Surrey March/April 2013

y e r r u S

COMPLIMENTARY COMPLIMENTARY

Taking You Places Today!

Man With A

Legacy Frank Mobra

Spring 2013 Vol. 5 No. 5 • A Claremore Daily Progress Publication

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Surrey Taking You Places Today!

Mayors of the County — Page 5

Vol. 5 No.5 n SPRING 2013

5 6 7

Mayors of the County Meet the men and women who serve the municipalities and towns in Rogers County

INOLA: Mayor’s door is always open Cheryl Charles prides hrself in being accessible to the public.

VERDIGRIS: Crawford embodies community pride Keith Crawford believes his community is one of the best places to live and its residents show it.

Frank Mobra - Once a Zebra, Always a Zebra — Page 22

8

OOLOGAH: Holland proud of town’s stability, quality of life Jerry Holland sees his community as being laid back and full of great people.

9 10

CATOOSA: Former mayor has high hope for city’s future Sandy Myers volunteers her time between the Catoosa Library, Chamber of Commerce, her homeowners’ association and the city council.

CLAREMORE: Perry serves as the ‘face of Claremore’ Mayor Mickey Perry never meets a stranger. As the city’s leader he enjoys interacting with residents.

16 18 20 22 Easy Weeknight Fare — Page 26

26

CHELSEA: Price passionate for strong town Daryl Price has served for more than 10 years as a member of the board of trustees.

OWASSO: Bonebrake listens to citizens Doug Bonebrake takes every opportunity to meet residents.

FOYIL: Hipp enjoys finding solutions Steve Hipp likes hearing from the town’s residents about ways to improve things.

Frank Mobra: Once a Zebra, Always a Zebra Ledgendary coach and former Claremore High School athletic director left a legacy for future students to follow.

Easy Weeknight Fare SPRING 2013 Surrey 3

Local government all about service Having covered school boards and city councils for almost a decade it becomes evident that how things get done is through individuals who truly care about their community.

In Rogers County, we have numerous men and women who volunteer their time to serve their communities. They willingly give back by overseeing the business of municipalities and towns. These men and women are elected by their neighbors to lead.

They do so with no renumeration. They give of their time and energy to help make life better for all.

In this issue of Surrey, we bring you profiles of the Mayors of the County. Our writers have sought out these men and women to tell their stories.

You can learn about Oologah’s Jerry Holland, Claremore’s Mickey Perry, Chelsea’s Steve Hipp, Catoosa’s Sandy Myers, Owasso’s Doug Bonebrake, Verdigris’ Keith Crawford, Inola’s Cheryl Charles and Foyil’s Daryl Price. Each of these individuals have led RANDY COWLING their boards and councils to help meet the needs of their communities.

Tim Ritter tells the story of legendary coach and athletic director Frank Mobra. He embodied what it meant to be a Claremore Zebra. With his passing in March, he leaves a rich legacy which students, faculty, coaches and the entire community can see as an example to follow.

Angela Henderson brings another tasty recipe that is simple and easy to make. Her “Easy Weeknight Fare” gives families something they can enjoy.

Here’s to enjoying her recipe and the examples our mayors and Mobra have left each of us to follow.

4 SPRING 2013 Surrey

Surrey Taking you places today!

Surrey©2013 All rights reserved.

Published Bi-monthly by The Daily Progress Bailey Dabney Publisher Randy Cowling Editor/Designer Contributors Tim Ritter Rebecca Hattaway Tom Fink Mark Friedel Salesha Wilken 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.

MAYOR JERRY HOLLAND

MAYORS Of The

MAYOR STEVE HIPP

MAYOR MICKEY PERRY

COUNTY

MAYOR DOUG BONEBRAKE

MAYOR KEITH CRAWFORD

MAYOR SANDY MYERS

MAYOR CHERYL CHARLES

INOLA

Inola Mayor Cheryl Charles prides herself on being acessible to the public.

Mayor’s door is always open

By TOM FINK

B

eing the mayor of Inola isn’t just what Cheryl Charles does, it’s who she is, which is a good thing because she’s rarely off the

clock.

“We’re a fairly small community and everyone pretty well knows everyone else, and they all know I’m the mayor,” Charles said. “Plus, I’m pretty hard to miss — I drive a bright yellow jeep, so I’m fairly conspicuous wherever I go. People regularly stop me when I’m out at the post office or grocery store or bank, etc. and want to talk about what’s happening with the town, give me suggestions, or see what’s going on with the town concil.

“When they see the yellow jeep, then the mayor’s open for business,” she laughed, “which

6 SPRING 2013

Surrey

is fine — I love being Inola’s mayor and interacting with the public. I’ve even had people show up on my front porch before to chat with me. I’m pretty much ‘mayor’ the minute I get out of bed.”

