Francis Tuttle
Francis Tuttle | |
|---|---|
| Born | Francis Theodore Tuttle September 5, 1920 Wellston, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | February 12, 1997 (aged 76) Stillwater, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Other names | Dr. Tut Dr. Vo-Tech |
| Education | Oklahoma State University (BA) University of Oklahoma (MA) |
| Occupation | Educator |
| Spouse | Vivian Hughes (m. 1940) |
| Children | 3 |
Francis Theodore "Dr. Tut" Tuttle (September 5, 1920 – February 12, 1997) was an American educator. He is known as the "architect" of vocational-technical schools in the state of Oklahoma.
Early life and education
Francis Theodore Tuttle was born on September 5, 1920, in Wellston, Oklahoma, to parents Amy Franklin and Ira Tuttle.[1] He attended Wellston High School.[1]
He graduated with a B.A. degree in 1942 in agricultural education from Oklahoma State University (OSU); and with a M.A. degree in 1948 in school administration from the University of Oklahoma (OU).[1] During World War II, he served in the Pacific Theater in the United States Army.[1]
Career
Tuttle worked in his early career as vocational teacher in agriculture in Gotebo, Oklahoma, and later in Snyder, Oklahoma.[1] After he graduated from his master's degree, he became the superintendent of schools in Holdenville, Gotebo, and Muskogee.[1]
In 1964, Tuttle became state of Oklahoma's coordinator of the Area Vocational-Technical Schools.[1] He was promoted in 1967, with his appointment as state director of the Oklahoma Department of Vocational and Technical Education, a role he maintained until 1986.[1] He is known as the "architect" of vocational-technical schools in the state of Oklahoma.[1]
After 1986, Tuttle worked as the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce under Gov. George Nigh.[1]
Late life, death and honors
Tuttle died of cardiac arrest on February 12, 1997, at Stillwater Medical Center in Stillwater, Oklahoma.[2][3] His memorial was held at First United Methodist Church in Stillwater.[2]
He is the namesake of the Francis Tuttle Vo-Tech Center (now Francis Tuttle Technology Center) in Oklahoma City, and the Francis Tuttle Vo-Tech Foundation Inc..[1][4]
In 1985, Tuttle was one of the inaugural inductees into the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame in recognition of his distinguished career and leadership in education, including his service as State Director of the Oklahoma Department of Vocational-Technical Education from 1967 to 1985 and his status as a pioneer in career and technical education in Oklahoma.[5]
In 1990, Tuttle was inducted into the Oklahoma CareerTech Hall of Fame as a member of its inaugural class, honoring his foundational leadership and lasting contributions to Oklahoma's career and technical education system.[6]
In 2015, Theodore Tuttle was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 2015, in recognition of his contributions to career and technical education in Oklahoma.[7]
In February 2023, the Oklahoma State Department of Education's Educators Hall of Fame had images removed by the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, this included the images of Tuttle, Frederick Douglass Moon, and Joy Hofmeister.[8][9] Walters claimed that the images were removed because the state does not want to highlight "union leaders and association heads".[9]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Peck, Rebekah (January 15, 2010). "Tuttle, Francis Theodore". The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
- ^ a b "Obituary for Francis Tuttle". The Daily Oklahoman (obituary). February 14, 1997. p. 20. Retrieved January 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Vo-Tech Innovator Francis Tuttle Dies". The Daily Oklahoman (obituary). February 13, 1997. pp. 47–48. Retrieved 2026-01-05 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Francis Tuttle Official Will Receive Honor". The Daily Oklahoman. January 6, 1997. p. 66. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
- ^ "Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame Inductees". Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
- ^ "Dr. Francis Tuttle". Oklahoma CareerTech Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
- ^ "Francis Theodore Tuttle, Class of 2015". Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
- ^ Martinez-Keel, Nuria (February 16, 2023). "'Big shock' over removal of Hall of Fame teacher portraits from Oklahoma Education Department". The Oklahoman. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
- ^ a b Martinez-Keel, Nuria (February 18, 2023). "Hall of Fame teacher portraits removed". Tulsa World. pp. A12. Retrieved January 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.