Ever since Jim Daniel and his father, a Baptist minister, attended the first FCA summer camp at Estes Park, Daniel saw the benefit of introducing young people to Christ through FCA.  Daniel was an incorporator of the Oklahoma FCA and has served on the board for many years.  He was FCA Man of the Year in Oklahoma in 1974.  He strongly believes in investing to help change lives and has been committed to that work through FCA for many years.

As a natural athlete, Daniel led Oklahoma City’s Northwest Classen High School to its first state baseball championship in 1956.  He went to Baylor University on a basketball, baseball and academic scholarship.  Daniel lettered in baseball and was on teams that finished in the top three in the league under Coach Lloyd Russell and the Coach Dutch Schroeder.  "A critical part of my life was being able to play baseball under the inspiration of a godly coach, Dutch Schroeder," Daniel said. "He taught us more than baseball. He taught us the importance of living an influential, godly life”.  As a Baylor graduate, Daniel is a substantial supporter of Baylor University and the Baylor baseball program and was inducted into the Baylor Hall of Fame as well as the Baylor Athletics Wall of Honor.  Daniel also earned a degree from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University.  

He began his banking career working part time at Central Bank of Oklahoma City while he was in school.  Moving to Friendly National Bank, Daniel became the youngest bank president and CEO in the history of Oklahoma banking in 1972, at the age of 32.  He was chairman, president, and CEO at Bank One in Oklahoma City and currently serves as the vice chairman at BancFirst, a position he’s held for over 20 years. 

Daniel has remained a strong civic leader, participating in a number of organizations over the years, including Integris Health of Oklahoma, Southern Baptist Convention, OKC Chamber of Commerce, OKC Public Schools Foundation, and many other civic and professional organizations. 

A highlight of Daniel’s career was when his father gave him a bible when he went to college.  In it, he wrote Proverbs 3, verses 5 and 6, which says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.”  This served as guidance to Jim Daniel throughout his life. 

Known for his engaging speaking style and charismatic personality, high school football coach Faye O’Dell traveled extensively as a national FCA representative for more than 40 years.  His popularity as a motivational speaker eventually took him to 46 states where he averaged 200 appearances a year for various events such as coaches’ conferences, NFL and NCAA football chapel services, and Marine Corps reunions.  In 1978, Coach O’Dell spoke at the NFL Hall of Fame induction ceremony.  He was the keynote speaker at a prayer breakfast with President Ronald Reagan in the 1980’s and spoke at the 1982 retirement dinner for Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.  O’Dell was inducted into the FCA National Hall of Champions in 2000.

At Springdale (AR) High School, O’Dell was a five-sport athlete and excelled as an all-state selection in football.  He was also a state champion in track and an AAU Golden Gloves boxing champion.  Just as his athletic career was taking shape, O’Dell left the University of Arkansas football team following his freshman season to join the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.  He retired as a lieutenant colonel and was awarded a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, and a Silver Star.  

O’Dell finished his college football career at Central State University (now University of Central Oklahoma) as an all-conference selection.  At UCO, he lettered in track and baseball, while serving as the student body president.   O’Dell also won multiple AAU Golden Gloves titles while at UCO.  

After returning to active duty to fight in the Korean War, O’Dell began his coaching and teaching career at Cushing High School.  His coaching career included stops at Cushing, Cleveland, Drumright, and Perry High Schools.  He served as president of the Oklahoma Coaches Association for a term and was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Hall of Fame in 1983.  O’Dell was named an Outstanding Alumni of the University of Central Oklahoma and was inducted into the Springdale Public Schools Hall of Fame.  In 1998, Cushing High School named its football field “O’Dell Field” in his honor.  

As an OU athlete, Clendon Thomas, with the encouragement of Coach Bud Wilkinson and Coach Port Robertson, attended the first FCA Summer Camp at Estes Park, Colorado in 1956.  Thomas served on the Oklahoma FCA Board from 1973-1991 and served several terms on the National FCA Board in the 1970’s and 1980’s.  In 2014, Thomas was selected to the National FCA Hall of Champions.  As a member of the FCA Speakers Bureau, he has given hundreds of speeches, opened many doors for FCA leaders, and was instrumental in providing a variety of airplanes to transport FCA leaders and speakers to programs.  

While a freshman at Southeast High School in Oklahoma City, Thomas was encouraged by his high school coach.  Coach George Franck told Thomas that if he wanted to play professional football one day, that he could.   During his senior year, Thomas was lightly recruited, but eventually OU inquired about the Southeast High School halfback.  Words from his high school coach provided the boost that Thomas needed during his early high school days.  

Thomas went on to be a key figure in the Oklahoma Sooners’ historic 47-game winning streak, helping lead OU to the national title in 1955 and 1956.  Thomas has stated that the team’s success was credited to the coaching skills of Hall of Fame coach Bud Wilkinson.  Thomas’ college record was 31-1.  Thomas led the Sooners in scoring in 1956 and also led the nation in the scoring in 1957.  His combination of speed, strength and lateral movement made him not only a great halfback, but also an excellent defensive back. 

Thomas spent 11 seasons in the NFL, playing for the Los Angeles Rams for 4 seasons and the Pittsburgh Steelers for 7 seasons.  He was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 1963 NFL season.  In 2011, Thomas was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. 

After retiring from football, Thomas had various business ventures.  In 1978, he founded Chemical Products Corporation in Oklahoma City, which manufactured water repellent treatments for concrete and similar surfaces. 

In 1947, Don McClanen, a 22-year old sophomore at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State), was divinely inspired with a groundbreaking sports ministry concept that would encourage athletes and coaches to use their platform to share the gospel. In September 1954, McClanen spearheaded an advisory board meeting with a group of influential sports figures. Three months later, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes was officially born.

A talented high school athlete, McClanen put his sports career on hold in order to join the U.S. Navy during World War II. After being discharged from active duty and a brief attempt to play college football, he landed the coveted job as team manager for legendary basketball coach Henry Iba.

McClanen spent a year coaching basketball at Norfolk (OK) High School before taking the same position at Eastern Oklahoma State University. In his spare time, he began contacting Christian athletes and coaches across the country to garner support for his fledgling ministry. His meeting with Pittsburgh Pirates executive Branch Rickey proved to be a watershed moment. Thanks to Rickey’s fundraising efforts, McClanen was able to resign from Eastern Oklahoma and become FCA’s first executive director.

Under McClanen’s leadership, FCA held its first seven national conferences including the historic 1956 meeting in Estes Park, Colo. He oversaw the establishment of FCA’s headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., the initial expansion of its camp program, and the 1959 introduction of a national publication called The Christian Athlete. McClanen also introduced FCA both to the Christian community and the sports world through coaches’ clinics, pro baseball players’ conferences, ministry breakfasts, and educational seminars.

In 1962, McClanen resigned his FCA post to study theology. He later moved to Washington D.C., where he became president of the Washington Lift, founded Wellspring Mission (a ministry of The Church of the Savior), and served as co-director of The Ministry of Money (now the Faith and Money Network), which raises awareness and funds for humanitarian efforts in developing nations. McClanen was also involved with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in India, and founded Harvest Time, a ministry devoted to encouraging wealthy Christians to use their resources to facilitate biblical discipleship.