Originally from Ohio, Charles moved to the Inola area following high school to help with her father’s business, Inola Casting Works, quickly becoming part of the tightly-knight Inola community.

“People know our family quite well,” she said.

“My Husband Faron is the Town Barber, my brother David coaches soccer here and is a volunteer fireman, everyone knows my sister (Stephani Freeman) — we’re all neighbors and family here.”

Charles became Inola’s mayor in 2005, after See INOLA page 14

VERDIGRIS Crawford embodies community pride

By TOM FINK

S

ince 2006, Keith Crawford has served as mayor for the Town of Verdigris, moderating the city council’s monthly meetings, at least once a month.

Sometimes twice. Or more.

“Technically, we’re only scheduled to meet once a month — every third Thursday of the month — but we frequently gather in special meetings, to pay the bills, address special requests, etc. — we’re a busy little community,” Crawford said.

Including Crawford, Verdigris Town Council consists of five board members, three trustees, a treasurer, and a town clerk.

“Most often, issues we deal with are about planning and zoning,” Crawford said of the meetings.

“We don’t have a ton of business issues that comes up — Verdigris is largely zoned for residential and agriculture, but we do have some industrial zoning near the QT (QuikTrip) on SH66, so we have See VERDIGRIS page 12

Keith Crawford has served as mayor of Verdigris for the past seven years.

SPRING 2013

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7

OOLOGAH

Oologah Mayor Jerry Holland is the longest serving mayor in Rogers County.

Holland proud of town’s stability, quality of life

By MARK FRIEDEL

O

ologah Mayor Jerry Holland was elected shortly after he joined the town board in 1991. Since then, Holland said the town has grown in population and is now a veteran community of Tulsa.

As one of the few Rogers County mayors who participated in Tulsa’s vision 2025, he said he believes whatever is good for Tulsa is good for Oologah.

Growing up Holland lived in Tulsa and Oologah before moving to Florida. He graduated from the University of Miami then worked internationally in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Venezuela, among other places as an engineer.

“I have been traveling my entire existence from

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college until I retired at 65, and I’ve always had a home in Oologah,” he said. “It’s a quiet, laid back place with good people.”

Holland said the town board tries to run the city like a business.

“We run Oologah very prudently and that is why we have had a good cash reserve for current projects. We don’t spend money we don’t have.”

Members are currently in the process of getting ready to add on to Oologah’s Town Hall. The $2 million construction project will include a new state-ofthe-art media and community center, located at the previous site of the old methodist church.

See OOLOGAH page 13

CATOOSA

Myers volunteers her time between the Catoosa Library, Chamber of Commerce, homeowners association and city council.

Former mayor has high hopes for city’s future

F

By MARK FRIEDEL

or more than 15 years Sandy Myers has volunteered for the City of Catoosa. She has been a member of the city council for six years and was voted in as mayor in April 2011.

While serving on the Catoosa City Council, Myers witnessed the form of government change (in a good way), industrial park growth and retail area growth. Several road projects were completed with several still in the works.

Myers grew up on a Missouri farm of about 2,500 acres where she and her family raised cattle, crops and other farm animals.

“I will never raise another chicken, ever,” said Myers. “I had several horses and even did a little barrel racing and cattle driving. Yes, I was the tom

boy.”

Myers and her husband moved to Catoosa in 1985, where they raised two boys through the Catoosa school system.

“My husband and I enjoy the location of Catoosa.

We’re close to Tulsa but are still in a small community,” she said.

Myers has worked for two manufacturing firms American Electric Power (AEP) and ConocoPhillips as well as an architectural/engineering firm. She said her work history is one major reason why she felt comfortable serving the citizens of Catoosa.

“I started out working in industrial and manufacSee CATOOSA page 17 SPRING 2013 Surrey 9

CLAREMORE

Claremore Mayor Mickey Perry

Perry serves as ‘face of Claremore’

By REBECCA HATTAWAY

C

laremore Mayor Mickey Perry has invested nearly his entire life in the community of Claremore. He served in law enforcement for over four decades, retiring as the city’s police chief before being elected mayor in 2011.

Since Perry had spent his career serving the community, it was natural for him to want to continue to make Claremore a better place in his retirement.

“I just wanted to stay active in the community.

Several people talked to me about running, and after I spoke to my wife, I decided to go for it,” he said. “It sounds cliché, but I really did want to give something back. If I won, I would give back as the mayor; if not, I would give back in some other way.”

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As mayor, Perry serves as the “face of Claremore.”

“I get invited to a lot of events, and I try to go to everything I can,” he said. “I never dreamed it would be this busy! I stay really active, but I enjoy it.

It’s nice to have a ‘front-row seat,’ so to speak, at different events. It enables me to be involved one way or another.”

