Lavara Grisham was proud of her husband, Tom Grisham, who graduated from Okmulgee High School in 1928, and then went on to The University of Tulsa, where he graduated in 1932 with a bachelor’s degree in history. He was an outstanding student-athlete at TU, lettering in football, basketball, baseball and golf. He was also a school leader, serving as class president and as an assistant football coach in his senior year. After graduation, he served in World War II, and then spent some time in private business before entering the teaching profession in 1959. He taught, coached and served as athletic director at numerous Oklahoma schools, including Henryetta, Elk City, Sapulpa and Tulsa.

His last 13 years of teaching were spent at Skelly Junior High School. Mr. Grisham retired in 1971 and passed away on June 1, 1972. Lavara Grisham was born in Graves County, Kentucky. She was an executive secretary for Sun Oil Company. She passed away on September 18, 1999. Tom and Lavara Grisham were longtime supporters of Golden Hurricane Athletics. The Lavara D. Grisham Football Scholarship supports deserving student-athletes in the TU Football Program.