Reparations...

Continued from 1

Solomon-Simmons called the Friday decision a “hurtful blow to our quest for justice not just for Greenwood but also for Black people throughout this country.”

Plaintiffs, who include descendants of other survivors, first filed the latest lawsuit in 2020 on the grounds that the city of Tulsa and other defendants violated local public nuisance laws. Under Oklahoma law, a public nuisance is an act or omission that affects an entire community or neighborhood. Citing a public nuisance in a lawsuit is a tactic used by other cities and states to seek damages from opioid pharmaceutical companies. An amended version of the suit was filed in 2021, and again last September. news.ed@ocolly.com

In the September filing, lawyers for Randle, Fletcher and Van Ellis called the attack “one of the worst acts of domestic terrorism in United States history since slavery” and said it completely destroyed Tulsa’s all-Black community of Greenwood.

In today’s dollars, the estimated economic loss of the homes and additional assets in the assault is over $200 million, according to a 2018 article in the American Journal of Economics and Sociology.

The case is Randle v. City of Tulsa, CV-2020-1179, Tulsa County District Court.

Continued from 1

“It’s an honor and a privilege to serve as the inaugural Carl and Marilynn Thoma Distinguished Chair in Hospitality and Tourism Management,” Thapa said. “This is an amazing opportunity to foster momentum and progress for our students, programs, research and outreach activities. HTM is grateful to Carl and Marilynn for their continued engagement and dedicated support.

“The new endowed chair is a further testament to their commitment to further advance the mission of the school, with an academic program that is ranked top 20 in the world. Additionally, as tourism is Oklahoma’s third largest industry, it is important to sustain and support workforce and economic development.”

The Thomas have been long-time philanthropists, establishing the Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation in 1986. The foundation recognizes that education and arts enhance the lives of individuals and their communities, and it is inspired to make contributions with a wide-ranging yet personal impact.

At OSU, the Thomas have given to a wide variety of areas ranging from the arts to student programs and more. Their contributions include a $5 million gift to The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts — which endowed the executive director position — establishing the Thoma Fund for Entrepreneurship and heavily investing in the OSU Student Success Center.

The Thomas are also founders of the Wine Forum of Oklahoma, a biennial event hosted by HTM. Since 2009, the event has provided attendees with world-class wine education, played a key role in the development of students and benefited the community and food and wine industry partners.

“This chair is a continuation of the Thomas’ long history of support for HTM,” Spears School of Business dean Ken Eastman said. “Carl and Marilynn were instrumental in the founding of the Wine Forum of Oklahoma and served as the event’s first honorary chairs. We have benefited greatly from their wisdom and support and are honored that their chair will help to ensure the vibrant future of this program.” news.ed@ocolly.com

Carl and Marilynn both studied at OSU, earning bachelor’s degrees in Agricultural Economics and Home Economics Education, respectively. In 2010, they were inducted to the OSU Alumni Association Hall of Fame. The Thomas are also members of OSU’s Proud and Immortal Society.