Heritage Hall News
Heritage Hall Names Softball Field in Honor of Shirley Webster
Heritage Hall named its softball field in honor of Shirley Webster, recognizing the longtime teacher and coach’s 33 years of service and lasting impact on girls’ athletics.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Heritage Hall officially named its softball field Shirley Webster Field on Tuesday, Sept. 8, honoring the longtime teacher and coach for her 33 years of service and lasting contributions to girls’ athletics.
Webster coached five state championship volleyball teams and led Heritage Hall to its only slow-pitch softball state championship, the 1997 Class 3A title. She also helped introduce field hockey, coached numerous Middle School sports, taught fifth- and sixth-grade physical education and organized The Hall’s Middle School Olympics.
“For 33 years on campus, Shirley showed up for our girls again and again,” Heritage Hall Director of Development Jenifer Standish said. “Today, this field carries her name, and with it, her legacy: that women’s sports matter, that our girls matter, and that the work of building them up is never finished.”
Before joining Heritage Hall, Webster helped establish Oklahoma State University’s softball program during the early years of Title IX. She has since been inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the inaugural 2026 class of the Heritage Hall Athletic Hall of Fame.
Former student-athlete Nikki Miskovsky Gifford ’98 called Webster “the past, present and future of girls’ athletics at Heritage Hall.”
Gifford played on Heritage Hall’s 1996-97 slow-pitch softball team, which finished 24-7 and won a state championship. Thirteen of that team’s 16 players also competed on state championship volleyball teams coached by Webster.
The dedication brought together former players, colleagues, family members, students and supporters. The event also included a ribbon cutting for the LaLonde Family Locker Room and a ceremonial first pitch before the Chargers’ varsity softball game against Casady.
A major gift from Kevin Miller ’95 and his wife, Andrea, through the Miller Family Foundation helped make the new softball facility possible. Kevin also served as general contractor for the project. Rather than place their family’s name on the field, the Millers chose to honor Webster and her legacy.
“Heritage Hall is literally bursting at the seams with role models, great teachers, strong coaches and amazing mentors,” Miller told the current students and athletes in attendance. “But if you ever need one more to add to your arsenal, you cannot get much better than the legacy of Coach Webb.”
Webster’s sister, Sue Harris, shared that Webster’s coaching career began in fourth grade, when she persuaded their mother to coach a newly formed YWCA softball team. Although their mother was officially in charge, Webster created the lineup and coached third base when she was not batting.
“Honest and true, she started coaching in fourth grade and has never quit,” Harris said.
Back
Webster coached five state championship volleyball teams and led Heritage Hall to its only slow-pitch softball state championship, the 1997 Class 3A title. She also helped introduce field hockey, coached numerous Middle School sports, taught fifth- and sixth-grade physical education and organized The Hall’s Middle School Olympics.
“For 33 years on campus, Shirley showed up for our girls again and again,” Heritage Hall Director of Development Jenifer Standish said. “Today, this field carries her name, and with it, her legacy: that women’s sports matter, that our girls matter, and that the work of building them up is never finished.”
Before joining Heritage Hall, Webster helped establish Oklahoma State University’s softball program during the early years of Title IX. She has since been inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the inaugural 2026 class of the Heritage Hall Athletic Hall of Fame.
Former student-athlete Nikki Miskovsky Gifford ’98 called Webster “the past, present and future of girls’ athletics at Heritage Hall.”
Gifford played on Heritage Hall’s 1996-97 slow-pitch softball team, which finished 24-7 and won a state championship. Thirteen of that team’s 16 players also competed on state championship volleyball teams coached by Webster.
The dedication brought together former players, colleagues, family members, students and supporters. The event also included a ribbon cutting for the LaLonde Family Locker Room and a ceremonial first pitch before the Chargers’ varsity softball game against Casady.
A major gift from Kevin Miller ’95 and his wife, Andrea, through the Miller Family Foundation helped make the new softball facility possible. Kevin also served as general contractor for the project. Rather than place their family’s name on the field, the Millers chose to honor Webster and her legacy.
“Heritage Hall is literally bursting at the seams with role models, great teachers, strong coaches and amazing mentors,” Miller told the current students and athletes in attendance. “But if you ever need one more to add to your arsenal, you cannot get much better than the legacy of Coach Webb.”
Webster’s sister, Sue Harris, shared that Webster’s coaching career began in fourth grade, when she persuaded their mother to coach a newly formed YWCA softball team. Although their mother was officially in charge, Webster created the lineup and coached third base when she was not batting.
“Honest and true, she started coaching in fourth grade and has never quit,” Harris said.
Phone 405.749.3001
Fax 405.751.7372
Fax 405.751.7372
Heritage Hall is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse community promoting fairness, acceptance, equal treatment, and opportunities for all. With regard to hiring, student admission, allocation of financial aid, and educational policy, it is our policy not to discriminate and to comply with all applicable state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, gender, national origin, religion, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or other applicable protected classification.
