Well Crowson, that is not difficult to prove your list is wrong and falls short. Here's the controversy:

I do believe the nation will surely agree the number one most respected and well known Oklahoman is WILL ROGERS. No disagreement from me and likely no one else.

Your second was Mickey Mantle. That might be with some controversy but those who followed baseball realize that Mantle was a super star. Although, some people likely are more remembered but I'll give the benefit of doubt an agree the second spot to Mantle.

However, Toby Keith is your third: He is famous but come on, your third; over Garth Brooks singer, Tulsa. Surely, I need a point here if your giving out an award.

However, Brooks is just one of many that are more famous than Toby Keith. There is also Reba McEntire singer, McAlester, OK or did you forget her?

The is also Woodrow Wilson Woody Guthrie singer, composer, Okemah, OK. He is remember around the world....but maybe you did not realize he was from the state of Oklahoma.

Be glad that Texas sold off Oklahoma too during their annexation because many of those famous would have ended up being Texans. Now that would be some friendly controversy since Oklahoma comes down to Texas every year and recruits over 50% of their football team members from Texas to play college ball. The biggest rival of course is OU vs UT.

Only because I know you I am taking the time to reply. So anyone readying this should not be offend stating Toby Keith is not the third most important person from Oklahoma. He doesn't even make the states web page of famous people. That is not saying his music is bad, as I love his music. He's just not as famous as their list:

Famous Oklahomans

Johnny Bench baseball player, Oklahoma City
John Berryman poet, MacAlester
Garth Brooks singer, Tulsa
Jeremy Castle singer, Blanchard
Iron Eyes Cody Cherokee actor
Gordon Cooper astronaut, Shawnee
Ralph Ellison writer, Oklahoma City
James Garner actor, Norman
Owen K. Garriott astronaut, Enid
Vince Gill singer, Norman
Chester Gould cartoonist, Pawnee
Woodrow Wilson Woody Guthrie singer, composer, Okemah
Ike,Taylor, Zac Hanson music, Tulsa
Roy Harris composer, Lincoln Cty
Paul Harvey broadcaster, Tulsa
Van Heflin actor, Walters
Tony Hillerman author, Sacred Heart
Ron Howard actor, director, Duncan
Karl Guthe Jansky engineer, Norman
Ben Johnson actor, Pawhuska
Jennifer Jones actress, Tulsa
Jeane Kirkpatrick diplomat, Duncan
Shannon Lucid astronaut, Bethany
Mickey Charles Mantle baseball player, Spavinaw
Reba McEntire singer, McAlester
Shannon Miller Olympic gymnast, Edmond
Bill Moyers journalist, Hugo
Daniel Patrick Moynihan N.Y. senator, Tulsa
Patti Page singer, Clarence
Brad Pitt actor Shawnee
Tony Randall actor, Tulsa
Oral Roberts evangelist, Ada
Dale Robertson actor, Oklahoma City
Will Rogers humorist, Oologah
Dan Rowan comedian, Beggs
Robert Stemmons whistler, Tulsa
Maria Tallchief ballerina, Fairfax
James Francis Jim Thorpe athlete, Prague
Jeanne Tripplehorn actress, Tulsa
Ted Shackleford actor, Tulsa
Wilma Mankiller Cherokee chief, Tahlequah