" An Athletes Life......."

Every athlete begins their season with training. Without the vigorous exercise and dedication to fundamentals involved during training, no victory nor success can be claimed.

Training opened on January 8, 2002, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with the arrival of Reuben Johaun Wheeland.

Reuben accepted Christ at church camp when he was ten years old.

As training started, Reuben began his formative years attending school at Twin Hills Public Schools from Pre-K through Kindergarten. Beginning first grade, Reuben attended Haskell Public Schools; Mary White Elementary, Haskell Middle School, and then started his Freshmen year of High School at Haskell High School.

As training increased, Reuben fell in love with sports at a young age, playing basketball and baseball at four years old. By the time he turned seven, his passion for football had sparked playing in the Indian Nation Football league. The game of football is usually decided between the "hashes", where only the strong survive.

In addition, Reuben was the 2015, 8th Grade Powerlifting State Champ. Reuben's love for sports continued throughout middle school and high school. As a freshman, Reuben participated in five varsity football games. At that time, per Max Preps, Reuben led in sacks, touchdowns and points. His love for sports was inspired by his brother, Alex, who played college baseball at Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Carl Albert Junior College; his sister, DeNora, who played college basketball at Connors State College; his brother, Mark, who plays football at Northeastern State University; and, his cousin, Chelsea Dungee plays basketball in the WNBA for the Dallas Wings.

Reuben loved the outdoors. During the summer, you could find Reuben by a pond bank shooting turtles. He loved fishing,  deer hunting  and dove hunting. He loved fishing and hunting with Mark, Kyle, Deegan, Jacoby, and Cody. Reuben loved riding horses with his sister, MaShea, and Shehan. At a young age, Reuben enjoyed riding and racing sheep in Mutton Busting events at local rodeos. His desire to advance to steer riding was put to a hault by his mother.

On September 30th, 2016, under the Friday night lights, Reuben was playing the sport that he loved most, for the team that he loved most, when he suffered an injury that changed his life for the next five years. On January 14, 2022, Reuben went to be with Christ to fulfill his next assignment.

He is survived by his mother, Jennifer Wheeland; his father, Kermit Thomas; six sisters, DeNora Wheeland, Erika Wheeland, MaShea Parker, Kerisha Thomas, Keondra Thomas, and Tamara Thomas; seven brothers, Alex Wheeland, Mark Wheeland, Javier Wheeland, Bronze Love, Kermit Thomas, Kenny Thomas, and Miguel Thomas; numerous aunts and uncles, countless cousins, amazing friends, and loving community members.