Jimmy Webb — ACCLAIMED SONGWRITER —
ionok.com OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017
NATIVE OKLAHOMAN Jimmy Webb — ACCLAIMED SONGWRITER —
MedEncentive: “Rewarding Good Health”
Bob Funk Express Employment Professionals Founder
Annie Oakley Society lnducts ROCK THE BLOCK Famed Mystery Writer Benefit event sponsored Mary Higgins Clark by Dolese
Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Science Museum Oklahoma: Award Ceremony Ray Harryhauser Exhibit Li festyle … Culture … Entertainment
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405.495.4423 publisher : Don Swift assistant : Joni Yeager editor : Tim Farley editiorial assistant : Darian Woolbright videographer : Jeremy Gossett director of photography : Michael Downes web site developer : Patrick Moore with Set Sail Media web site developer : Nina Jones, Data Design Inc. illustration : Rosemary Burke graphic design : Wendy Mills
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Photographers Jeremy Gossett Hugh Scott, Jr. Tracy Reece Jerry Hymer
Advertising Consultants Peter Preksto The Oklahoma Hall of Fame believes there are no limits to what is possible. Contributors fashion : Linda Miller Every day we celebrate art : Joy Reed Belt the legacy of inspiring people : Peggy Gandy entertainment : Heide Brandes Oklahomans with all social issues : Robbie Robertson generations because community : Lauren Wright contributing writer : Greg Horton Oklahomans are changing contributing writer : M.A. Smith the world! contributing writer : Mindy Wood contributing writer : Julie York The Hot Club of San Francisco presents Cinema Vivant Thursday November 16 7:30 PM Tickets: $15–$29 Presenting Sponsor:
Christmas the Cowboy Way Tuesday, December 12 7:30 pm Tickets: $25–$30
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www.kgou.org 12 Contents COVER STORY 12 Jimmy Webb: America’s Composer
EXHIBITS 22 Science Museum Oklahoma Exhibit: Ray Harryhausen by Randy Reagor
EVENTS 26 Why Not? 2nd Annual Comedy Show 82 Redbud Classic gears up for 2018 by Bud Elder ART Suzanne Mears SHOPPING 30 by Tim Farley 32 Holiday Fashion: Dressing up in velvet, shine and bold color 49 Museum Retrospective Honors Jerome Tiger’s by Linda Miller Life and Art by M. J. Van Deventer 36 Holiday gift Ideas: Start shopping now by Linda Miller EDUCATION 66 A Retrospective: MAPS for Kids, lawsuit has 26 common denominator by John Thompson
REVIEW 68 ‘Some Form of Grace’ book launch: Oklahoma author Dee Dee Chumley sheds light on ex-prisoners, their obstacles by Michelle Watts
LEADERSHIP 73 Leading is a Lifestyle by Garland McWatters
8 ionOklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 62
PEOPLE 22 18 Bob Funk: Express Employment Professionals by Tim Farley, News Editor
38 Next Gen Under 30 Award Honorees BUSINESS 46 Annie Oakley Society lnducts Famed Mystery Writer Mary Higgins Clark 44 OETA Board of Directors Names Polly Anderson as Executive Director by M. J. Van Deventer
62 Benefit event rocked the block 52 Crawfords’ Mission to Sierra Leone 78 Counter Measures for the Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Modern Kitchen 58 by Bekki Hopson
SPORTS 36 64 OKC Thunder 2017-2018 Schedule
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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 9 Publisher’s Note
Welcome to ion Oklahoma Magazine, one of Oklahoma’s fastest growing online digital lifestyle magazines and news-entertainment websites . I am excited to report www.ionok.com website is experiencing double digit growth in unique visits, total visits, and total page views during the past 12 months when compared to the same 12 month previous time period. Google analytics reports are showing over 79,876 unique visits, 128,445 visits, and 365,128 page views during the past 12 months. At ion Oklahoma we sponsored the 7th NextGen Under 30 Oklahoma annual award cere - mony on October 20, 2017. In 2017 we honored 189 very talented young adult Oklahomans from 156 companies and organizations located statewide in 91 unique zip codes. The 2018 nominations will go live again on February 1, 2018 and will end August 1, 2018. In 2017 we documented receiving over 850 nominations in 15 different career categories and from those applications the community leader judges selected the top 189. All others received an honorary mention and were encouraged to apply again in 2018. The 90th Oklahoma Hall of Fame Banquet & Introduction Ceremony will be held on No - vember 16, 2017 at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City. There have 689 Oklahomans who have been inducted Into the Hall of Fame since 1928 and in 2017 there will an additional very accomplished “Like” us on facebook Oklahomans who will be joining that list. facebook.com/pages/ The October November printed edition of ion Oklahoma Online is covering certain events, IonOklahoma-Online people, and entertainment that best represent a glimpse of the quality affordable lifestyle we all as Oklahomans enjoy. As a state Oklahoma is no different than many states in the US that are experiencing many challenges and problems. However, with that being said, many Oklahomans are encouraged there are solutions to these problems and are fixable under the right leadership in state government. 2018 is going to be an interesting year with many follow us on twitter people voicing their ideas, opinions, and focused on solutions to our states problems. @IonOklahoma I would like to extend our gratitude to our loyal followers and let you know how much we enjoy covering many of the more positive stories in Oklahoma that very seldom are reported by the media. Please let us hear from you.
Sincerely, Don Swift Publisher, ion Oklahoma Magazine
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The Hot Club of San Francisco-Cinema Vivant Thursday, November 16, 2017 • 7:30 PM
Do You Speak Djembé? Thursday, February 1, 2018 • 7:30 PM
Cirque Éloize Saloon Thursday, February 22, 2018 • 7:30 PM Lonesome Traveler: The Concert (with Special Guest Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary) Thursday, March 29, 2018 • 7:30 PM
RIOULT Dance NY Thursday, April 19, 2018 • 7:30 PM ABBAMANIA Tuesday, May 1, 2018 • 7:30 PM
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NATIVE OKLAHOMAN Jimmy Webb — ACCLAIMED SONGWRITER —
a’s AmCeOrMicPOSER
BY BUD ELDER
wirling through the mists of time, it is not difficult to R find yourself once again riding shotgun in your par - E S ents’ car and fighting for supervision of the radio dial;
V if you’re on any central Oklahoma thoroughfare, you’re probably switching back and forth between WKY and O KOMA on your AM dial. C As you’re riding along, about every fourth or fifth song, your father or mother or both stop the ongoing lecture regarding what a lout you’re liable to become by pointing out that this song, and that one, and yet another playing on the radio was written by a particular Oklahoman. Someone with the same heritage as you, the same background, the same sensibilities. And what started out as an eternal harangue about your grades, your hair and your room would almost turn optimistic. “Maybe there’s hope for you after all,” it would be said, “Jimmy Webb is from Oklahoma, and look how HE turned out!”
12 ionOklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 To be from the same locale as Jimmy Webb offers both a blessing and a curse to musicians or anyone wishing to become famous. Certainly any born-and-bred citizen of the Sooner State who has the opportunity to take a bow on the international stage should inspire the pants off those who dream for such things. However, there are few people in the universe, much less from Oklahoma, who will enjoy more than 50 years in the music busi - ness, while possessing an almost unlimited reservoir of talent from which some of the greatest popular songs of an entire generation were spawned. So, while you might have the opportunity to achieve any dream you wish, talent like Jimmy Webb’s is once in a lifetime. A portrait of Webb cannot be of the “point-and-shoot” variety. So, please forgive this helpless haze we’re in – you won’t be discovering here whether or not he needs us more than wants us, the soggy state of that blasted cake, or whether or not he’ll be back again, and again and again. Webb is the only artist to receive Grammy awards for music, lyrics and orchestration. He is a member of the National Academy of Popu - lar Music Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame; and, according to BMI, his “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” has been the third most performed song in the last 50 years, with “Up, Up and Away in the top 30 on the same list. Webb’s “Wichita Lineman” was named, by Blender magazine, as the “Greatest Song Ever.”
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 13 Webb performs a concert in Helsinki.
has never really been a tradition of nurturing young HERE ARE MORE OF HIS SONGS , instant classics songwriters, and the tougher things get, the less willing all – “Galveston,” “Where’s the Playground Susie?” people are to give up their time and songwriting se - “MacArthur Park,” “All I Know,” “Didn’t We” and crets.” “The Highwayman.” These songs were recorded and, And what of today’s music, according to Jimmy since their original release, continually played – sung Webb? by artists ranging from Glen Campbell to Richard Har - “Nashville is probably the last bastion of music, the ris, The Fifth Dimension, Michael Feinstein, Willie citadel of the craft, where it’s still important,” he said. Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristoffer - “Techniques here are still taught and passed down from son, Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. generation to generation. There are youngsters working Bridging the gap between practitioners of the early in the business today who have no idea how songs tra - American songbook, such as George Gershwin, Irving ditionally were constructed. The DNA is not there.” Berlin and Richard Rodgers, Brill-Building stylists This past year has seen Webb’s name in the news, such as Burt Bacharach (a particular Webb hero) and both in triumph and tragedy. the later singer/songwriters of the ’70s such as James Taylor, Carole King, Neil Sedaka and Elton John, Webb IN APRIL, 2017 ST. MARTIN’S PUBLISHED “The conquered a very interesting musical interlude in Cake and the Rain,” less of an autobiography by Webb American culture. than a memoir. “Ours is not a business that particularly lends itself to “Once I got into the stride of writing, I really enjoyed generosity,” he recently said. “A lot of people were very the process, Webb said. “It was edifying, an epiphany, friendly, but quite a few were a bit standoffish. There in a way to be able to write pages and pages.”
14 ionOklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 Webb also takes readers through a who’s-who of music business royalty, from the Beatles onward. And even Frank Sinatra. “A great man who lived a very colorful life and was the greatest star in the history of entertainment and the greatest interpreter of the American songbook,” Webb said. “He laid the groundwork for my career, and I en - joyed over 20 years as his friend. After each meeting I had with him, I would come home and write down every word he said.” Reviews were ecstatic. Ken Spooner, writing in Elmore Magazine, penned, “This book is beautifully and abundantly iced with sto - ries that allowed Webb to sculpt the most deeply moving tunes of our time. For those who want a good – and sometimes incredible – story of muses, merriment, melancholy and melodrama, this is your book.” In celebration of the book’s publishing, “A Celebra - tion of the Music of Jimmy Webb” was held at Carnegie And while “The Cake and the Rain” evokes the cre - Hall May 3, 2017, with guest performances by Toby ative fervor of an extraordinary time and place – Keith, Hanson, Judy Collins, Billy Davis Jr and Marilyn southern California in the 1960s and 70s, it is also a no McCoo, Michael Feinstein, B.J. Thomas and Dwight holds barred exploration of all who Jimmy Webb was Yoakam, among others. The event was held as a benefit and is. for the Alzheimer’s Association and the I’ll Be Me “At that time, the California dream was both dizzying Foundation. and confusing – good energy was flowing my way as And we all know why. well as bad energy,” he said. “I made some mistakes Webb and Glen Campbell made the poem rhyme. and I don’t duck anything in the book. I made up my “Glen was the greatest natural born musician I’ve mind when I decided to write ‘The Cake and the Rain’ that I would tell the truth about myself.” Goodness, does he tell the truth. For instance, he writes about an un - fortunate drug reaction he once had with Harry Nillson. “I saw creatures with blue faces, de - formed and sinister. ‘We have you where we want you,’ they said. “They were so happy they’d taken me down. I was not a religious guy. I had over - dosed on the dogma of the Southern Baptist Church; a jaded and secret ag - nostic by the age of 12. However, these ghouls were a real threat to my soul and my mental state. I invoked God and they howled in disappoint - ment.”
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 15 Above: A performance promo shot from Down Under. Left: Bio pic.