As one of nine members of the Claremore City Council, Perry also has an up-close view of the needs of the city — and the restraints of the budget.

“We have witnessed some tough economic times, and because of the economy, the city’s finances were pretty unstable,” he said. “We’ve seen

great growth in industry with expansion and new businesses coming in through the work of CIEDA. The council has refinanced our bonds and hired a new city manager. I’m excited about the future.”

Retail and infrastructure improvements are top on the list of Claremore’s needs, Perry said.

“I’d like to see planned growth — more roof tops, more retail. We’ve got a lot of jobs in this area because of our industrial parks; now we need additional retail options to so people can keep their money in Claremore,” Perry said. “The challenge is finding a balance between the needs and the money you have.

Hopefully with the economy turning around, we can achieve those things.”

Perry understands it’s about quality of life — for residents now See CLAREMORE page 16

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Registration on day of race from 7:00 – 7:45 a.m.

Annual American Cowboys Traders Days ✪ 4thFriday-Sunday, April 26-28, 9:00 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Cowboy & Native American memorabilia Food concessions Native American art & speakers Cowboy church & breakfast

Spring Will Come: The Life of Clem McSpadden ✪ Book-signing: Saturday, April 27, 10:00 a.m. – noon Author Joan Rhine; Frank Robson; Donna McSpadden; Bart McSpadden

Derby & Route 66 Cruisers ✪ Soapbox Friday, May 17, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Registration & inspection Saturday, May 18, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Weigh-in and race down Will Rogers Boulevard

OPEN DAILY 8 • 5 918.341.0719 • 800.324.9455 www.willrogers.com

Memorial in Claremore 1720 W. Will Rogers Blvd. ___________________ Birthplace Ranch in Oologah 9501 E. 380 Rd.

WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL M US E U M S

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...Verdigris

__________________________________________________________________Continued From Page 7

more potential business discussions now than we did when I first started (as mayor).”

Crawford and his family have lived in the Verdigris area for the past 14 years and he credits his wife, Michelle to his becoming involved in the town council.

“Michelle has always been very involved in things in a positive way — PTO, the school board, those kind of things, and after we moved to Verdigris, she inspired me to do the same, to give back to and serve my community, so I volunteered to be take a vacant council seat and was later voted in as mayor by the council — the rest is kind of history,” he laughed. The mayoral mantle was passed to Crawford from (former mayor) Richard Maguire and Crawford still serves (on the town council) with another former mayor, Rusty McGarris.

“I highly respect Rusty — he has a lot of experience and is a valuable asset to me as (current) mayor and just as a member of the (town) council,” Crawford said.

“Sometimes we don’t see eye to eye on things, but we just have to agree to disagree in those instances.

We’re a good example of checks and balances.”

As a community that’s more or less “lock in” on its boundaries, Verdigris can continue to grow in its population — currently right at 4,000 residents — and in development, Crawford said.

“Looking down the road, I would expect us to experience some growth — maybe not much, but certainly

some, and one thing about growth — in any community — is that it’s going to come regardless,” he said.

“Better to expect it and have some influence (on future growth) than for it to happen without the input of the people it most involves.”

Crawford said he would like to see Verdigris get its own “town center,” as the town’s current “main street” is Highway 66 (”Not really an ideal main street,” he said) and he would hope for the town to put together a solid 5 to 10 year plan to map out potential growth. Since taking over as mayor, Crawford says he’s been most proud to have been involved in the formation of the Verdigris Police Department, as well as working with “the best team of professionals” he could ask for.

“Verdigris is a tremendous area and the people I’ve worked with and learned from (as mayor) have been nothing but the best,” he said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to work with.

“Really, when I think about Verdigris and its people, the thing that most comes to mind is community pride — that’s the thing here, people are very proud of this area and they should be — I am, it’s a great place to live,” he said.

“People here are genuine and warm and some of the best people in the world, and I’m proud to count myself as one of them and to have the privilege to serve them.”

Verdigris Oklahoma

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...Oologah

__________________________________________________________________Continued From Page 8

In the entry way of the proposed center will be a few of the stones from the church’s original foundation, used more than 100 years ago. In addition, hanging from the ceiling will be the stained glass windows that are currently in the church, which will be torn down due to deterioration, said Holland.

The media room is planned to include more than 20 up-to-date desktop computers available for use by the public as well as digital projectors for instructional use. Inside the center will also be a community/banquet room for city meetings and organizational events.

Holland said with help from community members, the project’s foundation has already committed

$500,000. Another $500,000 will be committed during this month’s foundation meeting.

With the media project underway, town board members have begun to make plans on a new sports complex complete with soccer fieds.

Oologah will also begin construction on a new first-class grocery store to be completed before Thanksgiving.

