Photo of downtown Tulsa skyline at night ©Amatucci Photography
Tulsa Mayor's Veterans Advisory Council Formed


Mayor Kathy Taylor has invited military veterans and representatives of veterans’ organizations to serve on an advisory panel to address issues and needs of Tulsa’s more than 36,000 veterans and active military personnel and their families.

The group will focus on five key issues:

  • Employment

  • Health

  • Housing

  • Disabilities

  • Returning veterans

“Tulsa is home to veterans of many wars,” said Mayor Taylor. “This is a city of patriotic Americans, many of whom have put themselves in harm’s way to preserve our way of life. We owe those who wear the military uniforms of this country, and those who have worn them, a debt of gratitude for their services and sacrifices.”

The Veterans Advisory Council meets for the first time Monday, October 1, to discuss and set tasks and priorities for the coming year. Subcommittees will be appointed to address the key issues mentioned above.

The full council will meet quarterly. The executive committee will meet monthly. Subcommittees will meet as needed.

Representatives of several veterans’ organizations, plus other groups, are included on the panel. The following men and women have agreed to serve on the Veterans Advisory Council:

  • Dennis Troyer, District 6 City Councilor and U.S. Navy veteran

  • State Rep. Fred Jordan, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who serves on the Oklahoma House Veterans Affairs Committee

  • Debra Yott, health systems specialist at the Tulsa Outpatient V.A. Clinic, and a U.S. Navy veteran

  • Robert McKnight, Marine Corps League Commandant and Marine veteran

  • Kathy Presley, secretary of American Legion Post 1 and chaplain of the Post’s Women’s Auxiliary

  • Melanie Goldman, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

  • Stephanie Plummer, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and U.S. Navy Gulf War veteran

  • Johnny Cannon, Tulsa Veterans Center, and U.S. Army Gulf War Veteran

  • Danny Oliver, Disabled American Veterans hospital service coordinator and U.S. Marine Corps veteran

  • Sandra Oxford, Veteran’s representative, Oklahoma Employment Security Commission

  • Gina Walker-Surrat, National Association of Black Veterans Chapter 17, U.S. Army Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran

  • Barbara Porter, Oklahoma Blue Star Mothers

  • Mike Miller, Commander VFW Post 577 and U.S. Navy Vietnam veteran

  • Joe Henson, World War II veteran

  • A.J. Eagleton, U.S. Navy veteran

  • Bob Powell, World War II veteran

  • Steve Gallo, U.S. Marine Corps veteran

  • John Cloud, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Behavioral Health Medicine and a U.S. Army Vietnam veteran

  • Clark Inkanish, former U.S. Army Special Forces

Mayor Taylor recently hired a staff member who will work with the Veterans Advisory Council and specialize in veterans’ issues. He is Matt Stiner, a Marine Corps veteran who recently served in Iraq.

The Veterans Advisory Council and Stiner are to work on veterans’ initiatives and work with active military reserves on issues affecting Tulsans currently serving in the armed forces.