Onward and Upward Aubrey Mcclendon Tribute
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ionok.com AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 Onward and Upward Aubrey McClendon Tribute The Jones Assembly OKC State Fair of Oklahoma 21c Museum Hotel OKC Sooner Theatre Oklahoma! Musical Li festyle … Culture … Entertainment 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 Advertising Sales Tina Layman Photographers Jeremy Gossett Hugh Scott, Jr. Tracy Reece Jerry Hymer Advertising Consultants Peter Preksto Contributors fashion : Linda Miller art : Joy Reed Belt people : Peggy Gandy entertainment : Heide Brandes social issues : Robbie Robertson community : Lauren Wright contributing writer : Greg Horton contributing writer : M.A. Smith contributing writer : Mindy Wood contributing writer : Julie York 12 Contents COVER STORY 12 It all started with a paddle… “Onward and Upward” by Don Swift MOVIE REVIEW 22 Montford T. Johnson and the Power of Persuasion Integrity, Vision, and Management Skills by James A. Lely SPORTS 26 University Football Schedules 56 OKC Energy 2017 Fall Schedule 58 OKC Thunder 2017-2018 Basketball Schedule MUSIC 32 The Wise Guys: A Long and Winding Road by Jeb Reid 22 BUSINESS 36 The Jones Assembly: Food, Spirits, Music American Restaurant and Concert Venue by Bud Elder 46 21c Museum Hotel OKC 8 ionOklahoma AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 EVENTS 26 42 What’s New At The Oklahoma State Fair by Tim Farley ART 68 Nan Quick Sheets: One of Oklahoma’s Best Known Artists by Ryan Williams COMMUNITY 76 First Liberty Bank celebrates Third Annual Liberty Bash PEOPLE 48 52 How Our Kids Taught Me How to Teach by John Thompson 62 Oklahoma Hall of Fame Names 2017 Honorees 78 Leadership Oklahoma announces 31st Annual Class 82 Garland McWatters champions Millennials in book series by Garland McWatters 88 Bruce Davis: Local Hero Plays Prominent Role as ‘Officer Reeves’ in “All Eyez on Me” by Stephanie D. Moore ENTERTAINMENT 48 Oklahoma City Community College Performing Arts Series and Add-On Performances 52 2017-2018 Season THEATRE 56 OKC Broadway 68 The Sooner Theatre Presents the musical Oklahoma! Summer Studio Series 2017 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 9 Publisher’s Note Welcome to ion Oklahoma Magazine. We are all about Oklahoma’s quality lifestyle, culture, events and people. Are you one of those people who get much of their daily news and information over the internet? Have you identified many of your favorite websites, sources you enjoy as a loyal follower, and visit on a regular basis? Ion Oklahoma Online www.ionok.com can become one of those favorite websites for you too along with over our 39,977 opt in email subscribers primarily located in 4 counties and 79 different zip codes in central Oklahoma . If you enjoy reading many wonderful success stories, all involving the progress the State of Oklahoma and it’s people are making, you will enjoy ion Oklahoma Online. At ion Oklahoma we publish six printed editions annually and make them available for our subscribers to download each printed edition at no charge or purchase a printed paper copy on demand from our publishers hosting website www.magcloud.com . “Like” us on facebook ion subscribers receive our weekly “Eye on the Weekend” special edition with 15 or so facebook.com/pages/ events scheduled on the weekend they can enjoy and many of these events we designate IonOklahoma-Online as family friendly. Ion Oklahoma is totally integrated into the world of social media (facebook, twitter, Instagram) which means all our subscribers can easily share all our editorial content with their facebook and twitter friends. We are very user friendly and want to hear from you. We are always to publishing your follow us on twitter wonderful Oklahoma stories, so please let us know by emailing [email protected]. @IonOklahoma Sincerely, Don Swift Publisher, ion Oklahoma Magazine 10 ionOklahoma AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 CulturalCuCultural ProgramsProgrrogrramams Óä£ÇqÓä£nÓä£ÇqÓä£n Annie Moses Band-American Rhapsody Tuesday, September 12, 2017 • 7:30 PM Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone Thursday, October 5, 2017 • 7:30 PM 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 ÀÀivÀ>Ì]V>Ì iLÝvwVi>Ì{äx®ÈnÓÇxÇÀÛÃÌVVV°i`ÕÉ«>ðÀÀi vvÀ>Ì] V> Ì i LÝ vvwwVi >Ì {äx® ÈnÓÇxÇ À ÛÃÌ VVV°i`ÕÉ«>ð *ÕÀV >ÃiÌViÌÃ>ÌÌViÌðVVV°i`Õ*ÕÀV >ÃiÌViÌà >Ì ÌViÌðVVV°i`Õ www.kgou.orgwww.kgou.org COVER IT ALL STARTED WITH A PADDLE… “Onward and Upward” BY DON SWIFT he Boathouse District located on the Oklahoma River in downtown OKC was T first established in 2006 with the opening of the Chesapeake Boathouse. It has since grown to include a row of iconic boathouses along the river: the world-class