“We received funds for the grocery store through a tax increment financing (TIF),” said Holland. “The store will be similar to Datsuns groceries in Jenks.”

As for property expansion, he said the town board has no plans of expanding Oologah at the moment.

“We’re very comfortable with what we have right now and we can manage it. There is very little crime, almost no crime,” he said.

“We supply the city services well and we have a waste/water treatment plant that is state-of-the-art.”

Oologah’s town board is made up of five seats who meet once a month.

“It’s been a long 20 years. During that time I have learned patience and how to work with people, and I must say I have been blessed with a good board,” said Holland. “We usually get all of our problems resolved before the meetings.”

He said these types of relationships do not just happen over See OOLOGAH page 2

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...Inola

____________________________________________________________________________Continued From Page 6

serving two years as vice-mayor under Duane Helling. The Inola Town Council consists of five trustees who meet on the second and last Monday of every month.

“Size-wise, we’ve got about 1,800 people (in Inola), and with it being such a small community, that presents ...challenges in terms of some of the decisions we have to make as a council,” she said.

“Our decisions are all based on what’s best for the town per state statutes and ordinances, but those decisions aren’t always what people may want.

“Any governing body has to make unpopular decisions sometimes, but in our case, it feels more personal since the people it affects, we know personally,” she said.

“We go to church with them, our children go to school together, we serve on committees together — it can get uncomfortable sometimes, emotions can run high at the meetings, but ultimately we’re moti-

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vated by the town’s best interests and follow the statutes and ordinances of the state of Oklahoma.”

But just because the town may be small in size doesn’t mean it’s not big in heart.

“We’ve got an organization here, the Farmers & Ranchers Association, which hosts various fundraisers for families in need or who have an unexpected crisis, and the community always rallies,” she said.

“This year, they helped a young man from Inola who was injuired while working at Port 33, another year, they helped a teacher who was diagnosed with cancer. That group is really one of Inola’s prides.”

During her tenure as mayor, Charles said she’s been most proud of the town’s organizing “Flags For Travis” for fallen soldier Travis Grigg, the restructuring and upgrading of the sewer and water system, with plans to renovate the town’s park.

“Many of the projects we’ve

done, all the grants we’ve received — which have totalled in the hundreds of thousands over the years — have been for underground work, infrastructure, etc.,” she said.

“Looking forward, I’m hoping to have some ‘above-ground’ projects going, such as the new park.”

Also upcoming, Charles said she and the town council are finalizing plans to bring Harps Grocery to Inola, near the 412 exit.

As mayor, Cheryl stays active in Rogers County, Serving on the Criminal Justice Authority and the E911 Trusts, making sure that Inola's interests are represented.

But whatever she’s doing and however busy she is, Charles said you can always ask her yourself.

Just look for the yellow jeep.

“Our residents seem to like that I’m a small town girl — one of them,” she said. “I’m a boot-wearing, jeans-wearing, jeep driving mayor and I pride myself on being accessible to the public.”

...Oologah ______________Continued From Page 13

night. It takes everyone working vigorously with a common goal in mind.

“The worst thing that can happen is when someone sits on a town board and has a different agenda than everyone else. We’re getting older and probably all need to be replaced, but we work well together and I feel as though residents have the same agenda. Plus, as senior mayor in Rogers County I know where all of the skeletons are.”

However, Holland said retirement is getting close. He loves to travel and would like to be able to do more of it while spending time with his wife.

“My wife and I are crazy about each other. We just have fun all of the time.”

Like his marriage, Holland is proud of his Cherokee heritage and Oologah’s solid relationship with the Cherokee Nation.

“The Cherokee Nation works with us closely,” he said. “They supply us with police equipment and pay for our streets. We have a great relationship.”

Holland said one thing Oologah has had throughout the years is stability.

“A lot of towns don’t have stability, they change mayors every two years. We’re such a well-oiled machine and will continue to be as we move forward into the future.”

SPRING 2013 Surrey 15

CHELSEA Price passionate for making Chelsea strong

D

aryl Price has been serving the City of Chelsea for more than 10 years as member of the board of trustees.

His service began in 2007 and Price has continued to work to improve the community.

Price became the mayor in 2010 after legal issues prompted the resignation of Carl Carmack.

Price began his career as mayor by leading the charge for Chelsea to join the Healthy Community Partnership and participating in the voluntary prescription drug take back program.

He directly assisted in the efforts to prevent drug and alcohol

By SALESHA WILKEN

abuse in Chelsea.

Working closely with Rogers County Commissioner Dan DeLozier, Chelsea community residents became able to properly dispose of these materials keeping them of the streets and out of area waterways.

Price worked with other local agencies to launch the program, Operation Medicine Cabinet, which resulted in more than 30,000 pills being taken of the street and disposed of properly.

