In medieval Europe, society was divided into three Estates: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners. Over time, these evolved into the three branches of government in England—legislative, executive, and judicial—which our own system later adopted. British writer Edmund Burke famously observed that “there were three Estates … but in the Reporters Gallery yonder, there sat a fourth Estate more important far than they all.”
A healthy democracy rests on four essential estates: the legislative, executive, judicial branches—and a free press. At Oklahoma Watch, we honor our individual donors as part of that critical Fourth Estate.
The Fourth Estate Society is made up of readers and supporters who believe in the power of investigative journalism to inform the public, engage communities, and hold the powerful accountable. Their generosity makes our work possible.
Below is a list of last year’s Fourth Estate Society members. Your support keeps Oklahoma Watch’s reporters and editors working on behalf of the people of Oklahoma.
| Guardian – $1,000 + | |
| Andrew Penland Benno Friedman Bob Burke Gerald Adams John Holliman Keith White Mark Whitmire | Mary Ellen Hickman Nathan Shirley Philip & Miranda Kaiser Philip Busey Robert Hale Susan Ellerbach Steve Holton |
| Watchdog – $999-$300 | |
| Adam Nemec Brad Berrong Brent Wallach Chris Anoatubby Clifford Hudson Colleen Smith Don & Beverly Davis Doug Dickerson Edward Lee Freda Deskin Gentner Drummond Harrison Levy Heidi Smith Joe & Nan Hight Judy Burns Julie L Skye Justin Lesher | Kelly Standifer Ken Harwood Kent Ogle Kerry Lewis Mark Thomas Mike McBride III Patrick Hall Ray Cordry Robert Nelon Robin Krieger Scott Davis Spence Carson Stephen Kovash Steve & Kathy Potts Terri Watkins Thomas Neff Vincent LoVoi |
Correspondent – $299-$5 | |
| Adam Bulleigh AJ Griffin Albert Casper Amber Shelton Andrew Berzanskis Andrew Rine Angela Paynter Ann Houston Annette Cowell April Prillaman Barbara Bonner Belinda Cole Beth Furnish Beth Peters Beverly Fenley Beverly Perri Bill Swigert Billie Rodely Bob Eskridge Bob Melton Bob Nelon Bobby Cox Bobby Ross Brenda Schmidt Brenda White Brent Wilcox Brian Birdwell Bruce Berg Byron Boles Caleb McCoy Caleb Shough Camilla Clymer Cara Cowan Watts Carla Singer Carol Graffius Carol Long Carol Richerson Caroline Dennis Caroline Wiedey Catherine Coberg Chad Huntington Charles H. Cash Charles Jones Charles Mills Charles Pitts Charlie Price Charlotte Ream Cooper Charlotte Smith Cheryl Rowe Christa Figgins Christopher Ornelas Chuck Martin Cindy Allen Colleen Hickman Constance Irby Cori Loomis Daiel Shively Dale Ingram Dana Shadid David Blatt David High David Lam David Morgan David Stringer David Walters Dawn Jackson Dayna Jordan Debbie Anglin Debbie Blackwell Deborah Oliver Deborah Peasley Deborah Warren Debra Strasbaugh Deena Fisher Del Bauman Denise Peacock Derrel Fincher DeWayne Smoot Don Williams Donald Betz Donald Bowen Donald Kyte Donald Speicher Donna Brown Douglas Folks Drew Edmondson Duane Winegardner Dustin Block Elaine Dodson Eleanor ‘Eloise’ Blanton Elizabeth Hatcher Elizabeth L Watkins Elizabeth Zimmerman Ellen Trump Emory Allen Eric Scholl Erik Tryggestad Esther Houser Fabiola Janiak-Spens Forrest Lee Frank Chambers