JOEL DANIEL PHILLIPS

Ottowa W. Gurley (commonly known as O.W. Gurley) was a prominent African American entrepreneur, landowner, and visionary who played a central role in the development of Tulsa's famed Greenwood District, often referred to as "Black Wall Street." Born in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1868, Gurley moved to Tulsa in the early 1900s, where he purchased over 40 acres of land specifically for Black settlers, defying the segregated laws of the time.

Gurley is credited with helping to establish a thriving Black business community in Greenwood. He built hotels, grocery stores, and other businesses and sold parcels of land to other African Americans, fostering a self-sufficient economy in the district. His vision and leadership transformed Greenwood into one of the wealthiest Black communities in the United States in the early 20th century.

Tragically, much of the Greenwood District, including Gurley's properties, was destroyed during the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, a violent attack on the Black community by white mobs. Despite the devastation, O.W. Gurley’s legacy endures as a symbol of resilience and entrepreneurship within the African American community.