Brandi rector
Aviation Entrepreneur | Norman, Oklahoma
Brandi Rector is a trailblazing aviation entrepreneur redefining the skies over Oklahoma. Serving in the Marine Corps from 2008 to 2014, she was a CH-53E helicopter mechanic and door gunner, completing two overseas deployments. After transitioning to civilian life, Rector earned her pilot’s license and became a certified flight instructor and FAA-certified A&P mechanic.
She is the founder and CEO of Semper Fly Helicopters, the only female Marine veteran-owned helicopter flight school in the United States. Based in Norman, Oklahoma, Semper Fly partners with the University of Oklahoma’s School of Aviation to offer a Bachelor of Science for professional helicopter pilots. The school emphasizes safety, precision, and career readiness, providing students with turbine flight hours and exposure to diverse aviation career paths.
Rector also leads Skyhunter Outfitters, a premier aerial hog hunting operation along the Oklahoma-Texas border. Skyhunter combines adrenaline-fueled adventure with ecological responsibility, managing invasive feral hog populations to protect local ecosystems. As the only female-owned aerial hog hunting company in the country, Skyhunter reflects Rector’s commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship.
steven w. taylor
Former Chief Justice, Oklahoma Supreme Court | McAlester, Oklahoma
Steven W. Taylor is a distinguished Marine Corps veteran and jurist whose career has significantly shaped Oklahoma's legal and civic landscape. Born in Henryetta and raised in McAlester, he earned his Bachelor of Arts from Oklahoma State University in 1971 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1974. Taylor served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1970 to 1978, achieving the rank of major and becoming the youngest judge in the U.S. Armed Forces at age 28.
Transitioning to public service, Taylor was elected as McAlester's youngest mayor in 1982. He served as associate district judge and later as chief judge of Oklahoma’s 18th Judicial District, presiding over more than 500 jury trials, including the state trial of Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols.
Appointed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court in 2004, Taylor served as chief justice from 2011 to 2013 and retired in 2016 after 33 years of judicial service. He remains active in civic and professional organizations, and his contributions have been recognized with inductions into both the Oklahoma State University and University of Oklahoma Halls of Fame, making him the only individual to receive the highest alumni honors from both institutions.
Taylor serves on the boards of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and chairs the Puterbaugh Foundation. He is an author and has been recognized with numerous awards and honors for his public service.