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publisher : Don Swiftassistant : Joni Yeagereditor : Tim Farley

editiorial assistant : Darian Woolbrightvideographer : Jeremy Gossett

director of photography : Michael Downesweb site developer : Patrick Moore with Set Sail Mediaweb site developer : Nina Jones, Data Design Inc.

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contributing writer : Julie Bishopcontributing writer : Don Brewingtoncontributing writer : Greg Hortoncontributing writer : Asa Leveauxcontributing writer : M.A. Smithcontributing writer : Mindy Woodcontributing writer : Julie Yorkthunder fastbreak : Tim Farley

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www.kgou.org

Once: The Musical - National Broadway TourTuesday, October 4, 2016 • 7:00 PM

Koresh Dance CompanyTuesday, January 24, 2017 • 7:30 PM

Opus Cactus - MOMIX Dance CompanyTuesday, April 11, 2017 • 7:30 PM

Polly Gibbons with the Oklahoma City Jazz OrchestraTuesday, September 13, 2016 • 7:30 PM

THE HIT MEN: Legendary Performers with Frankie Valli, Carole King,

Cat Stevens & more!Friday, October 21, 2016 • 8:00 PM

Defending the CavemanFriday, February 10, 2017 • 7:30 PMSaturday, February 11, 2017 • 1:30 PM & 7:30 PM

Steppin' Out with Ben VereenFriday, November 18, 2016 • 8:00 PM

Artrageous "Art & Music, Gone Wild"Tuesday, March 21, 2017 • 7:30 PM

The Texas TenorsThursday, September 29, 2016 • 7:30 PM

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8 ionOklahoma AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

COVER STORY

12 Treasuring Te Ataby Linda Miller

ART

26 Morgan Weistling:An Artist Who Time TravelsWith A Brushby M. J. Van DeVenter

31 Revered Artist David Leffel Wins Top Awardat 2016 Prix de West Art Showby M. J. Van DeVenter

SPORTS

22 OU / OSU / UCO Football Schedules

Contents

12

40

TRAVEL

48 Chickasaw National Recreation Area: Littlepark, big historyby Linda Miller

53 Graceland: … where Elvis lives onby Linda Miller

FITNESS

44 Pure Barre Opening Soon!by Mindy Ragan Wood

MUSIC

34 OCCC’s Performing Arts Series Lineup

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016 ionOklahoma 9

BUSINESS

18 21c Museum hotel, An artfully designedspaceby Linda Miller

62 Employment pioneer Bob Funk honoredwith statue on Chisholm Trailby Tim Farley

66 Experienced banker joins First Liberty

68 A noble calling: Former House SpeakerGlen Johnson addresses leadershipby Garland McWatters

FASHION

36 Rustic Cuff: Soon to Open in OKCby Mindy Ragan Wood

40 Shoe Talk with Betsy Kingby Linda Miller

46

REVIEWS

58 Russell Ferrell’s book reads like fiction, but it’s true.by Sandi Davis

60 It’s been ‘A Joy-Filled Life’ for Mo Andersonby Linda Molsbee

COMMUNITY

71 HELP WANTED: PMI challenges professionals to volunteerby Linda Miller

34


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Publisher’s NoteWelcome to ion Oklahoma Magazine, one of Oklahoma’s fastest growing onlinedigital lifestyle magazines and news-entertainment websites with more than 39, 766opt in subscribers located primarily in four counties and 79 different zip codes ofcentral Oklahoma.Are you one of these people who receive the majority of your information daily over

the internet, computer, tablet or cell phone? If so, you will want to bookmark ourmagazine’s interactive website and enjoy more of our expanded Oklahoma lifestylefeature story content. Visit www.ionok.com and check out the special weekly editions on the home page

of our website along with press releases of the most current special eventshappening in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area and Oklahoma. The Oklahoma pioneering spirit has attracted many young people to relocate and

follow their career path and dreams in Oklahoma. At ion Oklahoma we haveexpanded the 30 under 30 Next Gen young professional award recognition programstatewide in 2016. Our new name is NextGen Under 30 Oklahoma, so please visitwww.nextgenunder30.com and nominate anyone you know who is a member of theMillennial generation and overachievers worthy of this recognition. At ion Oklahoma Magazine our mission is to document all the positive progress

being made in our city and state. There will always be the negative news andsetbacks to report by other publications in Oklahoma, but we focus on the morepositive events, issues, people and style that all Oklahomans can really be proud ofsharing with the world.

Sincerely,

Don Swift

Publisher ion Oklahoma

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Tuesday, September 13, 7:30 PMOCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater

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COVER

BY LINDA MILLER

A fter supper and chores, youngMary Thompson and her siblingsoften would gather round as theirfather shared how Old Man

Earthmaker created their people or whythe rabbit and the owl do not get along.

She listened intently, trying to memorize theChickasaw stories that had been passed down forgenerations.

As a child, these folktales enthralled Mary. She couldnot have known in the early 1900s that one day shewould adapt these stories and more into dramatic andengaging performances for audiences that includedschool children, European royalty and the president ofthe United States.

Te Ata, as she was known, became an accomplishedfolklorist whose career as a Native American storytellerand performer spanned six decades. She captivatedwith artistry and flair, allowing all who saw her performto feel a connection, to come along on the journey of herancestors. She crossed barriers, enlightened minds and

brought diverse cultures together, all while preservingand sharing stories about tribal heritage.

And the world took notice.In 1957, she was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall ‘

Mary Thompson Fisher, known as Te Ata, grew up in Oklahoma andbecame a Native American storyteller who entertained royalty, dignitariesand a U.S. president.

Treasuring Te Ata


Te Ata wore doeskin dresses during her performances.

Te Ata often used props, songs and dances when telling her stories.

of Fame and then the Chickasaw Hall of Fame in1990. Ladies Home Journal named her Woman of theYear in 1976. In 1987 she was declared the first-ever“Oklahoma Treasure.” A lake in New York is named inher honor.

The Chickasaw Nation is bringing her remarkablestory to the big screen with a full-length movie aptlytitled “Te Ata.”

Her story, with beginnings near the rural town ofEmet in Indian Territory, is as interesting and inspiringas the ones she shared.

Early years and building a careerBorn in 1895 to Thomas and Bertie Thompson, young

Mary not only enjoyed her father’s stories, but naturewalks with her mother and spending time alone,whether in a tree or in the woods.

Her education began in a one-room tribal schoolhouse followed by a couple of years at BloomfieldAcademy near Durant, a boarding school for girls, andthen public school when the family moved toTishomingo.

Te Ata’s father, a general store proprietor, wasappointed the last tribal treasurer in 1904 by DouglasJohnston, a family friend and the man Mary called

uncle. Prominent and influential, Johnston was electedtribal governor in 1898 and the Thompson familyvisited him often in his eight-room home called theChickasaw White House.

She got the first glimpse of what her life could looklike while attending Oklahoma College for Women inChickasaw, where she met Frances Dinsmore Davis,drama teacher and longtime friend who early onrecognized her talent and encouraged her desire toexcel.

Te Ata, meaning “Bearer of the Morning,” had thelead in several school performances. During summers,she joined the Chautauqua circuit, grabbing attentionwith her buckskin dress, bow and arrows and fluidmovements as she reenacted a memorable huntingscene, story or dance.

But Broadway was her goal. After a year of graduatetraining in drama at Carnegie Institute of Technology inPittsburg, she moved to New York, got the occasionaltheater part and even did some fashion modeling.

In 1925 she wrote friend Davis, “Nothing seems to beforthcoming just now to make a star of me. Things areawfully slow.”

She continued to supplement her income with folkloreprograms until she realized one day that was all she


Q’orianka Kilcher stars as Te Ata in the movie based on the life of the well-known Native American storyteller.

Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby and actress Q’orianka Kilcher visit duringfilming of “Te Ata.”


she said from her room at the Fort Pitt hotel. “My husband isintensely interested in my work and wouldn’t dream ofhaving me give it up because I happen to have ‘Mrs.’engraved on my calling card. I’m keeping my Indian name,too, for my professional work.”

Throughout their marriage, the two spent weeks and weeksapart because of Te Ata’s program circuit and Fisher’smuseum obligations and later his involvement in developingthe Hayden Planetarium. When possible, she liked to

wanted to do. In 1927 she turned in her actor’sequity card.

Te Ata researched all tribal lore to includemore stories and songs in her presentations.Above all, she wanted to capture the Indianspirit in dramatic ways, whether with songs anddancing, sitting cross-legged on stage orstanding, silhouetted by a spotlight.

Thanks to a wealthy benefactor, she spentseveral months in Europe arranging bookingsand performing for royalty and prominentcitizens. In April 1933, she performed atPresident Franklin Roosevelt’s first State Dinner.She wrote that her program “consisted of oldtranslations from various tribes, native legendsand songs – numbers I hoped would leave withthe audience a true impression of the nativepeople of this land.”

In 1939, she again entertained the Rooseveltsalong with the King and Queen of England at thepresident’s home in Hyde Park. She wore a buck-skin ceremonial dress more than 100 years old.

Marriage, travel and a long life Te Ata married Clyde Fisher, a scholar, nature

photographer and curator of public education atthe American Museum of Natural History, Sept.28, 1933 at Bacone College in Muskogee. Hewas a stately and kind man with a shock of whitehair – and he was 17 years her elder.

Their hectic work schedules meant postponinga honeymoon, but it finally came together as a10-week, 10,000-mile car trip across the UnitedStates. A mix of pleasure and business, theyspent time with family and friends, presentedprograms and lectures, visited Indianreservations and made valuable new contacts.

Te Ata especially enjoyed enriching children’sminds with her programs. While working withPittsburgh schools, a newspaper reporterinterviewed her and maybe not so delicatelybrought up the subject of a married woman witha career that involved traveling the country.

An excerpt from the Pittsburgh Press: “Surely,I’m going to keep up my work. I wouldn’t think ofdropping it, and settling down to keeping house,”


arrange her schedule and programs toinclude long periods of time in Oklahoma tobe near family. It seemed to reenergize her.

