bmonthly February 2023

upfront

Welcome to February friends, Happy Black History month, and, of course, Valentine’s Day — which is Tuesday, February 14th. Okay guys, let’s remember this date, and make sure you get her flowers and a very nice dinner. This day (Valentine’s Day) is very important to us because it was our first date after we had been away from each other for over 17 years. I will speak of this later in the Upfront and also in the story I wrote this month called “Best Friends.”

Each February for the last four years, we have celebrated “Black History Month” in the magazine. This is one of our favorite issues we print each year. Two years ago we ventured out of the city limits and covered the 100th anniversary of “The Tulsa Massacre.” What we learned about this event was horrific and that we were not taught this in school growing up. Wow, the things we learned and were saddened by. This was a story that should have been taught and wasn’t. We boldly told the story and showed haunting pictures of this day that changed America. Natasha Mitchell, who has written our feature story each February for the last three years, absolutely captured the three days of carnage and the devastating effect on our state. She won awards for this story and was nominated for a national writers award.

In this year’s feature story we decided to go back and look at black Oklahomans who changed our arts and entertainment, both in the state and nationally. As she always does, Natasha wrote a great feature story that focused on talented men and women who changed the landscape in entertainment and put Oklahoma on the map—- not just in Hollywood, but also Memphis, Nashville and New York City.

When designing the cover, I wanted a picture that spoke volumes but also with the style that captured the story. When I first saw this picture, it was pretty dark and I thought there was no way we could use it. Every time I would look at this picture it kept drawing me in because of the simplicity but also the overwhelming passion you see when you look at it. For those who don’t know who this gentleman is … he is Wayman Tisdale, a son of a Tulsa Pastor and one of the greatest College Basketball players to play the sport. He played for the University of Oklahoma from 1982 to 1985, he was a three-time Big Eight Conference player of the year and the first player in collegiate history to be named a first-team All American by the Associated Press in his freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons. He won the Olympic Gold Medal in 1984, which was coached by Bobby Knight, and was

the second overall pick in the 1985 NBA draft. He played 12 seasons before retiring and putting all of his focus on music. Growing up in Tulsa, Wayman really didn’t play sports but at a early age loved music and played bass guitar in his father’s church. He continued this even in college, where his head coach Billy Tubbs changed the times of Oklahoma’s Sunday practice to the afternoon so Wayman could play at his father’s church that morning. In 2002, he was awarded the Legacy Tribute Award by the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. In March of 2007, Wayman had surgery on his knee where cancer had been discovered after breaking his leg earlier in February. In 2008 Wayman had part of his leg amputated that the cancer had destroyed and the chemo therapy was not working. On May 15th, 2009 we lost one of the greatest friends, husband, father, teammate, and one of the greatest college basketball players ever. This cover is dedicated to his family, friends, teammates and all the ones who knew and loved him.

I spoke earlier in the upfront about a story I wrote this month called “Best Friends.” I wanted to tell you all about a 16-year-old blonde, beautiful girl who I instantly fell head over heels in love with in the fall of 1985. Christy at the time became my best friend and the one I could always talk to and never be judged by. I cherished our friendship since that’s how it all started. When we got back together it went right back to where it ended … friends … best friends.

Through the storms and valleys we have walked through, Christy, you have become my very best friend and the one person who knows my soul and my heart. For all who said he can’t change, all the ones who said you deserve better, and the ones who said it’s not worth it…you stood tall for us..our friendship. You covered me with love when I was crawling on the floor trying to find myself. It was not easy, but you never let go. Today we stand together stronger, in love, and best friends just like we were in 1985. Happy Valentine’s Day! God bless.

Volume IX

Issue II

Bartlesville Monthly Magazine is published by ENGEL

PUBLISHING

Offices located in Downtown Bartlesville in the historic Price Tower 510 Dewey Ave, Suite 400, Bartlesville, OK 74003 P.O. Box 603, Bartlesville, OK 74005 www.bartlesvillemonthly.com facebook.com/bartlesvillemonthly

Publisher Brian Engel brian@bartlesvillemonthly.com

Graphics

Copper Cup Images design@coppercupimages.com

Director of Sales & Marketing Keith McPhail keith@bartlesvillemonthly.com

Community Liaison

Christy McPhail christy@bartlesvillemonthly.com

Project Manager

Andrea Whitchurch andrea@bartlesvillemonthly.com

Administration

Shelley Greene Stewart

Delivery and Distribution

Tim Hudson

Calendar/Social Media calendar@bartlesvillemonthly.com

Contributing Writers

Debbie Neece, Kay Little, Kelly Hurd, Lori Kroh, Jay Hastings, Sarah Leslie Gagan, Brent Taylor, Lori Just, Keith McPhail, Jay Webster, Maria Gus, Randy Standridge, Rita Thurman Barnes, Abigail Singrey, Deloise Bean, Natasha Mitchell

Contributing Photographers BAHM, Jen May Photography, Ike Howard, Mark Blummer, Andy Dossett, Library of Congress, Oklahoma Historical Society, UMKC, Kenneth Edwards, The Oklahoman

Kids Calendar

Jessica Smith

All

ABOUT

THE COVER

Wayman Tisdale is featured on our cover as one of Oklahoma’s famous black entertainers. Photo courtesy of Rendezvous Entertainment.

Creative concept by Keith and Christy McPhail

Design by Copper Cup Images

Managing Editors Keith & Christy McPhail on their first date 17 years later, in 2004.

We live, work, and play in Bartlesville, and we’re proud to serve our neighbors with integrity

Experienced, Honest, Local

Reverend Victor Paul Where He Leads, I Will Go

by Sarah Leslie Gagan

God’s word tells us that he gives grace to the humble. Humility, living without pride or arrogance, is a principal characteristic of followers of Jesus Christ. Jesus is our example for humbly following God’s plan for our lives. With this Christlike example set before him, Reverend Victor Paul, Sr., Pastor of Bartlesville’s Greater First Baptist Church, has focused on following in those footsteps of humble service to God’s people.

As the son of an Air Force Officer, Pastor Paul traveled around quite a bit while growing up. After being born in San Antonio Texas, he lived in Africa, Illinois, and Montgomery, Alabama, later residing in Japan, where he would graduate high school. Out of all the places he lived, Montgomery, Alabama is the city he and his parents claimed as their home. Victor would go on to attend Tuskegee University in Alabama where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting, and his parents, then retirees, settled in Montgomery.

Committed to life long learning, Pastor Paul earned his Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies from Oklahoma Baptist University, and a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also certified as a Biblical Counselor by Southwestern Seminary.

Pastor Paul and his wife Renee have been married for 41 years. Renee is a Bartlesville native who met Victor in Bartlesville while he was working for Phillips Petroleum after graduating from Tuskegee. The couple have two sons, one daughter, and six grandchildren with number seven on the way.

Greater First Baptist Church has always been considered Pastor Paul’s home church, as he was

saved there as a young man, and now years later, he has the honor of pastoring the congregation. As a young Christian, he began preaching at Greater First until his job was transferred to Denver, Colorado for about seven years. Following their time in Colorado, the Pauls, were transferred back to Bartlesville, where he continued to preach and pastor while working at Phillips Petroleum.

Pastor Paul has a heart for planting churches, and began a church in Ponca City, Oklahoma, shepherding there for about six years. When the opportunity presented itself, Pastor Paul accepted a retirement package from Phillips Petroleum and moved his family to Oklahoma City to begin another church. After several years in Oklahoma City, the Paul family moved to Houston, Texas, where Pastor Paul served as Minister of Adults.

Things were going well for Pastor Paul after about seven years in Houston when he received a call to come home to Bartlesville and pastor his home church, Greater First Baptist. Knowing that this was where the Lord needed him, Pastor Paul and Renee moved back to Bartlesville and have been here for about 10 years.

Pastor Paul admits his family has moved around quite a bit, but emphasizes that he always sought to follow the Lord’s direction and go where he was needed. He was fortunate to have many spiritual mentors along the way. Each one was instrumental in growing his faith and influencing his spirituality. Perhaps his greatest mentor was his father, who began preaching in Alabama and taught Pastor Paul much about theology and pastoring.

Pastor Paul is also a member of the United Way in Bartlesville and is the third vice-president of the Oklahoma Baptist State Convention. He also serves on the board of directors of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.

When he has free time, Pastor Paul enjoys fishing, and traveling with Renee, mostly to visit their children and grandchildren and family. He also stays busy with rental properties he and Renee own in Bartlesville.

When asked what he loves most about Bartlesville, Pastor Paul replies, “I like that Bartlesville is family oriented, I like the fact that many of the citizens are very civic minded and serve on various boards. I think our citizens for the most part, at least the ones that I’m around, they really want Bartlesville to thrive and grow, and they do all they can to make that happen. Of course, my wife was born and raised here and so this is her home. Even when we lived away, we were always visiting her family here, so even though we have moved around a lot, Bartlesville has always been kind of a home base.”

Pastor Paul considers Renee to be his greatest blessing. He also

shares, “My greatest ministry and calling is to be a godly husband, father, and grandfather. I feel, for me, one of the things that that I think is most important for a Christian man is to love his family and support his family. I am very proud of my kids children, I’m proud of my grandkids grandchildren. And, those things, for my wife and I, are one of the greatest things God has let us be a part of. My parents were very family oriented, and my extended family is very oriented like that, so I follow on some level in his footsteps.”

Pastor Paul has developed true wisdom over his years serving the Lord. He shares, “One of the things that that I try to say to people is that we have to learn how to serve God radically regardless of personal costs. I think we have to learn how to love each other deeply across racial lines and across lines that would divide us. We must learn to listen and understand even people; even people that we disagree with. I think those things are important.”

Pastor Paul has been preaching for 41 years this coming March, and has left quite a legacy on many lives along his journey. It is his earnest prayer that the Lord has been pleased with the things he and Renee have accomplished. It hasn’t all been easy, but the Paul’s commitment to the Lord is steadfast. Their service to others continues to be a wonderful journey, and our community is richly blessed to have them among our spiritual leaders. Thank you Reverend and Mrs. Paul for your selfless love and dedication to the citizens of Bartlesville! We love and appreciate you leading us closer to the Lord.

Black Oklahomans In Entertainment

Lights, Camera, Action!

By Natasha Mitchell

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” — Marcus Garvey, Jamaican political activist, publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator.

Tulsa Greenwood District

National Museum of African American History and Culture

For more than a century, African Americans have been a force for freedom and social change in mainstream music, theater, film, and arts. To ensure such success, for some it meant taking on roles that perpetuate negative stereotypes or taking a risk and carving out space to depict themselves truthfully.

For example, most professional black actors in the 1920s to 1940s earned a living in a limited number of Broadway roles or elbowed for nanny or butler roles in Hollywood. Furthermore, movie trade unions were closed to African Americans who aspired to craftwork behind the lens as writers, directors, cinematographers, editors, set designers, costumers, carpenters, plumbers, painters, make-up, and hairstylists. With the notable exceptions of Ethel Waters, Lena Horne, and Hazel Scott as leading ladies in a few movies, talented black actors could not find professionally satisfying work in Hollywood.

Book such as Making Movies Black by Thomas Cripps and White Screens, Black Images by James Sneed covered the early days of African Americans in entertainment during the 1940s and 1950s. During the segregation era, an independent industry dedicated to the production of films for African American audiences arose in response to the exclusion of black artists from Hollywood and to counter negative, stereotypical representations of African Americans in movies such as The Birth of a Nation

According to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, “in the 1950s and 1960s, African American comedians moved from segregated nightclubs into American living rooms through the new media of party records and television variety shows. While going on national television required comedians to adhere to the guidelines of the network censors, record albums provided more authentic and unfiltered versions of comedy routines. As they gained

greater visibility in American popular culture, black comedians used humor to raise and wrestle with issues of race in America.”

Generations later, through private collections and written accounts now housed in museums and state historical societies, African Americans reconnect with some of their favorite popular culture memories as well as to contemplate how the roles black artists played on the stage and screen reflected changing aspirations, struggles, and realities for black people in American society.

A Look at black Oklahomans in Entertainment

In early Oklahoma, African American entertainment was mostly contained in all-black townships, Tulsa’s Greenwood District, and the Deep Deuce District in Oklahoma City due to segregation. These areas became hot spots for black jazz and blues musicians who traveled from the South to perform. Movie theaters provided black Oklahomans with access to feature films.

clusters of African American businesses, housing, and art during this era. Deep Deuce, which was centered around NE Second Street, gave birth to Charlie Christian, an electric guitar master and first big band guitar soloist, and Jimmy Rushing, who sang with the popular Count Basie Orchestra. Ralph Ellison, the first African American to win the National Book Award for his 1952 novel The Invisible Man, also grew up in Deep Deuce.