Currently, Price is working with the Chelsea Water Department to complete a new sewer system.

Price is securing grant funding

for the project in effort to ease expenses for the city.

He has served in various capacities during the past decade with the city, but his roots are with planning and zoning.

A long-term resident of Chelsea, Price and his wife Terry raised their three children in the community.

As his family expands, Price now shares the town he loves with his grandchildren.

Another lifelong passion is the Chelsea Public Library, Price’s wife worked there for years and he has been a strong advocate for the program.

...Claremore ____________Continued From Page 11

and in the future.

“I want to make sure our future generations have the same quality of life in Claremore that I grew up with,” he said. “I’ve got grandkids here. Years from now I want to be able to tell them ‘I’m glad you stayed.’ That’s our goal: to raise a future generation here that stays here.” Perry has made it his mission as mayor to be accessible to the citizens. His question and answer column, “Ask the Mayor,” regularly runs in the Progress, and a listening ear is just a phone call away.

“If people have ideas — or complaints — I want to hear them and see if I can help,” he said.

Call him at (918) 277-1840 or email mperry@claremorecity.com.

...Catoosa

____________________________________________________________________Continued From Page 9

turing engineering and then moved to project planning. All of these have helped me to better serve Catoosa citizens.”

In addition to working fulltime, Myers has volunteered her time between the Catoosa library, Chamber of Commerce, homeowners association and the city council.

“I have enjoyed serving in all of these organizations and boards,” said Myers.

Myers said she is satisfied with the current growth status of Catoosa, however, believes the city needs to push for more sales tax revenue.

“As the city grows, so does the need for city services and the need to streamline our processes and increase revenue through sales tax growth. I try to use local services before looking outside the city,” she said.

“People would be surprised just what Catoosa has to offer, plus the dollars stay local.”

As for the future of Catoosa, Myers said she would like to see “structured growth” in the community. “We are pretty much land locked on all sides so we need to make the most of what we have and maximize our potential.”

Municipal elections this month resulted in Myers losing the ward two council member position, in which she had to step down as acting mayor of Catoosa.

Myers said throughout her two years in office she realized that productive council members do not need to play games to get items accomplished.

“I’ve decided that I’m not that great at the ‘playing games’ aspect

of politics. Either it’s the right thing to do or it’s not,” she said. “You either justify what you want to have happen and if you can’t, don’t play games just to get your way. It’s better to have an open mind and consider other ideas that just might be better than yours.”

As for her family, Myers and her husband have raised two boys, now 23 and 25. One has been traveling in India the last several months, while the other lives in Durango, Colo.

“I grew up in a family of women, three sisters. My best friend and mom passed away a couple of years ago and I really miss her,” she said. “My husband, bless his heart, has been my biggest supporter and I appreciate that. He played the ‘first dude’ great and

he’s still my ‘first dude.’”

Other than spending time with friends and family, Myers enjoys playing golf.

“Until I became mayor I had a 16 handicap, not bad for part time playing,” she said. “I also like the three Bs-books, beer and boats.”

Myers said she is looking forward to evenings and weekends off after she is no longer mayor.

“I will be commitment free for awhile and won’t have to take off my paying job for my volunteer jobs, which I really didn’t mind.”

habtastic

Dr. Ali Tarabi D.D.S., P.L.L.C.

SPRING 2013 Surrey 17

OWASSO

Owasso Mayor Doug Bonebrake

Bonebrake makes meeting citizens a priority

By REBECCA HATTAWAY

M

ayor Doug Bonebrake began serving the citizens of Owasso on the city council in 2007.

Originally from Collinsville, Bonebrake and his family moved to Owasso from Tulsa in 1995. “(Owasso) was just down the road from our families,” he said. “The community had found a niche to start the process of growing in a way I thought was positive, and seemed to be a good place to raise a family.”

Although Bonebrake says he’s not a politician, he was looking to serve somewhere in the community.

“I knew I needed to set an example for my kids to 18 SPRING 2013

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be involved in the community,” he said.

“Serving on the council was not at the top of my list, but I was approached about the possibility. I had to think about it a long time.”

At the time of filing for the Ward 5 seat, Bonebrake thought he would run unopposed until the final day when someone else signed up.

“It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, having to run against someone, but I count it as a good experience. It worked out,” he said.

As Production Supervisor at Channel 8 in Tulsa, See OWASSO page 19

...Owasso

____________________________________________________________________Continued From Page 18

Bonebrake stays plenty busy with his regular job, and says the responsibilities of the mayor and council are “a lot more than meets the eye.”

“It really boils down to taking every opportunity to learn how the city operates, like visiting the Public Works Department or taking a tour of the wastewater treatment plant, for instance,” he said. “It’s been very eye-opening.”