Te Ata and Fisher stayed connectedthrough letters, or talking leaves as they likedto call them, sharing news and poems, sweetsentiments and pet names several times aweek.

In one letter, eager to be with him again,she wrote “We have felt our aloneness andthe sadness of parting, but always knowingwe would feel as much, the keen joy and thesweetness and strangeness of coming togetheragain – and – we have caught a photographiccloud or two and had an occasional danceamong the stars.”

Though their lives were busy, they traveledtogether on both short and long trips. Theywent to Peru and Mexico to explore natureand the skies, and to learn more about tribalceremonies and culture to incorporate into TeAta’s storytelling.

Their last far-stretching trip was in thesummer of 1946, a three-month excursionthat took them East to West and into Canadafor the Sun Dance ceremony of the BloodIndians.

Perhaps Fisher knew it would be his lastgreat adventure. Perhaps they both did.

Fisher died Jan. 7, 1949. Te Ata continuedto perform, later moved back to Oklahomaand died Oct. 25, 1995 in Oklahoma City,just a few weeks short of her 100th birthday.

Memoirs, journals, diaries, books, plays,news accounts and now a movie tell a story ofa gifted Native American storytellerpassionate about sharing and educating, ofclose relationships with her family andfriends, and a great love cemented in respectand kindness. n

Q’orianka Kilcher as Te Ata with Mackenzie Astin, who plays Te Ata’s husband in thenew movie “Te Ata.

“Te Ata” the movie“Te Ata,” a movie based on the early life and career of the famed Chickasaw storyteller whose

audiences included royalty, dignitaries and a U.S. president, is the Chickasaw Nation’s secondfeature film. It was shot entirely in Oklahoma.The cast includes:Q’orianka Kilcher as Te Ata. She starred as Pocahontas in “The New World,” is a singer and a

committed human rights and environmental activist.Graham Greene as Gov. Douglas H. Johnston. He has worked in film and on stage and was

nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in “Dances withWolves.”Gil Birmingham as Thomas Thompson. He has appeared in more than 40 films and television

shows. Recent roles include “The Lone Ranger” and the Netflix comedy “The Unbreakable KimmySchmidt.”Mackenzie Astin as Dr. Clyde Fisher. He found success early on the television show “The Facts of

Life” and more recently has appeared in “Castle,” “Criminal Minds” and “Rosewood.”Brigid Brannagh as Bertie Thompson. She is best known for her role on “Army Wives.”Cindy Pickett as Miss Davis. A native Oklahoman, she had roles on “Guiding Light,” “St.

Elsewhere” and in the classic comedy “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” n


Q'orianka Kilcher as Te Ata

BUSINESS

21c Museum Hotel’s exterior.

21c Museum HotelAn artfully designed space

21c Museum hotel

One of the guest rooms at 21c Museum Hotel.

Not simply a hotel or museum ordestination for great food... A space for the 21st century

BY LINDA MILLER

I t’s appropriate that a historic building with a storiedpast and strong presence in Oklahoma City once againbecome a hub of excitement and activity.

So it is with the new 21c Museum Hotel near downtown in what once wasthe Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant.

21c is not simply a hotel or museum or destination for great food. Onehundred years after it opened, the former assembly plant has beentransformed into a space that hints at the past, present and future. A spacefor the 21st century.

20

Its new purpose and surroundingsbring a renewed sense ofappreciation and engagement.Especially through art.

Along with a 135-room boutiquehotel and chef-driven Mary Eddy’srestaurant, 21c offers 14,000 squarefeet of contemporary art exhibition,meeting and event space.

Rotating exhibits, four site-specific art installations inspired bythe assembly plant and culturalprograms are part of the 21cexperience. Art galleries are opendaily to the public at no charge.Free docent tours are available at 5p.m. Wednesday and Friday.

Spend the night or enjoy dinner,

and then check out the art. Or justgo see the art. It’s on view every day.

It’s not just art that grabsattention. Many of the hotel featureshave been recreated or restored,including massive casementwindows that allow sunlight to bathesleek, modern guest rooms. Thehistoric storefront is easily

Mary Eddy’s restaurant

Larger than life-size arrows vibrate with color and light in guest room corridor.


to the Oklahoma City community.21c was founded in 2006 by Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson who

believed contemporary art could benefit revitalization efforts indowntown Louisville, Ky. Success in Louisville led to more propertieswith 21c Oklahoma City being the company’s sixth.

It’s a concept that’s working. n

21c Museum Hotel is at 900 W Main Street. For information,call (405) 982-6900.

recognizable and original terrazzo floorsshine in Mary Eddy’s Kitchen x Loungein the original Model T showroom.

The building’s industrial heritage,along with historical elements, arereflected with finishes and customfurnishings inspired by the assemblyline and automotive technology. Highlyfinished metals, reclaimed pine and amix of plush textiles and textures offer acontemporary interpretation that’s bothappealing and reminiscent.

Such attention extends to Mary Eddy’srestaurant. The menu showcases NewAmerican cuisine with customrotisserie, smoker and pizza ovendishes, along with seasonal greens,melons and vegetables.

Two months after opening andexcitement continues to spread.

“The reception thus far has beensimply outstanding,” said GeneralManager Matt Cowden. “Whethertouring our contemporary art museum,dining on the new American cuisine inMary Eddy’s or enjoying the spaciousand elegant accommodations of ourboutique hotel, we’ve heard from somany locals and visitors alike who aregenuinely excited about our conceptand how we are contributing to the artculture of Oklahoma City.”

Built in 1916 and listed on theNational Register of Historic Places,the plant employed 1,400 employeesand built 200 cars a day during itspeak. Fred Jones was a worker on theassembly line before opening adealership in 1922 and building areputation for sales, service and partsproduction. His family bought the plantfrom Ford in 1968 and used it as a partsand distribution center until 2013.

The restaurant is named after Jones’wife, Mary Eddy Jones, a passionatetraveler, art enthusiast andhumanitarian who enjoyed giving back

One of the art installations.

Oklahoma Sooners 2016 Football ScheduleDAY DATE TIME OPPONENT LOCATION

Saturday Sep 3 11:00 AM Houston Cougars (2016 Texas Kickoff Classic) Houston, TX

Saturday Sep 10 6:00 PM Louisiana Monroe Warhawks NORMAN, OK

Saturday Sep 17 6:30 PM Ohio State Buckeyes NORMAN, OK

Saturday Oct 1 TCU Horned Frogs Fort Worth, TX

Saturday Oct 8 Texas Longhorns (Red River Showdown) Dallas, TX

Saturday Oct 15 Kansas State Wildcats NORMAN, OK

Saturday Oct 22 Texas Tech Red Raiders Lubbock, TX

Saturday Oct 29 Kansas Jayhawks NORMAN, OK

Thursday Nov 3 6:30 PM Iowa State Cyclones Ames, IA

Saturday Nov 12 Baylor Bears NORMAN, OK

Saturday Nov 19 West Virginia Mountaineers Morgantown, WV

Saturday Dec 3 Oklahoma State Cowboys NORMAN, OK

College Football 2016

OSUklahoma State Cowboys 2016 Football ScheduleDAY DATE TIME OPPONENT LOCATION

Saturday Sep 3 2:30 pm Southeastern Louisiana Lions STILLWATER OK

Saturday Sep 10 11:00 am Central Michigan Chippewas STILLWATER OK

Saturday Sep 17 2:30 pm Pittsburgh Panthers STILLWATER OK

Saturday Sep 24 11:59pm Baylor Bears Waco, TX

Saturday Oct 1 11:59 am Texas Longhorns STILLWATER, OK

Saturday Oct 8 11:59 am Iowa State Cyclones STILLWATER, OK

Saturday Oct 22 11:59 am Kansas Jayhawks Lawrence, KS

Saturday Oct 29 11:59 pm West Virginia Mountaineers STILLWATER, OK

Saturday Nov 5 11:59 pm Kansas State Wildcats Manhattan, KS

Saturday Nov 12 11:59 pm Texas Tech Red Raiders STILLWATER, OK

Saturday Nov 19 11:59 am TCU Horned Frogs Fort Worth, TX

Saturday Dec 3 11:59 am Oklahoma Sooners Norman, OK

University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos 2016 Football ScheduleDAY DATE TIME OPPONENT LOCATION

Thursday Sep 1 7:00 pm Lindenwood University St. Charles, MO

Thursday Sep 8 7:00 pm Pittsburg State University EDMOND

Saturday Sep 17 7:00 pm Fort Hays State University Hays, KS

Saturday Sep 24 6:00 pm Missouri Western State University EDMOND

Saturday Oct 1 2:00 pm Emporia State University Emporia, KS

Saturday Oct 8 2:00 pm Northwest Missouri State University EDMOND

Saturday Oct 15 2:00 pm University of Nebraska-Kearney Kearney, NE

Saturday Oct 22 2:00 pm Missouri Southern State University EDMOND

Saturday Oct 29 1:00 pm University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MO

Saturday Nov 5 2:00 pm Washburn University (Homecoming) EDMOND

Saturday Nov 12 3:00 pm Northeastern State University EDMOND

Morgan Weisling

ART

Morgan Weistling:An Artist Who Time Travels With A Brush


BY M. J. VAN DEVENTERPhotography courtesy Morgan Weistling

W hen Morgan Weistling presented aseminar at the 2016 Prix de Westart exhibition, he took his audienceon an illustrated journey through

his life as an award-winning artist.

