Carl R. Renfro was born in Oklahoma City, moved to and was raised in Kansas City, Missouri, then moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma, in 1968. He was chairman and CEO of Pioneer Bank & Trust from 1979-2006. He has a deep sense of affection for Oklahoma and all the people and has become a community and state leader promoting arts, education, economic development and the preservation of Oklahoma history.
Renfro graduated from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Additionally, he has done further study through the American Banking Association from the University of Oklahoma.
Renfro was past chairman of the Oklahoma Bankers Association Senior Banking Management Committee and past president, chairman and director of the Kiwanis Club, Crime Stoppers, the Chamber of Commerce President’s Club, St. Joseph Medical Foundation, Ponca City Friends of Education, Ponca City Economic Foundation and a number of other organizations.
Renfro is past chairman of the board of Cushing Valley Hope, where he and his late wife, Carolyn, established a permanent endowment scholarship fund for patients with addictions. He also served on the board of directors of Harmony House, which serves citizens with addictions.
In 1993, Renfro co-founded the Standing Bear Native American Foundation and Standing Bear Native American Park. The Foundation is overseen by a board of directors that includes elected officials from each of the six area tribes: Kaw, Osage, Otoe-Missouri, Pawnee, Ponca and Tonkawa. The Standing Bear Project is a tribute to Chief Standing Bear, the first Native American civil rights leader. The park includes walking trails, a 22-foot bronze statue of Chief Standing Bear, tribal viewing courts, a powwow arena, a museum and education center, a founders court and scenic byway plaza.
Renfro received the DAR Community Service Award, the Sertoma Service to Mankind Award, the Edward P. Gaylord Oklahoma Heritage Award for Preservation of Oklahoma History, and the Governor’s Art Award for Outstanding Service to the Arts (given by the Oklahoma Arts Commission).
Renfro played a major role in establishing the University Center at Ponca City, which now provides higher education courses from Oklahoma colleges and universities throughout the state. He also established the University Center Foundation, to provide scholarships for needy students, and he and his wife endowed the foundation with permanent scholarship funds. The Renfros also contributed to the Northern Oklahoma College Foundation to endow a lectureship series for education, history and the arts.
As past chairman of the Marland Estate Commission and founding board member and chairman of the Marland Estate Foundation, the Renfros endowed the foundation to support the restoration and preservation of this national historic landmark in Ponca City. The Renfros were honored by the Marland Estate Foundation and the city of Ponca City by recognizing them on their newly created “Honor Wall.”
Renfro served on the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for 12 years and served as chairman in 2004.
In 2007, Renfro received the Distinguished Service Award from the Great Expectations Foundation for his past support of education, and he and his wife were honored by NOC, by naming its newest facility the Renfro Nursing and Communications Center. In November 2008, Renfro was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Higher Education Hall of Fame in 2021.
In 2012, the Renfros provided matching funds to completely renovate a facility as the new home of the Hospice of North Central Oklahoma (a not-for-profit organization), which provides free services for the terminally ill, and recently, Renfro provided funding for a major renovation for Valley Hope in Cushing, Oklahoma.
Carl Renfro resides in Ponca City along with his current wife Brenda. He has three children, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Renfro graduated from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Additionally, he has done further study through the American Banking Association from the University of Oklahoma.
Renfro was past chairman of the Oklahoma Bankers Association Senior Banking Management Committee and past president, chairman and director of the Kiwanis Club, Crime Stoppers, the Chamber of Commerce President’s Club, St. Joseph Medical Foundation, Ponca City Friends of Education, Ponca City Economic Foundation and a number of other organizations.
Renfro is past chairman of the board of Cushing Valley Hope, where he and his late wife, Carolyn, established a permanent endowment scholarship fund for patients with addictions. He also served on the board of directors of Harmony House, which serves citizens with addictions.
In 1993, Renfro co-founded the Standing Bear Native American Foundation and Standing Bear Native American Park. The Foundation is overseen by a board of directors that includes elected officials from each of the six area tribes: Kaw, Osage, Otoe-Missouri, Pawnee, Ponca and Tonkawa. The Standing Bear Project is a tribute to Chief Standing Bear, the first Native American civil rights leader. The park includes walking trails, a 22-foot bronze statue of Chief Standing Bear, tribal viewing courts, a powwow arena, a museum and education center, a founders court and scenic byway plaza.
Renfro received the DAR Community Service Award, the Sertoma Service to Mankind Award, the Edward P. Gaylord Oklahoma Heritage Award for Preservation of Oklahoma History, and the Governor’s Art Award for Outstanding Service to the Arts (given by the Oklahoma Arts Commission).
Renfro played a major role in establishing the University Center at Ponca City, which now provides higher education courses from Oklahoma colleges and universities throughout the state. He also established the University Center Foundation, to provide scholarships for needy students, and he and his wife endowed the foundation with permanent scholarship funds. The Renfros also contributed to the Northern Oklahoma College Foundation to endow a lectureship series for education, history and the arts.
As past chairman of the Marland Estate Commission and founding board member and chairman of the Marland Estate Foundation, the Renfros endowed the foundation to support the restoration and preservation of this national historic landmark in Ponca City. The Renfros were honored by the Marland Estate Foundation and the city of Ponca City by recognizing them on their newly created “Honor Wall.”
Renfro served on the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for 12 years and served as chairman in 2004.
In 2007, Renfro received the Distinguished Service Award from the Great Expectations Foundation for his past support of education, and he and his wife were honored by NOC, by naming its newest facility the Renfro Nursing and Communications Center. In November 2008, Renfro was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Higher Education Hall of Fame in 2021.
In 2012, the Renfros provided matching funds to completely renovate a facility as the new home of the Hospice of North Central Oklahoma (a not-for-profit organization), which provides free services for the terminally ill, and recently, Renfro provided funding for a major renovation for Valley Hope in Cushing, Oklahoma.
Carl Renfro resides in Ponca City along with his current wife Brenda. He has three children, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.