May/June Surrey 2012

y e r r u S Today! s e c a l P ou Taking Y

Diamond in the Rough Coach Ron Bradley

SUMMER 2012 Vol. 4 No. 5 • A Claremore Daily Progress Publication

COMPLIMENTARY COMPLIMENTARY

CLAREMORE | BARTLESVILLE | PRYOR

www.rsu.edu | (918) 343-7777

“I was looking for a university where I would be more than a face in the crowd. At Rogers State University, I’m a member of the Honors Program and the varsity cheerleading squad, all while pursuing my degree in medical/molecular biology. I don’t know for sure where I’ll be ten years from now but I do know I’ll be working in the medical field and my education will have prepared me to be successful. RSU has given me so many opportunities that I would not have gotten at other schools.

For that, I’ll always be grateful.”

KYLIE DENT

Pryor, OK | Medical/Molecular Biology | Cheerleader | Honors Student

L

People and Places

earning about a community only requires getting to know its people and understanding the places. Rogers County has a wealth of places to go and enjoy Oklahoma culture. Likewise, there are many distinct people who after having a brief conversation anyone will discover the great nature of Rogers County.

In this issue of Surrey, readers can discover some of the people who have shaped and continue to shape our community.

A commemorative book about Rogers County’s native son Clem McSpadden has been recently published. It chronicles his life growing up in Bushyhead and RANDY COWLING becoming a political leader in Oklahoma.

The book is a labor of love about McSpadden. Rebecca Hattaway visited with McSpadden’s widow, Donna, and gives readers a special look into their lives.

Another Rogers County character is John Wooley, who has been recently recognized by the Oklahoma Historical Society. Wooley is an award-winning author. Tom Fink spoke with Wooley and shares his story about writing.

Coach Ron Bradley is king of Rogers State University sports.

Seven years ago, he help build RSU’s baseball team. This year, the Hillcats were runners-up at the Division 1 NAIA World Series. Tim Ritter writes an in-depth story about

Bradley and his commitment to faith, family and the Hillcats.

Summer is the time to enjoy the outdoors. Claremore has a variety of indoor and outdoor recreation options. Salesha Wilken provides an overview of the outdoor venues,

include the Claremore Skate Park, Sports Complex, Powers Park and the Super Rec Center.

Take some time this summer to enjoy the outdoors and learn more about Rogers County through its people and places.

SUMMER 2012

Surrey

3

y e r r u S Taking You Places Today!

Vol. 4 No.5 n SUMMER 2012

6

Remembering Clem McSpadden

Clem McSpadden was an icon of Rogers County. A commemorative book about his life has been published

9 18 24 4 SUMMER 2012 Surrey

At The Movies John Wooley is a master writer and has recently been honored by the Oklahoma Historical Society

Diamond in the Rough Coach Coach Ron Ron Bradley Bradley has has led led the the Rogers Rogers State State University University baseball baseball team team for for seven seven years. years. This This year year the the Hillcats Hillcats were were runners runners up up at at the the DiDivision vision 11 NAIA NAIA World World Series.

Series.

Claremore Loves Parks The City of Claremore offers a variety of indoor and outdoor recreation options, Take a look at the variety of venues that are utilized by citizens.

Surrey Taking you places today!

Surrey©2012 All rights reserved.

Published Bi-monthly by The Daily Progress PUBLISHER Bailey Dabney EDITOR/DESIGNER Randy Cowling CONTRIBUTORS Rebecca Hattaway Tom Fink Tim Ritter Salesha Wilken ADVERTISING Misti Grannemann Kim McCool Melissa Ring Cinda Vaughan

SEND COMMENTS TO: The SURREY @ The Daily Progress 315 W. Will Rogers Boulevard Claremore, OK 74017 P.O. Box 248 Claremore, OK 74018 E-mail — rcowling@claremoreprogress.com ADVERTISING INFORMATION: 918-341-1101 addir@claremoreprogress.com All copy and advertising in the Surrey are copyrighted and cannot be reproduced.

Some photos used by permission of source.

Remembering

Clem McSpadden

6 SUMMER 2012 Surrey

Cowboy, legislator and rodeo enthusiast

By Rebecca Hattaway

N

early four years after his passing, a book has been written about the life and legacy of Rogers County’s Clem McSpadden.

Spring Will Come shares personal stories and pictures detailing McSpadden’s life from growing up on his family’s ranch in Bushyhead, to serving in Congress, to working as General Manager of the National Finals Rodeo, to being inducted into the PRCA Hall of Fame.

