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Paul King

Banner for the Semple Family Museum of Native American Art at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, featuring an eagle emblem, museum name in white and turquoise text, and a circular university logo.

Alumni ▪ Artist ▪ Educator ▪ Volunteer

“An artist by trade, an educator by choice” sums up Paul King.

young girl playing stickballPaul established career goals in the seventh grade, Major League Baseball or graphic designer. Although the MLB career didn’t materialize, he did become graphic designer/illustrator after receiving his bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Southeastern Oklahoma State University/Durant and his Graphic Design diploma from Oklahoma State University, Institute of Technology/Okmulgee.

A phone call from a former OSU/IT instructor changed King’s life forever. That call allowed Paul to secure his first teaching position, Graphic Design, at Charles Page High School/Sand Springs. He remained there for 10 years before securing the same position at Tulsa Tech, Lemley Campus, for the next 15 years. Another educational mentor encouraged Paul to become the Coordinator of Student Activities. He stated he traded his classroom of 40 to a campus of 400+ students where he prepared students with leadership and employability skills through four student organizations. Paul completed his 36 years in Career Tech Education (CTE) as a Career Advisor by training Tulsa Tech recruiters to make program presentations to high school students throughout Tulsa County.

Paul continues his commitment to education as he serves on the Tulsa Tech Education Foundation since 2016. He also serves on the Jim Thorpe Memorial Foundation for his in Jim Thorpe’s legacy to remain relative in not only sports but as a historical reference to Native American heritage.

King has been recognized and honored on all levels during his educator tenure, and now he has returned to his artist roots with this 2012 retirement. He exhibits his Choctaw culture and sport art in Oklahoma art markets since that time. Paul’s work has been exhibited at the National Museum of the American Indian, Semple Family Museum for Native Art, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Mvskoke Art Market, Cherokee Art Market, Choctaw Nation Art Show, with permanent collections of the Choctaw Cultural Center, Choctaw Judicial Center, Choctaw Nation Headquarters, Choctaw Child Care Center, Durant.

Paul creates his art as a legacy to his grandchildren so that one day they will know him more than PPa, Papa, Pops, Dada, and pk.

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Return to the Hall of Fame Visit Native American Institute Visit the Semple Family Museum