Legacy Story: Tulsa Boys' Home
For over a century, Tulsa Boys' Home has been a place of healing, growth, and second chances. Founded in 1918 and rooted on its current Sand Springs campus since 1979, the organization has provided treatment, therapy, and a safe, structured environment for thousands of boys facing severe trauma and instability. It’s not just a residential treatment center—it’s a launchpad for hope.
We recently spent the day on campus with Mike Murphy, a 33-year veteran of the home, and Johnny Clark, a masters-level equine therapist who has served at Tulsa Boy’s Home for 17 years. We were welcomed not just by staff, but by the boys themselves—many of whom introduced themselves with confidence, kindness, and surprising generosity.
"That’s the mission here," Mike told us. "To make sure these boys are safe, seen, and surrounded by people who believe in them."
Restoring Hope
Mike started at Tulsa Boy’s Home in 1992 working hands on with the boys. He then shifted to recreation director and worked his way through leadership roles to his current position in marketing and development. His deep roots with the boys and their stories fuel his passion. "What inspires me to stay is the boys, the volunteers, the board, and the community."
With 93 staff members (65 of whom work directly with youth), the program currently serves 62 boys. Most live on campus and attend classes through Sand Springs Public Schools, while others in the lower-level care program attend public school and begin experiencing independent life again.
"If we can break the generational trauma," Mike says, "give them hope and a new path, that changes everything."
He shared a recent moment that brought it full circle: a former resident called, 12 years after leaving, to ask if TBH could help fund his enrollment in truck driving school. Mike remembered him instantly. "To hear him doing well, and wanting to build a career? That was inspirational."
Equine Therapy & the SPURR Method
Johnny Clark leads TBH's nationally recognized equine therapy program. With 34 horses on campus, many rescued or retired from the racetrack, the barns and pastures offer more than fresh air—they offer emotional intelligence training.
"I want the boys to learn to read social situations," Johnny says. "Trauma stifles natural instincts. Horses demand your respect and presence. That translates directly into social awareness and emotional regulation."
Johnny developed the SPURR Method, a social intelligence model rooted in biblical principles (“Spur one another on to love and good deeds”). The program incorporates obstacle courses, games, and relationship-building exercises. It's become so effective that programs around the country are now asking him to teach it.
A Legacy of Giving
The Christner family has been deeply connected to Tulsa Boys' Home for over two decades. Danny Christner volunteered, served on the board, and supported the mission personally. "He always made me feel good," Mike said. "His smile, his care for people, his professionalism—you knew he meant what he said."
John Wayne Christner, founder of the Daniel Lee Christner Foundation, has his own history with the home. "The first time I came here, I was 10 years old. I saw a lot of myself in these boys. And now, as a father and a man, I see the impact this place is making."
He shared a moment from the visit: a boy offered him and the team a couple of packs of crackers as a gesture of friendship. "When you have nothing and still find a way to give—that's what matters. That's what this place nurtures."
A Campus of Care
From equine therapy to on-campus schooling to simple, generous acts like Christmas stockings filled by the board of directors, TBH is built on thoughtfulness, consistency, and community. Many boys arrive with nothing more than a Walmart sack of clothes. They're met with warmth, structure, and a team committed to their growth.
"We want to get them back to a family. Back to a future," Mike says. "That’s the mission. That’s the work."
To learn more about Tulsa Boys' Home, visittulsaboyshome.org.
