Oklahoma Debate Tradition

In 1919 Josh Lee became an instructor at the University of Oklahoma, and began the University of Oklahoma Debate Team immediately after his arrival.  After many years as an instructor, Josh Lee became known as Senator Lee from Oklahoma.  He was known by many as the Silver Tongued Orator from Oklahoma.  When he left for Congress in 1936, there was a tradition that he started in Oklahoma that would last forever.  The benefits of Josh Lee’s instruction and use of debate continued to prosper in our state, as he was followed by some incredible students such as AP Murrah, Mike Monroney and Carl Albert.  This Dynasty built from debate did not fade, but was embraced by many of the high schools and colleges in Oklahoma for a long period of time.

Only one other Oklahoman has won the National Oratorical Contest. Former Speaker of the House Carl Albert won in 1928, under the guidance of Lee. Lee was elected to the 74th U.S. Congress from Oklahoma’s 5th District in 1934.

Josh Lee wanted to move into politics and a group of his former debaters came together and were called The Rover Boys – Judge Luther Buchannon, AP Murrah, Mike Monroney and Carl Albert.

The Second Era of OU Debate was led by J.K. Homer – Debate Coach and Head of Department of Public Speaking – 1924

Some of his well known debaters were Glen Crowley and Elmo Hester.  In January 8, 1925 there was the infamous OU/Oxford debate.

Friday paper says Sooners Win Decision over Oxford!

Debaters: Elmo Hester, Royce Savage, OB Martin and Emmett Thompson.

OKLAHOMA HIGH SCHOOL DEBATE HISTORY

High School National Forensics League Nationals - Famous Debaters From Oklahoma.

Just a brief  note of Oklahoma domination in the early years of the NFL High School National Tournament.  These were the Oklahoma High School Champions!

1931 - 1st NFL National Tournament was won by John Williams, James I Tuthill, Jack Yancey and Clay Deford of Miami, OK.

1933 - Altus Oklahoma -  Roy Henry, Marjorie Henry, and WC Dobbs.

1934 - Oklahoma City Central - Alice Sutton and Jack Durland.

1937 - Oklahoma City-Classen - Warren White, Ned Nedved and George Brown.

1939 - Oklahoma City-Classen - JW Holloway, Eugene Edwards, Bruce Scott and Bill Crowe

1940 - Bristow, OK - Robert Alcorn, Robert Loeffler and Cyclone Covery.

1941 - Oklahoma City-Classen - JW Holloway, Eugene Edwards, Bruce Scott, and Bil Crowe.

There was no tournament from 42-50 during the war years.

1951 - Oklahoma City-Classen - Rosemeary Skinner and Arnold Fagin.

1956 - Seminole, OK - Robert Mitchell and BIll Marty.

1958 - Seminole, OK - John Spiker and Jim Johns.

1959 - Seminole, OK - Steve Warner and Wayne Grisso.

1966 - Edmond, OK - Richard Bernard and Brad Rice

Rice was a member of the OSU team who’s coach was murdered at the NDT Districts Tournament.

From NFL Champs to OU Debater....

Jack Durland – 1933 NFL National Champion - OU Graduate in 1938

WC Dobbs – 1933 NFL National Champion

WJ Holloway – 1939 and 1941 NFL National Champions

Robert Loeffler – 1940 NFL National Champion

Robert Alcorn – 1940 NFL National Champions

Admiral William Crowe – 1941 NFL National Champion

His father demanded he debate 1 Yr at OU before Naval Academy.

HB MITCHELL ERA and SEMINOLE HIGH SCHOOL

The Winner of the NFL National Tournament for High School Debate receives the HB Mitchell Trophy.

At the 1959 National Tournament Founder Bruno E. Jacob proclaimed H. B.

Mitchell the "Foremost Debate Coach" in America. And justly so.

Mr.  Mitchell's  debate   teams  had reached the final round of the National Tournament an unprecedented six times, including three national championships. Seminole High School (OK) was first in 1956, 1958 and 1959; second in 1938, 1951 and 1955.  Five times in the same decade was an H. B. Mitchell Seminole team in the final round.