Meeting citizens is another important part of his role as mayor.

“I enjoy meeting new people and consider myself to be a social person,” Bonebrake said, “but being assertive and going out specifically for the purpose of meeting people is not necessarily part of my fiber.

Having to go out and engage people has helped me and it’s been a lot of fun meeting people from different walks, different politics, and different points of view.”

He said it has helped him become a better listener — to all sides of an issue.

“I’ve always considered myself to be a fair person, but it’s made me a little more fair, understanding that everyone has their own point of view, and it may be different than mine.”

Bonebrake was vice mayor under Steve Cataudella, before assuming the top position in 2010.

“I had a good relationship with the former mayor. He set a good example and prepared me for the

position,” Bonebrake said.

“I call him a mentor because he had given me a lot of information about what to expect. It wasn’t a difficult transition when I came in; it was fairly natural.”

Re-elected to the council again in March, one of his plans for the new term is working to build more public/private partnerships to help Owasso achieve some of its quality of life goals.

“Based on the Quality of Life Initiative from a few years ago, that’s what people want. We need to start making inroads on some of those projects,” he said. “For that to happen, we need to take those public/private partnerships to a new level.”

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FOYIL

Hipp enjoys finding solutions to solve problems

By SALESHA WILKEN

M

Foyil Mayor Steve Hipp

ayor Steve Hipp has been serving the people of Foyil for 10 years, and as a long-term resident, he is proud of the community.

“It is a volunteer job, but I enjoy it,” Hipp said.

One of the best things about serving as mayor is the ability to hear the concerns of our citizens and then work to find solutions to their problems, he added.

“I like that people can call me and the city will do everything we can to help,” Hipp said.

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Foyil has a small budget, but each dollar is put to good use.

“We waste nothing,” Hipp said.

Not only has Hipp worked to oversee the city operations, but has been instrumental in several large projects.

Foyil recently completed a $1.2 million expansion to the city sewer system.

The cooperative effort is just one of many projects See FOYIL page 21

...Foyil

__________________________________________________________________________Continued From Page 20

that Hipp has worked with area agencies including Grand Gateway to complete.

The sewer project not only provided much needed service to the city, but also provides services to Foyil Public Schools.

Hipp, a 1979 graduate of Foyil High School, is passionate about supporting education in the community.

It is common to find him at a number of school functions and all six of his children are Foyil graduates.

Hipp has worked with Foyil Eco-

nomic Development to bring more business to the community.

A new community center has been another welcome addition and several groups use the facility on a weekly basis.

The Cherokee Nation has been an active partner in the area and is currently working to bring events including a 5k race to Foyil.

City leaders are working to organize other community events including the return of the Foyil Farmers Market.

In recent years the town has seen substantial growth prompting

a one third increase in the city limits.

Foyil now has a Dollar General store and several new homes are being constructed in town, according to Hipp.

Another project Hipp is very passionate about is cleaning up the community.

He is striving not only to promote Foyil to prospective business owners but homeowners.

By renewing the image of the city, Hipp hopes to highlight the many treasures that currently call Foyil home.

Foyil has two city parks and several historic sites.

The World’s Largest Totem Pole and a stretch of the original Highway 66 are just two attractions visitors will enjoy, according to Hipp.

Foyil has a lot to offer, Hipp said.

One important aspect to Hipp’s plans to expand the city includes the recruitment of several new council members.

Hipp’s encourages community participation in the government and would like to see an increase in citizen involvement.

Hipp is proud of Foyil and the wonderful people that live in the area.

He prides himself on honesty and is proud to serve the city of Foyil.

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Frank Mobra, the former Claremore Zebra head football coach from 1968-1976, talks at midfield with his son, Mike, who was the coach at Claremore Sequoyah High School. The father-son coaching duo never faced one another in a game during Frank Mobra’s tenure.

Once A Zebra, Always A Zebra

By TIM RITTER

T

hough he didn’t play football for the Claremore Zebras, the late Frank Mobra never missed a game and loved ‘bleeding red and white’. On March 8, the legendary coach and former Claremore High School athletic director passed away at the age of 88.

“He touched many people’s lives, including mine,” said State Farm Agent Robert Vardeman, who played for Frank Mobra at Stilwell and later coached with the legend at Talihina and Claremore. “I lost my dad when I was 8 years old, and Frank became the father figure that I needed in my life.”

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Vardeman and close friend and longtime Claremore assistant coach John Smith sat down with the Claremore Daily Progress and reflected on the legacy that spanned over the past 45 years.

Mobra was a man of Character...

Mobra was a man of Integrity...

Mobra was a man that did things the right way, whether coaching, teaching or raising a family...

And, most of all, Mobra was a man that put Family first and coaching second.