After the Civil Rights Movement, opportunities open for black Oklahomans to move elsewhere, and few historic structures remain to cement that era. For example, Ardmore has the oldest still-standing commercial building to be owned by African Americans in Oklahoma. The brick building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was constructed in 1922 within Ardmore’s black business district. Known as one of the first theaters in Ardmore, this business allowed African Americans to enjoy entertainment with dignity during the time of racial segregation and also symbolized the economic significance and the resilience of black-owned businesses in Oklahoma. Ardmore had about 2,000 African American residents in the 1920s, and this business district was home to a variety of restaurants, stores, and service providers. The building operated as a theater until 1944, when it was sold to the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church.

In recent years, discoveries such as the films of the late Solomon Sir Jones, a Baptist

minister, businessman, and amateur filmmaker, have generated national attention into the lifestyle of black Oklahomans. Jones, who moved to Oklahoma in 1899, produced 29 silent black and white films documenting African American communities in Oklahoma from 1924 to 1928. Jones filmed Oklahoma residents in their homes; during their social, school, and church activities; in the businesses they owned; and performing various jobs.

In Tulsa, housed in the historic Tulsa Union Depot, the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame is the state’s only facility devoted to gospel, jazz, and blues musicians with Oklahoma ties. According to its website, the Jazz Depot is currently undergoing renovations.

Listed in the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture and other resources, here’s a glimpse of black Oklahomans who made a historic impact in entertainment:

Lennie Baker

Lennie Baker, known as the “Godfather of the Bartlesville music scene,” began performing professionally at the age of 18, having developed his skills in church and school choirs. He performed for nearly 50 years throughout the Southwest. He also performed in Hawaii, Cancun, Eureka Springs, Branson, and many other resort areas. For 16 years, Lennie performed throughout the five-state area with the band “Ronnie and The Miracles,” a soul band with a tremendous following. Beginning in 1984, Lennie worked as

Lennie Baker Kindred Album Cover

Lennie Baker, Soul Musician

Deep Deuce District in Oklahoma City

a solo act and front man for local fan favorite “The Gigsters.” His repertoire included a wide selection of blues, rock and roll, country, and ballads. He died in 2017.

Zelia Page Breaux

Zelia Breaux was the supervisor of music for the African American schools in Oklahoma City in 1918. As head of the music department at Douglass High School, she placed a music teacher in each African American grade school in the system. In addition, she organized the Oklahoma City Community Band, which was composed of many of her former Douglass students. The Douglass High School band, which she organized in 1923 with 26 participants, became one of the most outstanding in the United States. Appearing all over the nation, the band influenced both local and national musicians such as Duke Ellington, Noble Sissle, Eubie Blake, Sherman Sneed, Edward and Charlie Christian, and Jimmy Rushing. In 1939, Breaux received a master’s degree in music education from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. She retired from Douglass High School in 1948 and later died in 1956. Breaux was inducted into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame in 1991.

Carol Brice Thomas and Thomas Carey

Together with his wife, Carol Brice Carey, Thomas Carey founded the Cimarron Circuit Opera Company, a Norman-based troupe that traveled the state with its touring productions. Carey attended City College of New York and the Henry Street School during the 1950s and later continued his studies in Europe. In 1971, he was approached by Harold Fielding to appear as Joe in the London revival of Show Boat.

Carol Brice was one of the first African American classical singers to record extensively. Born into a musical family in

Sedalia, North Carolina, the American contralto received training at the historical Palmer Memorial Institute in Sedalia, at Talladega College in Alabama (Bachelor of Music, 1939), and from Francis Rogers at the Juilliard School of Music in New York (1939-1943). She first attracted attention when she sang in The Hot Mikado at the New York World’s Fair with Bill “Bojangles” in 1939. She was also chosen to sing at a concert for President Roosevelt’s third inauguration in 1941 and was the first black American to win the Naumburg Award (1943). Thomas and Carol both taught at the University of Oklahoma. Carol died in 1985, and Thomas died in 2002.

Charlie Christian

The late Oklahoma City jazz great Charlie Christian set the standard not only for musicians during his life, but today’s musicians as well. The son of a blind, itinerant blues singer, Christian came to Oklahoma City in 1929. He was considered a local hero since his school days when he played a homemade instrument, and Oklahoma City native Ralph Ellison said, “No other cigar box ever made such sounds.” Christian later had a brief career with the Benny Goodman Sextet during the 1940s. Although technically a swing stylist, Christian’s musical vocabulary was studied and emulated by bop players. Christian died of tuberculosis at age 25 in Staten Island, N.Y. The Charlie Christian International Music Festival, held annually in Oklahoma City by Black Liberated Arts Center Inc. (BLAC Inc.), continues the legacy of a jazz guitarist who still remains largely unknown to people who come to partake of modern jazz music. He is known, however, by jazz enthusiasts who studied his history. Through exposure of such media as Ken Burns Jazz: The Story of America’s Music television series, books, and other music festivals held in Christian’s honor outside Oklahoma, international, national, and regional artists convey their thanks and appreciation for this musician, who became one of the first jazz musicians to play in integrated jazz bands.

Dudley Henry Dickerson Jr.  Dudley Henry Dickerson Jr. was a film actor who appeared in nearly 160 films between 1932 and 1952, and is best remembered for his roles in several Three Stooges

Carol Brice and Thomas Carey

Charlie Christian, Jazz Musician

Poster for Breaux’s band at The Aldridge Theater

Zelia Page Breaux

Dudley Hanry Dickerson Jr.

Carol Brice, Classical Singer

films. He was born in 1906 in Chickasha. According to accounts, one summer the Ringling Brothers Circus came to Chickasha and set up near his family’s back yard. Dickerson was intrigued, and after the circus crew left, he scooped up remnants and created his own show, later known as the “PinPenny Circus.” He became known as “Paddlefoot” Dickerson and developed some of the acrobatics he would later use in his nightclub act and in films. Dickerson eventually moved to California and performed regularly at Sebastian’s Cotton Club in Los Angeles and other venues. His other credits include well-loved films such as the Marx Brothers’ A Day at the Races (1937);  Knute Rockne, All American (1940);  The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942);  It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947); and  The Opposite Sex (1956), all of which remain a staple on the television movie networks.

Page renamed the group. Some say it became “Walter Page’s Original Blue Devils,” but others contend it was the “Oklahoma City Blue Devils.” Once the Blue Devils were reorganized in Oklahoma City, Page persuaded a group of Oklahoma City businessmen to back the venture. From 1925 to 1933, they were among the finest bands in the region. The Blue Devils worked out of Oklahoma City’s Ritz Ballroom in the winter months, playing there and also at venues in other Oklahoma towns.

Frenchy “Stoney”

Edwards

Oklahoma City Blue Devils

According to the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, the Oklahoma City Blue Devils began in 1923 in Kansas City as Billy King’s Road Show, a traveling vaudeville troupe. While trombonist Ermir “Bucket” Coleman had nominal control of the band, Walter Page masterminded the musical arrangements. Page’s credentials included study in 1920s Kansas City with Major N. Clark Smith and Charles Watts. When the Billy King Road Show disbanded in 1925 in Oklahoma City,

Edwards, who was born in 1929 in Seminole, is one of just a few African American country artists signed to major labels in the wake of Charley Pride’s tremendous success in the 1970s. He was best known for the album “Just for Old Times’ Sake.” The all-star roster of backing musicians on the album, including ace Texas fiddler Johnny Gimble, former Texas Playboys vocalist Leon Rausch, and Asleep at the Wheel bandleader Ray Benson, testified to the high regard in which Edwards was held in the country music industry. Edwards cracked Billboard magazine’s country top 20 twice, with “She’s My Rock” in 1972 and “Mississippi You’re on My Mind,” written by top folk songwriter Jesse Winchester, in 1975. “She’s My Rock” was later covered by country vocal virtuoso George Jones, who once invited Edwards on stage to sing it. John Morthland, who wrote the booklet notes for a compilation release that appeared after Edwards’s death, described the artist’s voice as a “grainy, stray-cat voice.” Edwards wrote many of his own songs, whose lyrics reflected the hard life he led.

Ralph Waldo Ellison

Named after poet Ralph Waldo Emerson, Ralph Waldo Ellison was born in 1913 in Oklahoma City. According to Biography, he showed an interest in jazz at an early age, which would be reflected in his career in literature. Ellison is best known for his novel Invisible Man, which won the National Book Award in 1953.  The book focused on an African American civil rights worker from the South who, upon his move to New York, becomes increasingly alienated due to the racism he encounters. He also wrote Shadow and Act and Going to the Territory, both a collection of essays. Writing essays about both the

Dudley with The Three Stooges

The Oklahoma City Blue Devils performing with Count Basie

The Oklahoma City Blue Devils

Frenchy “Stoney” Edwards She’s My Rock Album Cover

Frenchy “Stoney” Edwards, Country Musician and Singer

black experience and his love for jazz music, Ellison continued to receive major awards for his work. In 1969, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom; the following year, he was made a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by France and became a permanent member of the faculty at New York University as the Albert Schweitzer Professor of Humanities, serving from 1970 to 1980. In 1975, Ellison was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and his hometown of Oklahoma City honored him with the dedication of the Ralph Waldo Ellison Library. Ellison died in 1994. His unfinished novel Juneteenth was released posthumously in 1999. He was inducted posthumously into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in 2014.

Ernie Fields Sr.  Fields, a trombonist, pianist, arranger, and bandleader, was born in 1904 in Nacogdoches, Texas, but was raised in Taft. He first became known for leading the Royal Entertainers, a territory band which was based in Tulsa, and toured along a circuit stretching from Kansas City, Kansas to Dallas. Fields’ band became the first African American band to play at the landmark Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa. In later years, he led a band that recorded in Los Angeles. Fields, who died in 1997, was inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in 1989. His son, Ernie Fields Jr., is also an Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame inductee (1996) and has had an extensive career as a studio collaborator and musician.

Lowell Fulson

Born in Tulsa in 1921 and raised in Atoka, the blues musician was exposed to the Western swing of Bob Wills and indigenous blues music through his grandfather. He later played in clubs and bars as well as served as guitar accompanist to blues singer Texas Alexander. After serving in the U.S. Army, Fulson moved to California and recorded music for Bob Geddins’ Big Town and Down Town labels as well as other independent companies. In the early 1950s, he gained R&B chart placings with “Every day I Have the Blues” and “Blue Shadows.” In 1954, Fulson signed with Chess Records and his first release, “Reconsider Baby” was a hit and became a blues standard used by Elvis Presley and other artists. He also employed a young Ray Charles as his pianist and arranger for his cross-country tours. Fulson, considered one of the founding fathers of West Coast blues, was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1993 and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album. “Reconsider Baby” was chosen by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.” He died in 1999.

Chickasha native Cleavon Little, who was born in 1939, was an American actor best known for his performance in a musical titled Purlie, for which he received a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award. Little received a Primetime Emmy Award in 1989 for appearing in one of the episodes of the NBC sitcom Dear John. He began

Cleavon Little

“When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.”

Ralph Waldo Ellison, Award-Winning Author

Ernie Fields

Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder, Blazing Saddles

Lowell Fulson, later in life

Lowell Fulson

Ernie Fields and his Orchestra performing in Tulsa, OK

his career in the late 1960s on the stage. Although he was born in Oklahoma, he grew up in California. He made earlystage appearances at the La Jolla Playhouse in California, and moved to the New York stage, appearing through the years in such Off-Broadway productions as MacBird!, Keyboard, The Resurrection of Lady Lester, and The Great McDaddy, as well as Scuba Duba. He made his Broadway debut in 1968 in Jimmy Shine. Little also starred in the television series Temperature’s Rising, Baghdad Cafe, and True Colors , and made many television films, among them Separate but Equal opposite Sidney Poitier. He died in 1992 and was posthumously honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994.

Wallace Willis and Minerva Willis

“Uncle Wallace” and “Aunt Minerva” Willis, slaves in the old Choctaw Nation area of Oklahoma during the mid-19th century, were known for their contributions as composers of spirituals. The songs composed by Uncle Wallace became well-known. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Roll, Jordan, Roll, Steal Away to Jesus, I’m A-Rollin’, I’m A-Rollin’, and The Angels Are A-Comin’ are among the most popular and best-loved. It was revealed recently by a descendant researching family history that

Ranch Wild West Show based in Oklahoma, and his family moved onto property owned by 101 Ranch. During the offseason, Pickett worked as a cowboy and competed in rodeos around the West. He did this for more than 25 years. Pickett, who died in 1932, was inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1971 — the first black rodeo athlete to be so honored. He was later honored by the U.S. Postal Service, who featured Pickett on a stamp as part of its Legends of the West series.

