In 1958, Company F of the 279th Infantry, Oklahoma National Guard, became the first Tulsa unit to accept African Americans. The eight African-American recruits included: Willie E. Smith, Lee A. Johnson, Jennie J.W. Johnson, Lavaughn L. McDaniel, Lawrence Samuels, Andy Risby, William O. McLaurin, and Jerry R. Noble. 

Source: Tulsa World 21 May 1958 accessed from Tulsa City-County Library