Mayor Flanagan Obituary, Death – Everyone who reads the media or pays attention to community leaders knows Rogers County and Bill Flanagan have been intertwined for a decade, since when he became mayor of Claremore. On Tuesday, a new mayor will pick up huge shoes. Mayor Flanagan was awarded Claremore Citizen of the Year in 2004, got the Claremore Chamber of Commerce Career Achievement Award in 2014, and won the Rogers County GOP Lifetime Achievement Award.
He served on the Rogers State University Foundation, Hope Harbor Children’s Home, and Claremore Park Boards for many years. Claremore Park Board and city built the Expo Center. He was governor-appointed to the Oklahoma State Board of Education and a trustee for the Oklahoma Council on Public Affairs and Oklahoma Liberty Foundation. He also served seven years as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army National Guard and Army Reserves.
Flanagan took over Mayor Mickey Perry’s term in 2013. Two additional four-year intervals followed. “I have been honored to serve our community for a decade,” Flanagan said. He was mayor after 35 years as a Claremore public accountant. He’s been a CPA for over 50 years and a Personal Financial Specialist since 1990. Flanagan wants to harness his years of local and state leadership to help his community prosper. He served two Claremore City Councils under Mayors Harry Powers and Mickey Perry.
“Successful local government operations cascade to county and state benefits. “I wanted to give back to the town, which had given so much to my family and have a genuine effect for future generations of Claremore inhabitants,” Flanagan said. He gained several friends among Claremore’s business and community leaders while in government. I represented our town on local, state, and federal boards and committees as mayor.
He also worked with public schools, secondary schools, hospitals, churches, county authorities, tribal nations, and others to improve our community. He has toured with leaders across Northeast Oklahoma and nationally as Claremore’s community representative for the Tulsa Regional Chamber’s legislative and economic development projects. Claremore citizens are our greatest asset.
Claremore and Rogers County are fast-growing. We are known for our diverse tourist attractions, world-class museums, parks, lakes, recreational opportunities, gastronomic outlets, and exceptional business and educational prospects,” he said. “We want to be a destination city.” In $80 million Claremore, he focused finances, economic growth, and job creation. “I prioritized affordable housing and making our city a place where people want to live, work, and raise a family,” he remarked.
The mayor and city councilors of Claremore receive $100 every month for community service. “Not many people know this,” he continued. He oversaw proper expansion with the Claremore City Council and personnel. “Pro-business policies boost the private sector and provide good jobs.””Our partnerships with CIEDA and Rogers County brought new retail, quality-of-life, and small business sector growth,” he continued.
To fix decades of neglected electricity, water, road, and sanitary infrastructure, the city has planned long-term upgrades. Our City Council prioritized funding these upgrades. “We implemented the 2040 Comprehensive Plan and are revising our housing research to ensure we have the right and diversified housing for our future needs,” he added. Claremore’s inhabitants will benefit from the Parks and Trails Master Plan.
“We created and streamlined youth programs and solidified relationships with our public schools and Rogers State University,” he said. Claremore has numerous unique initiatives. I’m pleased to have helped these initiatives. Flanagan added, “We are already seeing development due to the State Highway 20 alignment, and I hope the council’s commitment to infrastructure will continue to pay dividends.” Loves Claremore.
Flanagan said it was his honor to serve as mayor. Flanagan and his wife, Mary Lou, have three children: Beau, a software engineer in Washington, D.C.; Matt, a safety director for Stanley Black & Decker in Fort Worth; and Tiffany, a school psychologist for Bartlesville Public Schools. Four grandkids make them proud. Renee, August 3, 2022, the Progress covered his County GOP Award. Legislators provided.