Other notable Oklahomans include The GAP Band, D.C. Minner, Leona Mitchell, Anita Arnold, Wayman Tisdale, Hannibal Johnson, Jimmy Rushing, Howard McGhee, John Hope Franklin, Oscar Pettiford, Melvin Tolson, Clifton Taulbert, Anita Hill, Alfre Woodard, Joyce Carol Thomas.

Cleavon Little in a scene from Broadway’s All Over Town

Bill Pickett Promotional Poster

Bill Pickett “bulldogging” a bull

“The Bull-Dogger” Bill Pickett

Important Moments in U.S. Black Entertainment History

1824 - The African Company became the first African American drama group and produced plays at the African Grove in New York City.

1912 – “The Railroad Porter,” a comedy directed by Bill Foster (a pioneering black filmmaker), became the first black film.

1914 - Sam Lucas was the first African American actor to star in a full-length film playing the title role in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”

1921 – “Shuffle Along” opens on Broadway as the first musical written and performed by African Americans.

1922 - Louis Armstrong revolutionized jazz music after arriving in Chicago to play second trumpet in King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band.

1930 - Katherine Dunham started Ballet Negres, America’s f irst black ballet company.

1933 - Caterina Jarboro became the first black person to perform with an American Opera company.

1934 - The Apollo Theater opens and becomes a cultural and musical mecca in the heart of the Harlem neighborhood in New York City.

1940 - Hattie McDaniel was the first black person to win an Oscar, after winning best supporting actress for her role in “Gone with the Wind.”

1944 - Sister Rosetta Tharpe releases “Down by the Riverside,” which highlights her pioneering electric guitar playing, which is widely cited as an influence for countless rock ‘n’ roll musicians.

1945 - Ebony magazine is founded by John H. Johnson and is an instant success.

1955 - Musician Chuck Berry arrives in Chicago and records

“ Maybellene,” an immediate sensation among teenagers. The hit helps shape the evolution of rock and roll.

1955 - Marian Anderson is the first black singer to perform with the New York Metropolitan Opera.

1956 - Arthur Mitchell, future director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, becomes the only black dancer in the New York City Ballet.

1956 - Nat King Cole is the first black star of a national TV show (NBC’s “The Nat King Cole Show”).

1959 - Motown Record Corporation is founded by Berry G ordy, Jr. The Motown sound dominates African American popular music through the 1960s and attracts a huge crossover audience becoming the sound of young America.

1959 – “Raisin in the Sun,” by Lorraine Hansberry, becomes the first drama written by a black woman to be produced on Broadway.

1960 – Madeline Anderson was the first black woman to create a televised documentary film called “ Interrogation Report 1.”

1963 - Sidney Poitier wins the Academy Award as best actor for his performance in “Lilies of the Field.”

1967 - Jimi Hendrix makes a spectacular debut at the Monterey International Pop Festival, following the release of his first album, “Are You Experienced?”

1971 - Beverly Johnson is known as the first black supermodel after gracing the cover of Glamour.

1972 - Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids premieres as the first c artoon with an all-black cast.

1972 - Isaac Hayes’ “Theme from Shaft” wins the Academy Award for Best Original Song (the soundtrack was nominated for Best Original Score).

1973 - Reggae begins to insinuate its alluring riddims in the US, with the release of Bob Marley and the Wailers’ Catch a Fire and the soundtrack for the film The Harder They Come, featuring Jimmy Cliff, the Maytals, and the Melodians.

1974 – “Foxy Brown,” starring Pam Grier, perhaps the most famous “blaxploitation” (a film genre staring and targeting African Americans) film ever, is released.

1977 - Alex Haley’s “Roots: The Saga of an American Family” (1976) is adapted for television, becoming one of the most popular shows in the history of American television.

1980 - Black Entertainment Television (BET) was launched by Bob Johnson, also owner of the Charlotte Bobcats.

1981 - Bob Marley, the most influential figure in reggae music, dies.

1982 - Michael Jackson creates a sensation with the album “ Thriller,” which becomes one of the most popular albums of all time, selling more than 40 million copies.

1983 - Oprah Winfrey takes over AM Chicago, which is then renamed the “Oprah Winfrey Show.”

1983 - Eddie Murphy releases “Delirious,” a film of his stand-up comedy, and stars in “Saturday Night Live.”

1984 – “The Cosby Show,” starring comedian Bill Cosby, becomes one of the most popular situation comedies in television history and is praised for its cross-cultural appeal and avoidance of racial stereotypes.

1984 - Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin form Def Jam R ecords and begin shaping the industry of hip hop.

1984 - Prince’s “Purple Rain” is released. It sold more than 25 million copies worldwide. It topped the Billboard album chart for 24 consecutive weeks and spawned f ive singles (two reached No. 1).

1987 – Herbie Hancock won an Academy Award for “Round Midnight.” He is the first black man to have one an Oscar or an original score.

1990 – August Wilson wins Pulitzer Prize for “The Piano Lesson.”

1992 – “The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album,” featuring six songs by the film’s co-star, Whitney Houston, and six tracks by other artists (plus the movie’s theme), is a worldwide sensation — it sold 45 million copies.

1993 - Angela Bassett became the first African American woman to win the best actress Golden Globe Award for her role as “Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It?”

2001 - Denzel Washington became the only black Academy Award winner to win both lead and supporting actor Oscars after wins for “Glory” and “Training Day.”

2002 - Halle Berry becomes the first African American woman to win the Academy Award for best actress for her role in “Monster’s Ball.”

2012 – Ava DuVernay is the first black woman to win Best Director at the Sundance Festival for the film “Middle of Nowhere.”

2017 - Nicki Minaj dethrones Aretha Franklin as the female singer with the most appearances on Billboard’s Hot 100 (76 appearances, eclipsing The Queen of Soul’s record of 73).

2018 – “Black Panther” is the first Black Marvel superhero f ilm to be released. The film earned widespread acclaim and grossed $200 million.

2018 – Jordan Peele was the first black screenwriter to win an Oscar for film “Get Out.”

The Journey of Merion Redolph Reed

by Debbie Neece,

Bartlesville Area History Museum

Merion Redolph Reed’s roots did not begin in Bartlesville; however, once he planted himself in 1949, he flourished. He was born Christmas Eve in 1914 at Pittsburg, TX to Frank Sr. and Hattie Ann Reed, one of their 13 children. He was just one generation removed from slavery and his childhood was filled with shared stories:

“My father was born into slavery and he was a one-yearold when the slaves were freed by President Abraham Lincoln with the Emancipation Proclamation effective January 1, 1863. My grandfather, Joe Reed, was an Irish plantation owner and my grandmother was Etta Reed, sold into slavery in South Carolina, fresh off the boat from Africa. She told of many people committing suicide in the mid-Atlantic to prevent their arrival in America.”

Merion’s father was a Texas farmer and medicine man. His medicinal goods were naturally grown and gathered with Merion’s help. Merion received his education at an all-black school near Pittsburg, TX where he graduated with the 1932 senior class; then, he studied mechanical engineering at Center Point College in Texas for two years. After college, he worked as a cotton compressor, automobile mechanic and a specialized concrete contractor.

Merion was inducted into WWII service October 21, 1943 at Camp Wolters, TX and was sent to welding school at Camp Johnson in Florida. He and Ernestine Elizabeth Shine were married November 10, 1943 at Sweetwater, TX and Merion shipped out the following day. He received his honorable discharge at Fort MacArthur, CA on November 14, 1946, after serving in the South Pacific, Philippines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, Japan. He was decorated with the Asian-Pacific Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon and the World War II Victory Medal.

The couple temporarily established their home at  McAlester, OK before moving to 809 S. Oak in Bartlesville about 1949. Three years later, the Reeds occupied the home at 812 W. 6th Street.

Merion was employed as a custodian at the Douglass School before he honed his concrete finishing skills, established the M.R. Reed Concrete Contractor Company and worked with the Matoaka Stone Company at the southeast corner of Arlington and Virginia Ave. Matoaka Stone provided quality building materials to the Bartlesville area by working from two local quarries, saving transportation costs and quickly bringing citizens a more cost effective product.

Merion was a community service man. He was the first black concrete contractor and finisher in the Bartlesville area, served on the Westside Community Center board, served as Deacon of the Greater First Baptist Church for over 53 years and much more.

Currently, the 800 and 900 blocks of West 6th Street are the location of the colorful “Cottages on 6th Street” built by Nehemiah Housing Services and featured in the OK Magazine, August 2018.

Earnestine Reed died February 24, 1983 and he married Virginia Perkins June 15, 2001. Merion Redolph Reed’s journey ended February 24, 2002, on the 19th anniversary of Earnestine’s passing. He received full military rites at the Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of the James Teel American Legion Post #105. A journey well-traveled.

Merion Reed during his service, right, and after service, top.

GREATER FIRST BAPTIST CHOIR - 1965

FEBRUARY CALENDAR SPONSORED BY

OKWU Basketball vs Kansas Wesleyan

6 PM; OKWU Gym (W)

8 PM; OKWU Gym (M)

OKWU Baseball vs Hannibal-LaGrange

12 PM; OKWU Baseball Fields

OKWU Baseball vs Hannibal-LaGrange

12 PM; OKWU Baseball Fields

OKWU Basketball vs Avila

4 PM; OKWU Gym (M)

7:30pm

On Your Feet!

Presented by BiB!

7:30; The Center

ON YOUR FEET! Is the inspiring true story about heart, heritage and two people who believed in their talentand each other – to become an international sensation: Gloria and Emilio Estefan. Now their story is an all-new exhilarating original musical winning the hearts of critics and audiences alike. This crowd- pleasing show features songs like “Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” “Conga,” “Get On Your Feet,” Don’t Want To Lose You Now,” “1-2-3” and “Coming Out of the Dark.” Prepare to be on your feet from start to finish!

OKWU Baseball vs Lyon

12 PM; OKWU Baseball Fields

Bruin Basketball vs Booker T. Washington

4 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (G/JV)

5 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (B/JV)

6:30 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (G)

8 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (B)

BPS District Science

Fair-Elementary

5:30 PM; Phillips 66 Research Center

BPS District Science

Fair-Secondary

All Day; Phillips 66 Research Center

OKWU Baseball vs Lyon

12 PM; OKWU Baseball Fields

President’s Day - No School

All Day; District-wide

OKWU Basketball vs Saint Mary

6 PM; OKWU Gym (W)

8 PM; OKWU Gym (M)

Bruin Basketball vs Jenks

4 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (G/JV)

5 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (B/JV)

6:30 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (G)

8 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (B)

YMCA Father Daughter Dance

6 PM; Richard Kane YMCA

A Fairy Tale come to life. Join us for a magical evening as fairy tales come to Life. This year’s father daughter dance will feature dancing, photo booth, dinner, snacks, and opportunities for making special memories.

February Events

BAHM Exhibit (A 50,000 Foot View: The Stratospheric Rise of Aviation in Washington County)

8:30 AM - 4 PM; Every Monday through Friday at Bartlesville Area History Museum

FEBRUARY EVENTS CALENDAR

Wed, Feb 1

Times Vary

Online Auction to Benefit

Elder Care

The Center’s Lyon Art Gallery

300 SE Adams Blvd.

This event starts on January 4th and ends March 30th. Jerry Poppenhouse, world photographer, donated a collection of his photographic art to Elder Care. The entire donated collection will be displayed at The Center’s Lyon Art Gallery through January 29th. Elder Care will host an online auction featuring nine Poppenhouse photographic pieces. Visit the Lyon Art Gallery during their regular hours in January to see the art collection and bid online at 32auctions. com/ART2023. Auction winners may pick up their winning pieces at Elder Care, following the close of the online auction in March. No shipping. Buy-itnow items will be available for pickup beginning February 6th.

8:30 AM

BAHM Exhibit

Bartlesville Area History Museum

401 S Johnstone Ave

This Winter, BAHM is proud to present:

A 50,000-Foot View: The Stratospheric Rise of Aviation in Washington County. On display from January 3rd through March 31st, the exhibit takes visitors on a journey exploring the unique and impressive history of Aviation in Washington County. The exhibit will feature various artifacts from Washington County’s aviation endeavors over the years. In addition, youngsters and the “young at heart” may enjoy our history of aviation coloring station. If you have questions, you may reach Bartlesville Area History Museum staff at (918) 338-4290 or history@cityofbartlesville.org.

5:30 PM

Free Citizenship Class

Bartlesville Public Library

600 S Johnstone Ave.

Citizenship classes are held on Tuesdays at 6pm, Wednesdays at 5:30pm, and Thursdays at 11am on the second floor of the Bartlesville Public Library in the Literacy Services office. These classes are FREE and open to the public. Please contact the Bartlesville Literacy Services office at 918.338.4179 for more information.