I am full of grief. I am dedication of the Oklahoma State writing because I think you Capitol Dome and the Centennial deserve some sort of mes - Spectacular,” Smith said. Smith hosted an unveiling of sage from me but I am too Webb’s portrait at the Oklahoma upset to write very well or at Heritage Association Gaylord-Pick - any great length. It’s like ens Museum. For Webb’s induction waking up in the morning in into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in some Kafkaesque nightmare 1999, Governor Brad Henry named November 15 as “Jimmy Webb Day” novella and finding out that in Oklahoma, “celebrating the life half of you is missing. ” and accomplishments of this native son.” When writing a piece on Webb, Webb currently lives on the east ever worked with and will be re - especially one published within the coast with his wife, Laura Savini, vice membered very kindly,” he said. “If state’s borders, this should be men - president at WLIW in New York. He he was ever walking down the road tioned – the singer/songwriter is one tours constantly and plays all over and kicked a can, he could turn that terrific Oklahoman. the country and, because he’s Jimmy sound into a musical instrument.” “Jimmy Webb never turns his Webb, he also performs in his home Campbell died at the age of 81 on state down,” said Lee Allan Smith, state loud, long and often. August 8, 2017. His recordings of president of Oklahoma Events. So, we leave Jimmy Webb a con - Webb’s songs represent perhaps the Smith mentions that, over the tented artist who has earned the greatest songwriter/singer relation - years, Webb has written “Cowboy rare combination of respect and ships in the history of American Hall of Fame,” in honor of the facil - love, his music a constant rhythm music. ity, “Going for It,” for the 1989 that passes through our lives. In Upon Campbell’s death, Webb Olympic Festival and, along with short, when all is said and done, published a blissful and devastating Vince Gill, “Oklahoma Rising,” for Jimmy Webb did, in fact, make the portrait of the entertainer. For the the Oklahoma Centennial. pieces fit. n complete version, find Webb’s Face - “Jimmy also performed during book page, but here is a snapshot: Oklahoma’s Diamond Jubilee, the
16 ionOklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017
PEOPLE
Bob Funk, founder and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals Still on the job helping others
BY TIM FARLEY News Editor
rom all appearances, business tycoon nancial crisis that shook the foundation of large-scale finan - and Oklahoma rancher Bob Funk doesn’t cial institutions and oil companies. F worry too much these days about paying “Unemployment was 14 percent and interest rates were 20 the electric bill or buying medicine. percent and I had $5,000 to my name,” Funk said. Outsiders would believe the founder and chief executive offi - Looking for help, Funk turned to Paul Springfield at Rolling cer of Express Employment Professionals sits atop a financial Hills State Bank in Piedmont. Springfield approved a business gold mine that won’t shut down any time soon. His success is loan for $150,000. From there, Funk and Express Personnel – almost unmatched, but the chance to achieve a lofty status in as it was known then – took off. the global business world almost didn’t happen. “If not for them (Rolling Hills State Bank), we wouldn’t be in But after 35 years in the temporary staffing industry, Funk’s existence,” the Express CEO said. work isn’t over. The company hired 550,000 people last year, Thirty-five years later, Express is the nation’s No. 1 tempo - but the CEO’s goal is to put a whopping one million Americans rary staffing company for light industrial and office services to work. and the 12th largest for professional services. Funk also Funk, with his Oklahoma cowboy work ethic, isn’t slowing boasts that 62 percent of the temporary workers placed by Ex - down. In addition to executive decisions that await him on a press end up being hired to stay full-time. daily basis, Funk, 77, is interviewed regularly by national pub - “We have 860 open positions we’re trying to fill right now,” lications and news outlets that produce stories about jobs, Funk said, making direct references to the shortage of workers hiring practices and unemployment rates. Funk is valued for in information technology, welding, human resources, cus - his expertise in the temporary staffing industry and his keen tomer service and computer numerically controlled (CNC) insights into the global business market. In his executive role operators. at Express, Funk provides the kind of insight only he can after At that point, Funk became critical of public schools that 35 years of helping people find jobs. fail to teach students much-needed “soft skills,” otherwise But as he recently said in a one-on-one interview at the Ex - known as relationship development. A brochure Express dis - press International headquarters in Oklahoma City, his tributes summarizes a recent survey of employers. In order, success and that of his company was one decision away from the survey found the top traits employers want in employees never occurring. are good attitude, work ethic/integrity, communication, culture “We started this company in a bust during the fall of 1982 fit and critical thinking. and you know what happened then,” he said, referring to the “We’re so computer oriented they (students) haven’t built Penn Square Bank collapse and the beginning of a major fi - relationships with people and they don’t know how to relate,”
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 19 Express Employment Professionals headquarters in Oklahoma CIty. he said. “But those who have good people skills will get the Still, the workforce must take advantage of the experience better jobs.” and collected wisdom of older Americans who can contribute to a company’s success, Funk said. HIGH SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS need to place more “Experience is more important than education. Good skill focus on preparing students for the workforce, Funk said. outweighs education level. We would take an over-skilled “They need to do a better job giving these students direction worker than an over-educated person. Older workers can out - for their lives,” he said. “Teachers say you have to make it ex - produce the younger ones working only three to four days a citing and not just teach math or science.” week. I’m 77 so I’m not going to discriminate against some - At the same time, Funk praised Oklahoma’s CareerTech sys - one 58 or older,” he said, with a smile. tem for doing an “incredible job” training students in various Funk doesn’t back down from his old-fashioned values when blue-collar and white-collar fields. talking about social welfare programs and the role they play “The reason they’re doing such a good job is when industry in unemployment rates. calls they respond,” he said. “Canadian Valley (Technology “The challenge we face is people have to have the ambition Center) met with three major companies this week. They to work. Social benefits are too high,” he said. “Some states (Canadian Valley) are flexible enough to put together pro - have cut off disability, which creates lower unemployment.” grams for these companies in as little as four weeks. Funk told the story of a California man who received Halliburton is hiring now and the technology center is design - $81,000 annually in welfare and other social benefits. ing a new program for them.” “That man said he couldn’t afford to come off welfare,
20 ionOklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 which is part of the problem with putting people to work again,” the Dodd-Frank Act, which is fully known as the Dodd-Frank he said. “The higher the social benefits, the harder it is to Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Dodd-Frank come off the rolls. The best social program out there is a job.” is a federal law that places regulation of the financial indus - try in the hands of the government. Dodd-Frank was passed COMMUNITIES AND STATES THAT EMPHASIzE JOBS and job by Congress in 2010 and signed by President Obama in re - training for the unemployed also benefit from better public sponse to the financial crisis of 2007 and 2008. Other federal images and significant reductions in crime, Funk said. regulations that should be rescinded currently require banks The Express founder and CEO also has confidence in Presi - to maintain anywhere from 12 to 14 percent equity. dent Donald Trump and his vision for “You have all this cash sitting in creating more jobs in the U.S. banks that can’t be loaned out,” Funk “He is on track with keeping more said. “If banks were able to use that jobs at home,” Funk said. “If you think money, it would benefit small busi - we’re just an Oklahoma economy, nesses and allow them to hire more we’re not. We’re a global economy. The people.” reason companies go overseas is The employers Express deals with wages. In countries like China, are small and medium-size firms Bangladesh and Mexico, workers with fewer than 250 employees. Since make $3 a day. Here, workers are starting Express in 1982, the com - earning $57 an hour. You see the dif - pany has helped 6.5 million people ference?” find work. However, Funk doesn’t hold high However, the relationship between wages against the American working employer and employee begins with class. Instead, he believes companies the job seeker. should settle for less profit so Ameri - “There is a job for every person and cans can continue to be employed. He a person for every job. The key is are promotes the notions that businesses you going to put forth the effort to which stay in the U.S. have little, if find that job where you have the up - any, shipping costs and parts are Bob Funk. CEO Express Employment Professionals ward mobility,” Funk said. “A lot of easier to obtain. people are not willing to go knock on Funk told the story about a project at his Yukon-based Ex - enough doors. You have to knock on doors on a weekly basis to press Ranches and the need for one small part. find that right opportunity. Some people don’t want to make “We’re told the part is coming from China and it will be that commitment.” three weeks,” he said. “If those parts were made here, it could Funk also promotes the idea that people should work at a be here overnight.” company where they’ll enjoy the work, even if the pay isn’t what they want at the time. DESPITE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS that exist, Funk – who ob - “It should be about the quality of the company you work tained his college degree in theology – remains the eternal for,” he said. “When I first started years ago, I was making optimist. $375 a month and others were making $1,000 a month, but I “We have a great future here in Oklahoma the next three to enjoyed what I did.” four years. And, if Trump will do what he says he can do we Funk’s Oklahoma City office, filled with gorgeous photo - will have a great future (nationwide).” graphs and years of mementos, is a reminder that he’s still on Funk is an advocate for rescinding some restrictions from the job and working to help others – and enjoying it. n
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 21 EXHIBITS
“Some people say Casablanca or Citizen Kane . I say Jason and the Argonauts is the greatest film ever made.” —Tom Hanks, when he awarded an Oscar to special effects titan Ray Harryhausen in 1992.
22 ion Oklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 SCIENCE MUSEUM OKLAHOMA EXHIBIT: RAY HARRYHAUSEN
BY RANDY REAGOR
arryhausen and I have a touch with one of his assistants in the history. Back in 2001, when United Kingdom (that’s where he was liv - H my son Hunt was 5, he ing then) who said Ray wasn’t feeling well watched Jason and the and couldn’t come to the phone. I raced home from the office that day and told my Argonauts for the first time, and he son, but that was the closest I came to was so impressed he started asking talking to him. me how it was made. When I told him Regrettably, when Hunt first told me the about Harryhausen I mistakenly told only place in the U. S. that was going to him he was still alive, and Hunt told have his exhibit was the Science Museum me I should get in touch with him Oklahoma I didn’t get that excited, mainly (I’m not saying I’m a great father, because we live about 1200 miles from Oklahoma City. Big mistake, since we’ve but after we saw The Rookie a couple celebrated his birthday every year since years later, at my son’s insistence, I his passing in 2012. However, now that serio usly considered going to spring I’ve seen it, if I wasn’t initially filled with training at the spry age of 44). alacrity, you should be. I could throw some technical stuff at you to try to con - Well, why not? We had the internet back then, vince to check it out, but all I can say is so I gave it a shot-in fact, I managed to get in its cool. Really cool.
Randy and his son Hunt visit the Science Museum.
Right: Jason and the Argonauts
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 23 Hunt Reagor and his dad, Randy, explore the exhibit of Ray Harryhausen’s
Don’t believe me? Ask Peter Jackson, George the same way, which is why Harryhausen coined Lucas, Tim Burton, and several other Hollywood the term “Dynamation” to separate himself from icons who are quoted at the exhibit, basically say - that genre. When I was a kid in 1969 I saw The ing without him they probably wouldn’t have gotten Valley of the Gwangi and wondered why the Al - into filmmaking. Most special effects these days are losaurus only gnawed on two guys, but now I now I made via CGI (computer generated imagery), but in know why—a five minute scene with Dynamation 1941 when Harryhausen got started there was none takes several months to make. of that, obviously, so he perfected the art of “stop- That’s one of the main reasons why Harryhausen motion photography.” Created by Willis O’Brien, it is so revered—Jackson and many of his peers ap - was his work in the original version of King Kong preciate his hard work, and this is conveyed at the that inspired Harryhausen to start doing it after he exhibit, which features five of his films—Jason and saw the film at the age of 13 (the two of them ended the Argonauts, The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, The up working together in the 1949 version of Mighty Golden Voyage of Sinbad, Sinbad and the Eye of Joe Young). the Tiger, and Clash of the Titans. The museum has In a nutshell, here’s how show stop-motion approximately 150 items used in the making of the works—you make a little model of a dinosaur, per - films, including actual models and original story - son, or whatever, you move their appendages a few boards, along with continuous loops about each inches, shoot a frame, repeat the process many movie—in fact, I noticed in a clip from the Golden times (sometimes thousands depending on the Voyage a scene that Jackson obviously copied in his scene), then when you run the film the model ap - remake of King Kong. pears to be moving. Cartoons are made pretty much It’s not just the hard work that people in the
24 ionOklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 movie industry appreciate but the distinctiveness of it—it has a dreamlike quality to it. Harryhausen once said “if you make things too real, sometimes you bring it down to the mundane.” He didn’t care about realism, which many people don’t get today with the prolifera - tion of reality TV shows. Obviously, we get it. I remember seeing The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms at age 7, when I was 10-years old I knew his name, and I’ve seen all his films, many more than once. My son? Well, he’s currently minoring in filmmaking, plans to go to film school next year, and has written several screenplays. Having said all this, I realized the night before we visited the exhibit that we had forgotten to celebrate his birthday. How could we? So, with as much pomp as two people can muster, For more information about Science Oklahoma Museum go from a restaurant in Edmond, I offered a toast…Mr. to: www.sciencemuseumok.org . If you’re looking for a place to Harryhausen, thanks for making our lives much better, stay contact The Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau and for solidifying what Hunt has heard from his old at: www.visitokc.com or The Edmond Convention & Visitors man more than once: just because something is newer Bureau at: www.visitedmondok.com doesn’t mean its better. n
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 25 SPORTS L A Y U P S 2 S T A N D U P P R E S E N T S : O C T O B E R 13, 2 0 1 7 D E M E T R I U S D E A S O N F O U N D E R A N D C E O, L A Y U P S 2 S T A N D U P 2 N D A N N U A L C O M E D Y S H O W I N O K L A H O M A C I T Y
Layups2Standup (L2SU) is an Founder and CEO, Demetrius “Juice” Deason , began innovative brand that channels the love the company in 2013 after suffering a career-ending injury for basketball and comedy to create a playing college basketball. Deason utilized his adept comedic nature and variety of events for communities. They passion for basketball to provide entertainment and inspira - aspire to use creative humor to motivate tion for others. people to transition their failures into Deason aims to use L2SU to provide comedy shows, basket - success. ball leagues, and charity events in order to build a platform for comedians and athletes while fueling inner-cities with pos - itivity and encouraging the youth to chase their dreams.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 27 This event gives fans and the city the opportunity to celebrate the beginning of Russell Westbrook and the OKC Thunder's new season. A portion of the proceeds made from the show will be given to local community organizations to help make a difference in Oklahoma City.