He titled his talk “Time Travel With A Brush.” You didn’thave to be an artist to be inspired by his reflections on his lifeat the easel. For Weistling, 51, painting is like taking a walk down his

memory lane of pioneer life. His paintings reflect the historyand lore of the American West, particularly family and socialcustoms in the late 1800s and early 1900s. For the viewer, hisoil paintings reveal a sweet, nostalgic tale of bygone days. Weistling’s father was a major influence on his early life. “He was a big fan of old comic book artists. Those memories

were invaluable when he was shot down while serving in theArmy Air Corps during World War II. Although he parachutedout, he was captured and sent to a prison camp,” Weistlingrelated. His audience could feel the emotional impact on Weistling

as he related that horrific memory of his father’s ordeal.“He collected scraps of paper and created an ongoing comic

strip to entertain his fellow prisoners. I often wondered howmuch he embellished those stories to me. When the Russiansliberated him and his buddies, my Dad forgot to grab thecollection of drawings. He returned home and became agardener in California,” Weistling related.Many years later, those drawings found their way back to

Morgan — a bittersweet surprise.It’s no wonder then that Weistling loved comic strips

growing up. “Prince Valiant was my favorite. I learned how to draw

multiple figures to tell a story from comic strips. Humor wasalways important, too, and I inherited that from my father.

Feathered Friend


Every night my Dad and I did drawings,”he noted. “Later, I learned to draw andpaint from Fred Fixler. He was anillustrator from the 1950s and 1960sand taught me in the academictradition.”By 19, Weistling became a

professional illustrator. He started doingmovie poster illustrations and bookcovers for western paperbacks. After 14years, he left that commercial field topursue fine art as a career. His parentslived to see his early success. Since he began painting the historical

West and its pioneering people, hisdream has been to own a time machine.“If I had one, I would be an observer of

this time period,” he laughed.“I wouldn’t have to invent an old

schoolhouse on canvas. I’d just go to theschool. Instead, I do the next best thing.I recreate the past with real props andlighting and people dressed in periodclothing. I paint like I’m recordingpeoples’ lives. I’m there as an observer,”he noted.Weistling’s daughters, Brittany and

Sienna, are frequent models for hispaintings. Prix de West aficionados firstmet Brittany in 2001 when she was thestar of Weistling’s painting, The Dance,which won the Prix de West Purchaseand Buyers’ Choice Awards that year.His wife, JoAnn Peralta, is also anaccomplished fine artist.In the 2016 exhibit, one of his

paintings was titled The Family PorchBand. Three women and two menplaying accordians, fiddles and banjos,are dressed in period clothing. A youngboy and girl are dancing on the rustic

porch. A laundry tub, a washboard, andclothes drying on a line and blowing inan autumn breeze add periodauthenticity to the painting. Another painting, The Dove Keeper, is

equally as authentic. “Sometimes whenI’m painting, I come upon theunexpected,” Weistling said. “I foundthis cool dove coop, so I had anotherstory to paint. I loved sitting in there,watching the doves flying around thecoop.” As Morgan unpacks an idea for a

painting, he lets it simmer. It can startwith nothing more than chickenscratches on his canvas. “I like to think like a cinematographer

~ one frame at a time,” he said. He often recruits models of all ages

for his story-telling scenes of pioneerlife. Sometimes he even puts himself inhis work. “Finding me in a painting is like

playing the ‘looking for Waldo’ game,”he laughed.“My paintings are like layers that

unfold. They are an impressionisticinterpretation of the effects of light andshadow. They can’t be viewed with aquick glance,” he said. “I’m building myown ‘little house on the prairie.’ Mycharacters need an adventure. I’m like alocation scout, casting director,cinematographer and director all rolledinto one.”Often one of Weistling’s small

paintings will lead to a larger theme.Memories of his mother’s quilting bees

Artist Morgan Weisling works in his studio.


spawned a painting of pioneer ladiesmaking a wedding quilt. A pioneercouple dancing was the impetus for thepainting Twilight Dancers. Otherpaintings were born from an early-daygeneral store, a girl who kept a diary onthe Oregon Trail, a lady hanging laundryon a line to dry, a lily pad leaf on theside of a boat.Even a song can inspire Weistling to

take to his easel. Mary Did You Know?was the inspiration for his spiritualpainting, Kissing The Face of God.“These vignettes that inspire a

painting are not just what I do, they arealso what I feel,” Weistling said. Often the setting for these historical

vignettes is Weistling’s home and studioor the family’s lawn in Canyon Country,California.“Our neighbors never know what to

expect in our front yard,” Weistling

confided. “Is it wrong that I encouragemy children to be friends with kids wholive on farms and might be greatsubjects in my paintings?”As a seasoned artist, Wesitling has

won numerous awards for his historicalvignettes and portraits. He is one of onlyfour comtemporary artists who have wonthe Prix de West Purchase Award twice,having received that honor in 2001 andin 2008. Other artists who share thisdistinction include William Acheff,George Carlson and Martin Grelle. Weistling has received numerous

awards at the Masters of the AmericanWest show at the Autry Museum ofWestern Art in Los Angeles, includingthe 2014 Purchase Award and itsArtists’ Choice Award nine times. The reason ~ the inspiration ~ for

Weistling’s artistic success has roots inhis painting philosophy. He believes,“My attention to the historical aspectsof my subjects comes from my desire toportray the truth and beauty ofAmerica’s pioneering spirit.” n

Right, Family Porch Band.Below, Dove Keeper.

ART

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ion Oklahoma 31

And the winner is ....The announcement of the annual recipient of

the Prix de West Purchase Award is alwayscloaked in excitement and secrecy. It happensevery year at high noon – so fitting for a westernevent – on the second Saturday of every June.The 2016 announcement, made on the stage at

the National Cowboy & Western HeritageMuseum’s Special Events Center, had all theintense drama so fitting for such a prestigiouswestern art honor. Patrons attending the Friday night opening of

the show had the opportunity to peruse morethan 300 pieces of art from 99 artists around thecountry. Two of those artists were newcomers tothe show: Glenn Dean and Z. S. Liang. Four werepast winners of the prestigious Prix de WestPurchase Award: William Acheff, George Carlson,Martin Grelle and Morgan Weistling. HowardTerpening, who was unable to attend this year,also won the award twice.There’s always a frenetic buzz as patrons and

buyers survey the art, searching for the paintingsand sculptures they hope to purchase. Since it’s abid system for the fixed-price art, buyers neverknow if they’ve achieved their goal until bidders’names are drawn from each painting orsculpture’s bid box.Patrons are also always curious which piece of

Revered Artist Wins Top Awardat 2016 Prix de West Art Show

BY M. J.VAN DEVENTER

art will be worthy of the Prix de West Purchase Award – a coveted prizethat will remain in the Museum’s permanent Prix de West Collection.Patrons also vote on their favorite piece of art in each year’s show, thusboosting the value of that prize-winning work of art. The winner this year was Terri Kelly Moyers’ stunning oil painting, Las

Flores, featuring three girls dancing in dappled sunlight wearing silk

David Leffel


embroidered shawls.It was Greg Simon’s role to announce the Prix de West

Purchase Award winner. As chairman of the Museum’s Prix deWest committee, he shepherds the board of directors throughthe nuances of each piece of art featured in the show, alongwith the museum’s curator of art. An avid collector himself,Simon knows the difference between spectacular art andworks that fail to inspire the viewer. He said, “All 99 artists deserve our applause. But one of the

key aspects of making the deliberation for the winner is thereality that this work of art goes into the permanent collectionof the museum and will be judged 50-100 years from now forits worthiness.” His comment was appreciated by the artists,all of whom strive to have their art featured in the museum’spermanent collection. Simon made the announcement of the Prix de West

Purchase Award winner quite special. He hyped the crowd ashe and museum staff members prepared to unveil, on screen,the photograph of the winning piece of art – David Leffel’sstunning oil portrait of a somber-faced Native American, titledJonathan Warm Day Coming.Leffel, a 26-year veteran of the Prix de West show, is noted

for the chiarascuro style of painting, which focuses on anartist’s treatment of light and shadow. Of his award-winningpainting, Leffel said, “Jonathan Warm Day Coming is a NativeAmerican storyteller and artist, born and raised on the TaosPueblo. His mother, Eva Mirabal, was a well-known TaosPueblo artist in her day and served in the Women’s Army Corpsduring World War II.”Leffel has lived in Taos, New Mexico, since 1992 and is

friends with many of the Taos Pueblo artists. Jonathan was astudio model for Leffel during the filming of a documentaryabout Leffel’s life and art. The award-winning artist studied at the Art Students

League in New York. Later, he entered the art world as afledgling painter. In 1972, the Art Students League beckonedonce again and he became an instructor for 20 years beforemoving to El Prado.Leffel said, “In this portrait, I painted his dignified, proud

demeanor. He is a warm-hearted and generous human being.When he wrapped an old traditional Navajo blanket aroundhimself, he became this regal, imposing figure. That’s what Itried to capture in this portrait. The blanket he is wearinggoes back many generations and is rarely seen today.”

Museum officials said, “The painting makes a significantaddition to the museum’s priceless acquisitions and is thefirst portrait added to this collection.”Leffel received the bronze Prix de West Medallion, along with

a $5,000 prize, plus the purchase price of the painting –$65,000. The value of the art featured in the show was $4.9million and opening night art sales totaled almost $2.7million. Sales from an auction with art donated by numerousPrix de West artists were $162,250, surpassing last year’stotal of $99,000. The percentage of art sold opening night was47 percent and sales continued throughout the summer. Leffel is a traditional Renaissance artist, painting in the

fashion of the Old Masters from Europe. Now, he conductsworkshops throughout the United States and Europe, inspiringmany group and one-man exhibitions of his art. As Leffel was being honored by the National Cowboy

Museum, a retrospective of his art was being viewed inMinneapolis at the Frederick R. Wiseman Museum of Art. As Leffel approached the stage, he was accompanied by

Sherrie McGraw, a former student of his at the Art StudentsLeague, and now his lifelong companion. McGraw has been aPrix de West artist for the past 22 years and was at his side ashe accepted this prestigious honor. She is a native of PoncaCity. Obviously ecstatic over his win, Leffel stepped to the

podium and said, “I’ve got to compose myself. I can’t help it.It’s really a great honor to receive this award. It feelswonderful to be standing here with other Prix de West winnerslike Bill Acheff, George Carlson and Howard Terpening. I thankthe awards committee for their good taste. It is a great honorto be part of the Museum’s permanent collection.”Leffel is known among his artist friends for a dry, witty

sense of humor. He said, in a slow, measured cadence, “Of allthe awards I’ve received in recent years ... this one is, withouta doubt, (another pause) the most recent.”David Leffel always has the last word! The audience loved

his candor and wit and applauded loudly.Leffel’s name can now be added to the roster of 43 other

recipients of this distinguished art award. His portrait ofJonathan Warm Day Coming will now hang in the Robert andGrace Eldridge Gallery, where all the past Prix de West award-winning art is featured. This permanent Prix de Westshowcase is located behind the museum’s massive sculptureof Abraham Lincoln. n