“People always asked Clem, ‘Why don’t you write a book,’” said his widow, Donna McSpadden. “He would always say, ‘Aw, I’m not the book-writin’ kind.’”

So two years ago, Frank Robson took up the cause. Robson, a member of the Oklahoma Heritage Association Committee, presented Clem’s name for their Oklahoma Trackmakers Series.

“He’s the first country boy that’s been selected (for a book in the series of biographies),” Donna said. “It’s kind of neat for a guy from Bushyhead, Chelsea and Rogers County to be included.”

Authors Bob Burke and Joan Rhine conducted 40 interviews in two years of Clem’s friends and family from Canada to Louisiana to Texas to his home in Rogers County.

“I think that is why it’s so well put together,”

Donna said. “It’s in our friends’ words — it’s the real them, just like it was the real Clem.”

Donna used her vast collection of keepsakes compiled over the years to make sure no important detail was overlooked.

“Clem had memory-retention — he remembered everything but my birthday and our anniversary,” she smiled. “I didn’t ever throw anything away because I never knew when he might ask me to find something. That was always my job. I just started framing all the photos, keeping all the clippings.”

His decades in the rodeo and political arenas fill 35 scrapbooks.

“I have six file cabinets and from the time this (work on the book) started until today, I have pulled every piece of paper, picture, political sign and pocketbook to make this honestly a book about Clem’s life,” Donna said.

“Nothing was in front of or below his God and his family and friends.”

Those priorities defined his life from start to finish.

“He never quit being Clem. Everything he made, he probably gave half of it away or loaned it to someone and never got it back,” Donna said.

“He was very generous — and it was a quiet generosity. All of a sudden a little child with end up with a horse. He thought every child should have ownership of a baby calf. Back then it was not

SUMMER 2012

Surrey

7

McSpadden. . . about how much you had, but how much you shared.”

When it came to himself, however, Clem was much more strict about spending money.

“He appreciated quality but he would never buy himself a new vehicle,” Donna said. “He would say, ‘What would a new one do that this one won’t?’ He asked for very little.”

Clem remained true to his country roots and appreciated the simple things in life. To him there was no place like home.

“Home was his favorite place. You could just see when he walked in the door, the relief,” Donna said. “No matter where he was he always wanted to come home after a rodeo instead of spending the night on the road. He would call collect from a payphone wherever he was at — that was in the pre-cell phone days — and say, ‘Ma’am, about 3:30 could you have the sausage and eggs ready for a veteran?’ So I’d set the alarm and have the coffee made and meal waiting for him. Of course, I’d have to get back up a few hours later and go to work.”

She gladly adjusted her life so the number one priority from the time they married in 1962 was Clem. His world was her world. His business was her business. And she worked tireContinue on page 12

“Clem’s Cowpokes” went to Washington D.C. in 1972 to attend McSpadden’s swearing-in.

8 SUMMER 2012 Surrey

“Clem’s Cowpokes” went to Washington D.C. in 1972 to attend McSpadden’s swearing-in.

At the 1979 National Finals Rodeo, with no money in the budget for an opening program, General Manager Clem McSpadden was in charge of creating one. “Clem used these two kids as a ‘prop’ and talked to them about what makes a great man, so young people would have those same attributes,” Donna said.

The children were Jami Massey-Radacy and the McSpaddens’ son, Bart.

BY TOM FINK

AT THE MOVIES

John Wooley honored by Oklahoma Historical Society

W

hen it comes to winning awards, John Wooley is hardly a stranger. Among the Oklahoma author’s honors are his 2003 induction into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and his 2009 inductions into the Jazz Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Cartoonists Hall of Fame.

Last April, Wooley added another distinction to his growing list of accolades, as winner of the Oklahoma Historical Society’s “Outstanding Book on Oklahoma History” for his tome “Shot in Oklahoma: A Century of Sooner State Cinema.”

For this most recent laurel, the Sooner scribe drew a line in the red dirt in 1985, with an obscure, made-inOklahoma movie, called — of all things — “Blood Cult.”

“Blood Cult?”

“Oh, yes — ‘Blood Cult’,” laughs Wooley, nodding gamely. “That was a horror movie shot in Tulsa in 1985 about a dog-worshiping cult called ‘The Cult of Caninus’, made for roughly $30,000,. Needless to say, it wasn’t exactly what you’d call a major release or even a ‘B’ movie, more like a ‘Z’ movie, but believe it or not, it was changed the playing field (for movies).”