Frank Sewell Frederic Dorwart Garrett King Gary Huddleston George Medakovich Georgia Jane Hicks Greg Heanue Greg Oppel Gregory Gilkey Gwen Shaw H Hoffman Howell Horn Isaac Sevier Jack Chapman James Buratti James Emig James Farha Jamie Norvell Jan Loftis Jan Meadows Jane Duffy Jane Hicks Jay Harris Jean Hendrickson Jeanette Jahnke Jeff Funk Jeff Harrison Jerry & Maxine Ewig Jill Brown Jim Priest Joaquin Selva JoBeth Hamon Joe Leverett John Booth John Esche John Fischer John MacGregor John Neal John Woodard John Yeutter Joseph Stevenson Judy Hopper Karen & Andy Rieger Karen Lowrey Karen Swyden Karen Tinsley Kathleen Bounds Kathleen Johnson Kathleen Park Kathryn McNutt Kathryn Stevenson Kathy Smith Katie Mercer Katie Pursley Kay Bills Keith Brown Kelley Dowd Kelly Fry Kent Elsner Kerry Kelly Kevin Dunn Kevin Kunesh Kevin Spradlin Kevin Walsh Kevin Wilson Kris Lackey | Kristina Saleh Lacee Stanley Larry & Susan Steele Larry Bair Laura Boyd Laura Broyles Laura Calvery Laura Collins Laura Holcomb Laura Jones Lauren Lanning Lawrence Bailey Lawrence Lipford Lea Morgan Linda Edmondson Lisa Hasumi Lisa Perry Lisa Reynolds Lisa Sutliff Liz Charles Lonnie Isabel Loretta Neumann Lori Walke Lorne Covington Lou Watkins Louise Short Lucia Dale Malinda Harris-Silk Margaret Malloy Margie Roetker Marilyn Friend Marilynn Knott Marjorie Monnet Mark Neumeister Martina Cook Mary Anne Secrist Mary Carter Mary Ellen Gumerson Mary Ellen Jones Mary Jane Argentos Mary Melon Mary Robertson Mary Sherman Mary Surbeck Mary Thomas Matilda Williams Matthew Morgan Meaghan Moulton Melba Dagy Melinda Bunch Melissa Frey Meloyde Blancett Meredith Wolfe Michael Bergey Michelle Hill Michelle Magnusson Mike Reese Mike Reyes Mike Sherman Misti Mcclellan Molly Helm Nancy Bauske Neville Massie Nicholas Hathaway Nicole Poole Nicolette Dennis Paige Bass Paige Henderson Pam Olson Pat Brown Patricia Heinicke Patrick Fuller Patty Powell Paul Reynolds Paul Shinn Paul Wolf Paula Greenburg Peter Grant Peter Hoyt Phil Armstrong Phil Busey Phillip Gelwick Rachael Gieger Rachel Barnard Rachelle Moniz Raphael Nguyen Raquel Frazier Rhonda Stock Richard E Dalke Richard Johnson Richard Sears Richard Southard Rick Allen Lippert Rob Adams Robert Furgason Robert Little Robert Singhisen Robert Williams Robin Ewing Robin Kurzyna Robyn Tower Ronald Jones II Ronald Lane Ros Elder Ryan Jameson Ryan Welton S. Kathryn Enloe Sandra Lewis Sandra Shapiro Sanna Pederson Sarah Barrow Sarah Chan Scott Schaeffer Sean Fenton Sean Shenold Shannon Cooper Shannon Warren Sharon Wright Shaun Witt Shawn Lepard Sherre Davidson Sherry Robinson SK Davis Stacy Dykstra Stephanie Dalke Stephnee Hiserodt Steven Buck Steven Goetzinger Sue Francis Sue Hinton Sue Marolf Sue Thom Susan Bruce Susan Diane Drucker Susan Forman Susan Lauffer Susan Singh Susan Watson Susie Edens Suzanne Edmondson Suzanne Schreiber Sylvia Nay Tami Williams Tara Blume Tara Hall Tasneem Al-Michael Ted Metscher Teresa Bacon Teresa Black Bradway Teresa Shaft Teresa Smith Theresa Schuldt Thomas DeSpain Timothy Neville-Lee Tyler Sparks Vanessa & Ford Drummond Vicki Farmer Virginia Carl Virginia Whitekiller Wanda Felty Will Fathree William Calvo William Dinger Jr William Gray William Inglish William Newby William Wortman |