Black Excellence: O.W. Gurley
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O.W._Gurley
O. W. Gurley (December 25, 1867 – August 6, 1935) was once one of the wealthiest Black men and a founder of the Greenwood district in Tulsa, Oklahoma, known as “Black Wall Street”.[1][2]
Ottaway W. Gurley was born in Huntsville, Alabama to John and Rosanna Gurley, formerly enslaved persons, and grew up in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.[1]: 128 After attending public schools[1] and self-educating,[3] he worked as a teacher and in the postal service.[1]: 128 .[3] While living in Pine Bluff, Gurley married Emma Wells, on November 6, 1889. They had no children. In 1893, he came to Oklahoma Territory to participate in the Land Run of 1893, staking a claim in what would be known as Perry, Oklahoma.[3] The young entrepreneur had just resigned from an appointment under president Grover Cleveland in order to strike out on his own.”[4] In Perry he rose quickly, running unsuccessfully for treasurer of Noble County at first, but later becoming principal at the town’s school and eventually starting and operating a general store for 10 years.[3]