Directed by Chris Lincoln, familiar to some as the sports anchor of KTUL-TV’s Channel 8, “Blood Cult” was filmed primarily in Tulsa over a period of ten days, featuring an all-unkown cast of ..well, still unknowns.

JOHN WOOLEY

Continue on page 10

SUMMER 2012 Surrey 9

Wooley. . .

But why does such an under-theradar movie like “Blood Cult” rate as a “game-changer” in Wooley’s figurative and literal book?

“For the purposes of my book, ‘Blood Cult’ was the cut-off point — everything I considered to be true cinema made in Oklahoma preceded it’s 1985 release,” Wooley said, more game to converse about his personal love of movies than his awards received for writing about them. “This was a time in history when the home video market was just getting started, before this, movies made were made for the big screen, unless they were made-for-TV movies, but primarily, when you thought ‘movie’, you thought of going to an actual theater to see it.

“With ‘Blood Cult’ however, things changed as it was the very first movie shot specifically for release on home video,” he continued. “It’s an unlikely kind of movie to be a game-changer, but really, it launched the home video revolution, and it was filmed right here in Oklahoma.”

But “Blood Cult” is hardly the bulk of Wooley’s book, as he covers state cinema dating back more than 100 years ago.

“Back in 1904, Thomas Edison brought a crew to Oklahoma’s 101

10 SUMMER 2012 Surrey

Ranch, near Ponca City to shoot some footage,” Wooley said. “It’s fairly safe to say that would be the first movie shot in the state, but hardly the last.”

Indeed.

Wooley estimated be-

tween 100 and 200 movies were shot, either in part or in full, in Oklahoma before 1985, with the Oklahoma-made films “exploding” thereafter.

“You have to keep in mind, it was about this time (1985) that the technology to make movies just exploded — things became more high-tech and as they did, they also became more affordable, enabling more people to make ‘movies’ that ever before,” he said. “Shortly after this, a little thing called the Inter-

net came along, followed by YouTube, so then you get into the issue of ‘What is a movie?’”

Wooley should know.

As a longtime writer for the Tulsa World (now retired), various ‘zines and magazines, he spent decades covering cinema and reviewing movies, as well as researching movies and the history of cinema for innumerable articles.

He’s even had a hand in a couple of small movies of his own — “Cafe Purgatory” in 199, starring

Marc Singer, and the recent documentary “Bill Boyce: Money Actor,” the former of which was shown at a film festival, and the latter of which played to a small audience at the Circle Cinema in Tulsa.

But does Wooley consider these to be movies?

“To talk about a movie made in Oklahoma like ‘The Outsiders’ which everyone’s familiar with and to look at something like ‘Cafe Purgatory’, you’d really be having two different conversations, I think,” he said.

“To me, just because something is ‘out there’ — whether it’s in limited release, straight to video or now, DVD, or on the Internet, doesn’t ‘make’ it a ‘movie’. Just because something can be made doesn’t mean it should.”

In addition to recognition for Continue on page 15

SUMMER 2012 Surrey 11

McSpadden. . . lessly.

“I was his scheduler, laundress, cook and housekeeper, but we were husband and wife; we were partners. His life was a little hard to understand and accept at times. I knew who Clem was and how he operated. He marched to his own drummer,” she said. “There were times I could absolutely choke him. By choice he never learned to run a washing machine, never knew how to use the Mr. Coffee or Keurig.

“His time with his family was definitely limited because of politics, rodeo and ranching.

He had two jobs that owned him — politics and rodeo require 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, if you do them right.”

Clem worked hard, but he also lived well.

“The time (son) Bart and I had with Clem sometimes seemed not enough, but the quality provided the reassurance to us that he knew we were capable of making it work as a family,” Donna said. “Even though he could absolutely work me to death, he also allowed me to have space to do the things I wanted to do as a volunteer.”

That included getting a public library for the town of Chelsea, helping create the Chelsea School Foundation, and establishing the first Head Start program in Rogers County at Foyil Schools.

The walls of the McSpadden office in downtown Chelsea are covered with “When the National Finals Rodeo came into memorabilia from Clem’s decades in rodeo and politics.

12 SUMMER 2012 Surrey

Oklahoma City in the late ‘60s, the people were there for two weeks and there was nothing socially for the women,” Donna said. So she and several friends started the NFR Ladies Day, a style show and luncheon that attracted hundreds of women.