“I had a special relationship with Frank, in that I could always read his mind,” Vardeman said.

Vardeman became acquainted with Frank as a teenager playing junior high football and later on at the varsity level in Stilwell, Okla.

Mobra, who was the head football coach at Stilwell from 1957-1964, took Vardeman under his wings and taught him that dreams come true through hard work, dedication and ‘heart’.

“Frank coached 3 of my brothers before me, and by the time, my turn came around (as a sophomore), I wasn’t worth shooting,” Vardeman said. “My junior year, I wasn’t any better. My senior year, we start off 0-5, and Coach Mobra says, ‘Robert, we got to do something.’”

So, a switch to the single-wing meant more production for Vardeman, and eventually wins for Stilwell.

“Coach Mobra asked me if I would play fullback in the single wing,” Vardeman said.

“Coach, I’ll do whatever.”

The transition paid off as Vardeman started finding the end zone more and more and Stilwell started getting recognition around the state.

Vardeman added that his success led to scholarship opportunities from Oklahoma, Tulsa, Oklahoma State and Arkansas.

Knowing that Coach Mobra played for the University of Arkansas, it only seemed fitting that Vardeman would follow in his cach’s footsteps to Fayetteville.

Vardeman, however, took a different route and chose the Oklahoma Sooners.

“Frank never persuaded me toward Arkansas,” Vardeman said. “I do, however, remember asking him for a favor during my freshman year of spring drills. ... I returned to Stilwell and said ‘Coach, this guy at OU (Bob Ward)?is running players off. I’m afraid he’s going to run me off too. Do you think you can call Arkansas and see if Frank Broyles will give me a chance? ... Coach Mobra’s response to me was ‘Robert, get back to Norman and work your tail off. You’re not a quitter.’ ... On Sunday, the Muskogee Phoenix had in the headlines that Bud Wilkinson had fired Bob Ward. I knew then, I could play for OU.”

The late Frank Mobra competed collegiately for the Arkansas Razorbacks in 1949, alongside NFL football analyst Pat Summerall. Mobra was coached by John Barnhill and George Cole in Fayetteville. As a diehard Razorback fan, Mobra became good friends with former Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles and still attended football games in Fayetteville until his passing on March 8, 2013.

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After a playing career at OU, Vardeman took on an assistant coaching role with Mobra at Talihina and then eventually at Claremore.

“Frank’s second year at Talihina (1966), we won the Class B state championship,” Vardeman said.

Following a four-year stint at Talihina, the Mobra legacy took shape in Claremore.

“Back then, the only thing you did on Friday nights was go to the game,” Vardeman said. “Frank had 105 kids out for football, and the games were exciting. The people really got into it.”

Coach Mobra prided himself into the Zebra athletic program, added Smith.

As the Zebras head coach, Mobra went 53-40-2 and led Claremore to the state playoffs in 1969, 1970 and 1972.

“He was one of those coach’s that let his assistants coach, but in the end, he had the final decision,” Vardeman said. “Also, Frank knew his x’s and o’s. He didn’t have to spend hours watching a lot of film to figure out how to beat a team.”

The thing that Vardeman and Smith both enjoyed about Mobra was his ability to put family first.

“The hardest thing in the world is coaching your own kid,” Vardeman said on Frank coaching his son, Mike at Talihina. “You have to coach your own like anyone else. You can’t show favoritism.”

The legacy of Frank Mobra long lives on in Claremore with the bearing of his name on the ‘Field House’ adjacent to the high school.

“Frank was All-Zebra,” Smith said. “It didn’t make any difference where he was. He loved Claremore High School.”

Frank Mobra was a standout high school running back for Wyandotte in the mid-40s. After graduating from Wyandotte HS, Mobra went on to compete for two years at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M where he was a JUCO All-American and then joined the University of Arkansas in 1949.

Frank Mobra and his wife, Mary, were married for 65 years, and according to their daughter, Melody, “Mom never missed a game that dad played in or coached in.”

Mary was Frank’s biggest supporter on the sideline and in the Mobra home.

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BIO: James Franklin “Frank” Mobra died on March 8, 2013 in Claremore. He was 88 years old.

Born Nov. 26, 1924 in Lilbourn, Mo., to Sanders and Edna (Fair) Mobra, Frank was one of 9 children.

When he was young, the family moved to Wyandotte where he received his public school education.

Following his high school graduation in 1943, Frank entered the U.S. Marine Corps and proudly served his country during World War II. After receiving an honorable discharge in 1945, Frank returned to Oklahoma to attend Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, and was named to the Junior College All-America football team as a running back.

