients:
Staff of the Oklahoma National Guard Museum
Jeff DeFehr, Stafford Air & Space Museum
Nicole Reynolds, Har-Ber Village Museum
Margie Smith-Robbins, American Banjo Museum
Museum Milestones - OMA will also recognize these museum and cultural organizations for significant anniversaries:
Choctaw Cultural Center โ 5 years
First Americans Museum โ 5 years
Greenwood Rising Museum โ 5 years
Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum โ 10 years
Three Rivers Museum โ 25 years
Shepherdโs Cross & Heart of the Shepherd โ 35 years
Harn Homestead Museum โ 40 years
Red Earth Festival โ 40 years
E.W. Marland Mansion โ 50 years
National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum โ 50 years
Skiatook Museum โ 50 years
Three Valley Museum โ 50 years
Plains Indians & Pioneers Museum - 60 years
The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art โ 60 years
Museum of the Great Plains โ 65 years
Anadarko Heritage Museum โ 90 years
Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art โ 90 years
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge โ 125 years