She also started H.A.N.D.S. (Helping a Needy Diva Survive), an organization that provides financial help and practical care to rodeo or ranching families dealing with health issues or tough economic times.

Donna still goes to work every day at the McSpadden office in downtown Chelsea.

“Since we lost Clem, I probably haven’t missed more than two weeks,” she said.

“There’s always something to do.”

It’s in that place that Clem’s memory is alive and well — in each room, on each wall.

“I walk in and it’s like he’s giving me a big hug,” she said.

The recently published biography ensures Clem’s legacy will continue to be kept alive for future generations.

Donna said that’s important because “they might not know men like him.”

“We’ve been broke, we’ve had losses, illness, and family deaths, but Clem was always so positive. I might be in tears about what was going on; he would pat my hand and say ‘spring will come’ — and it always did.”

SUMMER 2012 Surrey 13

Wooley. . .

“Shot in Oklahoma,” Wooley also was featured as part of the “Oklahoma @ the Movies” exhibit at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City, focusing on the works of cinematic pioneers, writers, directors, and actors from Oklahoma. But for all the kudos and the “atta-boys,” Wooley takes them in stride and maintains his perspective.

“When I left the (Tulsa) World in 2006, I honestly didn’t know if I’d ever sell a dime’s worth of books,” he said.

“I’ve always striven towards a balance between scholarly and breezy in my writing — to have been able to be not only a modest success at it but to have been recognized for my work was quite a surprise and an honor.”

John Wooley’s “Shot in Oklahoma: A Century of Sooner State Cinema” is available from University of Oklahoma Press, local bookstores and retailers in Tulsa and around the state, and on Amazon.

Who is John Wooley?

Rogers County resident John Wooley is the author, co-author, or editor of more than 25 books, including his newest, “Shot in Oklahoma, a history of made-in-Oklahoma movies” and a biography of horror-movie director “Wes Craven, The Man and His Nightmares.”

Wooley’s other works include his novel “Ghost Band; The Miracle Squad,” a graphic novel reprinting the comic-book series he did with artist and fellow Rogers Countian Terry Tidwell in the 1980s; “Forgotten Horrors Vol. 5: The Atom Age and Forgotten Horrors Comics &

Stories,” the latest volumes in his ongoing series with co-authors Michael H. Price and Jan Alan Henderson; “The Home Ranch,” written with Osage rancher John Hughes; and “From the Blue Devils to Red Dirt: The Colors of Oklahoma Music,” one of only three

books commissioned by the Oklahoma Centennial Commission and a finalist for the 2007 Oklahoma Book Award.

Wooley’s current projects include a history of the Cain’s BallContinue on page 16

SUMMER 2012 Surrey 15

Wooley. . . room , and the play “Time Changes Everything,” a story of two imaginary meetings between Oklahoma music icons Bob Wills and Woody Guthrie.

He currently serves as guest curator for the Oklahoma History Center exhibit Oklahoma@the

16 SUMMER 2012 Surrey

Movies, which opened in May 2012.

His duties included writing and narrating a short documentary for the exhibit that tells the story of drive-in style movies through the career of Tulsa actor John Ashley.

Wooley also penned the script

for the made-for-TV movie “Dan Turner, Hollywood Detective,” the award-winning independent film “Cafe Purgatory,” and the documentary “Bill Boyce – Money Actor,” along with writing comic books, trading cards, and an incalculable number of magazine and newspaper stories for the Tulsa World, where he worked from 1983 through most of 2006.

Oh, and Wooley also wrote more than 100 pieces for the horrormovie magazine “Fangoria,” is a contributing editor and columnist for Oklahoma Magazine and a lecturer in the American Studies Program at Oklahoma State University’s Tulsa campus, where he has taught classes on horror movies, Oklahoma music and films, and rock ‘n’ roll history.

Furthermore, Wooley produces and hosts Swing on This, Tulsa’s only western-swing radio program, heard Saturday nights on NPR affiliate KWGS (89.5 FM).

He was chosen to write Roy Clark’s coffee-table-style tour book, celebrating his 60 years in show business, and to emcee the Will Rogers Rotary Club’s “Good Ride, Cowboy” event, honoring Garth Brooks, where Brooks told the crowd, “you might not know it, but John Wooley is a star.”

In 2003, Wooley became the first writer to be inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.

In 2009, he was also an inductee into both the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Cartoonists Hall of Fame, the latter for his comic-book writing.

THAT is John Wooley

Diamond in the Rough

T

o most Rogers State University baseball fans, Ron Bradley is known as “Coach.”

