1940
Wayne
2015
Wayne E. Hirst
September 7, 1940 — February 14, 2015
Wayne Hirst was a big man who lived a very big life.
He was born in San Francisco, CA on September 7th, 1940, to Minerva and Wayne Hirst Sr. He was raised in Oklahoma City, OK and attended Harding High School.
Tennis was a formative part of his life. He was a three-time State High School Doubles Champion, often teaming with his brother Jerry. He dominated the Oklahoma State Open Tournament over the years, winning the Boys 15, Boys 18, Men’s Open, Men’s 35, Men’s 45 and Men’s 50 Doubles Championships.
He graduated from East Texas State University. He was a two-time NAIA All-American and was inducted into the East Texas State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
For five consecutive years (1998-2002) Hirst was selected to play for the United States on the Gordon Cup Team. In 2000, he was chosen for the International Friendship Cup played in Myazaki, Japan He was also inducted into the Missouri Valley Tennis Hall of Fame.
Wayne began his career in beverages as district manager of the Schlitz Brewing Company in Corpus Christi, TX in 1966.
Returning to Oklahoma, he became sales manager of Capital Beverage, a wholesale liquor distributorship. It was there he noticed that the market in Oklahoma was changing, moving up, but no one seemed to realize it.
So, in 1972 Wayne started Premiere Imports bringing ultra-high-quality California wines into Oklahoma. Four years later he created Hirst Imports to add strong domestic and imported beers to his quality product offering.
Wayne was creator of the Philbrook Art & Wine Experience at the Philbrook Museum in Tulsa, in 1992. It has attracted some of the world's top vintners for what has become one of the state's largest fundraising events, providing well in excess of four million dollars for the museum. The weekend offers patrons and extraordinary winemakers the opportunity to interact through three distinct events: the Trade Tasting, Grand Wine Tasting, and the Vintner Dinner & Auction.
Two years later Wayne was the creative force behind the first annual fundraiser for Community Literacy Centers, Inc. Called "Private Reserve - Wine and Dine for Literacy," it has raised over a million dollars funding programs and services for over 27,000 people at Community Literacy Centers in Oklahoma.
Wayne was founder of the renowned Hirst Hospitality Awards. Now in their 16th year the annual gala eve honors outstanding employees from every walk of life in the hospitality industry. The awards raise funds for the Oklahoma Hospitality Foundation, which provides thousands of dollars of scholarships to hospitality and culinary students across the state each year.
Wayne Hirst served on the board of directors of the Oklahoma Restaurant Association, Quail Creek Country Club, and served as president of the Petroleum Club of Oklahoma City.
Hirst has one daughter, Kari Hirst Starkey, son-in-law Eric Starkey, and the true apple of his eye -his granddaughter, Elaine Rae Suellen Starkey.
Elaine says the feelings will always be mutual.
He leaves behind three brothers, Jerry, Glenn and Dan. Also his long-time girlfriend and partner Gwyn Hensley and her child Rachel Hackett.
Two mentors meant the most to Wayne in his professional life; Robert Mondavi, Sr. and family, plus his dear friend Koerner Rombauer.
In tennis, his greatest inspiration and friend of 57 years was John Powless.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorials be made to the Oklahoma Tennis Hall of Fame, via ‘The E and R Foundation.’ And, the Oklahoma Restaurant Association, via ‘The Wayne Hirst Center for Beverage Education.’
A celebration of his big life will be held at the Oklahoma City Petroleum Club on February 25, at 6 PM.
He was born in San Francisco, CA on September 7th, 1940, to Minerva and Wayne Hirst Sr. He was raised in Oklahoma City, OK and attended Harding High School.
Tennis was a formative part of his life. He was a three-time State High School Doubles Champion, often teaming with his brother Jerry. He dominated the Oklahoma State Open Tournament over the years, winning the Boys 15, Boys 18, Men’s Open, Men’s 35, Men’s 45 and Men’s 50 Doubles Championships.
He graduated from East Texas State University. He was a two-time NAIA All-American and was inducted into the East Texas State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
For five consecutive years (1998-2002) Hirst was selected to play for the United States on the Gordon Cup Team. In 2000, he was chosen for the International Friendship Cup played in Myazaki, Japan He was also inducted into the Missouri Valley Tennis Hall of Fame.
Wayne began his career in beverages as district manager of the Schlitz Brewing Company in Corpus Christi, TX in 1966.
Returning to Oklahoma, he became sales manager of Capital Beverage, a wholesale liquor distributorship. It was there he noticed that the market in Oklahoma was changing, moving up, but no one seemed to realize it.
So, in 1972 Wayne started Premiere Imports bringing ultra-high-quality California wines into Oklahoma. Four years later he created Hirst Imports to add strong domestic and imported beers to his quality product offering.
Wayne was creator of the Philbrook Art & Wine Experience at the Philbrook Museum in Tulsa, in 1992. It has attracted some of the world's top vintners for what has become one of the state's largest fundraising events, providing well in excess of four million dollars for the museum. The weekend offers patrons and extraordinary winemakers the opportunity to interact through three distinct events: the Trade Tasting, Grand Wine Tasting, and the Vintner Dinner & Auction.
Two years later Wayne was the creative force behind the first annual fundraiser for Community Literacy Centers, Inc. Called "Private Reserve - Wine and Dine for Literacy," it has raised over a million dollars funding programs and services for over 27,000 people at Community Literacy Centers in Oklahoma.
Wayne was founder of the renowned Hirst Hospitality Awards. Now in their 16th year the annual gala eve honors outstanding employees from every walk of life in the hospitality industry. The awards raise funds for the Oklahoma Hospitality Foundation, which provides thousands of dollars of scholarships to hospitality and culinary students across the state each year.
Wayne Hirst served on the board of directors of the Oklahoma Restaurant Association, Quail Creek Country Club, and served as president of the Petroleum Club of Oklahoma City.
Hirst has one daughter, Kari Hirst Starkey, son-in-law Eric Starkey, and the true apple of his eye -his granddaughter, Elaine Rae Suellen Starkey.
Elaine says the feelings will always be mutual.
He leaves behind three brothers, Jerry, Glenn and Dan. Also his long-time girlfriend and partner Gwyn Hensley and her child Rachel Hackett.
Two mentors meant the most to Wayne in his professional life; Robert Mondavi, Sr. and family, plus his dear friend Koerner Rombauer.
In tennis, his greatest inspiration and friend of 57 years was John Powless.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorials be made to the Oklahoma Tennis Hall of Fame, via ‘The E and R Foundation.’ And, the Oklahoma Restaurant Association, via ‘The Wayne Hirst Center for Beverage Education.’
A celebration of his big life will be held at the Oklahoma City Petroleum Club on February 25, at 6 PM.
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