28 ion Oklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ON THE SCENE AT THE TOWER THEATRE ART SUZANNE MEARS BY TIM FARLEY
Suzanne Mears Photo by Leigh Howell Love
ife for Oklahoma City artist Suzanne This year, Mears ventured into a demonstration of Mears couldn’t be better. clay sculptures, which is something she hadn’t L worked on in 18 years. Everywhere she goes people want her artwork. “I chose a spot in the courtyard where it was windy and hot. Whether it’s clay, glass-fired pieces from the kiln or her paint - Everybody else went inside with the wine and AC, but some of ings, fans are clamoring for more. us stuck it out until the bitter end. I could not have wanted a Earlier this year, Mears participated in the annual “Painting more successful event than they’ve had,” she said. in the Courtyard” at Howell Gallery in Oklahoma City. She la - During previous events, Mears would bring glass pieces and beled the event a “monumental success.” Of course, it was. showcase them. The event drew a mob scene of 250-plus people who were “This year, it was very wonderful to do the clay,” she said. treated to magnificent artwork and wine. The gallery, located at 6432 N. Western, has been in its cur - “They get to meet the artists and get to see the work being rent location for about 20 years. Mears speaks highly of the done live,” Mears said. gallery and its owner.
30 ion Oklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 Left to right:Elk Valley, oil and gold powders on canvas; Summer Samuri; work close-up; Seafarer.
“I like space around my art,” she said. Reflecting on the “Painting in the Courtyard” event, Mears labeled her in - Guthrie and Tulsa. Lately, Mears has teraction with guests as “really, really been working on Raku art and providing “It’s absolutely magnificent and could great.” demonstrations. be placed in any major city in the world. Mears put together a clay mask, Raku ware is a type of Japanese pot - They have paintings, sculptures, clay which prompted one young girl to try her tery traditionally used in Japanese tea and metal bronze and jewelry but it’s not hand at making one. Mears said she en - ceremonies, most often in the form of all jammed in there,” Mears said. joys working with people who have chawan tea bowls. It is traditionally As a longtime artist, Mears knows aspirations to become an artist. characterized by being hand-shaped about art galleries. She recently returned She can provide young artists with rather than thrown; fairly porous ves - from Santa Fe, New Mexico, where plenty of tips and advice. Right now, sels, which result from low firing gallery space is expensive and galleries Mears’ career is “going very well.” temperatures; lead glazes and the re - are jammed with artwork. As Mears put Her artwork is in galleries in Califor - moval of pieces from the kiln while still it, the artwork isn’t allowed to breathe. nia, Mexico, Santa Fe, Oklahoma City, glowing hot. n
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 31 SHOPPING ay Fashion Holid t Dressing up in velvet, shine and bold color
BY LINDA MILLER
HOLIDAY FASHION SHOWS
Holidays are fast approaching and along with shopping, decorating and wrapping often comes a round of parties, get-togethers, open houses and come-and-go events.
Whether it’s a blow-out New Year’s Eve party or an intimate gathering with family, it all comes down to the same question: What to wear?
Holiday fashion choices are plentiful, from vel - vet jackets that look good with dark denim jeans
Theory pink velvet jacket, CK & Co. Derek Lam tiered ruffle sweater, CK & Co.
or crepe pants to black sheath dresses that fit the bill any time of the year. Standouts include lace and tiered styles; shine and sequins; velvet in burn-outs and rich jewel tones; ballgowns; bold color; vintage and deco-inspired styles with beading and embroidery; crepe little black dresses; and jumpsuits. n
Top: Worth New York blue cocktail dress,
Middle: Worth New York fringe collar cut-away top with mesh dot skirt,
Bottom: Worth New York burn-out dot sheer maxi dress.
All from from Cindi Shelby, 333 W Wilshire, Suite F.
Rachel Zoe open-back bow detail sequin mini dress, CK & Co.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 33
SHOPPING HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS Why wait? Start shopping now
BY LINDA MILLER
A good read. Know someone who’s new to the state or is interested in learning more about it? Consider a sub - scription to Oklahoma Today magazine. Since 1956, the award-winning magazine has been chronicling Okla - homa people, places, travel, history, culture, food and outdoors. For a subscription, go to oklahomatoday.com . One-year subscription is $24.95. Digital edition, $12.99.
Good hair days ahead. Amika offers three times the punch with two different gift sets. Amika Fame includes Perk Up Dry Shampoo, Un Done Texture Spray and Silken Up Dry Conditioner. No Sleep Till Brooklyn includes Perk Up Dry Shampoo, Touchable Hair Spray and Bombshell Blow Out Spray. The products are formulated with naturally derived and scented ingredients for gorgeous locks with minimal ef - fort. And the colorful packaging will make you smile. $54 at The MakeUp Bar.
36 ion Oklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 Ask Alexa. Amazon’s new second-generation Echo has improved sound, powered by Dolby, and a new design. Echo connects to Alexa, a cloud-based voice service, to play music, make calls, set alarms and timers, ask questions, check your calendar, weather, traffic, sports scores and much more. Prices range from $99.99 to $119.99, depending on the cover, at Amazon.com.
Say cheese. Instant cameras are back. This Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 camera uses film packs for instant photos. It also has auto flash, auto focus, a selfie mirror and a Macro lens attach - ment. One reminder: Don’t forget to include two or three film packs. Everyone will want to get in on the action. There’s just something special about holding a photo in your hand. Or putting it on the refrigerator. $69.99 at Target.
One size fits all. This Priscilla bracelet by Tulsa-based Rustic Cuff is made with mosaic beads and alternating gold stainless steel beads with a gold RC logo. Comes in different color combinations, and the elasticized band fits most wrist sizes. Shopping doesn’t get any easier. $42 at Rustic Cuff stores at Classen Curve and Edmond, as well as online at rusticcuff.com. Plenty of other styles, including leather and metal, are available, too. n
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 37 PEOPLE 187 OKLAHOMANS TO RECEIVE 2017 NEXTGEN UNDER 30 AWARD Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate leadership and service to their communities
LEADERS OKLAHOMA CITY (Sept. 21, 2017) – More than 180 Oklahomans 30 years old or younger are being recognized for their profes- sional leadership and extensive service to their communities. The 2017 NextGen Under 30 Oklahoma Awards selected these individuals through a highly competitive application process. Chosen recipients represent more than 150 companies across Oklahoma. The winners were honored at an awards ceremony at The Embassy Suites in Norman on Friday, Oct. 20 with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by an awards presentation and dinner at 7 p.m. Former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating will serve as the keynote speaker. The 2017 NextGen Under 30 Oklahoma Awards is a statewide program honoring talented, high-achieving Millen- nial leaders. To recognize the growing influence of young professionals in Oklahoma, program founder ionOklahoma Magazine updated the nomination categories this year to bet- ter recognize the impact these young leaders are making in Left to right: Don Swift, Lauren Sickels, Chancellor Glen Johnson, many career sectors. Lt Gov Todd Lamb, Marion Paden, Brenda Jones Barwick, Bob Funk, Jr. “Today, Millennial professionals are a huge part of Oklahoma’s businesses, arts, media, technology, policy and non-profit com- service, retail and e-commerce, science/technology/engineer- munities,” said Don Swift, publisher of ionOklahoma Online ing and sports/fitness. and driving force behind the NextGen Under 30 Oklahoma “With these new categories and nomination opportunities, Awards. “By the year 2020, they are projected to make up NextGen Under 30 Oklahoma aims to support retention of mil- nearly half of the workplace, so we decided our awards should lennial professionals in Oklahoma by recognizing outstanding better reflect their prominence in these sectors.” achievements among the state’s best and brightest,” said Swift. The 16 categories include arts, education, higher education, For more information and a complete list of honorees, visit energy and transportation, finance, healthcare, hospitality, law, http://nextgenunder30.com/award-winners/. For more infor- manufacturing/industry/the trades/agriculture, marketing/ ad- mation about ionOklahoma, visit http://www.ionok.com/. vertising, media/public relations, non-profit, policy and public
38 ion Oklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 2017 NextGen Under 30 Complete List of Winners
The Arts Channing Seikel, Citizen Potawatomi Nation Victor Acosta, El Nacional Media Group Steven Stefanick, Harding Charter Preparatory High School Jennifer Boyd, 108|Contemporary Dylan Sullivan, Heritage Hall Gabriel Cannon, Chickasaw Nation Laura Cunningham, Allied Arts Education College/Adult Courtney Dawson, OKC Broadway Nataly Barillas, Mid-America Christian University Trey DeLonais, Citizen Potawatomi Nation Matthew Cancio, The University of Oklahoma Jacy Gentry, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Nicole Doherty, University of Central Oklahoma zachary Gozlan, Allied Arts Terri Link, Langston University Karalee Hirst, JRB Art At The Elms Alyssa Loveless, Rose State College Angelica Pereira, Oklahoma City Philharmonic Frances Mooney, Univeristy of Central Oklahoma Kellie Reynolds, Chickasaw Nation Marina Rodriguez, Oklahoma City Community College Emily Smart, Norman Firehouse Art Center Jared Scism, University of Central Oklahoma Lauren Sickels, Paycom Education K-12 Jonathan Solomon, Oklahoma Baptist University Danielle Adams, Casady School Courtney Tisdale, Metro Technology Centers Anissa Angier, Edmond Public Schools Rantz Trayler, Oklahoma Panhandle State University Joshua Bullock, Citizen Potawatomi Nation Karl Francel, Olympia Prep Energy & Transportation Catie Hamilton, Chickasaw Nation Chance Bland, Devon Energy Prod Co Lp Samantha Kobs, Heritage Hall Sarah Grose, White Star Petroleum McKayla Plett, Seminole Public Schools Josh Jarrett, Devon Energy Rae Ross, Jenks Public Schools Grayson Niemeyer, Continental Resources
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 39 2017 NextGen Under 30 Winners continued
Ramsey Payne, Clearwater Enterprises Rebecca Cox, Bright Eyes Family Serv - Jordyn Cartmell, Foliart, Huff, Ottaway & LLC ices Bottom Bailee Spear, Devon Energy Keeli Duncan, Northeastern Health Sys - Jericah Cummings, Paycom Payroll, LLC Becca Sullivan, Devon Energy tem Alyssa Grooms, Dunlap Codding PC Rickey Vick, Echo Energy Christian Dunsworth, The Children’s Bria Hanlon, Atkins & Markoff Hospital at OU Medical Center Morganne Lyon, Citizen Potawatomi Na - Finance Ana Garcia, Integris Medical Group tion Jentry Anderson, Stan Johnson Company Majed Gharfeh, Mercy Medical Center Telana McCullough, Legal Aid Services Matthew Jaeton Cary, Heartland Pay - Lindsay Grell, OU Medical Center of Oklahoma ment Systems Kristen Helmstetter, Bausch and Lomb Madison Mélon-McLawhorn, Oklahoma Logon Collins, Bank of Oklahoma Amber Lane, Integris Baptist Hospital County Public Defender Rachel Colvin, Cornerstone Home Lend - Manisha Patel, Teera Chiropractic & Stacy Schauvliege, Crowe & Dunlevy, ing Acupuncture P.C. Madilynn Dobson, Citizens Bank of Ed - Michelle Rodriguez, Saint Anthony Hos - mond pital/ United Nations Association Manufacturing, Industry, the Sierra Eberle, Arvest Bank OKC Trades Morgan Gould, Great Plains Technology Erin Smith, Pharmacy Providers of Okla - and Agriculture Center homa Arda Bulak, IMAX Corporation Ladye Hobson, First Liberty Bank Angela Surratt, Oklahoma State Univer - David Correll, Chickasaw nation Taylor Hutto, Bank of America sity Center for Health Sciences Katlyn Dodds, Choctaw Print Services Brett James, Edward Jones Tiffany Turner, Swallowing and Neurolog - NaCole Majors, SupplyOne, INC Manu - Matt Longacre, Frates Insurance & Risk ical Rehabilitation, LLC facturing Management Aislinn Peralta, Beacon Homes Meredith Massey, Kimray Inc. Hospitality Nathan Stepp, Oklahoma State Univer - Jaime Ortiz, Arvest Bank Jillian Bishop, Oklahoma Restaurant As - sity Maegan Plante, PLICO / MedPro Group sociation Marketing/Advertising Deborah Ripley, the Chickasaw Nation Rachelle Chibitty, Goodness Coffee Shop Grace Abblitt, VI Marketing and Brand - Ryan Russ, Ryan Russ State Farm Emily Conrad, SONIC, America’s Drive-In ing Jacob Williams, First United Bank Ashley Daniel, SONIC, America’s Drive-In Kristen Campbell, Remarkable Brands Richard Young, Arvest Bank Ricardo Lopez, Mama Rita’s Mexican Katherine Cunningham, Saxum Kitchen Leslie Denner, VI Marketing and Brand - Healthcare Erin McDaniel, Choctaw Nation of Okla - ing MaKenley Barton, Cherokee Nation- W.W. homa Matthew Farley, Freestyle Creative Hastings Hospital Jessica Pontious, SONIC, America’s Tyler Frederickson, Westminster Presby - Danica Brown, Oklahoma City Indian Drive-In terian Church Clinic Marissa Hooks, APMEX, Inc. Casey Butler, OU Health Sciences Center Law Jonathan Kelly, MYLE Agency Madison Carey, Cherokee Nation Busi - Stuart Ashworth, Holden & Carr Quinton Scott, LegalShield nesses James J. Biscone, Johnson & Biscone Blair Sims, Staplegun Bailee Cartwright, Faith Hospice of Travis Brown, Edinger Leonard & Blakley Andrew Theiss, XR Entertainment Oklahoma PLLC