But the veteran skipper is more than just that to his family.

He’s Jill’s husband and the father of Ryan and Kayla (Bradley) McGinty.

For every time he’s been called ‘Coach’ ... Ron Bradley has also been called ‘Dad’ or most recently, ‘Grandpa’ when it comes to his proud grandson, Baron Bradley.

His love for family and baseball are what makes this man a ‘Diamond in the Rough’ here in Claremore.

Whether he’s teaching his Hillcats the proper fundamentals in order to reach those small-town dreams of playing for a NAIA Division I National Championship or helping Jill raise two quality adults, Ron Bradley has his bases covered.

“Dad is very passionate about what he does,” Ryan said. “His priorities are well-balanced with faith and family always being first followed by baseball.”

Since the birth of Ryan’s son, Baron, Ron has shown a softer side.

“He’s one proud grandpa,” Ryan added.

18 SUMMER 2012 Surrey

Coach Ron Bradley is committed to family values and treasures time being with them.

Ron Bradley passionate about what he does Born with a bat and glove in his hand, Baron is already destined for greatness on the ball diamond.

Much like his father, Ryan, who played for Grandpa Ron at Claremore High School and has spent many long hours traveling around the country watching ‘America’s Favorite Pastime’, Baron has already gotten a taste of the College World Series.

••• Seven years ago, Ron Bradley took on a big challenge with the start of the RSU baseball program.

The Hillcats were just a club team back in the glory days, practicing on the sandlot behind Atwoods and playing in pick-up tournaments around Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas.

“We were a club team for 2 years and only practiced twice a week,” Ron said. “Our first year, we

played four games in a tournament in Siloam Springs (Ark) and that was our season.”

Those first two years were rough. RSU didn’t have athletics on campus and Ron’s first team didn’t have a field to play on.

“The hardest part was trying to convince players to come to Claremore,” Ron said. “It was like selling ocean front property in the middle of Oklahoma.”

Throughout the struggles, though, Ron and the Hillcats played their first official college baseball game on Feb. 11, 2006, losing a three-game series with Missouri Valley.

His team competed hard in that series, scoring 10 total runs, and showed a sign of greater things to come. Days later, on Feb. 13, 2006, the first win for RSU baseball took place with the Hillcats defeating Bacone College, 5-3.

SUMMER 2012 Surrey 19

Bradley. . .

It was a gratifying moment for Ron, according to Ryan, and the springboard for many victories to follow in the coming years.

RSU finished their first full season with a 12-24 record.

“The best part of that season was seeing kids have the opportunity to play,” Ron said.

In 2007, the Hillcats doubled their win total and finished 28-23.

In 2008, the Hillcats capped their season with a 35-16 record.

Then, in 2009, the Hillcats fell backwards a little bit with a 29-21 record.

Each year, leading up to the 2011 and 2012 seasons, Ron kept building a champion-like atmosphere on the Hill and coaching his players to win with integrity, heart and determination.

After going 30-21 in 2010, the Hillcats baseball program put together back-to-back NAIA Tournament seasons winning 45 games in 2011 and 49 in 2012.

The culmination of all the hard work that Ron has poured into building the RSU baseball program reached a milestone earlier this month with the Hillcats reaching the NAIA Division I World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.

“It was a dream come true,” Ryan said of his father’s leadership, passion for RSU baseball and his career.

“200 NAIA teams start the season in hopes of making the World Series, and to be one of the 10 and then the final two says a lot for how far dad has taken RSU baseball.”

••• The road to Idaho taught the Hillcats a lot about handling adversity and never giving up. On Nov. 12, the 20 SUMMER 2012 Surrey

Coach Ron Bradley led the Rogers State University Hillcats to a 2nd place finish at the Division I NAIA baseball championship in Lewiston, Idaho.

A Season to Remember RSU baseball program was dealt a huge tragedy with the death of Tyler Brown, a upand-coming pitcher that was destined for an All-Sooner Athletic Conference season on the mound in his sophomore year.

Brown, who finished 6-0 in his first year out of Berryhill High School, died in a car wreck the weekend of RSU Homecoming.

“Anytime you lose a teammate, it’s a painful experience,” Ron said. “He had a promising future at RSU and was going to be a major part of our rotation this year.”

Reflecting on the night, Ron said losing Tyler Brown and having to tell his players as well as dealing with the grief was one of the toughest decisions in his coaching career.

