Sen. Sharp to be inducted into Shawnee Educational Hall of Fame

The Shawnee Educational Foundation will induct Sen. Ron Sharp into their Hall of Fame Monday night at Oklahoma Baptist University. The Shawnee native is being recognized for his 38 years of dedication to growing the minds of Oklahoma’s youth.

“This is a tremendous honor, and I’m truly humbled to be chosen by my peers and long-time colleagues to be inducted into the Shawnee Educational Hall of Fame,” said Sharp, R-Shawnee. “We have such a rich history and intricate government. I’ve always been fascinated by both, and enjoyed sharing that with Shawnee’s youth. It’s important that students truly understand our past and how our government works so they can create a better future for themselves.”

After receiving his teaching degree from Southeastern State College, Sharp began his teaching career in 1974 at Shawnee Mid High later teaching at the high school. During his tenure, he taught Civics, American History, Government, and Advanced Placement American History and Government.

He holds a master’s and a doctorate in Education with an emphasis in Political Science.

Sharp has received numerous awards and accolades during his career including being selected 23 consecutive years by his students to “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers” and being named Shawnee High School’s “Teacher of the Year” three times. In 1998, he received the “United States Congressional Award of Special Recognition for Outstanding Service” from U.S. Congressman Wes Watkins and U.S. Senator Don Nichols. In 2011, the Oklahoma Chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars named him their “Oklahoma Teacher of the Year”. He was also named among “500 Leaders of Influence” in 2016.

He has been recognized not only for his achievements in the classroom but also on the tennis court. Sharp is a member of the Oklahoma Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame, was the 1979 National High School Coach of the Year and was named All-American Tennis Coach in 1987. From 1975-1988, he was selected eight times as Oklahoma’s Tennis Coach of the Year and received Oklahoma’s Tennis Coaches’ Achievement Award six times. Sharp is a three-time recipient of the Oklahoma Tennis Coaches Association’s Oklahoma All-State Tennis Coach of the Year Award. In 1988, he was selected as one of the Top 50 Tennis Coaches in the World by the U.S. Professional Tennis Association and Vaunet-France International.

The ceremony will take place at the OBU Geiger Center at 6:00pm.