Jonathan Warmday Coming by David Leffel

MUSIC

This year’s diverse mix of dance, theater, music andperformance has something that will appeal to audiences ofall ages. The season will open with returning favorite Polly Gibbons

with the Oklahoma City Jazz Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13.Gibbons is known for her warm, rich, soulful vocals and innateblues sensibility. She finds inspiration in the poetry of JoniMitchell, the depth of Billie Holiday, the soul of Marvin Guyand more contemporary sounds of Prince.The opener will be an evening of blues and big band favorites.Broadway musical enthusiasts will approve of the 2016

National Broadway Tour of “Once: The Musical” scheduled 7 p.m. Oct. 4. This original Broadway musical features anensemble of actor/musicians who play their own instrumentsonstage. The 2012 Tony Award-winning musical tells the taleof a Dublin street musician and a beautiful young woman whotakes him on an unforgettable journey about discoveringdreams and the power of music. This hit musical is based onthe critically acclaimed 2007 film of the same name. Fans of classic rock ‘n’ roll will enjoy “THE HIT MEN:

Legendary Performers with Frankie Valli, Carole King, CatStevens & more!” at 8 p.m. Oct. 21. The show takes a lookback through rock ‘n’ roll history featuring former members ofthese mega-star acts performing all-time favorite songs. A man of many talents, Emmy and Golden Globe nominee

Ben Vereen performs his show “Steppin’ Out with BenVereen” at 8 p.m. Nov. 18. Not only does the one-man showusher in the magic of Broadway, Vereen pays tribute to greatssuch as Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. Audiencesshould expect an evening full of song and dance, stories ofVereen’s life, and a full dose of humor.

The Koresh Dance Company, with its engagingperformance and skilled dancers, will take the stage at 7:30p.m. Jan. 24. Founded in 1991 by Israeli-born choreographerand artistic director Roni Koresh, the Koresh Dance Companystrives to provide innovative and emotional danceperformances that break through the boundaries of traditionalchoreography.

34 ion Oklahoma AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

OCCC’s Performing Arts Series Lineup

SOULFUL BLUES AND JAZZ, A TONY-WINNING BROADWAY MUSICAL, ajourney through the history of rock ‘n’ roll, avant garde dance and an actinglegend’s one-man show are just a sampling of what awaits when OklahomaCity Community College rolls out the 2016-2017 Performing Arts Series.

London-based jazz singerPolly Gibbons


Holding the record as the longest running solo play inBroadway history, “Defending the Caveman” will have theaudience roaring with laughter during three performancesFeb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 11 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.This hilariously insightful play about the ways men andwomen relate might be the perfect, unforgettable Valentine’sDay celebration.Audiences will take a visual journey and high-energy ride of

inspiration, creativity and engagement during Artrageous’“Art & Music Gone Wild” at 7:30 p.m. March 21. Witness anartist painting a masterpiece live accompanied by captivatingvocals, intricate choreography and exciting music. To conclude the series, “Opus Cactus,” performed by the

MOMIX Dance Company, will explore the mystery and hiddensecrets of the American Southwest desert at 7:30 p.m. April11. By an illusionistic style of dance creating dynamic images

of cactuses, slithering lizards and firedancers, the performance is a blend ofphysical theatre, circus, athleticism andcomedy. In addition to this year’s lineup, the Texas

Tenors will offer an encore of their sold out2015 performance of country, classical andBroadway favorites at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29.

All performances will take place in thecollege’s Visual and Performing ArtsCenter Theater located on the OCCCcampus, 7777 S May Ave. For moreinformation, call the OCCC CulturalPrograms box office at (405) 682-7579 orgo to www.occc.edu/pas. Individual ticketsand season subscriptions are available. n

The Texas Tenors

The Oklahoma City Jazz Orchestra

Jill Donovan, Rustic Cuff owner.

FASHION


Rustic CuffSOON TO OPEN IN OKC


BY MINDY RAGAN WOOD

Rustic Cuff, a jewelry company based in Tulsa, willsoon open on Classen Curve in Oklahoma City in time forthe Christmas shopping season.

What started as an attorney’screative outlet has grown into anenterprise so popular that evenHollywood stars can’t get enoughof Rustic Cuff’s creations. Jill Donavan started crafting

bracelets in a spare bedroom ofher home and gave them tofriends and family as gifts. Theyinsisted Donovan make more andsell them. Unsure if she couldmake a business out of her hobby,she gave it a try in 2011 andstarted selling them from ashowroom in Tulsa. Her cuffs are made of genuine

materials: sterling silver, ostrich,leather, sting-ray, and python. Cuff designs are diverse in color, theme, style, and appeal to women, children, and men. Celebrities like Melissa Lambert, Giuliana Rancic, Christen Chenoweth, and Gayle King

are a few who wear them. Rustic Cuffs has been featured on several national talk showsand magazines including Elle, People, InStyle, and recently in Oprah Winfrey’s O Magazine.The company ships orders internationally. A Facebook page called Addicted to Cuffs hasmore than 36,000 fans who post and share pictures of their cuffs. Several other pages havebeen started by fans. In Tulsa, long lines form when new cuffs are debuted or when shipments arrive in stock at

the showroom. Customers have even camped out the night before opening hours. Jill Donovan explained, “When I hear the question of why would people stand in line for a

simple bracelet, trust me, I get it. I totally understand why people feel that way. What I havelearned is the bracelet is just the vehicle for a group of people to come together—it unlocksor unleashes this kindness inside of people that becomes its own language.”That kindness shines through the Regifter’s Club sponsored by Rustic Cuff. Members sign

Materials used to manufacture the Rustic Cuffs.

up to receive two bracelets for the price of one. Therequirement is that members give one cuff away to anyonethey choose. The Cuff of the Month Club provides memberswith an exclusive mystery cuff that the member can keep orchoose to gift. “The stories that come back to us from the club alone is

enough to print several volumes of books. So often it’sunexpected and organic and they carry it around not knowingwho they are going to give it to until something unplannedhappens and suddenly they just know….a connection ismade and I love that,” said Donovan. Robin Reichelt Cox received a Rustic Cuff after a

woman on Facebook encountered Cox’s advocacy formissing persons. As creator of the OklahomaMissing Persons Facebook page, Cox raisesawareness for the missing when she isn’tbusy as a real estate agent. At the time,Cox was undergoing surgery. “I got a bracelet in the mail that said

‘hope.’ It brought tears to my eyes. Hopewas what I needed to see. I wear thatbracelet all the time,” said Cox.

Rustic Cuffs regularly supports charity efforts includingpublic education, cancer patients, and disaster reliefsurvivors to name a few. For more information, visitrusticcuffs.com or see their showroom in Tulsa at 1325 E.15th Ste 106. n

An array of Rustic Cuffs.Some examples of Rustic Cuffs.


ProgramsCultural

For more information, call the box o�ice at (405) 682-7579 or visit occc.edu/pas. Purchase tickets at tickets.occc.edu

Oklahoma City Community CollegeCultural Programs Presents

Thursday, September 29, 7:30 P.M.Tickets: $36–$55

OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater7777 South May Avenue

From Alabama to Puccini, The Texas Tenors bring their unique blend of Country, Classical and Broadway to the stage with breathtaking vocals, humor, and a touch of cowboy charm.

FASHION

Betsy King appreciates great shoes.Not just on a personal level either. She was shoe buyer for Balliets for seven

years before stepping away to open a small, intimate shoe boutique in theheart of Paseo Arts District.“I just had to continue my love for shoes,” King said.Even before she had a space nailed down she was in New York ordering

shoes. That’s determination with a big serving of positive thinking.

SHOE TALKwith Betsy King

BY LINDA MILLERPhotos by Linda Miller

Pour la Victoire mules with stack heel.

Betsy King, owner of hernamesake shoe boutique in the Paseo Arts District.


For those who’ve never been to your store, what willthey find? Being in the Paseo Arts District I wanted to create abeautiful warm environment for people to not onlyshop in, but hang out in. We have a gorgeous giantturquoise sofa in the center of the room that quicklybecame the spot to chat, have a glass of champagneand try on shoes. As far as product goes, I try to keepthe selection very unique and special. Shoes are anemotional purchase, so sometimes the funkier it is,the more you love it. That said, I offer everythingfrom classic ballet flats to on-trend heels.

She didn’t hesitate when asked how it felt the first time buyingshoes for her own namesake store, Betsy King, A Shoe Boutique.“It was frightening and exhilarating at the same time,” King said.The store celebrates its one-year birthday in September. Some of

the brands women will find include Kelsi Dagger Brooklyn,Seychelles, Via Spiga, Butter and Pour la Victoire.The space gives King what she wanted, a place where her

girlfriends can come and shop and feel comfortable. And surroundthemselves with shoes.

Why did you decide to open your own store?I was bitten by the retail bug early in life. Seriously, I have beeninvolved in the fashion retail world since college, mainly inapparel. But shoes, ahhh shoes, are my true love. I felt it was mytime to bring gorgeous affordable shoes to my ladies ofOklahoma City.

Dr. Scholl’s pointed-toe flats.

A shoe display at Betsy King, A Shoe Boutique.


Do you have a go-to pair or style of shoes? I don’t have one specific style I gravitate toward,but fall is all about the booties. Such a versatilesilhouette and this season it’s all about textureand color. Think outside the box here. Rather thanreaching for that simple black bootie, perhapsconsider a navy suede or a perforated burgundy toadd a pop to your look. I’m currently obsessedwith the Pour la Victoire “Willux” bootie inparchment python. Stunning!