40 ionOklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 Media/Public Relations Natalie Evans, Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Retail and E-Commerce Janelle Archer, BigWing Andrew Gray, Special Care, Inc. Olga Faulkner, 7-Eleven Stores David Dishman, Jones PR Charity Hitch, Christmas Cheer for Chil - Aamr Hasanjee, Paper Edit Pros Ryan Drake, The Spy FM dren Emily Hines, Addison Group Louie Elder, Cumulus Media Richard Lee Moore III, WATER4.ORG Sarah Johnson, Express Employment Chloe Gee, Vann & Associates | PR & Madison Nash, Oklahoma Hall of Fame Professionals Marketing Akash Patel, World Experiences Founda - Ryan Judd, Addison Group Joshua Hillard, Culture Educators of So - tion Lindsey Nantze, Express Employment ciety (CEOS) Hailey Payne, OSU Foundation Professionals Sarah Jones, The Chickasaw Nation Alyssa Peterson, Ubuntu Youth Samantha Payne, LegalShield Emma Kobs, The Scout Guide Oklahoma David Scott, Anadarko Chamber of Com - Chelsea Ricks, Chantilly Couture City merce Marcus Sams, Neely Design Tracie Lowmiller, Koch Communications Rachel Tribble, OSU Foundation Jonathan Willbanks, Willbanks Consult - Bethany Marshall, Timberlake Construc - Jose Vega, Oklahomans for Equality ing Group (WCG) tion Brad Ward, Honoring America’s Warriors Lauren McAfee, Hobby Lobby Stores Inc Natalie Wood, Regional Food Bank of Science, Technology and En - Kaitlyn Merrell, News 9 - KWTV - Griffin Oklahoma gineering Communications Tanner Boswell, WeGoLook Taylor Owen, The Chickasaw Nation Policy and Public Service Kolbi Claborn, Paycom Cindy Phillips, RML Construction Serv - Kasey Boes, Oklahoma Department of Kayla Coffey, Presidio ices Human Services Lani Gunderson, Timberlake Construc - Stephanie Remer, Cherokee Nation Cate Brantley, Oklahoma State Senate tion Co. Inc. Ashley Ross, Jones PR Scott Chance, Oklahoma Young Republi - Nathan Hawkins, Citizen Potawatomi Hannah Royce, Confidence Con cans Nation zack Walker, Jones PR Anna Farha, Oklahoma Insurance De - Tyler Holmes, GE Johnson Construction partment Company Non-Profit Organizations Kate Greer, Oklahoma House of Repre - Ambra Pastori, OMRF Sarah Ward, University of Central Okla - sentatives Courtney Radke, SONIC, America’s Drive- homa Austin Marshall, Oklahoma House of In Toni Allen, Allied Arts OKC Representatives Ryan Smith, Computer-Rx Cody Beach, Bristow Chamber of Com - Alicia “Annie” Menz, Oklahoma State Jaden Souther, Paycom merce Senate Kristi Spomer, Manhattan Construction Claire Belden, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Charlotte Mitchell, Oklahomans for Company America - Oklahoma County Lamb Sean Thomas, Express Employment Pro - Rachel Benbrook, Oklahoma State Uni - Jacob Ryan, Oklahomans for Lamb fessionals versity Foundation Blake Wieland, Oklahoma Department of Laura Breaux, Edmond Chamber of Agriculture, Food & Forestry Sports and Fitness Commerce Joel Wilson, United States Postal Service Nick Dorety, USA Softball Kathy Duck, Tulsa Regional Cecilia Granados, Nutrybody Shaper Chamber/Tulsa Small Business Con - Nick Kirk, Cherokee Nation nection Billy Long, Chickasaw Nation
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 41
44 ionOklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 BUSINESS
Board of Directors Names Polly Anderson as Executive Director
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK— The Oklahoma Educational Television almost immeasurable audience. Today, with OETA's Authority (OETA) announced today the hiring of Polly Anderson statewide network of four transmitting stations and 14 as the new Executive Director of OETA. Anderson has twenty translator stations, more than two million viewers tune into years experience in public media, having served as General OETA on a weekly basis. Manager/CEO at New Mexico PBS, WUCF in Orlando and KWBU TV/FM in Waco, Texas. She will be the fifth Executive •••••••• Director at OETA and the first woman to lead the organization. According to Garrett King, OETA Board Chair, “Polly Ander - OETA provides essential educational content and services son brings invaluable experience and perspective to the role that inform, inspire and connect Oklahomans to ideas and of OETA's chief executive. The OETA Board of Directors looks information that enrich our quality of life. We do this by con - forward to working with her to fulfill our mission of inform - sistently engaging Oklahomans with educational and public ing, inspiring, and connecting Oklahomans." television programming, providing educational training and According to Anderson, “I am honored to accept the curriculum, outreach initiatives and online features that col - board’s offer to lead OETA into a new era as new technology lectively encourage lifelong learning. For more information offers increased ways for OETA to be of service. This is an about education curriculum and programs, local produc - exciting time and I’m proud to lead this Oklahoma institu - tions, digital television, community resources and show tion that has been educating, enlightening and engaging schedules explore www.oeta.tv . n Oklahomans for over sixty years.” From humble beginnings in a basement classroom, OETA is now a statewide network that provides a diverse fare of television programs to viewers across Oklahoma and in sur - rounding states. OETA began with one transmitting station, little money, limited broadcast hours and a small and an
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 45 PEOPLE
Annie Oakley Society lnducts Famed Mystery Writer Mary Higgins Clark
BY M. J. VAN DEVENTER
ary Higgins Clark had to have been born on Christmas M Eve in 1927 on a dark and stormy night in The Bronx in New York City.
How else could she have become the world’s most fa - mous writer of scary, suspense novels set in mysterious, surprising locales? For her vast achievements, the Annie Oakley Society at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum inducted the “Queen of Suspense” as a member of this prestigious Society at its annual awards luncheon Sept- ember 14 at the Museum. Cathy Keating, Oklahoma’s former First Lady and the Society’s national chairman, said, “Mrs. Clark was chosen for this honor because she is a living example of Annie Oakley’s famous motto to ‘aim high’ and she is someone we hope young women and men will aspire to be.” There’s nothing mysterious about Higgins’ bio. She grew up in The Bronx and graduated from Fordham University. She married Warren Clark in 1949. They had five children. He died in 1964. In 1996, years after she was famous for her mystery tales, she married again Mary Higgins Clark to John Conheenye. Her first novel was Where Are The Children. The title This novel is set on a luxurious ocean liner, on its has to give pause about missing children. Her latest glamourous maiden voyage in the Trans-Atlantic novel, published in April 2017 is All By Myself, Alone. Ocean. The major characters are reprised from a previ - We suspect her second and last husband, John Con - ous novel — As Time Goes By , written in 2016. They heenye, may have died and Higgins went on a cruise in are likeable characters, previous cruise lottery winners search of a luxury setting and theme for her next novel. in another mystery story.
46 ion Oklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 Of course, there is a theft. There is also a limited sus - pect pool, a hallmark of Clark’s thrillers. Since that first ground-breaking novel, Higgins has written 54 best-selling novels with more than 100 mil - lion copies sold. Known as the “Queen of Suspense” and “A Mystery Doyenne,” she has 19 honorary doctor - ates, was named Chevalier of the Order of Arts & Letters in France and is a Grand Master of the Edgar Allan Poe Society. If those accolades aren’t daunting enough, Keating says Clark, in true Annie Oakley fashion, “gives gener - ously of her time, talent and resources and is an active advocate and participant in literacy programs.” Gary Moore, the museum’s chief financial officer and interim president, says, “Like so many aspects of the American West, our hallmark pioneer spirit isn’t con - fined to history, but rather continues to thrive in our current society. Mary Higgins Clark embodies that spirit, representing the best of the ‘West.’ “ Clark’s bio would shine like a star on a police blotter. She’s been #1 on the New York Times best seller list for longer than she can remember. She’s sold more than 100 million copies of her books. The Edgar – Grand Master Award is “The Oscar” for mystery writers. At 89, what more could the “Queen of Mystery” de - sire? She’s been “The Queen of Suspense” for 40 years. Mystery critics say her characters are “likeable.” Her limited suspect pool makes her suspense novels so easy to read. Her titles are compelling page-turners, another clue to her astounding success. The Annie Oakley Society is comprised of women leaders and philanthropists who, like Oakley, play sig - nificant roles in shaping communities and creating new horizons. To be selected, Society members must demonstrate determination for their goals, a passion for excellence, and support for the American character preserved and promoted through the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Previous Annie Oakley Award honorees include Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Reba McEntire, Admiral Michelle Howard, Donna Shirley, Nadia Comanecci and Kristin Chenoweth. n
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 47 SEPTEMBER 17, 2017
OCTOBER 22, 2017
NOVEMBER 12 & 19, 2017 Parts 1 and 2
DECEMBER 10, 2017
JANUARY 21, 2018
APRIL 15, 2018
MAY 6, 2018
Download the New VPAC at OCCC Mobile App Now!
*All**AAll eventseevvents areare eencorencore ppresentationsresentations pre-recordedpre-recorded ’live’’live’ ffromrom LLondon’sondon’s WestWWeest EndEnd inin HHighigh DefinitionDefinition (HD).(HD). ART Museum Retrospective Honors Jerome Tiger’s Life and Art
BY M. J. VAN DEVENTER
EDITOR’S NOTE: The author of this article knew he National Cowboy & Western Heritage Jerome Tiger while he was attending Muskogee Museum is celebrating the life and art of Central High School and has been researching his T Jerome Tiger during a nine-month retro - life and art since the mid-1970’s. She recently spective exhibit that continues through was guest speaker on “Jerome Tiger’s Life and Art” May 13, 2018. at the Five Civilized Tribes Museum in Muskogee. Tiger died August 13, 1967, at age 26. He had just begun to She is completing a book titled “Jerome Tiger – enjoy the fruits of his fame as a Muscogee (Creek) and Semi - The Enduring Influence” nole artist when his life was cut short by an accidental shooting. Travelers by Jerome Tiger. Growing up in Eufaula and Muskogee, Tiger loved drawing and painting but had a disdain for school. His art teacher at Muskogee Central High School, Willie Miller, saw his poten - tial, however, and encouraged him. She saved as many of his paintings as she could. Still, Jerome dropped out of school at age 16 to join the Navy. Returning home to Muskogee, he worked a while for Teel’s Laundry and then began his brief, celebrated career. His first taste of success in 1962 was a show at the Muskogee Public Library. The exhibit was so successful, Tiger was over - heard having this phone conversation with a friend during the show: “Get me some paper, paints ... as much as you can,” he pleaded. “This is the best thing going I’ve ever had.” The Philbrook Museum of Art was the most important cata - lyst that furthered his early career. He submitted paintings to the museum’s American Indian Artists Annual in 1962 and his career blossomed. He won the top prize ~ $150. By the end of 1962, wherever Oklahoma artists and collectors were gathered, people were asking, “Have you got a Tiger?” His widow, the late Peggy Richmond Tiger, recalled in a 1984 interview, “Jerome painted quickly. Most of the time the paintings were sold before the tempera paints were even dry. He never wanted to keep anything. He just wanted to get it
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ion Oklahoma 49 His Home by Jerome Tiger. down on paper... give it away or sell it.” By the mid-1960s, a Jerome Tiger painting, with its pale, soft colors ~ especially his famous “Tiger Blue” ~ and his razor thin lines and three dimensional qualities became the status symbol of the mid-1960s for Native American art. During his brief career, Tiger drew praise from many of his fellow Native American artists, even though he broke with the prevailing traditions of Native American art at that time. lowed in his footsteps as an artist, us can learn from and hold dear Santa Fe artist and teacher Lloyd said of her father, “I think he set the from now on. He was able to make Kiva New praised Tiger, not for art world wide open. It was within the art world take notice.” being Indian, but for “painting out his spirit to create his own art ~ to His death was a crushing blow to of his culture. Jerome had the abil - tell his story of his people with pas - his collectors and his patroness, ity to imagine, dream, reconstruct sion and a perfect color sense. As Nettie Wheeler of Muskogee. She and express his culture in artistic young as he was, he created a style said, “A bright light has gone out.” terms.” that was all his own that the rest of Few Tiger paintings traded hands Jerome’s daughter, Dana, who fol - with the news of his shocking death. Today, the largest collections of his work are housed in the galleries and archives of the National Cowboy Museum, the Five Civilized Tribes Museum in Muskogee, Gilcrease and Philbrook Museums of Art in Tulsa. Tiger not only drew the at - tention of museum officials and curators. Other Native American artists followed his work. The late Woody Crumbo was a staunch advo - cate of traditional flat, two-dimensional Indian art. “Then Jerome came along,” Crumbo noted in a Chronicles of Oklahoma interview. “He had not been exposed to much traditional Indian art and was not contami - nated by any trend of thought. He paid little attention to flat lines and
Stickball by Jerome Tiger.