6:45 PM

ELL Conversation Class

Bartlesville Public Library

600 S Johnstone Ave.

ELL Conversation classes are held on Tuesdays at 5pm and Thursdays at 10am on the second floor of the Bartlesville Public Library in the Literacy Services office. These classes are FREE and open to the public. Please contact the Bartlesville Literacy Services office at 918.338.4179 for more information.

Sat, Feb 4

7:30 PM

On Your Feet! The Center

300 SE Adams Blvd.

ON YOUR FEET! Is the inspiring true story about heart, heritage and two people who believed in their talent- and each other – to become an international sensation: Gloria and Emilio Estefan. Now their story is an all-new exhilarating original musical winning the hearts of critics and audiences alike. Prepare to be on your feet from start to finish! For tickets and more information, visit www.bartlesvillecenter.com.

8 PM History And Haunts At The Dewey Hotel

Dewey Hotel Museum

801 N Delaware St., Dewey

Spend an evening at the Dewey Hotel. They will go over some of the hotel’s unique histories and take a lantern guided small group tour. You will go into some of the rooms, usually blocked off access to guests. You can never predict what our fellow specters will do during the tour. Tours are held every Saturday at 8pm.

Mon, Feb 6

5:30 PM

Free Spanish Classes

Bartlesville Public Library

600 S Johnstone Ave.

Free Spanish Class every Monday evening at 5:30pm in Meeting Room B on the first floor of the Bartlesville Public Library. This class is free and open to the public. Please contact the Bartlesville Literacy Services office at 918-338-4179 if you have any questions.

6 PM

Life Movements Renew!

Elder Care

1223 Swan Drive

Join us for a 10-week group exercise class. We’ll focus on strength, stability, and light cardio. Open to all adults. Limited to 8 per class, with a minimum of 5 participants to make a class. Prescreening required. Jan. 9th – March 13th. Monday 11am – 11:45am or 1pm – 1:45pm. Complete the participation form and call 918-336-8500. Seating is limited so call today!

Tue, Feb 7

6 PM

Johnstone Irregulars Book Club Meeting

Bartlesville Public Library

600 S. Johnstone Avenue

The book club meets on the 2nd floor of the library on the first Tuesday of every month.

Fri, Feb 10

6:30 PM

The Happy Couple Summit Adams Boulevard Church of Christ 3700 SE Adams

Happy relationships aren’t magic, and they don’t happen by accident. We want everyone to have the fulfilling, happy marriage they were designed for, and that means putting in the effort to make that dream a reality. Join us on Feb. 10-11 for a seminar for committed couples. This event is free. For more information and to Register: tinyurl.com/2zx768dk.

Sat, Feb 11

10 AM

Bartlesville Valentine’s Market Ambler Hall 415 S Dewey Ave.

Sun, Feb 12

5 PM

Men In Tights 2023 Super Bowl Watch Party Fundraiser Crossing 2nd 215 E 2nd St.

Fundraiser for Family HealthCare Clinic. Family Healthcare Clinic and Crossing 2nd are teaming up to make this Super Bowl one for the books!

Sat, Feb 11

8 AM

Bartlesville NFLCC Tackle Show

Hilton Gardens Inn Bartlesville

205 SW Frank Phillips Blvd

10 AM

Dewey Flea Market & Bartlesville

And Beyond Boutique Marketplace

Washington County Fairgrounds

1109 N Delaware St.

Tue, Feb 14

6 PM

Knit & Crochet Night

Bartlesville Public Library

600 S Johnstone Ave.

This free event is held in Meeting Room C on the second Tuesday of each month.

“Friendly dealers, great showroom and vehicles, very accommodating. Really appreciate being called by name.” — Matt from Wichita, KS

Hwy 75 in Bartlesville • (918)333-8010 • gopatriotauto.com

Thu, Feb 16

6 PM

Date Night ‘Dinner and a Movie’

Bartlesville Area History Museum

401 S Johnstone Ave

6:30 PM

Things We Love... Favorite Things

FWC Party

First Wesleyan Church Bartlesville

1776 Silver Lake Rd Bartlesville, OK

74006

Join other women for an evening of fun, exchanging ideas and items. Please plan to bring 3 of the SAME item that cost around $10 each.

Sat, Feb 18

10 AM

Monthly LEGO Club Bartlesville Public Library 600 S Johnstone Ave.

6 PM

YMCA Father Daughter Dance

Richard Kane YMCA

101 N Osage Ave

A Fairy Tale Come to Life Join us from 6-8pm at the Richard Kane YMCA for a magical evening, as fairy tales come to life! This year’s Father Daughter dance will feature dancing, photo booth, dinner, snacks, and opportunities for making special memories. Real live princesses Ariel and Mirabel will make an appearance, and our YMCA will be transformed into an enchanted fairy tale land. Tickets for Y members are $40 (per couple), and $50 for non Y members (per couple). Tickets for additional children for both members/ non members are $15/child. Save the date, and come dressed for night of beauty and adventure!

Fri, Feb 24

8 PM

Liverpool Legends

The Center

300 SE Adams Blvd.

The internationally acclaimed Liverpool Legends have toured the world culminating with two sold out performances for 20,000 people at Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City, as well as other locations all around the world. They have recorded and produced all The Beatles songs for the album “Fab Fan Memories” which was nominated for a Grammy Award. For tickets and more information, visit www.bartlesvillecenter.com

Where Are You From?

by Deloise Bean

Guide me o thou, great Jehovah…..

I loved to hear my mother sing that song.

I was born and raised in Bartlesville, the daughter of William and Ada Bean. I moved to California in the mid-60s. My work in retail frequently took me to New York and surrounding areas. Often, when making conversation, I was asked “Where are you from?” I knew they were looking for an answer other than California. But, when I would say “Oklahoma,” I would get all kinds of responses, from “I didn’t know there were Black people in Oklahoma” (strange) to “have you ever seen any Indians?” Always made for interesting exchanges.

When I started doing family tree research, the question of where my ancestors were from led to some interesting discoveries and an expansion of my admiration for those who came before. I knew there were some African nations in my families’ history, but my focus was the migration of the generations here in North America.

The only ancestor I had living, other than my parents, was my great grandfather, “Poppa” Mose Harris. Poppa was old and sick for most  of my childhood so we never engaged in conversation about his early life. Poppa had a twin brother, Uncle Frank, who had died in 1949. I knew if I could find census records of the twins, it might open the way to more family members.

To my delight, I found the twins in the 1870 US Census! Along with the twins, I found their parents, Arter and Phyliss Harris, and numerous siblings. Further research led me to Arter’s parents, Frank and Emily. But the 2x great grandfather and 3x great grandfather were born in Georgia! Georgia? And

Poppa, Uncle Frank, and their siblings were born in Texas! Texas? Further information revealed Arter Harris had enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War. His name is on the African-American Civil War Monument. Arter and 3x Great grandfather Frank registered to vote in Texas in 1867.

So what led my family to leave Georgia and make the 800+ miles trip to Texas? And where did the courage come from to take them from Texas to Oklahoma? That is where my mother’s song came in. The strength, guidance, and courage had to come from that source that Mama beseeched so frequently with song. Like many newly-freed families migrating to find a better place, the importance of faith fueled their travels.

The family settled in Bixby, where some participated in founding a church. Poppa, Uncle Frank, and their families then moved to Dewey. Poppa and great grandmother Catherine had six children to reach adulthood. Their eldest, Viola, was my grandmother.  Poppa was one of the founding members of the CME Church in Bartlesville.

I loved to see the family members get together; there was always so much joy! Nothing betrayed their harsh beginnings. They were led by faith as personified by their involvement in the churches. They followed the instruction to “love one another.”

Where am I from? I’m from a place populated by a strong group of gentle people who loved the Lord and their family. I’m from a place where the background music was the hymns of the church. “Walk with me, Lord,” “Steal Away,” and other songs helped motivate, elevate, and soothe as the family searched for home and pursued their dreams.

• Patio with sliding glass door

• Restaurant-style dining or you can have meals delivered directly to your apartment

• Planned activities; to include regularly scheduled happy hour

• Scheduled transportation for shopping

•

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Dual mandate investing is investing with two goals - profitable financial return and a positive impact on the world. Dual mandate investing adds a second dimension of the impact your investments have on the world, to investing that traditionally focuses only on financial return.

Many men and women are expressing their faith through a desire to align their values with their investing, finding ethical companies that not only avoid doing bad things, but impact humanity for good.

Metrics of Investing

Dual Mandate Investing

Investment Strategies

Dual mandate investing is investing with two goals - profitable financial return and a positive impact on the world. Dual mandate investing adds a second dimension of the impact your investments have on the world, to investing that traditionally focuses only on financial return.

Investment Strategies

Social Impact: Companies and funds that may include Community Development, Medical Research, Renewable Energy, Global Economic Development, Affordable Housing, etc.

We choose funds we believe impact the world for good and manage how your assets are allocated over time. Our biblically-responsible faith-based portfolios leverage these core strategies: Investment

Good Profits: Companies that may create value by means of Energy Efficiency, Clean Water Supply, Cybersecurity, Healthy Food Supply, Biotechnology, Customer Loyalty, Employee Benefits, Fair Trade, etc.

We choose funds we believe impact the world for good and manage how your assets are allocated over time. Our biblically-responsible faith-based portfolios leverage key core strategies to impact the world for good.

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“We are a family of financial advisors whose specialty is faith-based planning strategies. We counsel clients on biblical stewardship. This goes from the planning process all the way to implementation. Investors are owners in a company, and we think investments should be something you believe in and can be proud of.”

“WE MAKE A LIVING BY WHAT WE GET, BUT WE MAKE A LIFE BY WHAT WE GIVE.”

–WINSTON CHURCHILL

A Riveting Life Looking Back at the Life of Bernice C. Waters-Brown

by Debbie Neece, Bartlesville

Area History Museum

Bernice Waters-Brown held a history book full of memories and experiences; and, although she traveled some bumpy roads, her soul triumphed and her eyes glistened brightly.

Bernice was born August 3, 1918 in a rural Oklahoma area called Snake Creek, near Bixby, the first child of Oren and Emma (Roberson) Waters. Her full name was Bernice Comfort Waters, a middle name given to her by uncles while they served in WWI; however, she was not comfortable with her middle name and always signed Bernice C. Waters. Throughout her life, she could have exchanged the “C” for Confidence, Courage or Compassion, for she exemplified all of these.

The Tulsa area was a hotbed of fear after the May 31-June 1, 1921 race massacre so when her father died shortly after that historic event, her mother took Bernice and her brother Luther to be near family in Bartlesville. Bernice’s grandfather, aunts

and uncles met the train upon their arrival and they settled as a family.

Bernice was just three years old and her brother Luther Napolean Waters, just 18 months, but through the eyes of a small child grew memories of a life time. Her first introductions to segregation were the train ride and living in a separate world where “black” people lived west of the railroad tracks. Attending the movies and being shunned to the upstairs loft was also an eye opener.

During WWII, the Kaiser Shipbuilding Company had seven shipyards in the U.S. Established in 1939 to meet the construction goals of the Maritime Commission, Henry Kaiser operated four facilities in Richmond, CA. which were closed at the end of the war. Kaiser Permanente began as an emergency care center and has grown to be a major hospital corporation. The “Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park” was dedicated October 25, 2000 on the site of the Richmond shipyards, celebrating the roles of women during WWII

Her mother was a certified teacher who homeschooled her children before Bernice reached the age of 4. At that time, Bernice went to the first grade, as kindergarten was nonexistent. She remembered the first through twelfth grades were taught in one school building where Ms. Luvenia Brown taught 1st – 4th while Rose Hutcherson taught 5th – 8th. The small two-room school had a potbelly stove for warmth and reciting the Lord’s Prayer and pledge to

the Flag were a daily beginning to class studies. In 1925, a fourroom Douglass school was built with a cloakroom and water fountain, but restrooms were still outdoors.

Bernice remembered buying her favorite Nehi strawberry pop for a nickel from Walter Parry’s Grocery at 525 S. Virginia as a treat. And, she tributes Mrs. Florence Scott, wife of the Douglass School principal T.P. Scott, for bringing the Girl Scouts to Douglass School and opening the possibility for Bernice and her friends to learn to swim at Osage Hills State Park. Mrs. Scott also took the girls on field trips and to the Y after four o’clock, as the Y was for “white folk” before 4:00.

Bernice’s education ended at the eleventh grade level in order to work in the family laundry business. Her ironing skills were highly sought by Bartlesville businessmen and her grandfather, who only let Bernice press his shirts. Her grandmother operated a 13-room boarding house where Dr. Ford had his office in two rooms, and he and his family lived in two other rooms. Bernice pressed the shirts of men rooming at the boarding house and men from the Maire Hotel brought their shirts to Bernice for pressing as well. Sharp dressed men!

