The Oklahoma State Game Warden Association supports many worthwhile programs and events including the ODWC Wildlife Youth Camp, Oklahoma College Scholarship program, a legal defense fund, NAWEOA, NAWEM(National Wildlife Enforcement Memorial and Museum, and Operation Game Thief just to name a few.
Remembering Ray Tillery 1926-2013
Raymond H. “Ray” Tillery, 86 year old Woodward resident, died Thursday, January 17, 2013 at his home in Woodward. Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 19, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church with the Reverend Charlie Graves officiating. Interment will be in the Elmwood Cemetery with the United States Army providing military graveside rites. Arrangements are under the direction of the Billings Funeral Home.
Raymond Henry Tillery was born on July 5, 1926 in Elmore, City, Oklahoma to Henry Luther and Minnie Lee (Selby) Tillery. Ray grew up near Antioch, Oklahoma on the family farm. At the age of 16, Ray was Baptized at the Foursquare Gospel Church in Wallville, Oklahoma. Ray served his country in the United States Army during World War II in Austria and Germany 1945 until being honorably discharged in 1947.
Ray was united in marriage to Phyllis Elaine Mendenhall on December 23, 1950 in Raton, New Mexico. They made their home in Gate, Oklahoma and were blessed with six children, Phyllis Marie, Joyce Elaine, Alan Ray, Ronald Dean, Janet Sue, and Kyle Henry. Ray went to work as a Game Ranger for the Department of Wildlife Conservation with the State of Oklahoma on July 1, 1959. He worked as a Game Ranger for 31 years, retiring in 1990. The family lived in Gate, Oklahoma from 1957 until moving to Ft. Supply in 1980, where Phyllis was the local Postmaster. They moved to Woodward in 1998 and have lived here since that time.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Oklahoma State Game Warden Association, Ray Tillery Scholarship Fund, 37449 US 70, Bennington, OK 74723
My First Game Warden… remembering Fred Sanford
When I was a young boy I would follow my dad around and do the things he did. When I was old enough to sit still I would go along with him to hunt, later on when it was my turn to hunt my father took me to hunter education class at our local high school. It was there I would see for the first time in my 8 years of life a Game Ranger. The class had begun and we had just finished the “He’s getting edgy” movie on one of the old reel type projectors when He walked in. This guy was no ordinary lawman although he wore a six-gun on his hip, his swagger unforgettable. I could see myself in his large mirrored aviator sunglasses as he drew closer. I remember asking my dad “who is that?” and he simply answered “that’s Fred Sanford the Game Ranger.” A Game Ranger he was, I was mesmerized as only an eight year old could be as Fred began to spin his web of heroic stories and tales of survival in Alaskan Yukon with little more than duct tape. He took the time to make even me feel special by asking if I was going hunting when I passed and whether or not I would make a one hundred on the test. I could tell that there was something different and special about this man and how much he loves what he does. I thought that someday I could be a Game Ranger like this one. READ MORE
This is a free and voluntary organization, dedicated to the preservation and protection of the bountiful natural fish and wildlife resources of the State of Oklahoma. The goals of the association will be to encourage a stronger camaraderie among the Oklahoma State Game Wardens; to encourage and developed high standards and practices of professional wildlife law enforcement; to promote and increased public awareness of the activities performed by the Oklahoma State Game Wardens; to encourage public support and participation in natural resource protection; and to accomplish these purposes without disrupting the normal duties of the Oklahoma State Game Wardens.