50 ionOklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 The-Coming-Weather-1 by Jerome Tiger. traditional use of color. There was a softness, a fineness, a real delicacy that he achieved through gradation of color tones that were both fresh and pleasing.” The late Solomon McCombs also admired Jerome’s work. They shared much in common. Both had roots in Eufaula; both were perfectionists. They portrayed the stories they had heard from their grandparents about Native history. Both had painting styles reflecting a delicacy of ap - proach. And they respected each other’s talents. McCombs watched Tiger’s talent emerge from the cocoon of tradi - tional Native art. “He was very Native Son,” which was staged from gone. Jerome Tiger now belongs to talented at drawing and sketching October 2000 through May 2001. the ages, but his talent will live on and he took Indian art away from its Arthur Silberman wrote the narra - forever.” flat, traditional two-dimensional tive for that retrospective and noted: Art critics and collectors have style,” he said. “Jerome was much more than pondered the question for the past The late Anne Morand, a previous merely a promising young painter. half a century, What was Jerome’s Curator of Art for the National Cow - By the time of his death, he was a greatest talent? boy Museum, said, “Jerome was on fully developed mature artist at the Rennard Strickland, an emeritus the cusp of change in Indian art height of his powers. He had inno - faculty member of the University of while he was painting. He was vated more, contributed more, and Oklahoma Law School and an art young, forward thinking. I would painted more magnificent paintings collector said, “He was painting an rank him with Fritz Scholder and T. than many whose careers spanned idealized version of the American C. Cannon for being among the cat - several decades.” Indian. The most distinguishing alysts for change in Indian art in the Since then, Tiger’s art has been characteristic is that his work is just 1960s and 1970s.” featured in a variety of exhibitions so elegantly simple. His influence is One of Tiger’s greatest friends and at the National Cowboy Museum, most strongly felt in the subject collectors was the late Arthur Sil - featuring a Native American theme. matter he chose ~ the spirit ascen - berman. He and his wife Shifra had In 1978, Silberman grouped Na - sions, the modified burials, the Trail zealously collected Jerome’s art. tive American artists Blackbear of Tears. Peggy Tiger considered the Silber - Bosin, Oscar Howe and Rafael Strickland addded, “I miss the mans “Jerome’s greatest collectors.” Medina, with Tiger as “leaders in humor in his work and I think he The Silbermans gave their vast the trend toward more powerful and would be astonished or at least curi - collection of Native American art to moving statements in the genre of ously surprised, about the the National Cowboy Museum in the Native American art.” seriousness with which his work is late 1990s, during the tenure of B. Commenting on Jerome’s death, regarded today.” Byron Price, then the museum’s ex - Arthur Silberman said, “With his The late Nettie Wheeler said sim - ecutive director. The museum tragic death, a genius was lost and a ply, “You can feel the cold and the featured part of that collection in an talent equal to none of its kind is wind in a Jerome Tiger painting.” exhibition titled “Jerome Tiger ~ n
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 51 PEOPLE
Crawford’s Mission to Sierra Leone BY TIM FARLEY
Above, Jerome and Shana Crawford with villagers.
Below, Sierra Leone is located in West Africa. hile sitting in church shortly after Hurricane Harvey hit south Texas, Jerome Crawford had W an epiphany. He knew at that moment that he and his wife, Shana, should return to Sierra Leone in West Africa to take care of people suffering from tragedies similar to those in Houston and other parts of Texas. At the time, Sierra Leone was undergoing tremendous flooding and mudslides. There were reports that more than 1,000 people were dead or missing and fears persisted that disease could be forthcoming on an epi - demic scale. “As the preacher was talking, I thought how blessed we are in the United States,” Jerome Crawford said. “I just felt this conviction to go at that time.” Immediately, the Crawfords – acting as unpaid missionaries - put the word out that they were leaving to help the people of Sierra Leone and
52 ion Oklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 Shana Crawford at the Polio Camp. would need 10 tons of food and 20,000 bottles of drinking could make the trip since there were seven children to care water. It didn’t take long before donors gave the Crawfords all for. After much prayer, one of the grandparents stepped up they needed. and took care of the children so Shana could make the trip. It wouldn’t be the first time the Edmond residents had been Almost as miraculous, the extra money needed for the mission to Sierra Leone. They work with an orphanage and provide of mercy came at the last hour. supplies to surrounding remote villages. They’ve also worked Before leaving the U.S., Shana Crawford watched a video of jointly with Komeo International Ministries. a woman in Sierra Leone. The woman spoke about losing The Crawford couple and their seven children – five adopted seven of her children and grandchildren to the flooding and from the foreign orphanage - lived in Sierra Leone as mission - mudslides. Seven other close family members and friends also aries and have been part of numerous mission trips during died. the last nine years. After arriving in Sierra Leone, the Crawfords found the But this time, it was inconceivable that Shana Crawford woman who lost her family.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 53 Above: a widow at the Missionary house received prayers and help with food and living expenses. Top right: Shana with a village girl. Bottom right: villagers gather around the fresh water source.
“We were able to minister to her,” Jerome said. “We gave her food and money to live on. We prayed with her and gave her hope and a message of comfort.” Regrettably, Sierra Leone has the worst infant mortality rate in the world and people ages 15-29 are prone to early death. The Crawfords spent 11 days in Sierra Leone distributing food, clean water, medical supplies and clothing to people who suffer from various diseases and government persecution. “There are people there with missing legs, arms and in wheel - chairs,” Jerome said. “It was really hard to come home this time. My wife was weeping when we left.” Helping the children and villagers get proper medical care was another goal during the September trip. “Hundreds of people lined up with sick kids,” Jerome said. “We also went to a remote village where Islamic extremists had torn down a church and solar well, which produces clean water for
54 ionOklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 Left: Shana Crawford with the village Christians. Below: Shana with a widowed villager.
the people there. It was a great joy to help them rebuild the well.” While in Sierra Leone, Jerome contracted malaria, which raised his body temperature to 105 degrees. He was still sick days after returning home. “I carried local medicine with me and I started taking it after the symptoms started,” he said. The missionaries also passed out Bibles to people in the villages and towns and to the military personnel they encountered. “Even the military was thankful for all the food and water we brought,” Jerome said. “There were 30 Christians in that one camp.” One of the military leaders told the missionaries the Bibles were a blessing to have in addition to the food and water. Komeo President Shana Gibelyou said seven older children from orphanage helped the Crawfords distribute the food and water. These children were orphaned because of Sierra Leone’s civil war, which ended in 2002 after 11 years and 50,000 casualties. Other children were orphaned from the two-year Ebola virus epidemic which ended in 2016 and killed more than 11,000 people. For more information on Komeo International Ministries and sponsorships, visit www.komeo.org n
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 55 PEOPLE
Keep Oklahoma Beautiful
BY TIM FARLEY
nvironmental enthusiasts and the or - FOLLOWING ARE THE FINALISTS IN EACH CATEGORY. ganizations they represent will be honored Nov. 18 by Keep Oklahoma Affiliate Champions E Patty Daniel of Team Up to Clean UP Beautiful. The annual awards ceremony and banquet will be held at Suzy Meibergen of Keep Enid Beautiful the Embassy Suites in Norman. A reception and fundraiser is Patricia Hardy of Owasso Strong Neighborhood Initiative 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner seating at 6:30 and the Janice Sappington of Ardmore Beautification Council awards presentation at 7. “Each year, we give a variety of awards,” said Natalie Evans, Affiliate of the Year spokeswoman for Keep Oklahoma Beautiful. “What’s really spe - Neighborhood Solutions cial is we recognize people from all over the state. These are Okeene Historic Preservation Group people who come together and share like-minded work. It’s an Keep Enid Beautiful exciting night and each year it’s a big celebration.” Ardmore Beautification Council Individuals and organizations were nominated from June 5- Aug. 5. Judges who determine the finalists and winners are from various professions such as the business world and edu - cation. “All of the judges are from outside Keep Oklahoma Beautiful and its board of directors and staff,” Evans said. Nominations must pertain to environmental improvement and sustainable practices; beautification and landscaping; classroom, workshop conference and online training; or com - munications and public awareness. The award categories are KOB Youth Award, Business, Collegiate Effort, K-12 Educators & Educational Institu - tions, Law Enforcement, Government Programs, Nonprofit Organization, Volunteer Community Group, Affiliate Cham - pion and Team Builders.
Uncapped 2016 award winner.
56 ion Oklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 Up With Trees 2016 award winner.
Municipality Less than 40,000 Population City of Collinsville Muskogee Municipal Authority Owasso Strong Neighborhood Initiative City of Comanche
Great American Cleanup Awards Durant Area Chamber of Commerce Team Up to Clean Up Garber 4- City of Grove Enid 4-H Adair County Trash Off
Volunteer Community Group Blue River Fishers K-12 Education sory Board Hennessey Girl Scouts Troop #739 Durant Intermediate School Green Team Tulsa’s Household Pollutant Collection Lake McMurtry Friends Edmond Doyle Elementary School Facility Will Rogers Elementary School Tushka High School
KOB Youth Award Beyond the Classroom’s Rhodes and Drue Molenda and Boston Carter McAlester High School Student Council Newkirk Junior Main Street Okeene 4-H Club
Law Enforcement Jacob Briggs with Canadian County Sheriff’s Office OK Department of Environmental Quality Criminal Investigations Unit Municipality More than 40,000 Population Midwest City Norman Utilities Department Norman’s Environmental Control Advi -
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 57 Urban Soul award winner 2016.
Nonprofit of McAlester, McAlester Masons, Choctaw Nation Youth Ad - Wagoner Switch District Main St. visory Board). Ardmore Beautification Council Martin Park Nature Center Revitalization Project (Participating Pride in McAlester groups include OK Forestry Services, OKC Beautiful, P&K Up With Trees Equipment, Premier Trucking, OKC Community Foundation, Community Market of Pottawatomie County WarrenCAT and OKC Parks and Recreation). Special Care The Nature Conservancy Business Republic Services Team Builder Queen Bri’s Honey Farm & Bee Removal Twin Cities Revitalization Project (Participating groups include Dolese Equipment, Pittsburg Co. District 1, Nimrod Con - Collegiate Effort struction, Twin Cities Ready Mix, Harris Construction, University of Central Oklahoma Sherwin Williams and Allied Waste). OPSU Upward Bound Crow Creek Revitalization (Participating groups include City of Tulsa, Tulsa Co. Conservation District, The M.e.t. and OK State Government Conservation Commission). Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Ignite McAlester Bicycle Refurbishing (Participating groups Grand River Dam Authority include Ignite McAlester, City of McAlester, Boys and Girls Oklahoma Department of Transportation & Oklahoma Conser - Club of McAlester, Pittsburg Co. Health Dept., Rotary Club vation Commission n
58 ionOklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017
BUSINESS
BENEFIT EVENT
ROCKED PRTOVIDEDH PHOTOSE BLOCK
Dolese trucks at Rock the Block.