“Tyler was a happy, go lucky kind of guy,” Ron said. “Always had a smile on his face that captured your heart. The team and many others on our campus drew to him.”

For Ryan Bradley, in his first year as the RSU athletic director, the passing of Tyler Brown brought a somber feeling to Homecoming.

“It’s never a good time when you lose someContinue on page 22

Bradley has guided the Hillcats during the past seven seasons.

SUMMER 2012 Surrey 21

Bradley. . . one that’s a part of your family,” Ryan said. “It wasn’t just the baseball players grieving, I saw the athletes dealing with it. We’re a tight-knit extended family here at RSU and Tyler Brown touched so many lives.”

With Tyler Brown’s passing, the

22 SUMMER 2012 Surrey

2012 Hillcats dedicated their season to his memory and played every pitch and every out for No. 23. They stitched his initials ‘T.B. #23’ on their baseball caps, and one player in particular — pitcher Kyle Duncan — even had Tyler Brown’s signature tattooed on his arm.

“We had the pieces to make a

run,” Ron said. “Losing TB, as a coach, you wondered how we would fill the gap on the baseball level. You knew we would never be able to fill the gap on a personal level.”

The Hillcats not only filled the gap, they went beyond the call of duty of honoring TB on a consistent basis, Ron added.

“Every team takes on a theme.

Ours was ‘T.B. #23’,” Ron said.

“We started the season saying ‘T.B. #23’ and ended the season after our loss in the national championship game giving respect and honor with an emotional ‘T.B. #23’.”

From the passing of Tyler Brown to the start of the season and wondering where the Hillcats would play their opener — with the construction of the new baseball/softball facility under way — it didn’t take long for RSU to make ‘Legendary Legion Field’ their home away from home.

“Claremore High School went out of their way to accommodate our needs and work with our schedule,” Ron said. “Not only was it a thrill for me to go back and coach at Legion Field, but it gave our fans another venue to come watch and support Hillcat baseball.”

After playing the first few weeks on the road in Dallas, the Hillcats finally opened their season at Legion Field against NCAA Division II Pittsburg State, which is now coached by former Claremore Zebra standout Matt Murray.

“Pitt State was a good draw for the local fans,” Ron said. “We were able to take the game to people and make them realize what we have here in Claremore. Claremore

Our goal or dream... was to get to the World Series —Coach Ron Bradley has proven to be a community that loves and support baseball.”

The Hillcats were able to get off to a great start and posted a pair of wins of Pitt State, beating the Gorillas, 4-1 and 11-3. RSU went on a tear, winning its first 12 nonconference games before falling to Baker University, 4-2.

A record of 14-1 going into the ever-so-tough Sooner Athletic Conference season proved to Ron that his club had the making of putting together a pretty special season.

“Competing in the SAC definitely gives you a chance to win a national championship,” Ron said.

The Hillcats swept Wayland Baptist in the conference opener, and took a game from a traditionalpower Lubbock Christian University. From there, it was a tug-of-war leading into the SAC Tournament, where the Hillcats battled toothand-nail, going 1-2 with a 4-3 loss to Science & Arts, followed by a 9-7 win over St. Gregory’s and a 7-2 setback to Oklahoma Baptist University.

Needing an at-large bid into the NAIA Regionals was next on the list

for the Hillcats. RSU received the bid and continued their quest toward Lewiston, playing with the ‘Heart of Champions’.

After beating Judson (Ill.) 9-5 in the regional opener at Hutchinson, Kan., RSU had to ride a little luck in a 5-4 extra-inning affair to beat Oklahoma Baptist University and advance to the regional finals.

Luck was definitely on their side down the stretch of the season, as the Hillcats won 9 in a row to get to the SAC Tournament, earn the atlarge bid and then roll past Tabor College, 7-3 in the regional finals.

“Our goal or dream when we started this program was to get to the World Series,” Ron said. “It’s not a dream anymore, it’s a reality.”

••• Hillcats going to Lewiston ... what an ‘Awesome’ feeling for the Bradley family.

“Lewiston is such a tough place to get too,” Ron said. “We went there with a purpose, approaching the World Series with a little bit of chip on our shoulder.”

Ron’s message to his Hillcats

was set in tone: “Win games and make an impact.”

Not only did his team do that, they pretty much became the talk of the town and earned a new identity, “Comeback ‘Cats”.

RSU made the 26-hour, 1,800plus mile journey to Lewiston with one goal in mind, ‘Win The Last Game’.

