Longtime community leader passes away
Ken Bartlett passed away Tuesday morning at age 90. He was a longtime public servant and advocate for Del City and the Mid-Del area. (File photo)
By Jeff Harrison
Managing Editor
Longtime community leader Ken Bartlett passed away this morning at age 90.
He served Del City and the Mid-Del area for years as an elected official, former Rose State College regent, and member of several civic organizations.
Ken Bartlett rides in the Armed Forces Day Parade. (File photo)
Bartlett recently celebrated his 90th birthday with family and friends at Napoleon’s Deli in Midwest City.
Del City Mayor Floyd Eason said Bartlett was a pillar of the community and will be missed.
“Ken was always a statesman and looked out for the best interest of the community and we’re all better for having him in our lives,” Eason said.
Bartlett was born in Coffeyville, Kansas. He graduated from Coffeyville Community College in 1950 and spent four years in the U.S. Navy as a meteorologist. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and completed his classroom hours toward an MBA in accounting.
“I measured the distance from Coffeyville to Lawrence and the distance from Coffeyville to Norman and there was only a 10 mile difference,” Bartlett said during the Del City Hall of Fame ceremony in 2016. “There was less than 10 miles difference and I felt like I wanted to go to a winning program and a winning school so that’s what took me to OU.”
Bartlett moved to Del City in 1957. He held positions with various companies and was employed with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. He retired from the state in February 2015.
Last year, Bartlett retired from the Del City Council after representing Ward 3 residents for 14 years. He had served as Vice-Mayor, and Chairman of the Del City Economic Authority and the 911 OCOG Board of Directors.
He served on the Board of Regents for Rose State College from October, 2001 through
June 2010. During this time he also served on the National Board of Regents and Trustees for all Community Colleges in the United States.
Bartlett was also a proud member of the Midwest City Rotary Club for 19 years. He served as President from 2009-10. He was also a member of the Paul Harris Society.
In 2016, he was inducted into the Del City Hall of Fame. Brian Maughan, Oklahoma County Commissioner, commended Bartlett during the ceremony.
“There cannot be a more perfect person for Del City to enshrine,” Maughan said. “…If a person has ever, ever earned their stripes, it is Ken Bartlett. He has done everything for everyone I know. He embodies every single thing you hope a public servant or any chamber executive or any civic volunteer or any political activist would have.”
Bartlett was proud of his relationship with the military and served as an “Honorary Commander” of the 552 Air Control Wing for several years. He and his late wife, JoAnn, were among the initial supporters of the AWACS plane display adjacent to Tinker Air Force Base on Sooner Road.
He was an active member of the First Southern Baptist Church since 1960.
Bartlett was the father of five children, two of which are adopted from Korea, grandfather of 10 grandchildren, and great granddad of five children.
Ken was a tremendous person. I had the privilege of coaching his son Miles in football at Del City High School and Ken was a great parent and supporter of our program. His service in his community speaks for itself. A job well-done and a life well-lived.