Surrey October/September 2013

y e r r u S

COMPLIMENTARY COMPLIMENTARY

Taking You Places Today!

Celebrating

50 Years

Vol. 6 No. 1 • A Claremore Daily Progress Publication

FINISH YOUR DEGREE WITH REACH HIGHER – OKLAHOMA’S DEGREE COMPLETION PROGRAM. If you left college without graduating, Reach Higher can change your life. Reach Higher offers flexible schedules and a degree from a state university. If you’re driven to boost your earning power, enroll in the Reach Higher program today.

YOU GET: < < < <

On-campus and online class options.

Affordable eight-week courses.

Five enrollment periods per year.

Financial aid for qualified students.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS: < Be at least 21 years old. < Have at least 72 hours of college credit. < Have a minimum 2.0 GPA from previous college credits.

LET YOUR DRIVE DRIVE YOU.

918-343-6819 1701 Will Rogers Blvd. | Claremore, OK 74017 www.rsu.edu/reachhigher

» Scan this QR code

with your smart phone to learn more about Reach Higher, Oklahoma’s degree completion program.

CALL 800.858.1840 // www.ReachHigherOklahoma.org

Surrey Taking You Places Today!

Art on the Hill Page 5

Vol. 6 No. 1 n Fall 2013

3 5 Going Nutty Page 6

6 10 14 30

Pixley turns 50 Page 14 2 FALL 2013 2013 Surrey

Balloonfest flys into Claremore Thirty hot-air balloons filled the skies over Claremore during the 18th annual Gatesway Balloon Festival.

Art on the Hill The 5th annual Rogers State University Art on the Hill allowed artists to display their creations to the community.

Going Nuts This historic Nut House brings news flavors and varieties of nuts and fudge to Rogers County. Leslie Ward tells about how the Nut House is hosting its 5th annual Pecan and Fun Fest.

Sculpting finds Meaning Susan Cunningham’s hobby as a sculptor has found new meaning and even become a ministry.

Pixley Lumber turns 50 The big “50” might strike fear in the hearts of some. But to Pixley Lumber Company, turning 50 years is a time for celebration.

Celebrating Will “The Event” celebrates the history of Will Rogers and marks the beginning of the Will Rogers Memorial Museum Foundation’s efforts to financially support the organization.

Annual Balloonfest finds perfect flying weather in Claremore Nearly 30 hot-air balloons filled the skies over Claremore during a balloon competition as part of the 18th annual Gatesway Balloon Festival held at the Will Rogers Downs.

FALL 2013 Surrey 3

50 and counting

L

ongevity is a mark of strength. Rogers County has many individuals that have left such an imprint for which those who follow can use as a guide. Will Rogers, Oklahoma’s favorite son, left us with his wisdom and wit.

He helped bring the eyes of the nation and world to view Oklahoma and Rogers County for its common sense values. His words and images are longlasting and truth for today’s political environment.

The Will Rogers Memorial Museum has established a foundation, which hosted is first celebration called “The Event” to bolster support and lay a financial foundation to preserve the longevity of the foundation and its work.

It was an overwhelming success. CongratulaRANDY COWLING tions to the Will Rogers Museum and its foundation for all its efforts to keep the images, words and spirit of Will alive in Rogers County.

Fifty years ago, Warren Pixley opened the Pixley Lumber Company in Claremore. The Pixleys have left their mark on Claremore and Rogers County in business and the community. Their support of education, sports organizations and the Chamber of Commerce has helped transform our community into one that is stronger and more vibrant.

Pixley Lumber is now among a growing group of businesses that have reached the 50-year mark in Claremore. Longevity means stability for a community. Pixley Lumber has built a strong and growing company that reflects the values of our community.

The Pixleys continue to support Claremore and Rogers County and we foresee them being around for 50 more years.

Rogers County is a better place because of Will Rogers, the Will Rogers Memorial Museum and Pixley Lumber.

4 FALL 2013

Surrey

Surrey Taking you places today!

Surrey © 2013 All rights reserved.

Published Bi-monthly by The Daily Progress 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 Bailey Dabney, publisher Randy Cowling, editor and designer CONTRIBUTORS Tom Fink Salesha Wilken Mark Friedel Rebecca Hattaway 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.

