Bill Powers
Bill G. Powers took the first steps on a life-long educational journey at Liberty Elementary School, Coweta in 1936. He graduated from Coweta High School in 1948 and received several scholarships to study at Oklahoma State University. Bill graduated with a degree in vocational agricultural education in 1953. He later received a master’s degree in vocational agricultural education and higher education from OSU. He also attended the University of Tulsa, Oregon State University and the University of Kentucky.
Bill’s first job in education was teaching vocational agriculture at Mountain Park, Oklahoma. In 1958, he joined Stillwater High School, where he taught vocational agriculture. A year later Bill joined OSU as assistant dean of men and assistant director of counseling.
Bill later moved to Eastern Oklahoma A&M College and then to the Oklahoma Department of Vocational and Technical Education (now CareerTech), as state supervisor of technical education and assistant state coordinator of area vocational-technical education.
In 1968, Bill left a position as research coordinator for a pilot program in electro-mechanical technology at OSU, to become superintendent of Kiamichi Area Vo-Tech School (now Kiamichi Technology Center). At Kiamichi, Bill took on the challenge of developing and directing the first multiple campus vo-tech system in the nation.
Bill served as Kiamichi’s superintendent for 27 years. During his tenure, the school expanded from three sites, at McAlester, Hugo and Poteau, to add locations at Atoka, Durant, Idabel, Spiro, Stigler and Talihina. Pat Thomas, former Kiamichi Technology Center school board president, described Bill as, “the driving force who methodically molded and sculpted Kiamichi Technology Center’s growth and success.”
Bill retired from Kiamichi in December 1995 as the longest serving administrator at a technology center. He and his wife Lois now live in Broken Arrow. Bill has been enjoying his retirement, fishing, golfing and playing with his grandchildren.
Mr. Powers was inducted to the CareerTech Hall of Fame in 2001.