Out of 12 teams (state or district winners) who qualified for nationals from Seminole -

six made the stage! H. B. was an interstate debate champion in high school (nationals, nor NFL had yet been invented) and was voted "Outstanding Debater" in college.

Current OU President David L. Boren was also a high school debater from Seminole High School.

The NFL Rostrum ranked the top 10 Coaches of the Century for High School Debate.

HB Mitchell of Seminole and David Baker, who was a former Comanche High School graduate, a Central State Debater and then Coached in Charles Page before moving on to St. Marks in Dallas, TX.  David was ranked #5 on the list.

And don't forget Bristow (OK)  coach Joe C. Jackson (upper right) whose team won in 1940 and lost in finals in 1939 to OKC Classen. He had many successful teams and went on to be a successful college educator.

Doug Duke

OU Cancelled their debate program in 1987.  At this point there were only a few schools left in Oklahoma that pursued competitive college debate.  Central State University was a key player in keeping debate alive in Oklahoma after the suspension of programs at OSU, NEO, OU, OBU, OCU and OCC.  He pursued small town debaters and offered many students a chance of a lifetime to attend college on a debate scholarship.  Before OU Debate came around to pursue CEDA Championships, Central State University (now UCO) was already showing the people the talent of Oklahoma debaters.

THE NATIONAL DEBATE TOURNAMENT AND OKLAHOMA

1947 – 1st NDT Held at West Point  - Won By Southeast Oklahoma  - JA Houston Coach

Scott Nobles and Gerald Sanders

1952 Central Oklahoma State showed up  for the first time to the NDT.

1953 Along with Oklahoma State – OU Henderson and Cornwell

1954 OU Henderson/ Pierce

1957 –OU - Harold Messenger – 8th Speaker Mathews- Messenger Made it to Quarterfinals

1959 – OU – Hazleton-Marty 4th Seed and lost in Octofinals

1960 – OU – Marty- Watkins – Lost in Octofinals – 4th seed

1961 – OU – Sharp – Watkins – Lost in Quarters to Harvard – 4th Seed

1962 -- NE Oklahoma State – Rennard and Glen Strickland lost in Quarterfinals

1963 - NEO - Glen Strickland and David Johnson - Ocotofinalists

1963  -- OU – Hadwiger and Abel – Lost in Octofinals

1964 – OU Lineberry and Biles – Lost in Quarters

1965 - NEO - Glen Strickland and David Johnson - Finalists

1968 – NEO – Taylor and Edmondson – Lost in Octos

1969 – OSU – Court and Rice  4th Seed  - Lost in Quarters to Harvard

1970 – OSU – Hopkins and Rice - This was the last year for a team at OSU after their coach was “assasinated/murdered” at the NDT District Tournament.

1987 CSU Duke and Glendenning

THE RE-EMERGENCE OF DEBATE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

May of 2003 Jackie Massey did a proposal for President Boren and was offered lots of assistance from Brian Campbell, Sam Adkisson and Adam Adkisson.

In June –  He got to meet with President Boren and was designated as Director of Debate.

September – The team went to our first tournament – Had a team in Quarterfinals of JV of our first tournament,  Billy Lieurance and Conor Cleary.  This was at Georgia State University.  I was assisted by Brian Campbell, former Comanche High School Debater.

We won the next 4 JV tournaments we attended.  We had excellent students our first year I want to recognize.  Adam Adkisson, Amanda Trood, Denise Davick, Blake Johnson, Conor Cleary, Steven Foster, Billy Lieurance, Amber Fike and David Wilkins.

We went to the NDT Qualifier and qualified being the last ranked team going into the tournament.  Conor Cleary and David Wilkins

We then were Finalists at Novice Nationals – Blake Johnson and Denise Davick.

And we also had 2 teams in elimination rounds at CEDA Nationals.  Blake Johnson/Amber Fike and Conor Cleary and David Wilkins.

Well... the rest is on the first page....kinda debate history....I will add more some day.....

Thanks to everyone who helped make the Oklahoma Debate Dream a reality!  If you have any suggestions or added material for Oklahoma Debate History, please email me at Soonerdebate@gmail.com

Sooner Debate Workshop August 25-26, 2012!