Even one piece of construction equipment can be an attention-getter. It becomes a community event when about 20 pieces of heavy duty machinery with their massive tires and lofty seats are gathered in one area for the public to explore. That was the goal for Rock the Block held recently near Automobile Alley downtown. Sponsored by Dolese Bros. Co. and dubbed a con - struction industry touch-a-truck event, it thrilled young and old as they climbed in and on the equipment. A fire truck, Oklahoma High - way Patrol cruiser and waste management curb pick-up truck also got plenty of attention. Though free, a can of food was the suggested donation for the event, a benefit for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Rock the Block donated $1,600 ¸
60 ion Oklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 Clockwise from the top: A large crane at Rock the Block. A young boy sits in an OG&E truck at Rock the Block. Three kids are ready to go in an old Dolese truck. Above: A large Catepillar truck tilts its bed. Left: Different decades of Dolese trucks. Below left: A boy shows he can reach the pedals in the cab of heavy equipment. Below: Will the real Corporal B. Tangney please step forward! Above: Corporal Kelley lets a young admirer try out his gear Right: A little boy checks out a Ditch Witch. to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and 600 pounds of food to the Regional Food Bank. Dolese said the event attracted an estimated 1,000 people, all eager to see the display of just about every piece of equipment needed to build a road, bridge or building. Many of the exhibitors brought multiple ve - hicles. After a successful debut, Dolese said it is already planning to host the event next year. Along with Dolese, a variety of construction indus - try partners displayed vehicles and equipment including ACI Concrete Placement; Action Safety Sup - ply Co.; Bobcat of Oklahoma City; CL Boyd; Ditch Witch of Oklahoma; Haskell Lemon Construction Co.; Herzog Stacy and Witbeck; Kirby-Smith Machinery Inc.; Insulated Concrete Forms and More; OCT Equip - ment; Oklahoma City Fire Department; Oklahoma Gas and Electric; Oklahoma Highway Patrol; Warren CAT; and Van Keppel. n XXX
Home Games in boldface 2017-2018 OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER BASKETBALL SEASON Thu Oct 19th 7:00pm New York Knicks Oklahoma City Watch the game on TNT. Sat Oct 21 8:00pm Utah Jazz Salt Lake City Sun Oct 22 6:00pm Minnesota Timberwolves Oklahoma City Wed Oct 25 7:00pm Indiana Pacers Oklahoma City Fri Oct 27 7:00pm Minnesota Timberwolves Minneapolis Watch the game on NBATV Sat Oct 28 7:00pm Chicago Bulls Chicago Tue Oct 31 7:00pm Milwaukee Bucks Milwaukee Watch the game on NBATV Fri Nov 3 8:30pm Boston Celtics Oklahoma City Watch the game on ESPN. Sun Nov 5 8:00pm Portland Trail Blazers Portland Tue Nov 7 9:00pm Sacramento Kings Sacramento Watch the game on NBATV Thu Nov 9 9:30pm Denver Nuggets Denver Watch the game on TNT Fri Nov 10 8:00pm LA Clippers Oklahoma City Sun Nov 12 6:00pm Dallas Mavericks Oklahoma City Wed Nov 15 7:00pm Chicago Bulls Oklahoma City Fri Nov 17 7:00pm San Antonio Spurs San Antonio Watch the game on ESPN Mon Nov 20 7:00pm New Orleans Pelicans New Orleans Wed Nov 22 7:00pm Golden State Warriors Oklahoma City Watch the game on ESPN Fri Nov 24 7:00pm Detroit Pistons Oklahoma City Sat Nov 25 7:30pm Dallas Mavericks Dallas Wed Nov 29 6:00pm Orlando Magic Orlando Fri Dec 1 7:00pm Minnesota Timberwolves Oklahoma City Watch the game on NBATV Sun Dec 3 6:00pm San Antonio Spurs Oklahoma City Watch the game on NBATV Tue Dec 5 7:00pm Utah Jazz Oklahoma City Thu Dec 7 9:00pm Brooklyn Nets Mexico City Sat Dec 9 8:00pm Memphis Grizzlies Memphis Mon Dec 11 7:00pm Charlotte Hornets Oklahoma City Wed Dec 13 6:00pm Indiana Pacers Indianapolis Watch the game on ESPN Fri Dec 15 6:00pm Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia Watch the game on ESPN Sat Dec 16 6:30pm New York Knicks New York City Mon Dec 18 7:00pm Denver Nuggets Oklahoma City Watch the game on NBATV Wed Dec 20 7:00pm Utah Jazz Oklahoma City Fri Dec 22 7:00pm Atlanta Hawks Oklahoma City Sat Dec 23 7:00pm Utah Jazz Salt Lake City Mon Dec 25 7:00pm Houston Rocket Oklahoma City Watch the game on ABC Wed Dec 27 7:00pm Toronto Raptors Oklahoma City Watch the game on NBATV Fri Dec 29 7:00pm Milwaukee Bucks Oklahoma City Sun Dec 31 6:00pm Dallas Mavericks Oklahoma City 64 ion Oklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 2018 Wed Jan 3 9:30pm Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles Watch the game on ESPN Thu Jan 4 9:30pm LA Clippers Los Angeles Watch the game on TNT Sun Jan 7 7:00pm Phoenix Suns Phoenix Tue Jan 9 7:00pm Portland Trail Blazers Oklahoma City Watch the game on NBATV Wed Jan 10 7:00pm Minnesota Timberwolves Minneapolis Watch the game on ESPN Sat Jan 13 4:00pm Charlotte Hornets Charlotte Mon Jan 15 2:00pm Sacramento Kings Oklahoma City Wed Jan 17 7:00pm Los Angeles Lakers Oklahoma City Watch the game on ESPN Sat Jan 20 2:30pm Cleveland Cavaliers Cleveland Watch the game on ABC Tue Jan 23 7:00pm Brooklyn Nets Oklahoma City Thu Jan 25 7:00pm Washington Wizards Oklahoma City Watch the game on TNT Sat Jan 27 6:00pm Detroit Pistons Detroit Sun Jan 28 5:00pm Philadelphia 76ers Oklahoma City Watch the game on ESPN Tue Jan 30 6:00pm Washington Wizards Washington DC Thu Feb 1 9:30pm Denver Nuggets Denver Watch the game on TNT Fri Feb 2 8:00pm New Orleans Pelicans Oklahoma City Sun Feb 4 1:00pm Los Angeles Lakers Oklahoma City Watch the game on ABC Tue Feb 6 9:30pm Golden State Warriors Oakland Watch the game on TNT Thu Feb 8 9:30pm Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles Watch the game on TNT Sun Feb 11 6:00pm Memphis Grizzlies Oklahoma City Tue Feb 13 7:00pm Cleveland Cavaliers Oklahoma City Watch the game on TNT Wed Feb 14 7:00pm Memphis Grizzlies Memphis Thu Feb 22 9:00pm Sacramento Kings Sacramento Sat Feb 24 7:30pm Golden State Warriors Oakland Watch the game on ABC Mon Feb 26 7:00pm Orlando Magic Oklahoma City Wed Feb 28 7:30pm Dallas Mavericks Dallas, TX Fri March 2 8:00pm Phoenix Suns Phoenix Sat March 3 9:00pm Portland Trail Blazers Portland Tue March 6 7:00pm Houston Rockets Oklahoma City Watch the game on TNT Thu March 8 7:00pm Phoenix Suns Oklahoma City Sat March 10 7:30pm San Antonio Spurs Oklahoma City Watch the game on ABC Mon March 12 7:00pm Sacramento Kings Oklahoma City Tue March 13 6:30pm Atlanta Hawks Atlanta Fri March 16 7:00pm LA Clippers Oklahoma City Watch the game on NBATV Sun March 18 12:00pm Toronto Raptors Toronto Tue March 20 7:00pm Boston Celtics Boston Watch the game on TNT Fri March 23 7:00pm Miami Heat Oklahoma City Sun March 25 6:00pm Portland Trail Blazers Oklahoma City Thu March 29 7:00pm San Antonio Spurs San Antonio Watch the game on TNT Fri March 30 7:00pm Denver Nugget Oklahoma City Sun April 1 5:00pm New Orleans Pelicans New Orleans Tue April 3 7:00pm Golden State Warriors Oklahoma City Watch the game on TNT Sat April 7 7:30pm Houston Rockets Houston Watch the game on ABC Mon April 9 6:30pm Miami Heat Miami Wed April 11 7:00pm Memphis Grizzlies Oklahoma City EDUCATION
A Retrospective MAPS for Kids, lawsuit has common denominator
BY JOHN THOMPSON
n the same day that journalist Pat conversations. McGuigan visited our John Marshall THE PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION of Teachers O High School classroom, The Oklahoman local union, Ted Metsher, and I served on the MAPS Student had editorialized in favor of “community Achievement Committee along with two Republican oilmen policing” and crime sweeps in their neighbor - (including Ray Potts, whose wife Pat now leads the Potts Fam - hood, which is North Highland. ily Foundation.) Committee members like the late John Rex McGuigan described crime sweeps as irregular patrols of schooled me on the importance of early education, while busi - high-crime neighborhoods. From all over the room, the stu - ness leaders such as Bruce Day and Sonic CEO Cliff Hudson, dents retorted, “Yeah, every Tuesday and Thursday in the who would soon become the first Chairman of the School Highland.” Board, guided us through a planning McGuigan then explained that MAPS promised the process based on the nation’s best so - sweeps had to be unpredict-able or voters a comprehensive cial science. they would not be effective. A high point of our collaborative “Yeah, every Tuesday and Thursday,” plan to improve planning effort was when the League the students muttered again. student achievement. of Women Voters contributed to the McGuigan added, “Sweeps could not process by bringing John Q. Easton, stop drivers just because of their race because that who later became the head of the American In - would be racial profiling...” stitute of Research’s “What Works “Yeah, they also stop us for just walking!” was Clearinghouse.” He explained why our high- the reply from students. challenge schools could not be turned McGuigan shifted gears and listened to the true around without first building trusting rela - experts on community policing, crime sweeps and tionships. racial profiling in the Marshall neighborhood. MAPS promised the voters a comprehensive McGuigan was one of many community leaders plan to improve student achievement. The heart who engaged with JMHS students during the of the agenda was collaboration, high-quality MAPS for Kids collaborative process for raising preschool, diagnostic assessments to ensure read - taxes and improving student achievement in the ing comprehension by third grade, site-based Oklahoma City Public Schools. To my knowledge, management, and community outreach. MAPS em - he was the only one who subsequently switched braced peer review as a method for efficiently careers and became a much-beloved inner city removing ineffective teachers. An early warning teacher. It is fair to say, however, that we were all system for addressing absenteeism before it grew into changed by these wonderful cross-generational, cross-racial a chronic problem was proposed.
