Oilton, Oklahoma Free Press

History made

Bagwell Is Oilton's First Woman Mayor

Julia Bagwell became Oilton's first female mayor this spring. In early March the Cushing Citizen reported she was mayor-elect and would be sworn in during Women's History Month. She had been serving as interim mayor since former Mayor Patrick Kennedy resigned early in the year, after the council voted to remove him as chairman of the Oilton Public Works Authority.

Sources: Cushing Citizen, March 3, 2026; FOX23, February 11, 2026; KJRH, April 28, 2026.

Public safety

Police Department Resized

The city reduced its police staffing in February after Chief Chris Kirkpatrick resigned. Then-interim Mayor Bagwell said the city reviewed what the department actually needs, found staffing had been higher than necessary, and matched it to the city's resources. She said public safety services were not interrupted.

Police and fire dispatch is still reached at 918-862-3662.

Source: FOX23, "City of Oilton downsizes police department," February 11, 2026.

How it works

Your Council

Oilton is divided into four wards. Voters in each ward elect two council members, and the whole town elects the mayor. All serve four-year terms.

The council meets the second Tuesday of every month at City Hall, 101 W. Main. The October meeting, held jointly with the Oilton Public Works Authority trustees, was October 13 at 6:30 p.m.

Sources: cityofoilton.com/city-council; Oilton City Hall Information Facebook page, October 2026 meeting notice.

Panther football

Panthers Turn to Bluejacket Friday

Oilton was shut out 50–0 on the road at Covington-Douglas on Thursday, October 15, its third straight road game. The week before, the Panthers had put up 49 points. Oilton stands 1–6.

Next: Oilton vs. Bluejacket, Friday, October 23, 7:00 p.m.

Source: MaxPreps, October 16, 2026.

The district

Oilton Public Schools

One campus serves Oilton from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, with elementary, middle and high schools. About 240 students were enrolled in the 2024–25 school year.

The district now sends news to families through the ParentSquare app. Its teams play fast-pitch softball, baseball, cross country, basketball and football.

309 E. Peterson St. · 918-862-0389
oilton.k12.ok.us

Sources: oilton.k12.ok.us; NCES data via allk12.com.

Honor roll

Students of the Month

The school names Students of the Month at the elementary, middle and high school levels. When the school releases each month's names, the Free Press will print them here.

Waiting on the school's next release.

Five Thousand Came to See the Train

Walter Eaton and Ed Dunn sold the first town lots in January and February 1915. On March 24, 1915, about five thousand people turned out to watch the first passenger train pull into Oilton. By May the town had a post office, with Cora M. Murdock as its first postmaster. By midsummer it had the First State Bank and a newspaper, The Gusher.

Boom Town to Home Town

By 1918 Oilton had four hotels and several restaurants feeding oil-field workers. Syrian-Lebanese merchants ran many of the groceries and stores. Farmers grew watermelons, cantaloupes, corn and cotton, and orchards around town grew apples, pears and peaches.

In the 1930s the town had a cotton gin, eight oil companies and ten gasoline plants. A mattress factory came in the 1940s. When the oil field declined, many boom towns disappeared. Oilton stayed.

Still Standing on Main Street

Two Oilton buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. The Meacham Building at 102 E. Main is the only hotel left intact from the oil boom; it also served as a furniture store. The other is the Markham School and Teacherage.

The Oilton Historical Society, founded June 15, 2016 and led by President Kathy Dupee, is working toward a town museum.

Read old issues of the Gusher →

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