William H. "Bill" Crawford

William H. (Bill) Crawford was born May 4, 1938 to Charley and Lois (Poole) Crawford in Frederick, Oklahoma. He passed away peacefully Saturday, July 13 in Goodyear, AZ.

Bill began and went on to create a legacy of public service, entrepreneurship, and banking while cultivating his love for conservation of the outdoors. He faithfully and, with distinction, served the citizens of southwest Oklahoma and state of Oklahoma for over 60 years.

Bill graduated from Frederick High School in 1955 and attended Austin College, where he played football, Cameron University and Oklahoma State University. He was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. He served in the Army National Guard from 1960-1969 ending his career as a Captain.

Bill was a giant in the banking industry. He began his career in Lawton, then later returned to Frederick and joined his father at the First National Bank & Trust Co., which later became First Southwest Bank, eventually serving as Chairman and CEO until the bank was purchased by BancFirst. He continued his involvement in banking for several years. Past service includes the following: Oklahoma Bankers Association (President), Oklahoma Securities Commission, two terms on the OKC Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank board of Kansas City, American Bankers Association (State Vice President), American Bankers Association (Community Bankers Advisory Council), American Bankers Association Board of Directors and the Oklahoma Futures board as Vice Chairman.

Education was very important to Bill. He served on the boards of the Great Plains Vo-Tech Foundation, Oklahoma State University Chair of Banking, Oklahoma Foundation of Excellence, Cameron University Foundation, Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, Citizens Committee on the Future of Oklahoma Higher Education, Oklahoma Academy for State Goals and Southwest Oklahoma Advanced Technology Association.

He has been recognized for his untiring contribution to the state of Oklahoma with a number of prestigious awards, too numerous to mention. He was involved in recruiting industry to Oklahoma, the arts, transportation, wildlife and the construction of the Tom Steed Reservoir. Governor George Nigh said it best in 2002: “Oklahoma’s history of economic development has been written by many people, but none have done better than Bill Crawford.”

He was a strong supporter of the Boy Scouts of America, serving as President of the Black Beaver Council and south central Region, and on the boards of the Philmont Ranch Committee, National Council, and Executive Board and Endowment Committee of the Last Frontier Council, receiving the Silver Beaver Award and Black Beaver Council’s Distinguished Citizens Award for his efforts.

One of Bill’s passions was the outdoors and conserving wildlife and habitat for future generations to enjoy. He was twice appointed a Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (each appointment coming from a different governor on each side of the political fence), serving from 1991 to 2001 and including two stints as Chairman. One of Bill’s great achievements as Commissioner was the establishment of the Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area, described as one of the most significant wetlands restoration projects ever completed in North America. That and other conservation efforts led to Crawford being awarded the Oklahoma Wildlife Society Laura Copelin Waterfowl Habitat Award in 1994, EPA Outstanding Contributions to Wetlands Protection Award in 1996, Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Environmental Improvement Award in 1997 and the prestigious 2001 Alexander Calder Conservation Award presented in Washington, D.C.

He was also a member of the Nature Conservancy, Shikar International, Ducks Unlimited, Wild Turkey Federation and Quail Unlimited and served on the Oklahoma Aquarium Foundation board. In 2023 the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife re-dedicated the Hackberry Flat Wildlife Education Center as the William H. “Bill” Crawford Building.

Bill is probably most known for hosting the famous “Dove Hunt” held for 25 years at the Gun Club in Frederick, Oklahoma. Generals, governors, congressmen, senators and businessmen attended the event from Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Washington, D.C. Starting as a one day event for 75 people it grew to a three day event attended by over 300 people including a golf tournament for non-hunters. An invitation became greatly sought after. People would start calling months in advance to make sure they were on the invitation list.

Bill was a man who not only had a vision but was able to make it become a reality. He was a proud Oklahoman and was quoted to say, “One of the greatest opportunities we have in Oklahoma is to focus on the quality of life available in small towns in rural Oklahoma. I am committed to undertaking every effort to bring the reality of economic development to rural Oklahoma.”

Bill was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2003.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charley and Lois Crawford, and his brother Charles Poole (Bucky) Crawford. He is survived by his loving wife and best business partner Carol; sons Will Crawford of Denver CO, Ben and his wife Felisha of Frederick, and John and his wife Amy of Overland Park, KS, and grandchildren Delia, Andrew, Elisabeth, Jacob and Hannah, who he dearly loved.

Respecting Bill’s wishes, after cremation, his ashes will be spread on the land he loved in a private family service.

Donations can be made to the Frederick Public School Enrichment Foundation, PO Box 486, Frederick OK 73542, in honor of William H. “Bill” Crawford.