In 1939, Bernice married William Brown, a Dewey Portland Cement employee. While William served in WWII, Bernice traveled three days on a train to California where she worked at the shipyard for the Kaiser Shipbuilding Company for two years as a “Rosie the Riveter.” As a journeyman welder, shipyard pay began at ninety-five cents an hour and by the time Bernice quit, she was earning a dollar-twenty cents. After the war, the couple moved back to Bartlesville and purchased their home at 520 S. Santa Fe. Bernice returned to the laundry business and William was employed at Cities Service for twenty-seven years. He later died in 1975.

Bernice was quick to point out that much has improved in the area of career employment. Her niece/adopted daughter, Maxine McDale-McNeal became the first medical technologist at Jane Phillips Hospital, then continued her career in California.

At one time, the “westside” of Bartlesville was a self-sustained community from necessity, with a movie theater, barber shop, restaurants, groceries, churches, etc. One of the most popular

places was the Coney Island on Dewey Avenue where Nick Kountoupis served the best chili in town to the “black” visitors at the kitchen counter.

Bettye Williams remembers,  “When Concern was founded a dialog of communication opened and paved the way for community betterment. When people talk, they begin to understand the needs of each other. The Westside Community Center became a contributing factor in the community as a meeting place for clubs and dances.”

In 1998, the Women’s Network interviewed Bernice Brown for the 5th Volume of Taproots as a woman who made a difference. It was with courage and compassion that she detailed her life experiences. And in the end, her greatest accomplishments were caring for her aged mother, raising Maxine like her own daughter and watching Maxine excel as the head of the clinical lab at the Kaiser Hospital, Sacramento, CA.

Bernice was laid to rest in White Rose Cemetery, February 1999, at 80 years young.

~ This story will continue February 2024 ~

Did You Know?

Bernice’s brother, Luther Waters, graduated from Douglass High School and attended Langston University one year before he found work through President Franklin Roosevelt’s federally funded Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1940, he was the first Bartlesville black man to enlist in the army for WWII service. He and his wife, Lorena Marie Wade had four children, Julia Waters-Tillman, Maxine Waters-Willard, Luther Waters, and Oren Waters. After 10 years of military service, First Lieutenant Luther Waters re-enlisted and arrived in Korea August 17, 1950. He was reported MIA January 14, 1951 and deceased April 30, 1951. He is recognized on the National Korean War Veterans Memorial at Washington, D.C. and his children are the award winning “The Waters” vocal group.

Now You Know *

Located in the heart of Downtown Bartlesville

Located in the heart of Downtown Bartlesville

100 SW Frank Phillips Blvd

100 SW Frank Phillips Blvd

Reserve your spot at the top (918)440-6773

Reserve your spot at the top (918)440-6773

www.johnstone-sare-theroomatthetop.com

www.johnstone-sare-theroomatthetop.com

johnstone.sare@gmail.comjohnstone.sare.building

johnstone.sare@gmail.comjohnstone.sare.building

It “MAY” Be True Love

The Story of Valentine’s Day & the Local May Family

by Kay Little, Little History Adventures

February is typically known as the month of love. People send valentines to friends and lovers. Others become engaged on Valentine’s Day, while many get married on this special day. But, why do we celebrate love on February 14?

More than 1,000 years ago, about 200 years after Jesus was born, a man by the name of Valentinus was born in the Roman Empire. When he was an adult, the emperor of the Roman Empire was Claudius, known as Claudius the Cruel. Claudius eventually made a law outlawing weddings. The young adults were so upset and the church leader, Valentinus, was also upset. He knew this went against God’s plan, so he decided to secretly marry the couples. He was soon arrested. Even in prison, Valentinus told others about Jesus and would not worship the Roman gods. Claudius had Valentinus killed on February 14, which was a pagan holiday, for marrying couples against his law and for refusing to worship the Roman gods. About 200 years later, another church leader declared February 14 to be St. Valentine’s Day to honor Valentinus, who was martyred for his love of Jesus. This church leader also wanted to get rid of the pagan holiday.

Another part of the story is that while awaiting execution, the jailer asked Valentinus to pray for his blind daughter, which he did, and the girl was healed. Valentinus wrote a note to the little girl and signed it, “From your valentine.” (Thank you to Cheryl Odden of Voice of the Martyrs for sharing this history.)

Bartlesville has had many love stories through the years, including Mike and Marty May, who were married for 50-1/2 years. The Mays were pillars in our community all through their married years. Mike grew up in Bartlesville, went away to college, then served in the Navy, before moving back home.

After graduating from officer school in 1956, he went to visit his brother in Kansas City. While there, his brother and future sister-in-law set him up on a blind date with Marty Ruvel. They immediately hit it off, but it would be several years before they got married. After Marty graduated from college, Mike went to see her in Dallas to invite her to a New Year’s Eve party at the country club. While at the party, he proposed at midnight.

They got married in 1960, settled in Bartlesville and raised four sons. Mike continued his family’s business of selling men’s clothing. Marty used her degree in recreation by becoming the first girls athletic director at the high school. After she got pregnant with their first son, she decided to stay home as a full time mom.

Marty and Mike were very active in Bartlesville civic clubs, as well as the boys’ school activities. As a young mom, Marty experienced cancer and beat it. Mike was very supportive of her. Through that experience, she started an advocacy group for others experiencing cancer. She loved how people in Bartlesville worked together and were so involved in the community.

The Mays served on many boards within the Bartlesville community. They were a great team. Mike and Marty are both gone now and greatly missed. We are very blessed to have had them in our community.

Mike & Marty on their way to their honeymoon in 1960.

Shamrock the Ville

Annual Downtown Event Puts the “Fun” in Fundraiser

by Lori Just

The first Saturday in March is the perfect way for runners and walkers to pull out all things green and show off at the 14th annual Shamrock the ‘Ville 5K and Fun Run on March 4.

This chip-timed 5K certified by USATF starts and ends at the Tower Center at Unity Square and winds through historic downtown Bartlesville. It benefits Catholic Charities Mary Martha Outreach (CC-MMO); a non-profit that provides necessary items to those in need.

“We want this to be our biggest event yet,” said Misty Wishall, CC-MMO director. “ShamRock the Ville is flat out a fun time!”

Awards are given to the top three racers according to their age and gender, including youth and overall male and female.  While technically a competition, runners are urged to have as much fun as they can and go at their own pace with costumes highly encouraged. Established over a decade ago, this event has gained popularity for its entertaining nature.

“We enjoy seeing families come together to not only have fun, but to support such an important mission,” said Wishall. “This year, more than ever, the need is so great with the rising food costs. We have many families that count on our food distribution to be able to put food on their tables for their families. We distributed over 3.3 million pounds of food last year and this race is vital to helping continue that mission.”

Services at CC-MMO include a food pantry, clothing center, and crisis response. They also provide diapers and haircuts to anyone who needs them. This fundraiser is vital to providing sustainability to their mission and to this community.

“This is our only fundraiser event,” said Wishall. “Registration fees help us to buy food items, hygiene items,

new school clothes, coat drive and also allows us to continue to help us help other agencies throughout the community. We are a United Way Partner Agency so we not only help individual family’s need, but we also give back to other agencies to support their endeavors. We help around 60 other local agencies. Additionally, we help domestic violence and burn out victims too.”

Last year, CC-MMO was donated a new 2,500 square foot cooler and warehouse racking, which helps them keep more food on hand to be able to provide more to those in need.

“We just got it up and running last fall,” she said. “We would love for anyone that wants to tour the facility or volunteer to please come out.”

Avoid the line on race day by registering online and attending the pre-party and packet pick up at the CC-MMO Warehouse (1845 W 4th) on Thursday, March 2 from 5–6:30 p.m. There is day of registration starting at 7:30 a.m. on race day, with the race firing at 9 a.m. For the non-runners, there are still ways to participate in the merriment, and they encourage walkers as well. There is a onemile fun run starting shortly after the race starts, cheering from the couch or you can opt to volunteer.

“Even if you don’t run, come on out, wear your green, cheer on the runners, dance to the music, enjoy the food trucks and just support our community,” she said. “We could definitely use more volunteers this year. We will welcome them with open arms!”

Registration is $25 and now open on shamrocktheville.com. The first 100 sign ups get an awesome gift with their packet. Race will carry on as scheduled, rain or shine.

Spring Into Summer With BiB!

Broadway in Bartlesville Offers 3 Exhilarating Musicals

Spring into Summer 2023 with a chance to see three exhilarating Broadway in Bartlesville! national touring hit musicals. The 25th anniversary tour of CHICAGO takes the stage in March. There’s never been a better time to experience  CHICAGO, Broadway’s razzle-dazzle smash. This triumphant hit musical is the recipient of six Tony Awards®, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy®, thousands of standing ovations and now the #1 longest-running American Musical in Broadway history. CHICAGO has everything that makes Broadway great: a universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz; one showstopping song after another; and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen.

On April 3, STOMP explodes onto The Center’s stage. Inventive, provocative, witty, and utterly unique — STOMP is an unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages. The international percussion sensation has garnered armfuls of awards and rave reviews, and has appeared on numerous national television shows. The eight-member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instruments — matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, hubcaps — to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms. Year after year, audience worldwide keep coming back for more of this pulse-pounding, electrifying show. As the Boston Globe says, “If you haven’t seen STOMP, GO! If you have seen it, take someone and share the pleasure!” STOMP. See what all the noise is about!

In June, join Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria as they bound out of the zoo and onto the stage in this live musical spectacular for Madagascar The Musical. This smash hit musical features all of your favorite crack-a-lackin’ friends as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar. This brand-new musical from Dreamworks (Shrek The Musical) will leave audiences with no choice but to “Move It, Move It!”

Tickets for each show are available by phone at 918-337-2787 and

in person at The Center box office, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. You can also visit The Center’s website at bartlesvillecommunitycenter.com for 24/7 ticket sales.

Special thanks to The National Endowment for the Arts, the Oklahoma Arts Council, and these local sponsors who make the Broadway in Bartlesville! 2022-2023 series possible: Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Adams

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by Jay Webster

Do you listen to Podcasts?

Occasionally, I find myself bored with music or needing some inspiration or an intellectual challenge and I bounce around through a few select Podcasts. For those who don’t know, a Podcast is essentially a radio show on your computer or listening device. They cover a thousand different topics or interests and anyone can listen to them (usually for free) and (for better or worse) anyone can make them.

Recently, I was listening to a Podcast that suggested

The main thing, I guess, is that we get to shape our world intentionally. We get to help color and mold the reality around us. And if we do that in a positive, uplifting, purposeful way … isn’t there a chance that will bleed over into other people’s worlds too? We could be spreading good to those around us. Our theme song could be “Dancing in the Streets.”

we have so much more to do with building our personal universe than we might suspect. That we are, in fact, voting for what we want to see, hear, and do with each purchase, login, point, and click. The host gave the analogy that while we don’t stock the shelves at our local grocery store, what we buy each week reinforces what we want more of and what we want to see on our shelves. In the same way, what news stories we click on, product searches we engage in, social media “likes” we give, essentially builds our online world.

You may believe, as most Americans do, that our

current or former President is the Devil. So when stories pop-up that support or reinforce that premise, we click on them. Slowly but surely, our newsfeed and information sources begin to build on that trend and not so surprisingly we see more of those stories. You’re voting that you would indeed like more of your world to be filled with that.

In other words, we often find what we are looking for (as the ancient scriptures say). Look for evidence that the world is going to-hell-in-a-hand basket (whatever that means) and you will certainly find it. Look for proof that we are experiencing a moral decay, well it’s right there. Believe that everything is a mess and there’s no peace to be found … well I can show you the 3 a.m. Google searches that support that.

New Year’s Resolutions, but we have on several occasions tried to direct the course of a year by adopting or declaring a theme song. It goes like this, you hit January. Maybe you have some personal or professional goals for the year. You’d like to change priorities. You want to love more and stress less. You want to trust in your value as a talented human and take risks. Whatever it is. So the next step is: name a theme song that supports that goal.

Think about your product searches. Ever ask Google or Alexis or Siri to look something up for you … only to find your inbox or news feed saturated with information about that very thing? Someone is listening and they are giving us what we are asking for. We are actively (whether we perceive it or not) coloring our world.

Now, did we start the war in Ukraine? Of course not. Did we take classified documents or break up a Kardashian marriage or start global warming all by ourselves? I hope not. But when we are nearly obsessive about these topics, these things grow and take on a larger presence in our emotional and intellectual space. We are creating our world.

