THE WRITER AND THE LENS: A TRIBUTE TO MIKE TUPA: MAY 5, 1956 - APRIL 7, 2026
Left, Mike Tupa and Becky Burch during the 2015 Oklahoma Press Association Awards ceremony.
Left, Dave Austin, sports reporter, and Mike Tupa, sports editor at the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise in 1996.
By Becky Burch
April 22, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
(Below my column, you'll find tributes from friends, coaches, and colleagues.)
This is my first attempt at a column on our Bartlesville Area Sports Report website since Mike’s passing. As most of you know, Mike is no longer with us, so I can’t ask him for direction or help with editing. I’ll never be the writer he was, and frankly, I will never try. His style was unique, his heart pure, and his faith in the glory we’ll all face when our time on earth is over was unwavering. However, considering how many words I’ve put to paper today, I think I might finally do him proud with the length of this tribute — he was, after all, the undisputed king of the lengthy 'TupaTalk' and ’TupaView’ columns.
If I were to attempt to write like my friend, I’d need a thesaurus, a dictionary, and his limitless imagination. I’d need his uniquely Tupa-esque (that actually sounds like something Mike would write) way with words—a gift for finding the perfect, often unorthodox, turn of phrase—and a trash can large enough to catch the 80 percent of wadded-up paper I’d fire toward it like a contested jump shot. I still write the old-fashioned way — fountain pen and paper — and only after numerous scribbles and muttered words do I finally move to the keyboard.
Mike passed away on April 7, 2026, just a few hours after we last spoke. At approximately 7:45 p.m. that same day, I called Mike — as I had every day for the past four years — to see how he was doing. The voice on the other end surprised me. It wasn’t the raspy, tired voice I had grown accustomed to over the past two months. It wasn’t the voice that said, “Becky, can we please talk tomorrow? I don’t feel very well.”
I was talking to my Mike—the one I met 30 years ago. His voice was clear, almost cheerful. He talked of feeling well enough to finish some articles he had started, and those words brought me joy. I hoped perhaps he could pull through this illness. However, the next words sent a shockwave through me. Mike, always thoughtful of my feelings, said, “I’m on hospice now. But don’t worry, it could be weeks, it could be months, or even a year.”
We ended our conversation the same way we had for the past two months. I said, “I love you, Mike,” (as a brother), and he responded, “I love you, Becky.” I told him back on Feb. 5, after taking him to the emergency room, that I’d always tell him I loved him whether he liked it or not. I have to giggle for a moment, remembering one evening when he repeated those words back to me, but added the prefix: “I love you, as a friend.” That was Mike to the core. He was a gentleman and wanted to make sure his intentions were clear. I remember smiling, knowing I had a true friend.
He called me back that night and asked me not to mention to anyone that he was on hospice. He told a few close friends and some members of his Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church family. I remember thinking I’d pop by the next day to see him, but tomorrow was too late. I know he didn’t mind, though. Perhaps his cheery voice was his way of keeping me away from him that final evening, once again thinking of my feelings. Mike could be a very private and intuitive person at times; looking back, perhaps he knew he was finally going home.
Enough about me now — it’s time to talk about my friend of 30 years. This is a tribute I’ve been putting off simply because it hurts to write. But Mike wouldn’t be afraid, and neither shall I.
“To me, they were stars — all the kids I covered were stars in their realm. That’s how I’ve evaluated sports — not as a hierarchy of ability and talent with pro and college participants being the ultimate athletes and a 13-year-old summer league baseball player having inferior talent. But I see sports as sovereign on each level. To me, the first-ever hit by an overjoyed Little Leaguer is just as significant to the sports gods as an Aaron Judge homer.”-Mike Tupa
That passage comes from Mike’s unpublished autobiography. It captures a philosophy he didn't just write about, but one he lived every day on the sidelines. Mike began his journalism career in 1987 and moved to Bartlesville in 1996 to become the longtime sports editor of the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise. For years, Mike and his best friend and former co-worker David Austin were a formidable duo. In his tribute to Mike, David perfectly captured his friend’s character: "Because Mike was good, and he was positive and he did set the right example in this world. And, Mike was as tireless in his work as he was positive."
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Memorabilia, including his coveted Bartlesville Athletic Hall of Fame Award, on display at Mike Tupa’s funeral on April 16, 2026, at the Church of Latter-day Saints in Bartlesville.
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Memorabilia, including his signature burgundy sweater, on display at Mike Tupa’s funeral on April 16, 2026, at the Church of Latter-day Saints in Bartlesville.
