On Friday, February 9, 2024 after the girls basketball game there will be a gym dedication ceremony.
Willis H. Shell came to Wyandotte in 1934 to teach math and science classes and also to coach all sports. In 1933 he went to Northern State University in Tahlequah and received his bachelor's degree. After he graduated college he taught for one year in a small town in Muskogee then he came to Wyandotte. Willis was enticed by the superintendent of schools Mr. E.J. Dugan to come to Wyandotte informing Willis that he would have outstanding athletes and that he could expect to win the conference in football (now known as the Lucky Seven conference). Willis found that Mr. Dugan had exaggerated and only won a few games in his first three years. He had many years of successful athletic teams in football and basketball collecting numerous trophies.
Willis married Eloisa and they had three children, Lon Ray, Donald Joe, and Anne Lorene, all three graduated from Wyandotte. Lon Ray and Joe graduated from Oklahoma State University and Anne graduated from Missouri Southern State University. Eloisa and most of her classmates became teachers at Wyandotte and in 1985 Eloisa was voted the outstanding Wyandotte Alumni. Willis emphasized physical education for all students and also promoted physical education classes and extramural events along with academic contests. Some of these events were volleyball and basketball games that were played during their lunch period. After he became superintendent he remained active in teaching and coaching. He continued teaching math courses and reactivated and coached the girls' basketball teams.
While he was an administrator he attended Oklahoma A&M College and received his Masters of Education degree. Willis raised cattle and he always had a coon dog, usually a blue tick. Willis and Eloisa were members of the Wyandotte United Methodist Church. Eloisa played the piano and served as a treasurer for almost 40 years. Willis was active in the church and he was a 50-year mason.
They lived in Wyandotte up until a few years before their deaths. Willis passed away on May 23, 2002, at the age of 92, and Eloisa passed away on April 5, 2004 at the age of 90.