66 ion Oklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 MAPS promised that its purpose was not increasing test and redirected resources in that direction. The OKCPS had to scores, per se, but increasing student learning measured, in obey a federal law that incentivized top-down administration, part, by standardized tests. just as it was tasked with establishing its opposite—site- MAPS also recommended the reorganization of failing mid - based management. MAPS promised a comprehensive system dle schools as pre-kindergarten to 8th grade schools as a way of alternative education that many administrators thought to break up the critical masses of harder-to-educate 7th and was contradictory to the thrust of leaving no child behind. 8th graders. The point where MAPS was most different MAPS conceived of education as a holistic, team-like process, from the traditional, progressive approach to school while NCLB was based on the theory that the better instruc - improvement by promising “Rolls Royce-quality” al - tion, data, and accountability shortcut would close the ternative schools for students with disciplinary or achievement gap. truancy problems. It also endorsed charter schools. ABOVE ALL, MAPS SAW EDUCATION as too important to be I was given a brief leave of absence from the left just to the educators. NCLB, however, placed adminis - classroom to conduct a listening tour of 70 schools trators, who knew how to massage accountability numbers, spread across the sprawling community. Especially back in the driver’s seat. when visiting schools in the northwest part of the city MAPS taught us that in education, we tend to be “two where many middle-class whites peoples divided by a common language.” Patience is nec - remained in the district, I saw instruction that was essary to learn how to converse with each other. We must fantastic. create safe places at the table so that all I also witnessed wildly disparate condi - I witnessed wildly stakeholders feel secure enough to speak tions across the city. Especially on the their minds. We need to institutionalize the historically African-American eastside and disparate conditions clash of ideas expressed in different termi - southside, where schools were dispropor - across the city. nologies. Unless collaboration is open and tionately black, Hispanic, American Indian, deliberative, people of goodwill get caught and working class white, I often saw decay and neglect. in a cycle where we repeatedly talk past each other. Vines grew through broken mortar of an elementary We now have a new opportunity to rebuild the MAPS part - school building, letting the winter wind swirl through the nerships, which called for both a tax increase and a humane, classrooms. At Harding Middle School, next to my house, science-based plan for improving schools. Today, we could I also saw math classes of more than thirty students join in the process where the OKCPS Board of Education in where two-thirds of them had learning disabilities. I investigating a lawsuit arguing that the chronic under - also saw out-of-control students building a mountain funding of public schools violates the Oklahoma of desks and pushing each other off it. Constitution. As with MAPS, such an effort should be ac - Especially in schools that embraced site based man - companied by an open and collaborative process where agement, and even before tax receipts were increased, the district listens to the full range of community share - MAPS produced notable improvements. But then came the holders, as well as our students. n No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. This meant that the OKCPS was torn between two masters mandating policies John Thompson is a retired school teacher. He currently that were inherently incompatible. serves as an education writer for various publications and It would have been difficult enough for a district to offer blogs. high-quality early education as MAPS pledged, but NCLB changed the primary focus to grades three through eight
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 67 REVIEW
‘Some Form of Grace’ book launch Oklahoma author sheds light on ex-prisoners, their obstacles
BY MICHELLE WATTS
ee Dee Chumley is using Oklahoma’s “I am what I am. I think that for me that was a real treatment of ex-cons to make a point in epiphany as a writer when you figure out your voice. I think D her new book “Some Form of Grace,” that is for any writer because you have to bring that authen - which hits the streets Oct. 28. ticity of who you are to your writing. I’m kind of humorous “Some Form of Grace” is Chumley’s second book. Her first novel, “Beyond the Farthest Star,” won the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation “Best Juvenile Book” in 2012. Chumley also writes short stories and placed as a finalist in the Southern Writers Magazine Short Story Contest this year with her story “The Sound of Vigilance.” Chumley takes inspiration from her sur - roundings when she writes and talks about how she stays genuine in her writing. Chumley’s success as a writer wasn’t instantaneous. She is part of a writing group that formed 13 years ago and started with a few teachers who wanted to share their writing experi - ences. At the time, Chumley was an Edmond Memorial High School English teacher and girls’ tennis coach. Between the group of writers, they have published more than four books. As they got more serious about writing, the ladies joined the Oklahoma Writers Federation, a nonprofit writing community that includes writers not just from Okla - homa but also Texas, Kansas, and Arkansas. The group still comes together on occasions, such as a recent retreat that Chumley attended. Chumley, with her pleasant, songlike voice, recalled for ionOklahoma the inspiration for her most recent book.
68 ion Oklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 [and] I am kind of sarcastic, that comes out in my charac - situation in Oklahoma is terrible. ters,” she said. Not only the prisons but when they get out, the overwhelm - Gracene, the protagonist in Some Form of Grace , just got re - ing odds that they face. I wanted to make a social statement leased from prison and fabricates her faith to join a Christian about that but also when I was considering writing this book halfway house called Transformation Place. The location and [my] pastor, Dr. Adrian Cole at New Covenant, was doing a se - Gracene are inspired by a local ministry in Oklahoma City, Ex - ries of sermons on God’s grace. I wanted to combine those two odus House. It is a faith-based, residential program that and give the message about God’s helps to integrate ex-prison - grace. Nothing is beyond His forgive - ers back into society. ness,” she said. Chumley started volunteering Chumley will have her book launch at the organization through at Exodus House on October 28. her church, New Covenant When her writing group asked her Methodist, and was touched what they should bring, Chumley by the stories she heard. These told them she thought bread pud - accounts helped to inspire ding would be a good dessert Gracene’s tragic past. She is a option. She is so fond of the woman who feels she cannot dessert that it made an appear - acquire forgiveness and even ance in her novel. that she doesn’t deserve her “I love bread pudding. If some - own name. body has got it, I have to sample “[Gracene] got her name from it to see which is the best. It was her mother who when she was a little thing that went into my born said the only name to suit story,” she said. her was some form of grace,” When asked if there was a fa - Chumley explains. “Gracene does - vorite bread pudding of hers, n’t ever think she is worthy of [her] she laughed and said pretty name because she’s big, clumsy, much anything was good ex - and never felt like she was beauti - cept one thing—no raisins. ful. As she goes through the book, When Chumley isn’t writing she starts to learn some of the other or volunteering, she loves to definitions of grace. She finds out travel and visit her family about God’s grace and forgiveness,” with her husband who is also retired. said Chumley. Learn more about Dee Dee Chumley on her blog, Some Form of Grace is also located in Oklahoma City. One of www.deedeechumley.com and Exodus House on their Facebook Chumley’s hopes is that her book will help to shed light on the page, www.facebook.com/ExodusHouseOkc. limited opportunities for ex-prisoners in Oklahoma once they Some Form of Grace is available for purchase on Amazon. n are released. “I want people to be aware of [this] ministry. The prisoner
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 69
LEADERSHIP Leading is a Lifestyle
BY GARLAND MCWATTERS
eaders lead, not out of a craving for power, but out of a sincere de - L sire to help make things better for all concerned. When called upon to step forward in leadership, yes is their de - fault answer. For them, leading is a lifestyle. It is my privilege and joy to meet many such leaders and save their stories on my podcast, The Spirit of Leading . http://www.inpoweredtolead.com/sol-podcast/ . Here are three examples.
Above: Walkers of all ages protest human trafficking at Tulsa A21 event Right: Meg Weinkauf, Lynda McWatters, Garland McWatters community of Tulsa. She heard Christine Caine, the founder of A21, an international organization combat - Stopping human trafficking: Meg Weinkauf ing human trafficking, speak in 2010 about the problem Meg Weinkauf is one of those kind of leaders. The and was moved to act. call Meg answered was to help create awareness for Weinkauf recalled, “It absolutely broke my heart. I human trafficking around the world and in her own learned about the issue. The only thing I could think to
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ion Oklahoma 71 Left: Meg Weinkauf
Above: Meg Weinkauf charges up crowd before A21 anti-human trafficking walk do at the time was be educated and to educate others.” Helping young people find their voice Meg began volunteering in local shelters and with a at DaVerse Lounge: Will Richey non-profit helping girls being aged out of the foster care Will Richey turned his passion for poetry and story - system. Subsequently, she met Annie Pekins, co- telling into helping young people find their voice to founder of Unlock Freedom and learned about the express their needs, longings, and joys. scope and impact of human trafficking in Oklahoma. “We are all created equal, and the only way to super One of the facts that hit Weinkauf was how the traf - acknowledge that is by noticing on a human level the ficking of young girls for sex is hidden in plain sight. power of our stories to have an impact on one another,” “I learned shockingly how many of our kids in school he said. today are being trafficked in the nights or on the week - Will joined with fellow artists in Dallas and created a ends, and then they are going to school during the day,” project where students in mid-high and high school she said. could put their needs and feelings to song and poetry Meg got involved with the A21 movement and be - and find a creative satisfaction in presenting their came the Tulsa director of the A21 Walk for Freedom. works. The result was a quarterly production in the Several hundred people of all ages joined in the annual Deep Ellum arts district at the DaVerse Lounge. walk October 14 that took place in dozens of countries Richey and his artist friends have developed a cur - and hundreds of cities worldwide. Listen to her podcast riculum for their approach tht is used in Dallas schools at http://www.inpoweredtolead.com/035-meg-weinkauf- and with corporate clients. Will tells his story on The dare-go-podcast/ Spirit of Leading podcast http://www.inpoweredtolead. Meg was recognized in the 2016 NextGen Under 30 com/023-finding-voice-will-richey-daverse-lounge/ class, presented by OknStyle publications and iON Oklahoma magazine.
72 ionOklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 Leading is their lifestyle Each of the stories above has a common thread: Weinkauf, Richey, and Perieda saw an opportunity to make things better, and they acted on it. They were compelled to act on their passion. To let that opportu- nity pass would have been denying something central to their make up. From each of them I learned that passion drives ac- tion, and when one takes focused action, amazing results can flow. Leaders live with that kind of expecta- tion. Like I said, leading is a lifestyle. n
Above: Daniela Perieda Right: Will shows Garland a word poster.
Building families while learning a second language: Daniela Perieda Daniela Perieda of Oklahoma City learned to speak English as a young girl in her native Columbia by being immersed in conversing only in English. When she realized how much she enjoyed teaching Spanish to American children, she knew she wanted to use the immersion approach to start a school. The Bilingual Family school was born. Perieda teaches family units in an immersion setting so they all learn together to speak a second language over time. She said one misunderstanding many adults have is that they think they can start speaking a second language by learning vocabulary, and when they don’t catch on as fast they lose interest. “They actually have to start from zero and have sim- ple sentences and make mistakes and be OK with sounding like a child for a while until they can develop those skills,” she said. Perieda calls herself a compassionate entrepreneur because instead of feeling like she has to rush to the THE AUTHOR — Garland McWatters teaches and writes about top as quickly as possible, it is more important to, “add leadership and developing INPowering people. He hosts The value and giving value to the people you serve and Spirit of Leading podcast. Garland travels throughout Okla- changing their lives.” homa promoting NextGen Oklahoma Leaders. Contact: Perieda’s Spirit of Leading podcast is available at [email protected]. He lives in Tulsa. http://www.inpoweredtolead.com/019-turning-big- dream-business-podcast/
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 73 HEALTH HEALTH CARE in AMERICA October 2017 is National Health Literacy Month
BY DON SWIFT
veryone would agree that the health care system in America and around the world is broken and struggling E with alarming, escalating costs, despite the hard work of well-intentioned and well trained doctors, clinicians, and medical researchers. Health care leaders and politicians have tried countless incremental fixes by at - tacking fraud, identifying and reducing errors, enforcing medical practice guidelines, and making patients more informed consumers by implementing med - ical record databases – but none have had much impact. It’s time for a fundamentally new strategy that can maximize the health care value for patients while achieving the best health care outcomes at the lowest cost. What if there a were a health care system organized around a certain standard process for doctors and patients to follow during and after physician visits, clinical tests, hospitalizations, and prescribed medications that would include an easy, simple new procedure and provide financial incentives to both doctors and pa - tients? The goal would be to create better health care services that can deliver better health care outcomes for all Americans at a lower cost.