How do shoes make you feel?Some may say I have an unhealthy relationship withshoes based on how many pairs I own. What can I say?Fashion is an artistic expression and shoes aredefinitely my way of expressing myself. I could wearthe same little black dress every day, change up myshoes and feel fabulous.

Is there a shoe style you would never wear?Not at all. I believe there is a time and a place forpretty much any shoe silhouette. I enjoy wearing mycocktail shoes with ripped jeans and lace-up oxfordswith skirts and dresses. Just depends on your personalstyle.

Betsy King, A Shoe Boutique is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at 3001 Paseo Drive. Phone number is 601-7776. n

Pour la Victoire python printed bootie.

Pour la Victoire flat bootie.

FITNESS


A hot new trend in fitness, Pure Barre issoon to catch fire with the opening oftwo studios in Oklahoma City andEdmond. Pure Barre is a fitness model

that combines low impact exercise with isometrictechniques to achieve results.

Unlike high cardio and heavy weight training, Pure Barreuses strategic movements with resistance to create a slim,strong figure. Kelsey Moody, who will open a studio inEdmond this year, explained.

“Pure Barre transforms bodies by fatiguing each musclegroup through tiny contractions to the point where themuscles shake or quiver followed by stretching the musclesout to create a long, lean physique,” she said.

Pure Barre Opening Soon!

BY MINDY RAGAN WOOD


Pure Barre’s website describes the workout as a highintensity, but low impact routine that doesn’t putexcessive stress on the joints.

“Most people expect because it’s low impact andbased on tiny contractions it will be easy, boring, andunder-deliver on results when in fact, it is just theopposite,” said Moody.

Maddie Algeo, who will open a studio in NicholsHills in late fall, described the workout as a fun, upbeatway to get in shape that targets the trouble zones.

“Pure Barre is a 55 minute total body workout thatconcentrates on the areas women struggle with most:hips, thighs, seat, abs, and arms. The techniqueprotects your joints by avoiding any bouncing orjumping. The music used in Pure Barre class is upbeat,fun, and current. It changes constantly to keep each

class fresh and fun,” said Algeo. Movements can be modified based on ability, injuries,

and age. Several studio members say the sky is thelimit when it comes to customizing the routine whichpoints to its effectiveness, Moody said.

“If you can hold onto a ballet bar, you can do this. Beit permanent or more temporary injuries or limitations,everything in Pure Barre can be modified. The moreyou understand the Pure Barre technique, the morechallenging it becomes, there is truly no such thing asplateauing in Pure Barre.”

Members as old as 72 enjoy Pure Barre and seeconsistent results. Randy Kay is 55, and started PureBarre in March 2014. She has lost 80 pounds.

“I began Pure Barre wearing a size 20. Because of thestrength and toning I have experienced at PB, I now

wear sizes 8-10! Anyone can do this workout.Today I have muscles in my arms, leg, stomachand a waist I did not have previously.”

Instructors are trained to modify movementsfor clients.

“The experienced trainers assist each personto work to the best of their ability. I never feltisolated or left out because they were alwaysthere encouraging me,” said Kay.

Pure Barre Edmond will open late 2016 at theintersection of Covell and Kelly in the MarketSquare at Covell Village Shopping Center. PureBarre Nichols Hills is scheduled to open late fallat 6463 Avondale Drive, near Pops. n

TRAVEL

A year before statehood, a small butscenic area in the middle ofOklahoma Territory achievednational status of its own.

What had been designated Sulphur SpringsReservation in 1902 was renamedPlatt National Park in 1906, puttingit in the same elite company asYellowstone, Yosemite, MountRainier and Crater Lake.

This tiny park dotted with mineralsprings and interesting geologicalformations was not as breathtakingor encompassing as others, but itsaccessibility to people in the central

part of the country sweetened its appeal. Platt was the seventh park in the National Park

System and despite its remote location in what is nowSulphur, visitors came not only to explore the area butto soak up the springs, long thought to offer medicinalproperties.

Though popular, Platt NationalPark had to deal with sporadicfunding at times and early efforts torelinquish direction of the park.Droughts, floods and overflowscaused other issues.

The most noticeable improvementscame in the 1930s when the CivilianConservation Corps builtcampgrounds, picnic areas, parkinglots, storm sewers, trails, pavilions,and dams and helped with

landscaping and reforesting.In 1976, Platt National Park, Arbuckle National

Recreation Area and additional lands were combined toestablish Chickasaw National Recreation Area, namedto acknowledge the people who first offered the land forthe park.

Bill Wright, superintendent of Chickasaw NationalRecreation Area and Oklahoma state coordinator forthe NPS, said water is the big attraction.


Left, Visitors to Little Niagra Falls in the early 1900s.Top, Platt National Park sign.

Chickasaw National Recreation Area

LITTLE PARK,BIG HISTORY

BY LINDA MILLERPhotos provided


“We’re all about the water … whether it’s the lake,the creeks, the streams. It’s the water that draws peoplehere. It always has since 1902,” he said.

Though the national park was renamed andredesignated 40 years ago, the Chickasaw NationalRecreation Area is more popular than ever and is aNational Park Service site. The NPS celebrates its100th birthday this month, making it the perfect time tohighlight some of the area’s noteworthy moments.1800s — The Five Civilized Tribes were forced torelocate to Indian Territory with the Chickasaws andChoctaws settling near what is now Sulphur.1898 — Settlers started leasing land for their cattlefrom the Chickasaws.July 1, 1902 – Sulphur Springs Reservation wasestablished after the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations,recognizing that statehood was looming, sold l,640acres to the Department of the Interior to protect thesprings, fresh water resources and falls for futuregenerations.June 29, 1906 – Sulphur Springs Reservation’s namewas changed to Platt National Park in honor of the lateOrville Hitchcock Platt, a senator from Connecticut andfor many years a member of the committee on IndianAffairs.1907 – Some 25,000 visitors came to the park; 3,000of them by wagon. About 6,000 head of cattle weredriven through the park in daytime hours. Stockmenresented efforts to prevent grazing and it is recordedthat 11,000 head of cattle were driven off park lands. A

barbed wire fence was built to temporarily alleviate theproblem.1908 – Visitors numbered 108,332 and of these 1,000were campers. Three business licenses were granted forthe park, including ones for a refreshment stand andphotographic privileges. Besides the main office, therewere five residences, five pavilions and 10 rent houses.Total yearly appropriations for the park were $5,780.The government considered handing over direction ofthe park to the Smithsonian Institution, but decidedthat the Interior Department could manage it better. Awire-suspension bridge built across the creek toBromide Springs was featured in an issue of ScientificAmerican in London. The bridge washed away in1916. April 15, 1908 – Frank Bledsoe of Duncan wasregistered as a visitor to the campgrounds. Though theoldest record found, it’s believed visitors wereregistered in some way for years before.Sept. 16, 1908 – The Grand Army of the Republicheld its reunion in the park.July 1909 – Gov. Charles Haskell made his firstofficial visit to the park.1910 – The first automobile permits were issued fortaxi service through the park. Five were for two-seatedcars and two for three-seaters.1911 – First record of the springs going dry.1912 – Appropriations for the care, improvement andmaintenance of the park were increased to $10,000, butno funds were made available in 1913. Reports

Lincoln Bridge, built in 1909,is still in use at ChickasawNational Recreation Area.


circulated that the government had abandoned thepark. All work was suspended until an emergency billfor $8,000 was passed by Congress.1913, 1925 and 1933 – The National Park Servicerecommend-ed that the park be given to the state andmade into a state park, but it remained in the NPS.Feb. 27, 1913 – The headline in the Sulphur TimesDemocrat proclaimed “OUR PARK IS SAVED”Spring 1917 – Oklahoma City presented the park withsix whitetail deer —three fawns, one young buck andtwo does. Winter 1920 – Three elk were transported fromYellowstone National Park and three buffalo from theWichita Game Preserve were released in the park.Buffalo are still in the park today.Feb. 23, 1926 – Mary Plattina Douglas was born inCentral Camp. It’s the only record of a birth in the park. 1933-1940 – A Civilian Conservation Corps campwas set up at the park housing CCC Company 808 withsome 200 men building campgrounds, picnic areas,parking lots, trails, comfort stations, sewers, dams andpavilions. A large number remain and it is consideredthe most significant intact collection of CCC-erastructures in the NPS.1949 – Annual visitation tops 1 million.1950-1951 – Rock Creek Campground, consideredone of the most modern, up-to-date in the NPS, was built.1951 – The first self-guided tour pamphlet wasavailable for those viewing the park by car.1952 – Appropriations for the park increased to$61,778.46.Aug. 2, 1952 –Glenda Peck of Stratford married

Glenn Fox, Oklahoma City, at the foot of the LincolnBridge. They married there because Fox’s parents weremarried at the same spot 27 years earlier.1969 – U.S. Speaker of the House of RepresentativesCarl Albert and U.S. Sen. Henry Bellmon helpeddedicate the new Travertine Nature Center.1976 – Platt National Park, Arbuckle NationalRecreation Area and other lands were combined toestablish Chickasaw National Recreation Area.June 2006 – The park’s centennial was celebrated inthe Bromide area.2011 – Platt National Park Historic District wasdesignated a National Historic Landmark and theUnited States Mint issued a coin featuring LincolnBridge, a limestone structure built in 1909 that is stillin use.2016 – The Chickasaw National Recreation Areaencompasses just under 10,000 acres, six campgroundsand four springs that still flow in the park. Little NiagraFalls on Travertine Creek and Panther Falls are two of themost popular areas for swimming and wading. Some 1.5million visitors are expected through the park this year.For more information on Chickasaw NationalRecreation Area, go to nps.gov.Historical reference: “A History of PlattNational Park” by park superintendent PerryBrown, 1954. n

Left, Little Niagra Falls, a popular spot atChickasaw National Recreation Area.

