Will Roger Roper, former commissioner dead at 84

John Denbo, Will Rogers Memorial commissioner from 1979 to 1994 and a member of the first graduating class of Will Rogers Ropers, died Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at his home. Services were Saturday, July 18, at First United Methodist Church, where he was a longtime member.

He served Governors George Nigh and Henry Bellmon on the Commission.

Denbo, who shared a family kinship with Will Rogers through the Gunter family, saw Will Rogers for the “first and only time” at the dedication of Will Rogers Airport (corner of what is now Highway 66 and Lowery Road). He walked dirt roads to the dedication of Will Rogers Memorial in 1938.

He and Bernice, his wife of almost 50 years, were in the first class of Will Rogers Ropers and have volunteered regularly from the time they finished the training program in October 2008.

Born Dec. 20, 1924, he was he son of Rogers County pioneers Oce and Dora Patrick Denbo.

He graduated from Claremore High School in 1943 and earned a degree in business in 1950 at the University of Oklahoma, where he was in Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.

He served in the Navy from 1943-45 and again in 1950-52.

He founded Denbo Jewelers in 1954, which he operated until retiring.

He was a community and business leader, serving as president of the Claremore Chamber, Jaycees, Retail Merchants Association, Rogers County OU Alumni Association, Oklahoma Retail Jewelers, Ne-Mar Merchants Association, and Optimist Club and was a Claremore Chamber Ambassador. He was a founder and past president of Claremore Tourist Association.

Denbo and Bernice Beck were married June 17, 1961. He has two children, Jana Janelle Smith of Edmond, and Gregory Allen Denbo of Oklahoma City and six grandchildren.