In other words, we often find what we are looking for (as the ancient scriptures say). Look for evidence that the world is going to-hell-in-a-hand basket (whatever that means) and you will certainly find it. Look for proof that we are experiencing a moral decay, well it’s right there. Believe that everything is a mess and there’s no peace to be found … well I can show you the 3 a.m. Google searches that support that.

We usually find whatever we are looking for.

So to that point, if we look for love, we will find that. If we search for acts of kindness, they’re just waiting to be found. If we look for hope and trumpet it when we find it, the echo will also be reinforced — and you’ll find more.

So, what world am I building?

The reality is, news will find you. How much more evidence do we really need that President A or B is the worst ever? Do I really have to have hour-by-hour updates on Ukraine to be aware or informed? Are our news sources serving us or are we serving them.

What world are your point and clicks building?

I’d like to offer two small alternatives.

First, if you want to be informed without “feeding the machine,” buy a newspaper. There’s no tracking what you read on a printed page (assuming you’re buying a neutral paper and not one catering to a politicized audience). So go Old School and pick up a printed page.

Isn’t it refreshing that we get to drive our lives at some level instead of just being seat-belted into the passenger seat? It’s encouraging. It’s hopeful. I’d love to hear what your theme song is for this year.

Second, speaking of building your world … my family has this tradition that maybe you’d like to try. We’re not really ones for

What song embodies your struggle or challenge?

Here’s an example. A couple years ago, my wife and I were trying to emerge out of a particularly frustrating period for our business. Things were static and we wanted to make a change. So we got together and ordained the year the Year of “Eye of the Tiger.” And that song became like a directing vision for the year. When we had decisions to make, business plans to create, bids to submit; we did it with the energy of Eye of the Tiger. Another year, our song was the Doobie Brother’s Taking It to the Streets . Two years ago, during the pandemic, it was Don’t Stand so Close to Me

Where do you want your year to go? What’s a theme song that might help you get there?

Maybe you need a change in values, so you adopt All You Need is Love as your song. If you’re trying to take charge of your health maybe you want to wake up to the Rocky theme each morning. What about How Do You Like Me Now for a confidence builder in social circles? There are so many great theme songs out there: Beat It, Walking on Sunshine, Help, I’m Gonna Make You Love Me (though that one has some other issues).

I’m sure you have songs of your own.

The main thing, I guess, is that we get to shape our world intentionally. We get to help color and mold the reality around us. And if we do that in a positive, uplifting, purposeful way … isn’t there a chance that will bleed over into other people’s worlds too? We could be spreading good to those around us. Our theme song could be “Dancing in the Streets .”

Isn’t it refreshing that we get to drive our lives at some level instead of just being seat-belted into the passenger seat?

It’s encouraging. It’s hopeful. I’d love to hear what your theme song is for this year.

Until then, get out there and build a better world. Build on hope and love and justice for all.

Peace out and Godspeed, friends.

of Exceptional Senior Living

THE NUTCRACKER — BARTLESVILLE CIVIC BALLET

PALACE ROOMS NEW YEAR’S EVE

SOLACE BY LORI ROLL

PRICE TOWER GALA

Lyle Taylor

by Randy Standridge

In late 1970 as a sophomore wrestler at Sooner High, I had to wrestle one of the top wrestlers in the state in our crosstown rivalry with College High. His name was Lyle Taylor and here is his story.

Lyle Talor was the secondoldest of five kids and the only boy, born in St. Louis, Illinois. His mom moved to Bartlesville and Lyle went to Douglass Elementary School before attending Central Junior High, where he started wrestling. His uncle, Everett Adair, was four years older and wrestled for the high school. Everett had a big influence on convincing Lyle to wrestle.

Lyle was a natural — quick on his feet with the ability to learn a move and work on it until he was proficient at it. Speaking from experience, my one match against him quickly taught me that his strength was takedowns. Back in the 70s, the Sooner vs College High and Central vs. Madison wrestling matches were standing-room-only events that had the field houses rumbling. It could easily have been called the Bedlam, similar to the OSU vs OU encounters. My perception was that Lyle had moves like a cat, he was light on his feet, and he would spring at you with the duck under or arm drag and make it look so easy. Many of his matches were simply take them down, let them up, and take them down again.

In the 1970-71 season, Lyle Taylor had taken first place at 130 lbs. at the First Annual Bartlesville Tournament by defeating Whorton, from Pryor, 9-1 with three takedowns by Lyle. He had taken 2nd place at 136 lbs earlier in the season at the University of Oral Roberts High School Tournament, dropping a 2-0 decision to Tullius from Norman in the finals. Norman was one of the top teams in the higher Class 4A, while Bartlesville College High was 3A. Tullius would end up taking 2nd place at 141 lbs in the 4A state tourney later on.

As Lyle prepared for the state tourney, his wrestling record that year was 20 wins and 3 losses. He then took first place at the Regional Tournament at Tulsa Edison, defeating Steve Mushrush from the eventual state champion Sand Springs team by a score of 4-1. Mushrush had won 23 matches at that point. Lyle had missed the Sand Springs dual earlier in the year and missed wrestling Mushrush at that time. The Wildcats had four wrestlers place at regionals and all four went to state the very next weekend.

In the state finals he defeated Steve Mushrush again. They were tied 1-1 after regulation time and the first overtime. In the second overtime Mushrush had a takedown with 45 seconds left and Lyle reversed him at 17 seconds to tie the score. They were then tied 3-3 after the second overtime and Lyle was selected champion by the referee in a split decision.

Lyle was the first College High state champion in wrestling. He was the second Bartlesville wrestler to win state, behind Chuck Hetrick from Sooner in 1968. Two of the three other Wildcats that year placed at state with Tom McKinney taking 3rd place at 106 lbs and John Miller taking 4th place at Heavyweight. The Wildcats tied with Tulsa Kelly for 8th place in the state meet.

After high school, Lyle wrestled at Tonkawa Junior College on a wrestling scholarship. He was there a year but didn’t like it so he transferred to OSU. He made the wrestling team at OSU but that did not work out well and he ultimately quit. He did wrestle for his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, and won the championship his sophomore year and junior year. His senior year he was in the championship but lost. He became a very proud Oklahoma State University Alumni, graduating in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology.

Lyle returned to Bartlesville after college and lived most of his life there, working at various jobs. He also coached the Boys and Girls Club wrestling team for a few years in the 80s and I had the honor to assist him one year before I started coaching at the YMCA. Lyle passed away in 2018 to cancer and is truly missed by all.

Green Country Pet Cremation Service offers private pet cremation with timely return of ashes in your choice of a decorative wooden urn with an engraved nameplate. If no return of ashes is requested, the ashes will be gently scattered on a beautiful pastoral/garden property.

We are located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and gratefully serve pet owners from a wide area surrounding Bartlesville, Dewey, and Northeast Oklahoma.

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Saturday, March 4, 2023

Get your Tickets by February 24

St. Luke's Episcopal Church

Doors open at 6:30 pm, Event begins at 7 pm 4 wines, 4 chef-prepared small plates

Wine pull

Tables seat 8

Presenting Sponsor Sponsors

Saturday, March 4 • 2-6pm

Previously, we have held the Sexual Abuse Fundraising Event (S.A.F.E. breakfast) and Daughters of Lot Breakfast event. This would have been our 20th year for that event, but we have decided to provide a new theme of fundraising event for our community this year. However, this event will still have the same important purpose as before. Our goal is to provide hope and a brighter future for those who have been sexually and/ or physically abused. A portion of the event revenue will be designated to our SAFE Subsidy, which helps provide sessions for children, women and men who have or are currently experiencing sexual and/or physical abuse. Support this cause and those who so desperately need counseling and mental health support in one of three ways: by becoming one of our valued event sponsors, signing up a team for the cornhole tournament, or by simply making a monetary donation.

Unfound Doors

by Brent Taylor

sermon, although I’m getting better. Now I’m able to rest and listen simultaneously, one ear open and the other not, one eye bright and the other tight.

While walking about Old Charleston Town, I saw many doors to unknown places, their knobs often two feet up from street level, meaning either that the streets were once lower or people from the 17th century were four feet tall. When I travel, I’m always wondering about things I can’t explain. Maybe it is a revelation, behind a door still not discovered, through which I will find a secret revealed. So many people today, it seems to me, want revelation, to discover truth behind a door that is as yet, unopened.

Stephanie Powell Watts writes in The Oxford American, “We are always looking for revelation — even in our most known places and our most loved people. We hope to find the undiscovered in ourselves — the window into everything. I feel the open window in beautiful spaces. I start to think about myself differently and imagine that I can become new. I travel to remember this. I travel to forget that my foundation is set and unmovable.” Watts goes on to quote Thomas Wolfe who wrote in  Look Homeward, Angel. “We seek the great forgotten language, the lost lane-end into heaven, a stone, a leaf, an unfound door.”

I am who I am, at least in part, because of the known places in my life that are shaded by the canopy of community provided by those I know well and love best. But, like most folks, I’m searching for something unknown, revelation, truth, beauty, a good cheeseburger, behind an unfound door. Einstein never gave up searching for the unfound door into the beautiful space that would unify gravity and electromagnetism into a single elegant theory. He searched for the theory of everything for 30 years and never found the solution.

I’m writing this from the 17th floor of a beach-side balcony in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Vacations often leave me restless and searching for something new or they make me sleepy like I sometimes feel on Sunday mornings hoping to hear a new sermon message but often growing restless and nodding off. I come by this honestly.

It was during a tent revival on the west side of Bartlesville that I realized that my father was a narcoleptic and that my foundation was set in stone, a fallen acorn sprouting near the oak tree. Brother A.C. Chrisman was rising into an eloquent and soulful crescendo when he paused and looked out into his audience at an indifferent, nay a sleeping congregant. Troubled by this disrespect enough to call Terrel Taylor out, in good humor he asked him, “Brother Taylor, are you resting your eyes?” Undaunted, my dad replied without hesitation, “No, I’m sleeping.”

This explains why I’m often nodding off during the Sunday

The South Carolina shore and what the locals call low country is beautiful. I’m not sure why it is called low country. Perhaps because of its elevation compared to sea level. Or perhaps it is the low knobs of undiscovered doors, behind which, I can imagine once revealed truth to someone who lived and breathed like me, one eye open to beautiful spaces and one eye shut to the dim shroud of rationality that gave comfort to the practice of enslaving other human beings within those same beautiful spaces.

Behind one particular door in Charleston was a museum on the site where slaves were once bought and sold, after being fattened like cattle at a feedlot. Standing in that old building that once housed a market for buying and selling human beings, often splitting families apart forever, made me want to weep.

Sometimes opening unfound doors reveals truth as beauty and horror, a revealing of myself, one eye open, one eye shut.

Lord help me walk through unfound doors with both eyes wide open.

Ray Dixon

“If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry to reaching children for God.”

— Dwight L. Moody,

American evangelist

Retired Carpenter Preaches & Mentors Those In Need

by Lori Just

Carpenters are known to build, shape, and restore with precise detail and attention. Ray Dixon has not only had a lifelong career in this trade, but in addition to building cabinets he also fosters, shapes, and builds up the Bartlesville youth in impactful ways.

“I was led to ministry because I felt like I was do something in my life other than providing for myself,” Dixon explained. “It was a call of God upon my life.”

Dixon was ordained in 1979 in Tulsa through the Churches of God and Christ. He moved to Bartlesville a year later due to the housing boom. Since he was a carpenter by trade, he easily found a job and a place to live to raise his family of 10 children. He did this alongside his late wife of 33 years, Barbara (Collins) Dixon.

He attended church in Bartlesville, yet he shares he has an evangelistic spirit and loves to preach in different areas. He has traveled to Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas to host revival services at various churches. During these revivals, he recognized the need to invest into our next generation.

“I’ve been involved in youth programs about 15-20 years,” he said. “Older people are set in their ways, but if you can catch the young early you can create a generation that will go on for years and pass on better ways.”

Dixon supports the area youth by helping with housing, school, transportation, tuition, and passing along his wisdom and love for God. He encourages others to get involved with the younger people.

“I teach the Word of God through the Bible and the students have hundreds of questions about the scriptures and things they don’t understand that I help answer,” he explained.  “They can be great leaders and will be greater leaders if they have someone behind them to support and push them. That’s what we try to do at our church.”

He shared plans about partnering with area churches to develop a place for young men and women to thrive. Dixon has established a community garden on the corner of Adams Blvd. and Penn. He is working with volunteers to get ready for the spring. He wants to use this opportunity to help

educate people and get them on stable ground — including those who are homeless.

