Vance Gilmore (Quapaw Nation)

Vance Gilmore was born and raised in Miami (extra credit if you can pronounce it correctly), Oklahoma and is a proud member of the Quapaw Nation. 

Vance’s grandmother  was fluent in the Quapaw language, and linguists from the University of Kansas came to Miami to work with her to record that language for posterity. 

Vance attended the Best University in the World, OU, where he earned his B.S. in Special Education, he also holds a M.S. in Therapeutic Recreation.  

Vance Gilmore is a trustee for the Crowley Carter Foundation, board member of Momentous Institute, past board member for Providence Christian School, American Camp Association, and recently and currently (since 2016) as a consultant to the Morning Star Family Foundation/Faith-Based Forum.  Vance  has served on the Constitution Committee for the Quapaw Nation for the past four years, since September 2025 he has served as chair of the Constitution Committee.  For many years Vance has helped distribute rations at the annual Quapaw Pow Wow.    

Vance and his wife Karen have a grown daughter, Allison Gilmore Bobzien.  

Allison and her husband, Jack Bobzien, live in Houston and are parents of the Gilmores’ two delightful preschool granddaughters, Lucy and Josie.