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Recognized for his excellence, Mike was inducted into the Bartlesville Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019, honored by the Oklahoma Legislature, and named the 2023 Oklahoma Sportswriter of the Year. On April 12, 2026 — just five days after his death—Mike was posthumously honored with the Ray Soldan Award by the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association. This prestigious award is reserved for media members who demonstrate lifelong excellence in covering high school basketball in Oklahoma. He also won numerous state and regional awards for his columns, sports writing and sports photography.
During his funeral on April 16, 2026, his friend Bob Pomeroy shared a quote from Mike that he had shared on social media:
“A peaceful world begins with peaceful hearts, one individual at a time. Try each day to forgive someone for a hurt – old or new – or to overlook someone’s fault. Consciously do at least one nice, unselfish thing every day for someone else. Be kind to yourself despite your flaws.” - Mike Tupa
Mike lived by this creed in every column and article. Even after retiring from the Examiner-Enterprise, he continued to freelance entirely for free, never turning in an invoice. He felt it was his way of giving back to the community that had given so much to him.
That’s why his departure felt like the first crack in the foundation. When Mike called to say the paper was moving on from him—despite his writing for the sheer love of it—it wounded my soul. I worked a short time longer, but without Mike’s voice, the section felt hollow until the paper officially axed local sports for good. It is still hard to wrap my head around: how do you tell one of the best sports writers in the state that he is no longer needed?
To ensure those stories lived on, we co-founded the Bartlesville Area Sports website. We were a team once again. Mike Tupa was the writer — I was the lens. He gave the stories their voice, while I captured the moments from the sidelines.
Mike had an incredible gift for finding a positive in a negative; a team could lose by 100 points, but he would still find something favorable to say about their effort. Even as his health failed, he continued to work from home, calling coaches to find the heart of the story. To the very end, Mike remained a kindhearted soul, committed to the belief that every kid on the field was a star.
He hoped he was contributing to scrapbooks of memories for others to look back on. I can honestly say he did; my attic is full of boxes of articles about the Dewey High School softball team that my daughter, Jessie Burch, played on for four years. I looked through them over the weekend. Did they win every game? No. But does it matter now? No. All that matters is that Mike felt Jess and her teammates were worth mentioning in the newspaper.
A month before he passed away, Mike told me that when he left this world, not to be sad. He said, “I’ll be the happiest man in the world because I’ll be going home to our Lord, my mom and my sister.”
Mike was ready to go home. Godspeed - my friend.
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Michael “Mike” Jerry Tupa, May 5, 1956 - April 7, 2026.
I am certainly not alone in my admiration for Mike. Below are tributes from the friends, coaches, and colleagues who witnessed Mike’s heart for this community firsthand.
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“Mike was a once-in-a-generation talent, but more importantly, he was a once-in-a-generation friend. He didn't just cover sports; he covered people. He had a way of making you feel like your story was the only one that mattered. Whether we were talking about life, faith, or the next big game, Mike’s heart was always focused on others. He truly lived the peaceful creed he shared with us all.” — Bob Pomeroy, friend, former Bartlesville Sports Commission board chairman and 2024 Bartlesville Athletic Hall of Fame inductee
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“I first met Mike Tupa in the summer of 2001. I saw a disorganized desk full of notepads, stat sheets, sports programs and random papers strewn everywhere. But I quickly learned that Mike knew exactly where everything was and it all made perfect sense to him. He could bang out a 15-20-inch story in as many minutes, full of quotes, statistics, and blow-by-blow action, and all ready to publish. I was amazed at his work ethic. He never seemed to stop, going from game to game, calling coaches, interviewing players. He loved every minute. It wasn't work to him. It was life itself. When out at lunch with him one day, I saw firsthand the impact his writing had. A woman approached our table, introduced herself and said that Mike had covered her basketball team when she was in high school back in the late 90s. Mike remembered her! Now years later, she thanked him, told him how much it meant to her, and said that her own daughter was now in school and playing sports. Mike told her he would keep an eye out for her. Mike Tupa's tireless coverage of youth sports filled scrapbooks, bulletin boards, and refrigerator doors all around the Bartlesville area. He leaves a lasting legacy to be cherished and a void that cannot be replaced. There will never be another Mike Tupa.” — Chris Rush, former editor & publisher of the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise
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“As a young player, Mike came up to me and said, ‘So you’re the great Chris Smith.’ I told him I didn’t feel great, but he looked at me and said, ‘I’ve been doing this a long time; you’re going to be one of the greats from our area.’ That meant the world to me. No matter the outcome of a game, Mike always wrote encouraging remarks and made you sound good in the newspaper. He leaves a legacy of compassion and dedication to a profession that can be difficult, but he always made you feel like he cared. Job well done, Mike. You have no idea how much your dedication meant to so many of us.” — Chris Smith, Copan School Superintendent and former Caney Valley athlete
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“Over my years as a coach, Mike was always gracious to my players. Our relationship grew into a deep friendship fostered by his bond with my uncle, Venson Cumby. I’ll cherish our recent visits, the laughs, and our times of prayer. He had a way of telling stories that drew you into Bartlesville sports history, and he truly embodied the ‘fruit of the spirit’ to everyone he met. I loved him dearly and will miss him greatly.” — Gerald Thompson, Bartlesville High School coach
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“Someone like Mike literally comes once in a lifetime. I would wager everyone in our area was in some way touched by him or his writing. He was a good human being who did what he did because that’s where his heart was. I used to listen to him in the newsroom and was always astounded by his attention. He always sounded like a fan. It didn’t matter if he was talking to a pro NFL player, a local coach, or some kid who got a first down one time in seventh grade. Mike could make folks feel what he felt inside, and he left the world better than he found it. Godspeed, my friend. We love you.” — Tim Hudson, longtime Examiner-Enterprise reporter
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“Mike arrived in Bartlesville in 1996 when our son, Daniel, was a Bruin. One of his first headlines was ‘Cool Hand Dan’ after a buzzer-beater—a nickname we still use 30 years later. Mike’s writing gave our family memories new life and made them enduring... Mike was the superstar to our family and this community. He knew how to write the game.”