“I’ve had a lifetime of carpentry under my belt as I’ve been in the industry since I was a small kid,” said Dixon. “My uncle had a construction business and had me carrying lumber, then I went on to learn carpentry, cabinet making, and joined a union. I’ve worked and made my living, now I’m retired, but my goal is to be a great help in the community and be a helping hand. God has been good to us, and I want to pass it on.”

Mario Russo is currently attending classes at the Rhema Bible Training College, and he shares how Dixon has helped him make a complete turnaround. Four years ago, Russo was fresh out of jail and at a homeless shelter. Dixon was there preaching and ministering to people. He did an altar call and asked if there was anyone that wants to receive Christ as his Lord and Savior and Russo answered.

“Mr. Dixon helped me come from nothing to now I’m going to school and have a job. I use the same attitude and principles he taught me and put it back into the world. I’ve seen him do so much for people, from installing hot water tanks or building wheelchair ramps for those with no money to pay him. He doesn’t give up on anyone and gives them several chances. He’s my mentor. I didn’t meet him by chance, God placed him in my life and it’s an honor to know him.”

“My life has taken a complete 180,” he said. “Mr. Dixon helped me come from nothing to now I’m going to school and have a job. I use the same attitude and principles he taught me and put it back into the world. I’ve seen him do so much for people, from installing hot water tanks or building wheelchair ramps for those with no money to pay him. He doesn’t give up on anyone and gives them several chances. He’s my mentor. I didn’t meet him by chance, God placed him in my life and it’s an honor to know him.”

— Mario Russo, was mentored by Ray Dixon fresh out of jail

Tri County Tech and Downtown Kiwanis Club are proud to name the January Students of the Month. Our students of the month are chosen based on their character, leadership, and contribution to our community.

We are proud of their performance as students, role models, and future professionals.

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Built on Faith

Bethel AME’s Humble Structure Tells a Large Story

by Maria Gus

The story of Bartlesville’s Bethel A.M.E Church is over 100 years old and follows the path of several of Bartlesville’s most prominent black citizens. A humble structure located on Adams Boulevard is only a symbol of an even larger story that encompasses some of the most dedicated citizens in the community.

The church in Bartlesville was organized in 1913, but the origin of the African Methodist Episcopal Church dates back to the late 1700’s. The AMEC is the oldest black denomination in the United States. According to the A.M.E. website, the AMEC grew out of the Free African Society (FAS) which Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, and others established in Philadelphia in 1787. When officials at St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church pulled blacks off their knees while praying, FAS members decided to refuse the discrimination and transform their mutual aid society into an African congregation. Many of the founders were former slaves who fought for the right to have their own congregation and independent institution. Today, the African Methodist Episcopal Church has membership in 20 Episcopal Districts in 39 countries on five continents.

Bartlesville’s Bethel A.M.E. church was rebuilt June 1, 1974, dedicated December 8, 1974 by The Rt. Rev. S. S. Morris, Presiding Elder, D.J. Webster, Rev. Calvester Anderson, Pastor.

These words appeared in the dedication program in December of 1974, written by Rev. Calvester Anderson:

“It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to our Dedication — a Building that was Built on Faith.

The six years and this Fellowship with the people of Bethel get sweeter as the years go by.

There is something lasting, something forever enduring in sharing the hopes and the fears, the successes and the failures

of those who because of their love for Christ are members of the Company of the Redeemed — our lives have been enriched — in spite of everything our Labor has been Rewarded.”

That same program stated that Bethel A.M.E. Church was organized by Rev. G.L. Dykes and Brother Ike Hardiman on West Fourth Street and a small church building was erected. The building burned and the congregation met in a lodge hall downtown until 1913. Rev. J.N.B. Walls built a brick building in the same area and then Rev. W.C.B. Lewis built a brick parsonage on Penn. Eventually, the church — under the parsonage of Rev. Gransberry Sr., purchased the lot for the present location at 618 S.W. Adams Blvd.

During the pastorage of Rev. E.M. Jackson, both the parsonage and the church were damaged by fire when a garage between the two buildings burned. Under the pastorage of Rev. Calvester V. Anderson, Bethel A.M.E. built a new church building and furnished it, new robes were purchased for both of the choirs, a piano and an organ were also purchased. The new building was constructed with a pastor’s study and secretary’s office at a cost of $100,000.

While looking through old photographs of the church and the dedication program, current resident Lorront Carney appeared in several of the photographs. “The church was made up of three or four main families,” stated Carney, “The Towers, Thompsons and Carneys!” Carney said many of these families hold memories and photographs of Bethel A.M.E.  “Very fond memories of Bethel.”

Bartlesville Monthly Magazine would love to write more about the families and congregation of the Bethel A.M.E. Church in the future. Please send an email and tell us about your memories of this historic Bartlesville church.

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The Art of Writing Letters

Reading Your Memories Secures an Anchor Within You

by Lori Kroh

It sat at the top of my closet and I pulled down the box with worn edges and held it. As I opened the lid, these beautiful old letters came pouring out. All of them were mailed to me from friends all over the world, the dear ones from whom I adored. The stamps were placed gently upon the corner with the edges ragged from traveling the world. All sorts of postmarks and colorful stamps let me know that life was bigger than my backyard. This is when you were notifying the world of your return address and where placement of who it belonged to mattered. “In care of” really meant that you cared and zip codes had to be looked up in a book at the post office.

I glanced at the writing and instantly knew whose it was before I even opened it. You can tell by their slant, their spacing and it seems they are already with me as I slid the folded letter out. I sighed as I reopened these gifts from long ago. All these letters I have saved and had placed in a space that held time. Although those years are gone now, the sweet memories remain. What was once a whim and moment of reading now leads me down a path I won’t ever forget and I fear the art of letter writing is almost gone.

For many of us, we have been using social media for so long that we just message our friends. Now, I would have to message them to ask for their address. The idea of using technology to literally send them a vintage style of communication is not lost on me. Does anyone still have their address book on the table where the home phone sat? It used to be so handy and we had pencils with erasers for a reason. We updated it and took it for granted. I can remember my childhood address, yet forget my pin number when asked at the bank.

I made myself comfortable put each letter in order of date read them. I took my time and could also remember the place I was when I first received it and what was going on in my life back then. It was a long stroll down memory lane and I cried over the memories that I thought were as faded as my blue jeans. I laughed at the jokes and witty remarks and could

hear the tone of their writing as if they were sitting next to me. They are still here with me now. The art of writing is not lost … it’s just not being used.

It only took a few moments and I was reliving my life and feeling the love of my friends. Why does it take certain glimpses of time to let you see how precious connections can be and how your heart can be overwhelmed in gratitude? There are not enough words to explain how reading your memories secures an anchor within you. These are my people and I have always adored them. I felt this whimsy and wonder come over me. I looked at my desk and wished I could do it. Daunting thoughts set in and yet, I opened all the drawers. I discovered I needed to first start off my writing by making a short list of supplies.

I realized this would be a letter in love for sure, as I would have many errands to run in order to complete this notion. True connection requires more of me than them.

It’s a bit overwhelming to pen one’s thoughts now and have to wait for an answer. The time to write and send one’s musings and just hope and pray that an extension in grace would come back. Please mister postman, not as return to sender — I want a response in genuine script with a p.s. possibly even x’s and o’s, which is what my Grandmother taught me as a proper way to express love.

As for a roll of stamps, I do not even have one in purse. I would need to make the effort to stop in and purchase one or an entire roll since I’m an optimist. I would need to find the mailbox and mail the letter to someone I adore.  I went to an estate sale here recently and stumbled upon sets of stationary with the Price Tower on it. I also found boxes of my personal favorite called Crane’s, complete with matching envelopes. I saw the watermark on it and became excited because I haven’t seen paper of that quality in a long time. I wondered if anyone would know how special this paper was and how I used it just for them. The last thing I wrote was a scribbled grocery list and I didn’t care which way it slanted. I knew the lady running the cash register would never write me back, so I figured why bother. Yet, deep down she may need a pen pal, so next time I will sign it: All the Best ~ Love, Lori.

I beg you to find someone you adore and write them a letter in love and remind them how much they meant to you in life. ~ XOXOXOXOXOXO

More Than Rhinestones & Hairspray

Barnsdall’s

by Kelly Hurd

Allie Baker Claims Miss Rodeo Oklahoma 2023

Little Miss Allie Baker knows a thing or two about hairspray — and rhinestones! She is not only one of the most sought-after hairdressers in Pawhuska, but also has a stack of Rodeo Queen crowns she has been collecting for over a decade.

Calling Barnsdall home and representing Osage County well, Baker was awarded the title of Miss Rodeo Oklahoma 2023 back in June of 2022. With her official duties having begun in January of this year, I caught her on the road and she took time for a phone interview with me while driving home from a recent appearance at the Sugar Bowl.

The first thing I asked her was if she was going to take the year off from Hair Razors, the beauty salon in Pawhuska where she spends much of her time. She responded with a quick no, saying she loves her clients and thinks working full-time will keep her “grounded.” She went on to say it would also allow her to bear the brunt of the expenses this year associated with traveling across the nation as Miss Rodeo Oklahoma. Her January calendar alone had her making appearances in Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado, and South Dakota!

In visiting about what it takes to become Miss Rodeo Oklahoma, Baker said, “It’s not just rhinestones and hairspray.”

“It takes a lot of hard work,” she said, noting written exams,

horsemanship skills, industry knowledge, and public speaking proficiencies.

From the age of nine, she knew what she wanted to do and wasn’t afraid to go after her dream. Winning the Miss Guymon Pioneer Days back in 2018 stands out as one of her most prized crowns because her mother grew up in that part of Oklahoma. As if one wasn’t enough, bringing home the Miss Rodeo Oklahoma 2023 was her second state title, as she was also Miss Rodeo Oklahoma Teen in 2019.

She’s a beauty, a keeper, a Rodeo Queen, and she can, sure enough, give a good man’s haircut or give the ladies the latest “do,” but what I find to be one of her best attributes is her attitude and smile.

In today’s world, we see more and more negativity. From the news to the neighbors, not to mention the comments when you’re scrolling through your social media feeds. Sometimes even when looking at the next generation coming up, we can wonder just what’s to become of our country in the next decade or so…

But not when you take a look into the life of Allie Baker. She’s a go-getting, hard-working, smile-giving overcomer who represents where she comes from well. Yes, she’s a natural beauty with a singing voice like an angel — but it’s her character that sets her apart and makes her shine like a rhinestone tiara on a cowboy hat. Allie also knows the value of what she’s giving to those who are watching. As we visited with pickup road noise in the background, she said her greatest joy in representing Oklahoma and Osage County this year will be the opportunity to positively impact young women and open doors of opportunity for them to also dare to pursue their dreams.

If you’d like to make a difference in the life of a difference-maker by sowing into something good, tax-deductible donations can be made and business sponsor opportunities are still available. You can be part of sending Miss Rodeo Oklahoma 2023 across the nation. She’ll be representing the very best of Northeastern Oklahoma and making us all proud before competing in December 2023 for Miss Rodeo America! Emails can be sent to MissRodeoOklahoma2023@gmail.com for more information.

Congratulations, Allie!

JEFF HALL REAL ESTATE

Beauty From Ashes

Race Massacre Survivor Honored in Ghana and DC

by Abigail Singrey

Recently, Viola Ford Fletcher has experienced redemption, as the worst experience of her life — the Tulsa Race Massacre — has led to some of the most meaningful experiences of her life.

At 108 years old, Mother Fletcher, as she’s known in the community, is the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre. Her family fled their Tulsa home in the Greenwood district in the middle of the night. It changed the course of her life forever, as she experienced emotional hardship and poverty afterward. She still finds it hard to sleep. Her family escaped only with their lives, losing their possessions and their home. Because of their situation, she left school after fourth grade, teaching herself to read using a dictionary and a Farmer’s Almanac. She still has a keen interest in current events, reading newspapers and magazines and discussing them with her family.

Mother Fletcher loves the Bartlesville community and has been a resident for around 70 years. She first lived in Bartlesville in the early 1920s, but moved away during WWII to work in the shipyards, returning after the war ended. She worked for many years as a domestic worker in private homes.

As the fight for justice for Tulsa Race Massacre survivors has gained traction, Mother Fletcher has found herself on the forefront of the movement. While attending the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial events, she expressed that she had always wanted to visit Africa someday. Michael Thompson, Chairman and President of Our Black Truth, knew he had to make that happen. His organization sponsored a trip for Mother Fletcher and other survivors of the Race Massacre. In August 2021, they made that dream a reality for Mother Fletcher.

“I was so excited and thrilled to be on sponsorship there,” Fletcher said.

