Meetings & Commissioners

Mike Bower began his boxing career in 1973, participating in Amateur Golden Glove Boxing with Heath Boxing Club. In 1981 Mike began boxing on the Toughman circuit, winning the  Oklahoma State Toughman Championship in 1981 and 1983. Since that time he has continued his involvement in boxing, serving as a sparring partner, manager and corner man before his appointment to the Oklahoma Athletic Commission in 1999 by Governor Frank Keating. Mike has served four terms on the commission under three governors. Mike spent 31 years in the fire service and was chief of the Midwest City Fire Department for 16 years. Since retiring from the fire department in 2004, Mike has served as the emergency management director for the City of Midwest City for the past eight years.

Wes Nofire's journey embodies resilience and multifaceted success. A former heavyweight boxing champion turned realtor and public servant, he brings passion and dedication to everything he does. Beginning as an amateur boxer in 2007 under the guidance of Cecil Pettigrew in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Wes quickly ascended, clinching the amateur State Championship, and representing Oklahoma Kansas regionally in the National Golden Gloves by 2010.

Transitioning to the professional arena in 2011 with the mentorship of two-time world champion John David Jackson, Wes dominated the ring, triumphing in his first 19 bouts consecutively. Not only did he secure a national heavyweight ranking, but he also established Nofire Entertainment, promoting several unforgettable fights in his home state of Oklahoma.

Retiring from professional boxing in 2018 with an impressive record of 20 wins, 2 losses, and 16 wins by knockout, Wes seamlessly transitioned into public service. From 2019 to 2023, he served as an elected tribal representative for the Cherokee Nation, embodying his commitment to community and advocacy.

Currently, Wes Nofire stands as a bridge between cultures and communities, appointed by Governor Stitt as the Native American Liaison for Oklahoma. Alongside his wife Molly and their children Isla, Nora, and Lincoln, Wes resides in Park Hill, Oklahoma, continuing to make impactful strides in both his professional and personal endeavors.

Dr. Larry T. Lovelace is a physician certified in emergency medicine and trauma. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in three years, then attended Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery. He served in the US Army for eight years and achieved the rank of major. Dr. Lovelace did his residency in Emergency Medicine at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He is also certified in ringside medicine; treating professional fighters as well as future olympians on the US Olympic Boxing Team. His father was an Army officer and a Golden Gloves champion, so Larry naturally became involved with the U.S. Army boxing team. He has served as a ringside physician for over 30 years and was elected as the national Ringside Physician of The Year in 2006. He is considered an expert in ringside medicine and was recently elected as a board member of the Association of Ringside Physicians (international association). Dr. Lovelace has trained emergency medicine physicians, PAs, interns, residents and paramedics for over 30 years. He won the award Preceptor of the Year at Oklahoma University College of Medicine - PA school four times, and was selected as the keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony in 2010. Doc Lovelace has lectured nationally and internationally on Ringside Medicine and Safety, and considers the health and safety of the participants to be his highest priority. He has been an attending physician at OU Medical Center/Trauma 1 Center in OKC for the last 12 years, and has a family practice in Moore.

Biography to come soon. 

Biography to come soon. 

Rick Garrett boasts a rich tapestry of professional accomplishments spanning several decades. From a notable stint on the Dating Game in 1969, which catapulted him into a national Pepsi Cola campaign, to attending stuntman school in Hollywood, Garrett's early endeavors showcased his versatility. Transitioning into real estate, he's built homes and sold land, a career path he still pursues today.

Garrett's athletic prowess shone brightly during his time with the Wranglers in Oklahoma City as a semi-pro football player. However, it was in professional softball where he truly left his mark, winning two world titles and three state championships while also founding the iconic Softball Heaven in Moore, OK.

His political acumen came to the fore in 1980 when he managed Jerry Brown's presidential campaign, leading to friendships with luminaries like Ronald Reagan and encounters with personalities such as Jimmy Webb and Linda Ronstadt. Garrett ventured into entrepreneurship, opening the Bricktown Haunted Warehouse in 1982, kickstarting the revitalization of downtown Oklahoma City. His professional wrestling career, starting in 1983, saw him rubbing shoulders with legends like the Von Erichs, the Missing Link and Jake the Snake. Rick was known for his drop kicks and barefoot wrestling.

Garrett's cinematic flair was evident in his roles in movies. His contributions to sports were further underscored by his induction into the USSSA Softball Hall of Fame in 2000. Beyond these accolades, Garrett's commitment to community engagement shines through his promotion of Wrestling, Tough Man Contests and various sporting events. 

Biography to come soon. 

Michael Stopp is CEO and principal of SevenStar Holdings, a company created to assist in economic development in Indian Country. He is the former Chief of Staff for U.S. Representative Markwayne Mullin, where he handled communications, external affairs and constituent relations. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Army. His proudest personal achievement is co-founder for the Native American Heritage Forum as a cadet at West Point. The forum was established to recruit American Indian cadets, create a community for Native cadets while attending the U.S. Military Academy, and to expose cadets and faculty to Native American culture while at the academy. This program thrives today. It has subsequently been adopted by both the U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Air Force Academy, which stands as a testament to its success. When he was a board member of the 7G Foundation, a 501c3 dedicated to mentoring and coaching young Native Americans, Mike was key in negotiating 7G’s relationships with the NFL, Minnesota Vikings, MLB and the Atlanta Braves. These relationships produced all-star, all-Native football and baseball games that have resulted in most of the participants earning placement on collegiate teams. Stopp was appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate as a commissioner in 2020. Notably, he is a board director with the Atlanta Braves Native American Working Group and Leadership Oklahoma. He is a member of Leadership Oklahoma Class 32, Leadership Native Oklahoma Class 2 and Tahlequah Leadership Class 16. A community man with a volunteer heart, Mike has donated his time to multiple organizations including the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Foundation, American Indian Merit Award, Help-In-Crisis and other service and education programs.