Below, the 35-acre Flower Park and BlackSulphur Springs landscape.

http://nps.gov


Other area attractionsLake of the Arbuckles. Built in 1966, the lake is popularamong anglers who like to reel in catfish, bass, crappie andperch as well as anyone who prefers a little water fun.Campgrounds, trailer spaces, picnic areas and tables,shelters, public restrooms and drinking water make it a drawfor day and overnight visitors. The lake is eight milessouthwest of Sulphur.Artesian Hotel, Casino and Spa. This jewel is just a stone’sthrow from the entrance to the Chickasaw National RecreationArea. The 81-room grand hotel in Sulphur also offers arestaurant, lounge, indoor/outdoor pool, spa, indoorbathhouse, casino and numerous shops. The original wasbuilt in 1906 and became a popular destination for travelers,Hollywood stars and politicians. It burned in 1962 and waseventually replaced with a motor inn. The Chickasaw Nationpurchased it in the early 1970s and in 2013 opened the newhotel, complete with a similar design including the distinctivecorner turrets.ARTesian Gallery and Studios. Located across the street fromthe Artesian Hotel, this space features an art gallery,classroom space, reception and retail space.Rusty Nail Winery and Tasting Room. Established in 2010 bySulphur women and natives who love wine, each wine has aspecially designed label named after a shoe. Ask for a taste ofDorothy’s Ruby Red or Cinderella’s Slipper. The winery, giftshop and bistro are housed in a restored building in the heartof Sulphur.Chickasaw Cultural Center. The largest tribal cultural centerin the United States is in Sulphur, surrounded by rolling hills,woodlands and streams. Centuries of Chickasaw history andculture are celebrated and shared through exhibits and

demonstrations.Chickasaw Retreat and Conference Center. Perched on oneof the highest points in the Arbuckle Mountains, the retreatoffers a sweeping view and amenities perfect for conferences,parties, retreats, reunions, weddings and conferences. Withmore than 40 guest rooms and suites, it’s also open fortransient travelers. The view alone is worth the drive.Turner Falls. The showpiece is a 77-foot waterfall discoveredin 1878. The park has two natural swimming areas, hikingtrails, caves, sandy beaches and picnic areas, as well as RVand camping sites and cabins.Bedré Fine Chocolate. Got a craving for chocolate? Samplesare available at Bedre’s factory at the corner of I-35 and SH 7at Exit 55 in Davis. Take a peek through floor-to-ceilingwindows to see the chocolate-making process and then buy astash of chocolate covered potato crisps or meltaways.Air Donkey Zipline Adventures and Soaring Eagle TurnerFalls Zipline. Air Donkey lets adventurers soar over a milethrough the Arbuckle Mountains. Soaring Eagle launches froma 130-foot tower above Collings Castle for a view of the falls.Both are in Davis.Arbuckle Wilderness Park. Hundreds of exotic animals roammore than 200 acres in the Arbuckle Mountains. Along withthe drive-through safari, there’s a petting zoo, House ofReptiles and rides.Cross Bar Ranch. On the outskirts of Davis, the ranchfeatures 6,500 acres of mountain range and is the largestarea in the state dedicated to ATV and motorcycle off-roadriding. There are also equestrian and mountain bike areas.ATV rentals, camping and RV hookups are available.For more information about what to see and do in the area,go to chickasawcountry.com, sulphurchamber.com ordavisok.org.

The new Artesian Hotel opened in 2013 in Sulphur. Rusty Nail Winery in Sulphur

http://davisok.org

http://nps.gov

http://chickasawcountry.com

TRAVEL

Editor’s Note: Elvis Presley diedAug. 16, 1977 at the age of 42

BY LINDA MILLER

N early 40 years after Elvis Presley’sdeath, fans from around the world stillflock to Memphis to get a close-uplook at the famed entertainer’s

personal and private life.The story plays out at his beloved Graceland, the home he

bought in 1957 and shared with his parents and grandmother,and continues across the street at a complex of exhibits.It’s all things Elvis including the name of the street.

This is where fans and visitors come to learn more about theentertainer who died before many of them were born, to feel aconnection, to mourn and to celebrate. They take grouppictures and selfies and stare at the mansion as if trying toimage Elvis opening the front door.Elvis bought Graceland and its 14 surrounding acres for

$102,500 when he was just 22. Today, it’s a populardestination for tourists and made even more inviting with amultimedia iPad tour narrated by actor and fan John Stamos.Much of the mansion décor remains the same as it was in

the late 1960s and early 1970s. From the foyer, visitors canlook into the living room with its 15-foot white sofa. At the farend is the music room where Elvis entertained friends andfamily.


Graceland

Elvis’ Graceland is one of the most popularattractions in Memphis. Courtesy of graceland.com

… where Elvis lives on


The tour continues to the dining room,his parents’ bedroom, kitchen anddownstairs to the TV and pool rooms.Graceland has 14 televisions and onejukebox. The pool room is covered in350-plus yards of fabric which tookthree people 10 days to hang.Back upstairs visitors get a peek at

the famous Jungle Room with its greenshag carpet, carved wooden furnitureand Polynesian influence that remindedElvis of Hawaii, his favorite vacationspot. The room was added to the back ofthe house as a screened-in porch in the1960s and then enclosed in 1974.One of the most impressive rooms is

the Hall of Gold where Elvis’ musiccareer is celebrated in a long, narrowroom filled from floor to ceiling with goldand platinum albums and singles, earlymovie memorabilia, other awards andcharitable endeavors. The room makes apowerful statement and comes as asurprise to many visitors who on at leastone occasion were overhead saying theyhad no idea Elvis and his music hadbeen so respected and prolific. It’sestimated more than 1 billion ElvisPresley records have been sold

worldwide. The hall was the upperportion of a two-tiered patio Elvis hadbuilt in 1957. In the 1960s, it was anenclosed recreation room that includedan electric slot car track.

Elvis loved football, karate andracquetball. He had a racquetball roombuilt in 1975 in the mansion’s backyard.It now showcases a large display ofawards received posthumously, severalof his iconic jumpsuits and more gold,platinum and diamond records thatcover the walls.Tidbits about Elvis’ personal

and professional life are revealedthroughout the tour, exposing amore intimate layer of the manknown as the King of Rock ‘n’Roll. He received three GrammyAwards, all for his gospel music,but never attended the awardsceremony. In fact, he acceptedonly one award in person. In

Living and music rooms at Graceland. Photo by Linda Miller

An early picture of Elvis Presley in front of Graceland. Courtesy of graceland.com


1970, he was named one of theTen Outstanding Young Men bythe United States Junior Chamber,or the Jaycees. He carried theaward with him every where hewent for the rest of his life.As expected, the Meditation

Garden where Elvis and othermembers of his family are buriedis the final stop on the mansiontour.But the Elvis legacy is so large

it continues across the street at acomplex of gift shops, exhibits,restaurants, ticket office andshuttle boarding for the mansiontour. Exhibits include Elvis’Hawaii, Elvis’ Tupelo, Lisa Marieand Hound Dog II jets,photography and archives exhibitsand automobile museum.One of the more enlightening is

the Archives Studio, opened inAugust 2014. The exhibit includessome items not so surprising —his bottles of Brut and Canoecologne; his personal books, keysto his 1973 Stutz Blackhawk carand various police badges thatwere given to him. Drawers holdframed posters and pictures.There’s even a football playhandwritten by Elvis. But it’s the not-to-be-missed

short video that gives an in-depthpeek into the extensive Gracelandarchives that include aphotography collection thatconsists of more than 90,000images, and an object collectionof both on exhibit and storeditems of 3,445 pieces. More than amillion pieces of paper includingtelephone bills, receipts and

telegrams are archived along withsome 3,000 pieces of clothing.The numbers are mind-boggling;especially considering Elvis wasonly 42 when he died in 1977.Automobile buffs will find the

car museum equally interesting.The display showcases severalcars, among them a black 1960Rolls-Royce Elvis bought onSept. 3, 1960 and a Mercedes280SL he purchased for daughterLisa Marie on Dec. 8, 1970.And there’s the 1975 Ferrari

Dino he bought in October 1976.The payment plan was oneinstallment of $20,583. Perhapsmost famous is the 1955 pinkCadillac Fleetwood that he droveand later gave to his mother.Like Elvis, Graceland has

received its share of accolades.

The Jungle Room was decorated to remindElvis of Hawaii. Courtesy of graceland.com


The home received historic national landmark statusin 2006. In 2015, it was voted the World’s BestMusical Attraction in USA Today’s 10 Best ReadersChoice Contest. In March, Graceland was namedone of House Beautiful’s 50 Most Famous HistoricHomes in America. In early May, it celebrated 20million visitors from more than 140 countries sinceopening to the public in 1982. The tour is translatedinto nine languages. Graceland has welcomed presidents, celebrities

and royals, but the majority of visitors are fans who

want to learn more about the man and the performer,to see where and how he lived and to walk throughthe front door just as he did.Visitor numbers swell each August during Elvis

Week, an annual event to honor and celebrate Elvis’music, films and legacy with concerts, paneldiscussions, tributes and candlelight vigil. Thisyear’s event is Aug. 10-16. n

For more information about Graceland tours and ElvisWeek, go to graceland.com. For other things to see and doin Memphis, go to memphistravel.com.

Elvis’ musical career is celebrated in the Hall of Gold. Courtesy of graceland.com

1955 pink Cadillac Fleetwood.Photo by Linda Miller

http://memphistravel.com

http://memphistravel.com

REVIEW

I t was 1983. Two men were digging inan abandoned hole in the middle of apine forest in McCurtain County,Oklahoma. A bone fell from the side of

the hole. They kept digging, found adinosaur skull and a whole lot of bones.

Those bones became the focus of one major company, twouniversities, state government, a company who specializesin old bones and a few museums.It would take years, many lawsuits, some shady behavior

and a lot of patience before the bones of anAcrocanthosaurus, a creature who walked the lands thatwould be Oklahoma 10 million years before TyrannosaurusRex, would find a permanent home.Russell Ferrell fell into the story about the same way the

two men had a bone fall on them, and he has taken all theinformation from the all the parties and written, “BoneWar of McCurtain County,” a non-fiction work that has allthe hallmarks of a great work of fiction.In 1983, Cephis Hall and Sid Love had permission from

Weyerhaeuser’s regional manager to dig on their land,and they were in an area where the company had dug ahole to hold water that was no longer in use.