From the moment they arrived, the Ghanian government laid out the red carpet. Mother Fletcher and her brother, Hughes Van Ellis, were honored by traditional dancers and music on the tarmac with nearly 50 reporters in attendance. For the rest of their 10-day visit, they were escorted by state security around Ghana in a Mercedes with flags. In her hotel room, Mother Fletcher was presented with 10 different outfits all made for her for the events she was scheduled to attend. She also received paintings, wooden carvings, and many other gifts delivered to her hotel room.

“They treated it almost as if the President of the United States had come to visit,” her grandson, Ike Howard, said.

As honored guests, Mother Fletcher and her brother met Ghanian President Nana Akufo-Addo and were honored at an Ambassador’s Tea. She was given a traditional African name and crowned a Queen Mother. As she visited churches in Ghana, people would ask her to pray for them for long life. This was particularly touching to Mother Fletcher, as she’s a lifelong churchgoer.

Howard, who went with her on the trip, encourages others of African descent to visit Africa as well.

“If a [then] 107-year-old woman can get on a plane during a pandemic to fly to Africa, what excuse does anyone else have for not visiting the Motherland?” he said.

Then Mother Fletcher received another unexpected invitation — an opportunity to testify before a House Judiciary subcommittee to shed light on the experiences of survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre. On May 19, 2021, in Washington, D.C., Fletcher spoke to the loss of community and livelihood that her family experienced. She called for justice for herself and the other survivors, whose lives changed that day.

“There was not a dry eye in the room after she testified,” Howard said.

Remembering Family

Thinking Back About Mama, Aunt and Sister

by Rita Thurman Barnes

The lady on the left is my mama and the lady on the right is my Aunt Bertha. Some of you may be thinking the cute young girl in the middle is none other than little old me, but you’d be none other than wrong if you did. She’s my sister Ruth Ann while I was still just a twinkle in my dear daddy’s eye. Mama was 12 years older than her little sister and I was 14 years younger than my own. Out of the three in the photo above no one is left. Mama passed on when I was still a teenager, my aunt left us when she was still in her 40s, while my big sis died a few years ago.

Aunt Bertha always comes to mind when it gets close to the month of February because she was born on Groundhog Day. We both enjoyed the fact that we were born on a holiday even if it wasn’t the same one. My birthday is on Halloween, so we celebrated goblins and groundhogs together for quite a few years. One thing the four of us did share in common was to one degree or another we all played piano.

My mama could play nothing but gospel music by ear while my sister enjoyed playing movie theme songs and the music she copied from the 78 rpm records she bought from the local music store. I took piano lessons for a few years  but still only played about as well as when I started.

Aunt Bertha was another story altogether

My mama’s family members were musical except for the youngest brother and all except for him and my mama were chosen personally by Frank Phillips to play in his dance band and given the name – The Philbillies. They played for dances at Clyde Lake and for department parties at Woolaroc throughout Phillips 66 for many, many years. Aunt Bertha played many instruments as did the others but mostly for the band she played piano. And she could literally tear the keyboard to pieces.

She was an olive-skinned beauty who loved music and loved her family dearly. She cooked like a country chef and laughed from deep in her heart.

Three days stand out in my memory more than any others and for very different reasons. They were the days we lost first, my own mama, then my Aunt Bertha and finally my big sis. The ladies in your life are simply irreplaceable no matter when they come and go. I had wonderful aunts on both sides of my family and they were very special to me but none of them were as dear as my piano-playing aunt who was born on Groundhog’s Day long ago. Love those people to whom you are close while you have them. It’s always Groundhog Day somewhere.

Best Friends Keith & Christy Share a Lifelong Love

by Keith McPhail

In early September of last year Christy and I were asked by our Pastor, Joe Colaw, to film a video for our church, First Wesleyan. This video was titled ‘A Testimony of Hope’ which was going to be played during our Christmas Eve service. Through the 3 hours of filming, we shared how God moved mountains in our lives, made the possible from the impossible, and answered so many prayers. We spoke about how broken and lost I was, and the unbreakable bond of a very special friendship that started over 38 years ago. We filmed during the anniversary week of when we lost Tyler 13 years before. Taking this time to share this story was a huge sacrifice for Christy. I had an overwhelming flood of emotions and memories that I haven’t visited in a while. As we started filming there was one word that both of us continued to mention to describe us … friends … best friends! I have written many stories over the years about our marriage and the darkness of addiction we went through and the loss of Tyler that shook our world to the very edge. This was the first time Christy publicly told her story of surviving, saving her best friend and husband from addiction, and the overwhelming pain of losing her firstborn child, Tyler, who was accidentally shot at the age of 17.

A best friend is someone who is there for you through thick and thin. It’s someone who listens and understands you. Someone you can call anytime about anything you feel you need to ‘tell’ or ‘vent’. They are someone who will stand up for you in the times when you need it most, keep your secrets close, and trust you with their life. They will support you in any decision you make, even if it’s hard for them. They’re someone who is there for you as much as they can be and does and says whatever they can to lift your mood in down times. You can be your COMPLETE and total self around this person without feeling uncomfortable. You can say or do anything, and your relationship never changes. This person is someone who literally feels sent from heaven to make your life that much easier, someone who will do almost

anything for you as you would do for them, and someone who loves you no matter what kind of stupid things you do. This person will always want the best for you, as you will always want for them. As much as people change, your love for a real best friend will never fade through all the phases of life and problems that come along with it.

We started this journey … our story … with a friendship that sealed a plan that I believe God put together when we were just kids. We knew nothing about life and the HELL we were both going to go through. I believe God knew the lives that would be saved and changed because of this special bond that He brought together. In the fall of 1985, I first met Christy after just moving to Bartlesville. The first time I laid my eyes on her was like one of those moments you can’t forget — one that is carved into your heart. That night would change my life forever. We started off as friends first and we just loved talking and being together … and we had just really good talks … talks that go so deep in your soul … I guess you could say we were two hearts beating as one.

After 17 years apart, both of us were divorced with each of us having three kids. God was good to us, and we started that special friendship again. We reconnected by a miracle some might say. I say it was part of HIS plan. Christy was living in Rogers, Arkansas trying to get her life together again after a long divorce. She was trying to figure out her future. Two years prior to this, a broken woman walked into my office when I was selling real estate and asked me to help her sell some land. I had not seen her since our 10-year high school reunion. I would always keep up with her through her mom and dad when I would see them out in town.

Through all this madness we both had gone through a year before, we officially started to date again. After so long being apart, we were finally together again. The first few months of dating she still lived in Arkansas, so we would talk on the phone.

When I say we talked on the phone, it was all night. I had my best friend and the love of my life back. It happened just like it did back in 1985. I told her every secret, every dark moment, my fears, my fantasies, my failures … everything. It was not pretty because she learned things about me that were not good, but I knew she would not judge me or find fault or hold it over my head. One thing she did pick up on was that I was in a dark place, and I needed Jesus in my life and in my heart. One night while talking on the phone she point blank asked me “Keith, do you know Jesus?” I did not know Him, but that night my best friend, Christy, walked me through and I asked Jesus into my heart and gave Him my life. This changed my life and our lives forever.

After we were first married the enemy wasted no time and came to destroy me, us, and our new family. Oh my, did he come! The enemy had me again in a horrific addiction and he knew it, and he was pleased to see the destruction that was going on in our lives. Even with all the Angels God sent to battle for my life, we were losing the battle. I was slowly dying in my sick addiction, and this story…our love story…was about to be over. What happened next was all God. He knew the one person who could save me was the person he had put in my life all those years ago…my best friend, my soul mate … Christy!

Christy never gave up on me. She battled for my life and fought the enemy for her best friend … not her husband. At the time of the darkness we were walking through, it was her best friend she was fighting for … Keith … the boy she trusted with all her heart all those years ago. Keith … the man with whom she now shares his last name. She didn’t let me go, and she had every reason to walk away. There was pressure from so many to do just that. This is where God stepped in. This is where the bond of friendship came before anything else, and she risked everything for me … her friend … her best friend!

She was not worried about our marriage as much as she was determined to save her best friend! She fought against so many people including all of her family and most of her friends who knew what was going on. She stood up for me when I couldn’t even crawl to my knees. She believed in me and gave me one more chance. She fought for me, our family, her husband, but more than anything she fought for her best friend like nothing I had ever seen. That was almost 18 years ago, and today we are exactly what God had planned so many years ago for us. I wouldn’t have chosen what we went through together, but I don’t think I would have changed it either ... why?

For the ones reading this story right now it is so hard to explain how bad I was, how sick I was, and what Christy had to

see. She had to paint a picture that everything was okay. Here is the love of her life … her best friend … with needle marks covering his body from his neck to his legs with scars. It was just plain mutilation of my body from shooting up cocaine … my sunken eyes, the weight loss, the darkness in my eyes, and really just the darkness that was all over me. The enemy had me just where he wanted me and ALL was about to be lost … even my life. Christy bored my addiction and the absolute damage I did to my body. More importantly she endured what I did to her — my best friend and my wife — all the nights I was gone, and all the lies she had to endure for her family and our kids. After all she had just gone through with her first marriage, I just devastated her and nearly broke her … but she stood up to the enemy and for me …f or us … and her family and fought back with a passion and strength that I wouldn’t see again until Tyler was accidentally shot and taken from us … from her!

I believe today with all my heart that when God sent his warrior angels to battle for my life that God chose Christy as the one. By God’s grace and mercy, her faithfulness and her love for me strengthened her resolve. She was not going to raise the white flag and surrender her husband. She wasn’t going to surrender and give up on her very best friend. She stood tall during the darkest moments, and she bent through all I put us through. But during all this … she never broke!

From the very moment we met at McDonalds parking lot until today, and until the very end, she will always be the love of my life. More importantly, she will always be my best friend! I love you, Christy, and thank you for never giving up on me and us!

Simply yours, Keith

Bass Reeves

Bass Reeves was born in Crawford County, Arkansas, in 1838. Reeves and his family were enslaved by state legislator William Reeves, who was a farmer and politician. Consequently, Bass was given the surname of Reeves, following the practice of that time. His first name came from his grandfather, Basse Washington.

In 1846, William Reeves moved his farming operation, family, and slaves to Grayson County, Texas, near Sherman. There, Bass remained enslaved by William Reeves’s son, George Reeves, who was a Texas sheriff, legislator, and one-time Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

When the American Civil War began in 1861, George Reeves joined the Confederate Army, forcing Bass to go with him. Eventually, Bass escaped and fled to Indian Territory, where he lived amongst the Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole peoples. Bass studied their languages and cultures, remaining with them until he was freed by the 13th Amendment’s abolishment of slavery in 1865.  At that time, Bass moved to Van Buren, Arkansas, and took up farming.

Isaac Parker was appointed federal judge for the Indian Territory in 1875. Parker appointed James F. Fagan as U.S. Marshal, and directed him to hire 200 deputy marshals. Fagan had heard about Bass, that he knew the Indian Territory, its people, and could speak several native languages. He recruited him as a deputy, making Reeves the first black deputy marshal to serve west of the Mississippi River.

Reeves was assigned the Western District of Arkansas, which also had responsibility for Indian Territory. Eighty miles inside of Indian Territory, west of Fort Smith, Arkansas, was

One-Time Slave Became a Top Indian Territory Lawman

by Jay Hastings

a line known as “the deadline.” Whenever a deputy marshal reached the tracks of the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas railroad, he knew he had reached the deadline. Past this point west, outlaws controlled the land and they constantly posted cards on every trail, warning the deputies if they crossed “the deadline” they would be killed.  On his travels west into Indian Territory, Bass crossed “the deadline” many times in pursuit of outlaws needing to be brought to justice. Undeterred, Reeves collected the warning cards left by outlaws as souvenirs.

Bass continued to serve mostly in Indian Territory until 1893. That year, he transferred to the Eastern District of Texas in Paris, Texas, for a short while. In 1897, he was transferred again, serving at the Muskogee Federal Court in Indian Territory.

Reeves successfully brought in some of the most dangerous fugitives of the time. He was never wounded, despite having his hat and belt shot off on separate occasions. During his 35year career, Reeves became known as one of the most effective lawmen in Indian Territory, and became one of Judge Parker’s most valued deputies. He brought in over 3,000 outlaws and helped “tame the west,” so to speak. Reeves killed 14 outlaws during his career, stating, “I never shot a man when it was not necessary,” defining “necessary” as being within the discharge of his duty or to save his own life.

Indian Territory became the State of Oklahoma in 1907, at which time the state assumed law enforcement responsibilities. While that effected the end of Reeves’ assignment as deputy marshal, he was subsequently hired as a patrolman with the Muskogee Police Department.

Bass Reeves was later diagnosed with Brights Disease, which ended his career as a lawman in 1909. Reeves died January 10, 1910, and was buried in the agency cemetery at Muskogee. Sadly, the exact location of the grave is unknown and reportedly unmarked.