Christopher L- "Chris" LittleCook - Class of 1978
The Po-Hi Hall of Fame banquet will be held Thursday, Sept. 28 in Po-Hi Commons. The event will begin at 7 p.m. The induction ceremony will follow in the Ponca City Schools Concert Hall.
Tickets are $50 per person or $500 for a table of eight. Tickets are now available and can be purchased at the Administration Building, 613 East Grand Avenue.
2023 Ponca City High School Hall of Fame inductees include Lucien Clinton, Mary Young Frates, Chris Littlecook, Mike McGraw and Carol Stauffer.
Christopher L. LittleCook was born in Pawnee Indian Hospital, Pawnee, Oklahoma in 1960, son of Marilyn Binkley Mayhue and G. Edwin LittleCook. He graduated from Ponca City High School in 1978 and began working for Continental Oil Company (now Phillips 66). Three months later, he began his 18-year career with Conoco in Houston, Texas where he met Melinda. They were married in White Eagle, Oklahoma. They moved to Ponca City in 1996 with their family of four sons.
Chris had the opportunity to work for the Ponca Tribe as the Director for JOM (Johnson-O'Malley), a Native American Education program. Working with JOM allowed him to help Native American students and the public schools. Chris then served as the tribe's Self-Governance Director. In this position he was able to help manage programs and develop improvements on several levels. Eager to have an input with the Ponca City School District, he served as a board member and vice president. Chris was the first Ponca Native American to serve on the Ponca City School Board. In 2003, he accepted the offer as the Title VII Indian Education Director for the Ponca City Public School District. He served in this capacity for 19 years until his retirement in 2022.
Chris believes in leading by example and demonstrated to students he mentored over the years that it's never too late to realize one's goals and personal success. He began attending college in 1996, starting at Northern Oklahoma College. He received the Outstanding Scholar and Summa Cum Laude while earning his Associate of Science degree. He was Class Valedictorian, Summa Cum Laude, and Inductee to the Order of the Mound from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas obtaining his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Human Resource Development. Chris earned his Master of Business Administration through the University Center, Ponca City, taking classes from Cameron University. Chris is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa, Academic Fraternity and Kappa Beta Delta, Business Fraternity.
Chris was recognized by the AARP Oklahoma Native American Elder Honors for his personal achievements, culture through education and community service. He has served on several boards in the Ponca City Community: Friends of Marland's Grand Home, Friends of Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue Board, Ponca City Alt Center (now City Arts), United Way, Salvation Army, Standing Bear Foundation, Cultural Affairs Commission, March of Dimes, University Center Foundation, Giveswater Service Club and Ponca Pow Wow Committee. Currently he serves on Ponca Tribal Corporation Board of Directors, Ponca Enterprise Gaming Board of Directors, the Habitat for Humanity Board, Ponca City Historic Preservation Panel, and MainStreet. A proud member of the Ponca Tribe, Chris is a Straight Dancer and participates in dances and Pow Wows. He is an active member of the Ponca Hethuska Society and serves as a committeeman.
Chris is also a visual artist, his paintings reflecting Native American culture. Most of his work is in private collections.
He is thankful for the Ponca City School administrators, teachers and the education he received at Ponca City High School as it allowed him to take advantage of the opportunities that arose during his life after high school.