The series opener showed the ‘Heart’ of Hillcat baseball as RSU rallied from behind with 3-2 win over South Carolina Beaufort. One night later, junior southpaw Brandon Bargas — a former Owasso Rams standout pitcher — tossed the game of his life, beating No. 1 LSU Shreveport with an 18-strikeout performance in a 2-1 win.

“B.B.’s numbers speak for themselves,” Ron said. “His performance against a No. 1 team that lost four games all season long by one run captured the heart of Lewiston.”

With a 2-0 record in the World Series, the Hillcats dropped a heartbreaker to Tennessee Wesleyan, 8-6, meaning RSU had to Continue on page 27

SUMMER 2012 Surrey 23

Claremore Skate Park

Claremore loves Parks

S

By SALESHA WILKEN

ummer night baseball games, springtime at the soccer fields, winter workouts at the recreation center and a walks at the lake in early fall bring to mind just a few things to love about Claremore Parks and Recreation Department.

Chances are at one time another if you live near the city of Claremore you have visited one of the cities many parks.

The Claremore Parks and Recreations Department was formed in the early seventies by the Claremore City Council. Since the beginning the focus has been on serving the citizens of Claremore and adding a special “quality of life” to the city.

The park system has changed in the past 40 plus years and today’s parks have something to offer everyone, according to Director Joe Kays.

24 SUMMER 2012 Surrey

The system consists of five sports complexes, Powers Park, Claremore Soccer Complex, Pecan Park, American Legion Park and Walnut Park.

Each of the complexes has something different to offer.

Powers Park is the home of Rogers County Youth Baseball, which serves more than 1,000 kids each year. Powers Park has seen many changes, as it was one of the original parks in the city. Recently the park received a major renovation including new lighting poles, an irrigation system, re-grading, sod, bleachers, backstops, a new playground and much more. The project totaled more than $1.4 million and was funded through a one-cent temporary sales tax.

The parks are not supported by tax dollars alone as community groups volunteer to help keep the parks clean, organize ball games and run concessions.

New Playground at Powers Park In addition to the volunteers, community business and grants play a role in supporting the parks. Pelco Structural recently donated light poles to Powers Park and a grant recently assisted in construction of the soccer park and lake trails.

The Claremore Soccer Complex consists of 16 game fields of which two are lighted for night games. This park serves more than 500 participants annually.

Pecan Park is home to the Claremore Girl’s Softball Association and serves approximately 300 participants annually. The park features four 200’ lighted softball fields, concession stand with rooms for the umpires, commissioners and tournament director.

Walnut Park is where the big kids, otherwise known as adults go to play. It plays host to adult softball leagues and was opened in the late 80’s.

If a ballgame is not your scene, do not worry as the park system has something for everyone.

Baseball Fields at Powers Park

Claremore Soccer Complex SUMMER 2012 Surrey 25

Claremore Lake Park is the “jewel in the park system. Featuring two community parks, trails meandering through the park, disc golf, heated fishing dock, four picnic shelters, numerous picnic tables and a scenic view it is destination for all ages.

The yearly 4th of July fireworks display and kids fishing tournament provide an extra boom of excitement for guests. Claremore Lake Park continues to grow as a splash pad and construction is scheduled to begin in 2012.

On any given Sunday afternoon you will find families enjoying a picnic and children feeding the ducks in the park.

Will Rogers Park is a beautiful five-acre park with mature trees at the base of Rogers State University. This park’s nature setting and beautiful blooming trees is a delight form many in the spring.

In addition to the wooded parks a number of neighborhood parks are sprinkled thought out the city.

Lion’s Kiddie Park, Loshbaugh Park, Redbud Park, Dogwood Park and Leaning Elms Park have colorful playgrounds.

Gazebo Park is another favorite spot for gatherings and hosts numerous weddings and other events throughout the year. During the summer months the park hosts Claremore Civic Band Concerts and features a beautiful new fountain. From music to crafts the Community Center is home to a variety of activities, functions, camps, clinics and other community events.

BLAST Afterschool Program through the Rogers County Volunteers for Youth provides a safe supervised opportunity for 6th thru 26 SUMMER 2012 Surrey

Arbor Day at Claremore Lake 8th graders after school at the center.

Youth Sports and Activities Coordinator Ron Paris organizes camps and clinics for area children every year at the center. The clinics are free to the public and summer camps are provided at a minimal cost. The center will host 26 different weeklong camps this year alone and serves more than 300 kids each summer.