Devon Boathouse, Chesapeake Finish Line Tower, UCO Boathouse, Sandridge Youth Pavilion, McClendon Whitewater Center, Riversport Rapids, and Riversport Adventure Park. This row of boathouses is the destination for athletes, metro area families and visitors from across the state, nation, and around the world. Riversport Adventure Park offers a huge variety of outdoor and water activities for all ages. When I think of notable Oklahomans, I think of Will Rogers, Wiley Post, Bud Wilkinson, Robert S Kerr, Dean McGee, Frank Phillips, Fred Jones, and E.W. Marland, all who made significant contributions during their lifetimes, and their legacies live on forever in Oklahoma history. These Oklahomans have impacted the State of Oklahoma over the years, but few have accomplished so much during their lifetime as Aubrey McClendon. One day history will record Aubrey McClendon as one of those notable Oklahomans who made many significant contributions to Oklahoma and Oklahoma City during his lifetime and impacted peoples’ lives far more than they realize. One of Aubrey McClendon’s most notable and visible Chesapeake Boathouse contributions to Oklahoma City among the many was the vision he, Mike Knopp, and Ray Ackerman shared about a possible Boathouse District along the Oklahoma River. 12 ionOklahoma AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 McClendon Whitewater Center Mike Turpen and Judy Love Pat Downes, Boathouse Foundation Board member recalls “What has evolved over a period of years far exceeds any expectations that any of us could have had in those early days.” Three Oklahomans and successful business leaders, among many who really knew Aubrey, understood how important the Boathouse District was to him and Oklahoma City. For this reason Judy Love, Mike Turpen, and Bob Ross gladly volunteered to chair the “Onward and Upward” fundraising campaign that began in March 2017 and will end in October 2017. The Aubrey McClendon Memorial Tribute goal is $6,000,000. The funds raised thus far have been $4.7 million. These funds will go toward providing the Boathouse It was at a time when the riverbed was only a dirty, Foundation with the long term financial stability of muddy place without water and a “place to mow.” annual operations and growth over the years, along with Today as we all know, it has been transformed into an the dedication of the McClendon Whitewater Center outstanding Riversport Adventure Park and “river to and special interactive display of Aubrey McClendon’s row” as Mike Turpen would say, “thanks to Aubrey vision and history of the Boathouse District located McClendon, Mike Knopp and Ray Ackerman.” inside the Whitewater Center. AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 ionOklahoma 13 Sarah Katie practice on the river Bob Ross mentioned that all persons making a main interest and desire would be to honor Aubrey donation will have their name printed on the Aubrey McClendon for his vision, his contributions, his love for McClendon Memorial donor wall. Bob also shared that the river at the Boathouse District and his delight at the everyone in his family has made donations, and he huge benefit for Oklahoma City. By honoring Aubrey, it likes the idea their names will be printed on the donor would be both comforting to his family now and wall together. Donations can be easily made by going to rewarding to his family in the future. www.riversportokc.org/tribute . Bob wanted to encourage Mike Turpen shared that Aubrey was a pioneer and all Oklahomans to make a donation, and said it did not inspiration to others in our community. Aubrey raised matter how large or small. Everyone’s donation will the bar and expectations for others to give back to our matter and make a difference. Anyone can contribute. community as he had. We can learn a lot about a person As we all know the Oklahoma River Boathouse when we hear those life lessons and special sayings we District is enjoyed by thousands of Oklahomans and all share with our friends, business associates, and people who visit every year. It has really turned into a family members. Mike said Aubrey would often share unique Riversport Adventure Park and Boathouse “new ideas create new realities” and “if you ain’t givin, District located at the crossroads of America. Visitors you ain’t livin.” Well, that sounds like the “golden rule” like and appreciate the unique, iconic architecture to me. along the river, designed by Rand Elliott & Associates. Additionally, Teresa Rose Crook remembered Aubrey would often say “success is in the details” and “thick any Oklahomans have mentioned their passion to skin, short memory.” His visionary partner, Mike Mcontinue what was started through their Knopp shared that Aubrey would often say “Onward remembrance of Aubrey.