Russell Ferrell’s book READS LIKE FICTION,

but it’s true.BY SANDI DAVIS

READS LIKE FICTION,


THE FIND WAS A BIG DEAL because in 1948, twoscientists found a partial skull and a few other pieces toidentify them as the new dinosaur. That’s all they knew.They didn’t have enough information to say much else. Hall and Love’s find, especially the skull, gave

paleontologists a way to discover how the dinosaur lookedand when he lived, way, way before the more familiarJurassic dinosaurs walked the earth.

The bones were sold to a man in Ardmore, who was supposedto make a cast of the bones. Hall and Love got a down paymentof $25,000. Nothing else. The pair finally got the rest of themoney when the man sold the bones to the North CarolinaMuseum of Natural History, where today the bones are the starof their exhibits.The Oklahoma State Fossil was supposed to be those of the

Acrocanthosaurus. They aren’t, but the creature is the statedinosaur.Ferrell, born in Texas, moved to Oklahoma in the 1990s and

had a cattle ranch. He lived here for seven years, when hedivorced and moved back to Texas. He still has family inOklahoma.

“I went to Texas A&M University where I studied biology andsociology,” Ferrell said in a phone interview. “I went back toschool at Dallas Baptist University and got a degree in biologyand a teacher’s certificate.”He taught high school and worked as a journalist. His son and

daughter-in-law discovered the story.“They were on vacation in Beaver’s Bend and they stopped off

in Cephis Hall’s rock shop” Ferrell recalled. “Cephis told themthe story of finding dinosaur bones, and they called me and toldme and I thought, ‘This might be a good story.’”It was.He has been writing and refining the story for years. He has

two extra chapters not yet in a bound copy of the book, but he’llbe happy to tell you about them.

Ferrell will be at Full Circle Book Store Sept. 9 to signcopies of his book and to tell the rest of the story. n

Russell Ferrell

The true story of the discovery andexcavation of Acrocanthosaurus, acreature who walked the lands thatwould be Oklahoma 10 million yearsbefore Tyrannosaurus Rex.

REVIEW

G et ready to enjoy not just anotherinspirational life story, but anexperience. Once Mo Andersonstarts talking to you from the pages

of her book, it will be almost impossible toput it down.

Mo started out from the humble beginnings of a tenantfarm in rural western Oklahoma in 1937. It was the earlydays following The Great Depression. She tells of gettingto pick out the floral printed feed sacks with her fatherthat would later be made into her dresses by hermother. The family home had no electricity or indoorplumbing. It was a life of hard work with not muchmonetary return, but was rich with love.

Mo was inspired by her parents John and AudraGregg to dream big dreams for her future. She did. Mohad a love of music and a talent for it as well. Shewanted to be a music teacher. As a young girl shemade a scrap book full of pictures of the ebony grandpiano she envisioned for herself. Mo wanted to own ahouse with indoor plumbing. She didn’t stop there.She wanted it to be a grand home! It seemed adream too big to imagine for the young girl that often felt theweight of her modest surroundings.


It’s been

for Mo AndersonBY LINDA MOLSBEE

‘A Joy-Filled Life’


Imozelle Freda Gregg (Mo) lovingly tells of herfoundation and the lessons learned watching herparents demonstrate their work ethic. They had astrong devotion to each other, their family andcommunity. The Gregg family worked hard every dayto keep the farm running. Even with what was a neverending work day Mo’s parents found the time for dailyprayer and devotional time with their children. Theymade the time to encourage Mo to make her dreams areality. Mo did make all of her dreams come true,even the big ones. She found success in life thatseems out of reach for most of us.

Throughout the book Mo lists “Mo-MentumBuilders”. These are quotes that she incorporates aslessons for success. In one instance, she said, “In anyventure, you have to work hard every day. Just bewilling to do whatever it takes.”

Mo compiled her Mo-Mentum Builders on her life’sjourney that had many successes, life changes and afew disastrous financial setbacks. Through it all, she,alongside of her loving and devoted husband Richard,overcame the lows in life to finish on top. MoAnderson explains how she developed her winningstrategy in business. She goes into detail about hersecrets in navigating the tough business world of realestate. She talks about how she made her way to thetop and kept her place there. Even when she felt lessthan qualified for the chief executive post, sheremained strong under the pressure and relied on herstrength and determination to make up for what shelacked in executive experience during her first yearsas the chief executive officer of Keller Willams.

That little girl from a rural Oklahoma tenant farmworked her way through college. She married herhigh school sweetheart and achieved her dream ofbeing a music teacher, a career she held dear formany years. Topping it off, she became the CEO of areal estate giant. Mo tells her readers of unexpectedturns in her life that led her to the pinnacle of the

business world. The near misses that could have heldher back and the people who, as she says, “Did theright thing,” kept Mo on the path to fulfill her vision.

Mo spoke to me through her book, going back intime through various moments in her life. I could nothelp but draw many parallels to my own. You justcan’t help it! No matter what your background, youwill identify with Mo. Her book will give you the shotin the arm to find your dreams and the inspiration to,in her words, “do the hard work” to live them.

Mo reminds us that some dreams happen quickly.Others take many years. One of Mo’s biggest dreamsdid not come true for her until the age of 77. Mo nowhas that grand home in Edmond, Oklahoma. Shenever stops dreaming or working.

This native Oklahoman is an inspiration to all. As alifelong Oklahoman myself, I feel a specialconnection to our common threads growing up here.You will feel that same connection too.

As you read “A Joy-Filled Life” you will feel as ifyou are sitting in a comfortable living room with Moreminiscing over coffee about the good ol’ days andthe hard times that we all have faced over the years.

I found myself going back in time to memories ofmy own start on a rural Oklahoma tenant farm. Iwitnessed that same work ethic and commitment tofamily and community that so many of us Okies havegrown up experiencing. Mo embodies that strongOklahoma spirit. Mo tells us to “Be thankful for yourfoundation, follow your dreams, do the right thing,keep the faith, do whatever it takes” and so muchmore.

Don’t wait! Get your hands on Mo Anderson’s “AJoy-Filled Life.”

Find a comfortable spot and get ready to experiencea boost in your mood. When you are finished you willfeel ready to take on those dreams with a new foundpassion. n

BUSINESS

I n mid-August, employment trailblazer Bob Funkwas presented with a huge statue of himself sittingatop a horse looking over the Chisholm Trail,which runs through his Yukon ranch.

The Aug. 18 unveiling was part of a ceremony that attractedGov. Mary Fallin and her husband and other dignitaries onFunk’s 75th birthday. The statue depicts Funk on top of thehorse looking down the valley where cattle still graze.

Funk’s son, Bob Funk, Jr., said the statue was an ideal wayto honor his father.

“Bob Funk exemplifies the cowboy life, values and westernlifestyle,” he said.

Like the cowboys, Funk has been a hard worker since hefounded Express Employment Professionals decades ago.Since then, he and his hired hands have helped put an untoldnumber of unemployed people to work. He currently servesas the company’s chief executive officer and board president.

Without a doubt, Funk understands the job market and thefallacies within government jobs reports. In July, Funk wrotea commentary for the Wall Street Journal which pointed outthe latest U.S. government report didn’t count people whohave given up looking for work.

“Seldom has the unemployment rate been so low whilepublic dissatisfaction has been so high,” he wrote.

Referring to Gallup polls, Funk quoted referenced figuresdating back to 2000 when the unemployment rate was below5 percent and 37 percent of the nation was dissatisfied withthe way life was going. In 1988, the unemployment rate was


Employment pioneer Bob Funkhonored with statue on Chisholm Trail

Express CEO claims in Wall Street Journal commentarygovernment jobs report isn’t accurate

BY TIM FARLEY

Bob Funk


5.5 percent and a minority of the country, 47 per-cent, was dissatisfied.

In 2016, the figures show a reversal. The latestjobs report shows an unemployment rate of 4.9percent but 69 percent are dissatisfied with theway things are going.

Funk attributes the switch to the fact that 43percent of the unemployed have given up lookingfor work.

A recent Harris Poll conducted for ExpressEmployment showed 43 percent of the unemployedhave given up looking for work. The labor-forceparticipation rate today stands at 62.7 percent,stuck at levels not seen since the late 1970s,before women fully entered the workforce, Funkwrote in the Wall Street Journal.

“Employers know that the real rate ofunemployment is higher than 4.9 percent,” Funkwrote. “People who aren’t looking for a job don’tget counted when the government calculates theunemployment rate, but they count whenemployers decide what wages to pay. So employerstoday don’t feel the pressure to increase wages asthey would if the unemployment rate were trulylow.”

Funk continued with his op-ed, “People needhope. They expect to be able to find a job and, ifthey do well, see their wages rise over time.Instead, this economy is stuck for too manyAmericans, particularly the unskilled.”

Funk is an advocate for better job-trainingprograms, better education for low-income

Bob Funk, right, at the statue dedication with Governor Mary Fallin and friends.


Americans and loosening the grip of teachersunions and expanding school choice. He alsocalled upon community colleges and vocationalschools to “work harder” to make themselves solidalternatives to four-year degrees.

In the Wall Street Journal column, he also wrote

government payments, particularly for disabilityprograms, need to be “reined in” so they don’tbecome a disincentive to work. Funk wrote thatdisability programs have risen as much as 44percent since 2003 among working-age people. n

Bob Funk speaks during the dedication.

BUSINESS


Experienced banker joinsFirst Liberty

He has worked as an analyst, product manager, and assisted with branch development

and other bank operations projects, prior to serving as acommercial relationship manager for the past 16 years.

Now, Boggs has joined the team at First Liberty Bankas a senior vice president.

Boggs has worked more than two decades in the localbanking industry, and has proven himself a leader inthe community. He brings to First Liberty keen accountanalysis, management and business development skills.

