QUITTING IS NOT AN OPTION

THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF WAYMAN LAWRENCE TISDALE

Tulsa native Wayman Tisdale inspired the nation with his excellence in basketball and performing arts. Although Tisdale was drawn to music throughout his life, it was playing for the University of Oklahoma basketball team that catapulted him to stardom. After an impressive twelve-year NBA career, he decided to follow his dream of becoming a chart-topping jazz guitarist. In both his personal and professional pursuits, Tisdale was known for his warm personality, kindness, and compassion for others. Despite receiving a cancer diagnosis in 2007 and losing his leg the following year, Tisdale never gave up hope. Instead, he worked to assist those less fortunate who were experiencing similar circumstances. Until the end of his life, Tisdale stood tall and insisted that "quitting is not an option."

This exhibit presents a timeline of the life of Wayman Tisdale, an Oklahoman who embodied perseverance and optimism and whose story continues to inspire others to do the same.