AWMA is sad to report that Ron Cross, President & CEO of Stephenson Wholesale in Durant, OK, passed away last Friday, January 29 as the result of complications from cancer.

Ron was the son of Raphen and Naomi (Pamplin) Cross. Ron was born December 20, 1953 in Sulpher, Oklahoma. He married Tammy Cooper of Mead on December 7, 1985.

A lifetime resident of Durant, he graduated from Durant High School in 1972 and attended Southeastern State College. Ron was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity at Southeastern and was presented with an honorary recognition from the TKEs in 2007 for his business acumen and philanthropy.

Ron was President and CEO of Indian Nation Wholesale Company (INW) and his vision and ability to plan for the future fulfilled the dream for the wholesale business that his parents founded. INW is the 20th largest candy and tobacco wholesale distributorship in the nation and employs more than 300 employees. Durant is the home base of INW with satellite warehouses located in Lawton and Norman, OK.

Ron has served as a board member and past president of the Oklahoma Wholesale Marketers Association (OWMA). He also served on the Board of Directors of the American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA). Ron served as the Vice Mayor of the Durant City Council from 2001 to 2009 and also served on the Durant Industrial Authority, Durant Economic Development Authority, Durant City Utilities Authority and the Durant Airport Authority. During his tenure on the council he was instrumental in helping to bring several new businesses to Durant. These businesses have provided jobs which have helped to boost Durant’s economy. He also served as Board President of the Cross Family New Life House.

Services will take place Thursday, February 4 at 2:00 p.m.at the First Christian Church of Durant..

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Dalton-Holmes Funeral Home in Durant.   The phone number is 580-924-0224.

Please join us in extending your sympathy to Ron’s family, friends, and the employees of Stephenson Wholesale/Indian Nation Wholesale.