“In his local banking career, James has worked one-on-one with businesses of all sizes in many sectors andhelped them achieve their growth goals. Add to that hisexperience in multi-bank syndication financing and heis a force to be reckoned with in banking,” said ScottHughes, First Liberty Chief Lending Officer.

Boggs will assist with the strategic growth plans of thebank. Additionally, as a loan and cash managementportfolio executive, Boggs will focus on commercial andindustrial, and develop relationships in the smallbusiness, real estate, medical and oil and gasindustries.

It’s a job he finds endlessly rewarding. “I have always seen commercial banking as a way to

get to know and understand multiple industries.” saidBoggs. “Banking allowed me to stay in Oklahoma andsee broad opportunities in our community while servingthe financial needs of commercial clients.”

“It’s inspiring to join a vibrant financial institutionlike First Liberty Bank,” he said. “With a strong privateownership base, First Liberty is positioned for greatgrowth and I am honored to join the team.”

An Oklahoma native, Boggs was raised in Okeene

and became a top-ranking graduate of Oklahoma StateUniversity. He holds a degree in Business and nowserves on the OSU Alumni Association Board ofDirectors.

Active in the community, he serves on the board ofthe directors for the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, isa graduate of Leadership Oklahoma City Class XXV,and has been recognized as a leader in business byboth OKC Business and The Journal Record asOutstanding Forty Under 40.

He and his wife, Dayna, live in Edmond and have twodaughters Lora and Ana Grace. n

J ames P. Boggs has done almosteverything in the banking industry.

James P. Boggs

BUSINESS

Glen D. Johnson, Jr., the Chancellor ofthe Regents for Higher Education,speaks to the essence of millennialswhen he tells them, “Weigh in on the

issues you really care about.”Millennials, born 1982-2004, are team-oriented,

collaborative, and relish being included in significantdecisions. For those reasons alone, they can identify withJohnson’s spirit of leading that he claims as the secret tohis success in leadership.

A young startJohnson credits his parents, Glen and Imogene Johnson,

with instilling in him a certain spirit of leading.“I have never waivered from the premise that public

policy and public service is a very noble calling,”Johnson said.

Like his father, Johnson was elected to the OklahomaHouse of Representatives before turning 30, and bothrepresented Okfuskee County.

But that wasn’t his first elected office. Soon afterstarting his law practice in Okemah, Johnson was asked tofill an unexpired term on the local school board. He thenran for, and was elected, to that office. As a result, localsupporters encouraged him to run for the House District24 nomination. He defeated a four-term incumbent, andthat launched his legislative career.


Following good adviceJohnson said he tried to live and lead according to

his father’s advice, “Don’t worry about alwaysfollowing the crowd. There are going to be somethings you care about, and don’t be afraid to be theperson who takes a different path.”

A NOBLE CALLINGFormer House Speaker Glen Johnson addresses leadership

BY GARLAND MCWATTERS

Glen D. Johnson Chancellor, Oklahoma Regents for Higher Education


Johnson specifically recalled his stand on the historiceducation reform bill, House Bill 1017. It drew heatedopposition, especially from smaller rural schooldistricts, who saw the legislation as a threat to theirviability. However, Johnson held to his convictions thatOklahoma needed the reforms and worked with hisschool districts to understand and work through thechanges.

During his six terms in the state legislature, Johnsonascended to the leadership ranks. When membersousted controversial Speaker Jim Barker, the newspeaker, Steve Lewis, tapped Johnson to be majorityleader. Lewis later resigned to run for governor, andJohnson was elected speaker at the age of 36. Thatmade him the youngest speaker inOklahoma history and theyoungest sitting speaker of a statehouse in the U.S. He served threeterms as speaker.

Performance andrelationships count

Johnson believes his approachto leading and his reputation as amiddle-of-the-road membercontributed to his selection.

“The members had seen meperform. A lot of them said they felt comfortable withthe decisions that I would make . . . and that I wouldhave their back.”

Johnson said he was realisticthe about the legislature beingpartisan, but he always tried towork well with both parties. Hetried to avoid being thestereotypical, “arm twisting,iron fisted, grudge holding,”speaker and respected that eachmember was elected torepresent the interests of theirspecific district.

Upon being elected speaker,Johnson quickly sought a Houserules reform putting a stop tothe notorious all night sessions.He also successfullyimplemented a rule that all

legislation would be held for 24 hours afterbeing voted out of committee so memberswould have time to read it before a floor vote.

All of this, according to Johnson,contributed to building relationships amongmembers in which the state’s work could beaccomplished in a spirit of cooperation.

Collaboration key to future success After leaving the state legislature, Johnson took on

two major responsibilities. He was an adjunct professorat the University of Oklahoma Collegeof Law, and he helped OU PresidentDavid Boren navigate the legislativecomplexities of restructuring theUniversity Hospitals withColumbia/HCA and PresbyterianHospital into its current arrangement.

Johnson’s next stop, and perhapsmost ambitions mission, was aspresident of Southeastern OklahomaState University in Durant from 1997to 2007. He led a capital campaignthat resulted in a large scalerenovation and building project thatbrought the university’s infrastructureup to date and added new teachingfacilities.Johnson is the first to say the success

Above Representative Glen Johnson debates on the Housefloor HD 24, 1982-1997

Rep. Johnson served as the youngest speaker ofthe house in Oklahoma history (1991-1997)

of the project involved the consolidatedefforts of local, state, and federal groupsas well as significant assistance from theChoctaw and Chickasaw Nations. Theproject that makes him smile, though,was the renovation of the small andoutdated student union. The studentslevied a fee increase on themselves tohelp pay for the renovation, and it wasdedicated in 2006. In 2010 the regentsnamed the student union in Johnson’shonor.Johnson said his philosophy of leading

is being able to “provide the reason andthe momentum to steer a group or

individuals to a certain course ofaction.” Furthermore, “you mustreinforce in them you are successful as ateam. It’s about the team accomplishinga goal that is important to everyone inthe group.”Now, as chancellor, Johnson is putting

his spirit of leading to the test. Hismajor challenge is to help stretch statedollars for higher education in order tomeet the needs of Oklahoma students

and businesses. “Thirty-seven percent of future jobs will

require an associate degree, bachelorsdegree, or higher,” Johnson noted. n


Chancellor Johnson addresses the House of Representatives on Higher Ed Day.

Glen Johnson, President Southeastern OSU (1997-2007)

Listen to Chancellor Glen Johnson’s complete comments about his life in leadershipon the accompanying Spirit of Leading podcast hosted by Garland McWatters.[LINK http://www.inpoweredtolead.com/027-glen-johnson-podcast/]

http://www.inpoweredtolead.com/027-glen-johnson-podcast/

For 20 years James Boggs hashelped Oklahomans write their

own stories of success. He hashelped small businesses

become big and big companiesbecome industry leaders.

Make time to meet James Boggs atFirst Liberty Bank and begin

writing your own success story!

myfirstliberty.com/jamesboggs

Celebrating 10 Years est 2006

James Boggs with President and CEO Joey Root

First Liberty Bank welcomes

James P. Boggsto its banking team.

Inspired. Involved. Incomparable.

COMMUNITY

C hildren are back in school, and ifthere’s one issue that’s on the mindsof many Oklahomans this year it’sthe education budget crisis.

It’s also a concern for Project Management Institute ofOklahoma City. The nonprofit is taking an opportunity withits Legends and Leaders event on Aug. 19 to encourageOklahoma City professionals to give back to theircommunity and address problems facing state schools andeducation.

The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Oklahoma CityFarmers Market. Former Oklahoma Congressman J.C. WattsJr., now president and CEO of Feed the Children, will be thekeynote speaker.

Along with dinner and live music, a silent auction willbenefit workforce professional development and Feed theChildren’s Oklahoma education initiatives, including itsteacher stores.

“We have some difficult days ahead of us in the state ofOklahoma in education because of budget cuts,” Watts said.“This (Feed the Children Teacher Store) is a way for us tostand in that gap for teachers who handle our most preciousresource, our students, because feeding the mind is just asimportant.”

Feed the Children operates four Teacher Store sites —


HELP WANTEDPMI challenges professionals to volunteer

BY LINDA MILLER

J.C. Watts Jr.

Oklahoma City; Elkhart, Indy; LaVergne, Tenn; andOntario, Calif. — which offer free school materials andbooks to educators in Title I schools. In fiscal year2015, Feed the Children hosted 19,600 teacher visitsand gave away more than $4.6 million in teachingsupplies and more than 770,000 books, benefitingstudents across 144 school districts.

In 2015, Feed the Children launched the SummerFood & Education Program, serving approximately307,000 meals with the help of public funds andprivate partners to children at 58 sites within severalcities, rural communities and Indian Tribalorganizations across Oklahoma.

With the help of its partners, Feed the Childrenprovided 9,200 backpacks and school supplies and16,000 books to children in the program.

The Project Management Institute gives back to thecommunity by empowering its members to serve asvolunteers and through partnerships with localnonprofits and corporate foundations.

Tammie Nelson, president of PMI Oklahoma City,said professionals contribute to the local economy byensuring execution of strategic initiatives both at theirworkplaces and the organizations they choose to serve.

“We are committed to broadening those opportunitiesfor our members and bringing further benefit to localnon profits to improve the state of education,” Nelsonsaid.

Education is also an important issue for current Mrs.Oklahoma Beth Isbell of Blanchard who embraces

Project Management Institute’s cause of raising moneyfor Oklahoma education initiatives through herTogether We Can platform.

“Education is the backbone of our society, andbecause of that every child has the right to, anddeserves, a high-quality education,” Isbell said.“Funding initiatives that cater to providing theseeducational opportunities across the state have mycomplete support.”

Formed in 2000, the OKC Chapter of the ProjectManagement Institute is a professional, nonprofitorganization that promotes the practice, science andprofession of project management in Oklahoma throughnetworking, outreach and education.

Legends and Leaders event is open to the public, butreservations are needed by Monday. For moreinformation about the event and Project ManagementInstitute, go to www.pmiokc.org. To learn more aboutFeed the Children, go to www.feedthechildren.org. n

www.feedthechildren.org

www.pmiokc.org

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