A few classic "Tupa-isms" from the Hartsock scrapbooks:
“Everything Bartlesville tried worked like a brand new can opener.”
“Mt. Hartsock erupts for 39 points.”
“If it had been a beauty contest, Thursday’s varsity game would have won the bow-wow award.”
“With shades of Petula Clark, Noah was ‘downtown.’” — Leslie Dean Hartsock
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“There will never be another Mike Tupa. I could never thank him enough for all he did for me, our local communities, and especially the youth athletes he covered during his brilliant career. I will never forget our late-night phone calls and his professionalism. Mike will be missed by all, but especially by the Dewey community and all Bulldogger athletes, past and present.” — Lance Knight, Dewey High School Varsity Boys Basketball Coach
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“Mike was the best in the business at what he did. He gave so many of our area teams and athletes the coverage nobody else could. There were nights after a tough loss that I didn’t want to answer that call, but I did and always felt better after talking to him. I will greatly miss our talks.” — Deric Longan, Caney Valley High School Girls Basketball Coach
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“Mike was the glue that held the E-E together with his compassion for youth sports. He had such a creative style; his writing made you feel like you were sitting in the stands. He was never ashamed of the gospel, and I never heard him say an ill word about anyone. It was a pleasure to have worked with Mike and to call him a friend.” — Janet Robinson, former co-worker, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise
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“Mike was so kind to me. During my first year of coaching, we lost every game, yet our conversations after every matchup made me feel like our team was headed in the right direction. I’ll never forget those late-night talks.” — Kevin Foreman, Former Copan Basketball Coach
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“Mike was always very kind and helpful to me, even when he didn't have to be. I loved getting to spend time with him—we spent many hours together going to games, and I cherished the wisdom he passed on. I’ll miss him more than he’d ever know. He was the best, and we are all better for having known him.” — Evan Fahrbach, Sports Director, Bartlesville Radio (KWON-KYFM-KRIG-KPGM)
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“Mike was a great guy and will be missed. I always appreciated his positive spin on all situations—especially during some rough years of coaching. I always felt better after visiting with him on the phone.” — Kristy Bryan, former Copan High School coach
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“Mike’s memory will be continued by the thousands of youth and parents he so lovingly served. He gave them confidence and kindness with no thought of compensation, except for the joy of highlighting and representing them until his very last days.” — H. Walter Young, Elders Quorum President, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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“Mike truly was the best. When I met him in high school, he wrote articles that made everyone feel special, and he continued doing that right up until the end. Mike had a way of making the community excited about local sports; he made the people he wrote about seem larger than life. He will be sorely missed by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him or reading his work.” — Marshall Foreman, Copan
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“My thanks to Mike for covering athletics in our area for all these years! Mike went far beyond what he needed to do, and I greatly appreciate his efforts.” — Rod Berger, Former Bartlesville High School Coach
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P.S. I sent this text to Mike the day after he passed, knowing he wouldn’t be able to read it:
"I miss you, Mike. I'm lost without you. Barkley (my Chihuahua who Mike always asked about) and I sat in our front yard tonight looking at the stars, wondering if you could hear me. I was selfish in wishing you to hang on as long as you did. A few days ago, I changed my nightly prayers to ask for your comfort vs my hopes for your recovery. I know in my head you won't read this in Heaven, but I needed to say it. We talked at least twice a day for years. You helped me through Joe's death. I'm lost now, but will be okay because you said I was strong and loved by many. Until we meet again, my friend, I love you as a brother and friend." — Beck