On May 23, 1947, Frank and Mary Cole Skinner were married and together made their first home in Miami, Okla. After graduating from NEO in 1948, Frank fielded many offers from major college football programs before deciding to cast his lot with the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Upon graduating from the University of Arkansas, Frank began his coaching/teaching career in Fairland, Okla., just 10 miles from his hometown. Eufaula was home to the Mobras from 1953-1955, then Anadarko from 1955-1957, Stilwell from 19571964 and Talihina from 1964-1968.

In Talihina, Frank and his veteran assistant Robert Vardeman led the football team to the Class B state championship.

In 1968, Mobra and his family moved to Claremore, where Frank completed his career with the Zebras. In 1977, Frank transitioned from head football coach to athletic director and retired from the school system in 1995.

Frank’s coaching achievements were great and he had a lasting impression on numerous high school programs and the students he mentored. He also received many honors throughout his coaching career, including being named the Vice President of the Oklahoma Coaches Association.

The pinnacle of Frank’s career was reached in 1979 when he was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame. His legacy in Claremore is unparalleled and the high school field house bears his name in honor and appreciation for his commitment to the success of the athletic department.

Frank and Mary were married for 65 years before his passing in March, and his children include Mike Mobra and Melody Egleston.

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Easy Weeknight Fare

By Angela Henderson

confession is in order before I share this issue’s recipe. I fully supported the Women’s Liberation Movement and even though I never marched or burned my bra, I believed deep in my heart that I could have it all.

Today, as I sit at the acme of what can only be described as a towering achievement - life as a nonprofit executive director, wife of one, mother of two amazing children, loyal friend to many and community volunteer - I

A

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must admit that I am dead-tired most of the time.

I have come to the conclusion that I, myself, need a wife - not in the conventional sense of the word, but more like a live-in assistant, housekeeper, organizer, chauffer, and cheerleader. Basically, I just need another me. Has there been any headway in cloning technology?

If I had a dollar for every time someone has said to me, “I don’t know how you do it all,” I

would be a very rich woman indeed. When someone says that to me, I’m not quite sure if I’m doing it all so well that it appears effortless or if the person feels really sorry for me and this is an offer of help.

I recently ventured halfway around the world on a fabulous trip to India, leaving my dear husband and mother-in-law in charge of this empire I’ve built. Faced with the possibility of a jet crash or death by stampeding elephants, I felt honor-

bound to show Mr. Henderson just exactly how his dynamo of a wife keeps this well-oiled machine running. Suffice it to say that I am extraordinarily organized. I’m also a huge fan of coffee, lists, my trusty label maker, working lunches, and under-eye concealer, which I lovingly refer to as “spackling.”

As I was walking out the door, I showed him my arsenal of 50+ recipes (encased in plastic page protectors) that I rotate around each month to feed our family. He was mightily impressed.

Among those recipes are several easy weeknight meals that can be thrown together in a snap: breakfast for dinner; reuben sandwiches; fried rice; and spaghetti with meat sauce.

Our family doesn’t eat out much. Not only is it expensive, but often the food just isn’t as good as something homemade. Don’t even get me started on the portions and calories of restaurant food!

Today’s recipe is a family favorite and can even be spruced up for company. We refer to this concoction as “Taco Salad Night,” “Super Nachos,” or “Taco Pile-On.” You can choose whichever title you like best to describe it.

To make it, you’ll need: 1 lb. lean hamburger meat 1 package Williams Taco Seasoning Mix 1 4 oz. can tomato sauce 1 15 oz. can Ranch-style beans (optional - my kids HATE beans they are aliens from another

Breakfast tacos are perfect for on-the-go lifestyles.

planet) 1 bag corn tortilla chips 4 cups shredded cheese (a mix of cheddar and jack cheeses is really nice) 4 cups green leaf lettuce, washed and torn into bite-size pieces 5 scallions, sliced thinly 2 tomatoes, chopped 1 avocado, diced into chunks 8 oz. sour cream Salsa or taco sauce, to taste Brown the hamburger and drain any excess oil. Add taco seasoning, tomato sauce, and beans to the pan. Heat through on low heat. Meanwhile, open the bag of nachos. Place shredded cheeses in a bowl. Shred lettuce and place in a bowl. Chop scallions and place in a bowl. Chop tomatoes and place in a bowl. Dice avocado and place in a bowl. Open sour cream and salsa or taco sauce. Place all items on the table and let your family build their own. You can also add jalapenos, French dressing, or any other toppings you enjoy.

Leftover chili is also great as a replacement for the taco meat. It’s a very versatile recipe.

Sometimes, I will double or triple the meat recipe and freeze it down for another night. There is a fair amount of clean-up involved because of all the bowls. In moments of supreme laziness, I will sometimes arrange everything on a large tray for extra-easy clean-up. I also wear my leopard-print pajamas while cooking so that I can go right to bed afterwards. This is how I roll.

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