The History of Spears Travel

In 1952, the late Bill Kelley quit his job as District Sales Manager for Trans World Airlines and moved to a small town in Oklahoma called Bartlesville. He then opened Kelley World Travel in the lobby of Burlingame Hotel in the downtown area. In 1955 Mr. Kelley expanded his business and hired Charlene Spears as a travel agent and administrative assistant. Early on he moved the business to the 4th floor of the Price Tower, which had been designed for the Price Pipeline Company by world renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. In 1958, Bill Kelley decided that he had enough of small town America, and that the travel agency would never amount to much, so he just decided to close the doors. However, Charlene Spears had decided that she loved the business and was convinced that it could be successful with hard work and determination, so Charlene and her husband, Chuck Spears, who at that time was working for Cities Service Oil Company, purchased the agency.

In 1958 Kelley World Travel became Spears World Travel Service. The agency was shortly thereafter moved back to the Burlingame Hotel and was located in the lobby area. The agency consisted of 1 desk, 1 file cabinet, 2 phones, Charlene, and NO computers! Soon the travel agency began to grow and the first employees were hired. In 1961, Chuck decided to quit his job and go into the travel business full time. Over the next few years the business began to grow, and in 1966 they moved the agency into the Professional Building at 5th and Keeler.

The decade of the seventies brought about significant additions to Spears Travel. In 1972, they decided to expand by adding a branch office in Tulsa. The Tulsa agency was established in the Farm Shopping Center and became the 10th agency in Tulsa. This office later relocated to the Eton Square Business Center, where it is currently located. In 1977, the second Bartlesville office was opened in the Quarters shopping center. This branch was later moved to the Patriots Plaza, and is now in the Washington Park Mall. In 1978, Spears Travel became only the third agency in the Tulsa area to install a computer system for booking airline reservations. The system they chose was the Sabre system, which they still use to this day.

The eighties also saw some significant additions. An automated back room accounting and reporting system was purchased. The relationship and contract with Phillips Petroleum was established. A branch office was opened in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1980, and then sold in 1990. A second Tulsa location was established in downtown Tulsa in 1988 in the Williams Center and remained there until 1993.

The nineties brought continued progress and growth for the company. They purchased several Tulsa agencies and also took on new business partners. They then expanded by opening a new retail branch location in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Spears has continued to grow its automation with new technology that benefits its corporate customers, leisure customers, and employees. Spears also operates its own website that gives customers access to book travel online along with loads of pertinent travel information.

The company that started with 1 desk and 2 phones in the Burlingame Hotel has now grown to over 50 associates and independent contractors with six branch locations and continues to grow in both corporate and leisure sales! Some of their specialties include: luxury travel, astronomy groups, and sports groups. Both sons, Gary and Greg, are also serving in the business and are running the day-to-day operations.

Currently Spears Travel is associated with Travel Leaders Franchise Group. One of the industry's fastest-growing and robust networks of travel agents.

Many years ago, the Spears family dedicated their business to God, and continues to ask for His guidance in directing the business. Our mission is to be: The company associates want to work for and clients want to work with.

In 2008 Spears celebrated 50 years of service in Northeastern Oklahoma.