Fisher Boy

Betty Price was born in Booneville, Arkansas. After graduating from Central High School in Muskogee, Oklahoma she earned a degree in music education from Northeastern State University. Price is inducted in the NSU Music Hall of Fame and in 2001 was named distinguished alumni by her alma mater. From 1989 to 2007, Price directed the commissions of major sculptures, murals and paintings in and around the State Capitol.

After joining the Rose State College Community Service art faculty, she taught music at both Norman and Mid-Del for three years. She was a piano teacher while raising her three children, but after helping get a family friend elected to the Oklahoma State Senate, she became his secretary. She later worked as a secretary and artist for Lt. Governor and then Governor George Nigh.

She began working for the Oklahoma Arts Council as public information officer in 1974, and served as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Arts Council from 1983 until her retirement in 2007. During this time she worked with eight different governors. Price is a member of the Oklahoma Centennial Commission, the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum, Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission, Oklahoma Tourism Promotion Advisory Committee, the National Board of Artrain USA, Friends of the Mansion and Friends of the Capitol. She has served as an arts advisor to many state and non-profit organizations as well as on a number of boards across the state.

Price was inducted into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame in 1985 and in 2006 she was honored as Red Earth Ambassador of the Year. Named State Arts Agency Director of the Year by the National Assembly of State Art Agencies in Washington, D.C, she is also the recipient of the 2004 Newsmaker Award from the Tulsa chapter of the Association of Women in Communications. In 2000, she was named the National Director of the Year by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. In addition, she has been named among the Women of Influence by Oklahoma magazine and Honored One at the Oklahoma Indian Sovereignty Symposium in 1999, the same year she received the Chickasaw Nation Governor's Award. She earned the recognition of Centennial Woman of Distinction from the Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority in 1998 and received the National Alumna Award from the sorority in the early ’80s.

She is married to Norris Price; they have two children, Lisa Ann and George, a daughter-in-law Lisa Jan, two grandchildren, Natalie and Matthew Price, and sister Elaine Mason.