The 80,000 square foot facility features an indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, racquetball, walking/running track, batting cages, basketball/volleyball courts and weight room. Outside the center offers an outdoor walking track and

Claremore Super Rec Center

a skate park. The skate park opened in 2009 and contains 7,000 square feet of ramps, jumps and grinding rails. This park has been kept very busy as it offers something for beginning riders to experts.

Last but not least the park system is home to 130 acres of land located north and east of Claremore. Happy Lake provides a rustic setting for church youth outings, family reunions, scouting activities and those interested in shooting sports. A mountain bike/ crosscountry trail has been designed and roughed in on the north side of Happy Lake. The Parks and Recreation Department provides venues for far too many community events to count. It might be Boo Bash at the Expo Pavilion in October, the June Bug Jog at the lake or a movie in the park; the park system is a treasure.

“The people of Claremore are fortunate to have these facilities and have always been willing to support them,” Kays said.

Kays has been working for the city of Claremore for more than 20 years and continues to plan for the future. In 2008 the City of Claremore published the Claremore Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

The plan is a roadmap to help develop the parks inside the city.

The Parks and Recreation Department is proving to be more than a way to play or relax, it is paving the way for the city development.

It provides a “quality of life” and is quickly becoming a key component of the city’s livability, identity, and economic sustainability.

Bradley. . . move through the loser’s bracket in order to reach the national championship.

“These kids never gave up,” RSU assistant coach Robert Brown said. “They wanted it so bad, to be able to honor Tyler Brown and play for a championship.”

Knowing the task at hand and facing elimination as well as the season being over, the Hillcats lived another day with a gutsy 8-6 win over Point Park (Pa.). Then, they followed that up with a 7-5 comefrom-behind win over No. 2 Lee University, meaning RSU had finally reached their defining moment.

••• 27 outs from away from a National Title It was a surreal moment for the Hillcats in the dugout, butterflies and nerves churning in the stomachs of players, coaches, administrators and fans.

The moment everyone had been waiting for was taking place in the history of RSU baseball.

The Hillcats clung to a 6-5 lead going into the bottom of the 8th inning against a very explosive Tennessee Wesleyan offense. Tennessee Wesleyan took the 7-6 with two outs, and then belted a three-run homer to set the tone for an-

other potential ‘comeback’ by the Hillcats.

“We were so close, only four outs away from history,” Robert Brown said. “One pitch changed the outcome of that game.”

A one-out single by senior catcher and Chicago Cubs draft pick Lance Rymel gave the Hillcats hope in the ninth.

But, Tennessee Wesleyan retired the next two batters in order to win the championship.

“The whole World Series experience was everything I dreamed of and better,” Ron said. “It was a total team effort with different players coming through in different situations. I said going into season, let’s win 50 games.

We had a chance to get that 50th win, had we won in the finals. For a group of guys that faced tremendous amounts of adversity throughout this season, I couldn’t be more proud.”

••• Building the Foundation Wherever Ron Bradley goes in the game of baseball, he always finds a way to building a winning program.

He took a small-town team in West Fork (Ark.) and produced the school’s only state championship in baseball to date. From there, he has won SUMMER 2012 Surrey 27

Bradley. . . state championships at Claremore twice and Jenks.

Every state championship team holds a special place in Ron’s heart, but none like the one he won in 1999 at Claremore with his son, Ryan.

Ryan recalls that Claremore’s state title in 1999 was quite similar to the opportunity that the Zebras had this year.

“We played Carl Albert at Oral Roberts University for the championship,” Ryan said.

Ron, who coached Ryan for three seasons at Claremore High School, said his son wasn’t a guy that flashed ego, but had the ability to contribute and start on a state championship and state runner-up team. Baseball, in all accounts, has been the cornerstone of Ron and Ryan’s relationship. The father-

28 SUMMER 2012 Surrey

son duo has spent many hours inside the dugout and between the lines competing for another victory.

They both love the St. Louis Cardinals and Ryan even had dreams as a 10-year-old replacing former Cardinals Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith. Ryan has been Ron’s bat boy inside the Claremore and Jenks dugout, and to this day, will always be in Ron’s All-Star lineup.

“Dad is a guy that shapes his career around integrity, hard work, treating players right and being respectful,” Ryan said. “He’ll go to battle for his players.”

But the thing Ryan values the most in his dad’s ability to lead by example is he’s always humble.

“He’s sacrificial, always serving others first,” Ryan said. “But at the end of the day, he’s a winner.”