Back in the early 70s, Ronny Wilson’s father began fermenting big ideas to grow his ranch and cattle business in Sperry, Okla., just a whisper outside of Skiatook. He later diversified his interests in the 90s by building a convenience store near Skiatook Lake—this, in an area without a road to accommodate customers. But that didn’t deter the elder Wilson. He donated 30 acres of his own land and recruited his son, Ronny, to construct the byway that now connects the lake to Wilson’s Tall Chief Convenience Store and Restaurant.

Ronny and wife Cindy later took the reins to Wilson Ranch and purchased Wilson’s Tall Chief in 2017, opening their popular grill there in 2019 and birthing their own ideas to grow the business. As a captain of the Tulsa Fire Department, Ronny divides his off-time from the station to run the ranch, his excavating company, and—of course—Wilson’s Tall Chief, where he and Cindy added the restaurant now famous for its jalapeno chicken. 

Ronny recalls becoming an ABOK customer when the bank’s Skiatook location first opened in a temporary building while the new branch was under construction. He’ll tell you he’s enjoyed a longtime experience that’s never disappointed and even encouraged his parents Dave and Sara to follow as bank customers. “If there’s anything American Bank of Oklahoma can do to help you, they do it,” Ronny says. “This is a bank that understands obstacles and problems arise for businessowners, and they’re here to help you work through those. That’s important to us.”

It’s important to us, too, Ronny. And we can’t wait to stop by Wilson’s Tall Chief again for that legendary jalapeno chicken.