74 ion Oklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 There is a company TODAY addressing students, consumers who were his em - these rising high health care costs and ployees and his family, and the insurer has developed an innovative incentive on behave of his self-insured business. system rewarding both doctors and pa - Greene is a Certified Executive tients for being mutually accountable through the American College of Medical and completing certain simple new Practice Executives. He was a guest in - health care procedures. These new pro - structor for eighteen years at the cedures would encourage “best medical University of Oklahoma’s College of practices” from doctors, the “advance - Medicine. He co-authored “Practice ment” of patient education, and most Management for Family Physician Resi - importantly a “motivation toward adopt - dents”, published by the American ing healthier living behaviors” for all Academy of Family Physicians. Greene Americans. Jeffrey C. Greene, president and CEO, is serves on the Advisory Committee for the MedEncentive has made a huge an inventor, entrepreneur and a leader University of Oklahoma’s School of In - breakthrough in addressing this health in transforming health care. From 2005 dustrial Engineering. care cost issue facing all of us and dis - to 2009, Greene was the recipient of the Managing health care costs starts covered a process for health care cost “Innovator of the Year” award an un - with a fresh perspective on methods and containment that is so desperately precedented 4 of 5 years. technologies for keeping people healthy needed in the world today. Greene is well known for his passion - and engaging them in that pursuit. ate call to improve health care delivery The logic behind moving to a more The foundering members of MedEncen - and promote healthiness in constructive health care cost containment solution tive have adopted the tag line ways that draw on positive incentives, will require these three things said Jef - “Rewarding Better Health” and that is behavioral science, free-market princi - frey Greene: exactly what they are doing everyday. ples, and good old commonsense. 1. First is to attract a high level of With Their Vision and Through innova - Greene developed his passion for pub - provider and consumer participation tive financial incentives, we help lic health from his experiences as the in patient education and empower - employers, health insurers and govern - founder of a business that grew to be - ment. ments of all types contain health care come self-insured. This business, 2. Second is to recognize and harness costs while engaging physicians and CompONE Services, happened to be one the power of the doctor-patient rela - patients in ways that fundamentally the leading medical practice manage - tionship to motivate adherence to change their behaviors and lead to bet - ment and billing firms in the country. ‘best practices’ and healthy behav - ter health for everyone. We believe that While CompONE grew, Greene also iors. once our society understands all the taught practice management to resi - 3. Third is to align the interests of the benefits of motivating people to better dents at the University of Oklahoma provider, the consumer and the payer. health – and, in turn, happier, more sat - Health Science Center. This gave Greene All previous attempts to reform isfying lives - we will not only a unique vantage of the health and healthcare costs have failed because revolutionize our health care system, healthcare crises from the perspectives the incentives missed achieving these we’ll also create a healthier world. of providers who were his clients and three fundamental objectives.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 75 One of the key components of MedEncentive’s patented pro - With regard to building public awareness of the importance gram is called “information therapy,” which is defined as of health literacy, Greene notes that October is National Health providing patients with the right information at the right time Literacy Month, with events taking place all over the country. so they can make an informed decision about their health. “It is really very straight-forward. When people know the ‘how’ and ‘why,’ they become empowered, motivated and more In the Program, information therapy is accomplished by competent in self-managing their health,” says Greene. compensating physicians for accessing the MedEncentive “Health literacy is a sleeping giant that needs to be awak - website to prescribe relevant educational articles to their pa - ened with innovation to solve this country and the world’s tients with each office visit. After the visit, patients receive a health and healthcare crises.” letter or email at home that notifies them that they can earn a financial reward for accessing the website to read the pre - “A wise man should consider that health is the greatest scribed article, test their knowledge, declare their compliance of human blessings, and learn how by his own thought to (or non-compliance), and rate their doctors. The kicker is that derive benefit from his illnesses.” —Hippocrates patient must agree to share their responses with their physi - cians. This feature creates a beneficial check and balance The MedEncentive Executive Professionals include the fol - between doctors and patients that improves health and lowing: healthcare in a manner that lowers costs. H. Clifford Winburn, Jr., J.D., C.P.A. – Chief Financial Officer , The reason information therapy is so important is that it Winburn was a co-founder of CompONE Services, Ltd. and promotes health literacy, which studies have determined is served as CompONE’s Chief Financial Officer until 2004. Win - the single strongest determinant of a person’s health status, burn is an attorney and certified public accountant with life expectancy, and medical costs. In fact, the World Health degrees in Business Administration and Juris Doctor from the Organization states that health literacy is a stronger predictor University of Oklahoma. Prior to co-founding CompONE, Win - of an individual’s health status than income, employment sta - burn served as CFO and Treasurer of Cotton Petroleum tus, education level and racial or ethnic group. Corporation and tax manager with Arthur Young and Company, “In spite of its importance, health literacy is continually all in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Winburn also served as CompONE’s overlooked and undervalued because there is a lack of innova - Chief Compliance Officer and is a charter member of Health - tion in its promotion,” says Greene. “Our program is a health care Billing Management Association. literacy innovation that has been proven to improve health Susan L. Chambers, M.D. – Dr. Chambers is co-founder and and lower costs.” officer of Oklahoma City Gynecology and Obstetrics, L.L.C., Greene points to studies that have been conducted by the which co-owns Lakeside Women's Hospital. Dr. Chambers is University of Kansas, the State of Oklahoma and others, that also, co-founder, medical director, and Board Member of provide the proof. So confident in their solution, Greene and his MedEncentive, LLC. colleagues are actively seeking even more and better studies. A graduate of Southern Methodist University and the Univer - “We are committed to establishing irrefutable evidence that sity of Oklahoma’s College of Medicine, Dr. Chambers reward-induced health literacy, involving doctor-patient completed residency training at University of Oklahoma 's Col - checks and balances, improves health and lowers costs.” lege of Medicine, serving as Chief Resident. adds Greene. Dr. Chambers is a Fellow of the American Board of Obstetrics
76 ionOklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 and Gynecology and recertified four times. Dr. Chambers is a James L. Dempster, Director of Sales and Support. Dempster member of American Medical Women's Association, Oklahoma served as an Executive Director of CompONE Services, Ltd County Medical Society, Oklahoma State Medical Society, and from 1999 to 2004. At CompONE, Dempster is credited with American Medical Association. Dr Chambers has been or is building Physician Direct, an Oklahoma-based PPO, from currently Chairwoman/ President of Baptist Medical Center's scratch to a provider network comprised of 4,600 physicians Perinatal Committee, Western OK Chapter March of Dimes, and 120 hospitals. In addition, Dempster directed Physician Central Oklahoma Physicians Alliance (COPA), and March of Credentials Verification Services, a primary source verification Dimes Walk America. She also serves on the Advisory Board, service, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and CompONE’s Managed Oklahoma Chapter Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Board Care Administrative Services. of Directors, Oklahoma Chapter American Red Cross. Dr. With more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare in - Chambers has a special interest in caring for people in under - dustry, Dempster has served in various healthcare positions developed countries. She is past Chairwoman and current including Regional Vice President of CCN and Director of PPO member of the Board of Trustees, World Neighbors. Dr. Cham - Operations for CommunityCare Managed Health Plans in Okla - bers’ active participation in World Neighbors has taken her homa. Active in the managed care industry, Dempster is a around the world several times caring for the sick and injured. licensed insurance broker and a past member of the Board of For her numerous accomplishments, charitable activities, Directors for the State Health Underwriters Association of and business successes, Dr. Chambers was selected Okla - Oklahoma, a past Board member of the Council of Medical homa's Woman of the Year in 2002. Services for the Oklahoma State Medical Association, and a David D. Le Norman – MedEncentive investor. Le Norman is member of the Oklahoma State Coverage Initiative Benefit owner and manager of Le Norman Properties LLC. Since 1995, Structure Workgroup. Le Norman has founded Le Norman Partners, Crusader Energy Dempster received a bachelor’s degree in management and Corporation, Crusader Energy II, Crusader Energy III, Knight marketing from Kansas State University. Energy Group, Knight Energy Group II, and Le Norman Proper - Robert W. Purser – Director of Software Development and ties. Le Norman is or has been President and CEO of a number Information Technology . Purser is the chief architect of the of oil and gas companies, including Westside and Crusader MedEncentive website applications. He also created and Energy. Le Norman served as Senior Vice President of Patina maintains the Company’s information technology and Oil & Gas Corporation. Le Norman has nearly three decades of telecommunication infrastructure, including the Company’s experience in the oil industry ranging from working in field op - data security systems. erations as a roustabout, pumper, and as a rig hand on a After a stint in the U.S. Coast Guard, Purser joined Telefora workover rig. He held various engineering, business develop - as a software designer in charge of quality assurance and ment management positions with Texaco prior to founding Le testing. Purser then joined Oklahoma City Realtor Association Norman Energy in 1995. as the lead software developer and database administrator. Mr. Le Norman holds a B.S. in petroleum engineering from He started his own consulting firm, Oklahoma Web Solution, the University of Wyoming and an M.B.A. from Oklahoma City before teaming with Greene, Winburn and Dempster at University, and completed master's work in chemical engi - CompONE Services to launch MedEncentive. n neering at Oklahoma State University.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 77 BUSINESS COUNTER MEASURES for the Modern Kitchen
BY BEKKI HOPSON
he National Kitchen and Bath Association has reported that in 2015, homeowners in the USA spent $67 billion, T with $49.7 billion spent on renovations. Ten million American households remodeled their kitchens. We spent this money on cabinetry, appliances, and fresh countertops. Jo Meacham, owner of Urban Kitchens ( urbankitchensok.com ) in Oklahoma City, said, “You may or may not get your full value back when you invest in new counter -
Quartz, today’s most popular countertop option, is an engineered product that is durable and doesn’t stain.
78 ion Oklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 Quartz countertops installed in an Oklahoma City kitchen remodel. tops. However, there are two important reasons to do so. You’ll sink creates an updated farmhouse kitchen look that is warm love living with them, and they dramatically improve your and welcoming.” house’s curb appeal when it comes time to sell. It’s undeniably worth considering.” PORCELAIN is fine china, the same material as your Villeroy & Many articles have been written about granite countertops Boch tableware. Popular in Europe, until recently, most coun - and today’s darling of the kitchen remodeler, quartz counter - tertops were produced and shipped from Spain. Today, you can tops. But don’t overlook the exotic materials, such as order them locally. The list of porcelain benefits is long, and porcelain, stainless steel, recycled glass, and reclaimed wood. the material is worth considering with your remodeling advi - Going beyond the ordinary may help your house catch the eye sor. Don’t think white toilet! You may order any color, finish, or of exhausted home shoppers, while providing a good aesthetic pattern. The slabs, available in all sizes, are more lightweight and easy clean-up for you. than ever, and it is impossible to stain a porcelain countertop. Shara Castillo, co-owner of Castle Rock Countertops in Porcelain is heat resistant and 30 percent stronger than gran - Oklahoma City ( castlerockcountertops.com ), is a fan of soap ite, and you can install the over existing countertops. Be the stone, a quarried natural stone, mostly mineral talc but con - first in your neighborhood! taining a high concentration of quartz. “Soapstone is beautiful, durable, and stain resistant. A traditional material RECYCLED GLASS countertops are a blend of glass or porce - for countertops, adding a matching or contrasting soapstone lain shards that are combined in color combinations chosen
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 79 Quartz countertops provide superior performance and unmatched edge detail, along with extraordinary movement, depth, and tone, in high gloss and matte finishes.
by the homeowner and held together in polished con - crete. Offering an unlimited variety of effects, from festive to somber, recycled glass are strong and last a long time. They are a cost-effective way to brighten up a drab kitchen. Some patterns can show water spots, but daily maintenance is simple.
QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS , also known as engineered- stone countertops, are today’s preferred choice for many reasons. The very hard stone material is a blend of 90 percent ground quartz, which is a natural hard mineral, with resins, polymers, and pigments. The surface is non-porous, and it can be delivered in high-gloss or matte finishes. Quartz countertops do not require seal -
80 ionOklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 Above, Granite has been a popular material for more than a decade and fits well in this colonial kitchen update. Right, a bathroom update with large porcelain wall tiles. ing or resealing, and they are available in a wide range of colors. The countertops are easy to clean with mild soap and water. The material is not heat- tolerant, and if you need a large surface, seams are unavoidable. Most designers recommend quartz. The biggest reason for the recent surge in quartz’s popularity are advances in the stone’s aesthetic. Manufacturers have figured out how to remove the overly flecked and unnaturally uniform patterns and create organic-looking swirls with the variations of natural stone. n EVENTS
OKLAHOMA CITY TRADITION CONTINUES WITH 36TH ANNUAL REDBUD CLASSIC Registration open for all races on April 7 and 8
OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 26, 2017) – The Redbud Classic, Okla - inner-city students." homa City’s oldest local racing tradition, will celebrate its Annually, multiple agencies apply to the Redbud Classic as 36th anniversary of bringing fitness, fun and philanthropy to potential beneficiaries. After reviewing this year’s applicants, the community. Registration is now open for the event set for the Redbud Classic Board of Directors selected Whiz Kids, an the weekend of April 7 and 8. after-school program connecting under-served Oklahoma City The 2018 Redbud Classic has events for the whole family students with caring mentors to build reading skills, confi - starting with the 10, 33 and a 45-mile bike tours and a one- dence and moral character. mile children’s run on Saturday, April 7. The events continue Whiz Kids Oklahoma believes every child deserves a shot at with the 5K and 10K timed runs, the 5K-wheelchair event, the success, especially the most under-resourced. For 22 years, two-mile walk and the baby stroller derby. Whiz Kids has worked with at-risk kids in the Oklahoma City “Since the first race in 1983, Redbud has been fortunate to metropolitan area to improve reading skills and comprehen - raise more than $525,000 for local non-profits while also sion and strives to foster mentoring relationships with caring keeping the tradition of fun, fitness and philanthropy in Okla - adults. homa,” said Redbud Classic Race Director Patty Anthony. “We “We are ecstatic to be selected as the 2018 Redbud benefi - are excited to name Whiz Kids Oklahoma as the 2018 benefici - ciary and can’t think of a better way to support our ary, providing race participants with the opportunity to help organization and its students,” said Whiz Kids Oklahoma Ex - 82 ionOklahoma OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ecutive Director Adam Luck. “Whiz Kids is dedicated to creat - ing a positive influence for children in the community and are grateful for the opportunity to share our message through Redbud.” The Redbud events continue past the finish line with the fourth annual Redbud Bash. The Bash will be held Sunday, April 8 at 1 p.m. in the finish area of Nichols Hills Plaza. There will be a variety of food from some of Oklahoma’s premier food trucks, beverages from COOP Ale Works and other sponsors, free family-friendly games and activities, as well as live en - tertainment. for the run/walk events and $40 for the cycling tours, or $65 for both events.
For complete event details including start times, course maps and registration information, visit redbud.org.
••••••
Registration is available online, in person or by mail. By registering early and online at redbud.org, participants are more likely to receive their choice of T-shirt size as well as a timing tag. Until April 2, early-bird registration fees are $30
ABOUT REDBUD CLASSIC
Since 1983, the Redbud Classic has become an Oklahoma City tradition involving the community through fitness, fun and philanthropy. The race offers 10, 33 and 45-mile bike tours as well as 5K and 10K races. Other events include a 2-mile walk, 1-mile kids fun run and a baby stroller derby. Each year, Redbud Classic determines a local nonprofit as the race beneficiary, raising more than $525,000 since the race’s inception. n
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