Rogers State Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art on the Hill winners included John Hammer, second place, front, from left; Michelle Hammond Bradsher, third place; Jacob Purdum, best in show; and Virgil Lampton, first place.; Denny Schmickle, RSU associate professor and head of the Department of Fine Arts, back, from left, and Gary Moeller, RSU professor of fine arts.

Art on the Hill Purdom, Gahazal earn best in show

J

acob Purdom of Tulsa and Ashley Ghazal of Skiatook High School earned best in show honors during the 2013 Art on the Hill event held Sept. 20-21 at Rogers State University.

Purdom, a Bartlesville High School graduate and RSU multimedia senior, earned the best in show designation from the judge, internationally recognized graphic designer Robynne Raye of Modern Dog Design Co. in Seattle, Wash. Raye was oncampus for both days of the event, participating in artist demonstrations and giving a gallery talk about the exhibition of her works now on display in RSU's FoundaCOINTINUEDâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;ON PAGE 2

Anh-Thuy Nguyen, RSU assistant professor of fine arts, leads a Cyanotype demonstration at the fourth annual Art on the Hill festival Sept. 21 at Rogers State University. Cyanotype is a photographic printing process, using a cyan blue print.

FALL 2013

Surrey

5

Leslie Ward of the Nuthouse slices and packages a brick of butter pecan fudge. The retail store offers a variety of fudge, including several seasonal favorites, and will be open throughout the Pecan and Fun Fest slated for Oct. 19 and 20.

6 FALLâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;2013

Surrey

The Nut House provides customers with a variety of nuts to taste. They are located on Historic Route 66 south of Verdigris.

Going Nuts Nuttier Pecan and Fun Fest coming Oct. 19-20

T

By MARK FRIEDEL

he historic Nut House will host an even nuttier Pecan and Fun Fest this year. Owners Darryl and Hazel Ward have announced that the fifth annual event will be expanded from one to two days. Festivities will run from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 19 and from 12-5 p.m. Oct. 20.

Admission is free, however, some of the activities do cost money, said Leslie Ward of the Nut House.

Entertainment includes camel rides for children and adults, craft booths, T-shirt dying provided by Okie Dirt T-shirt Co., inflatables, live music and chainsaw carver Tom Zimmer of Oklahoma Chainsaw Carvings. Pumpkin paint-

ings and a train ride will also be available for children.

Those in attendance can grab some delicious eats from Hot Mama’s Café or sweet treats, including jams, jellies, fudge and chocolate covered nuts, from the Nut House retail store. Craft booths will feature artisans and crafters from around the state, showcasing goods available for purchase.

The Pecan and Fun Fest began in 2009, adding yet another reason for residents and travelers to love what the Nut House has to offer.

“Customer favorites are of course the fudge and pecans,” said Ward. “We offer seasonal flaFALL 2013

Surrey

7

For more than 40 years, the Route 66 Nut House has offered customers a wide variety of flavorful nuts, pralines and pecans

vors, including the popular pumpkin pie fudge from September through November, and crackled fudge in December.”

Leslie is daughter of Nut House owners Darryl and Hazel Ward. She said she does a little bit of everything for the business from stocking and selling to marketing.

The family purchased the Nut House in 2006 and are the third owners of the business, which opened more than 40 years ago, she said. The log cabin was originally constructed to house the pecan cracking operation which has since been discontinued.

“We still try to buy locally as much as we can because you really can tell a difference in flavor and freshness,” said Ward.

The Nut House is open year round from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

For more information on the Nut House or the Route 66 Pecan and Fun Fest contact Leslie at (918) 266-1604 or go to 66nuts.com.

Sculpting finds Meaning Claremore resident’s hobby became her ministry

By TOM FINK

E

ven though Susan Cunningham may not be a Claremore native, her roots here date back well before her status as a resident.

“After we moved to Claremore, my brother handed me something and said ‘Sis, I think you might like this.’ — It was my grandmother’s graduation pic from when she was in high school,” Cunningham said. “She was in high school (in the photo) and was with a group of other high school kids who were on the steps of the old First Baptist Church, just after they’d finished the church.

“Further, my great-grandfather had, at one time, owned the mineral rights to the property where my husband and I now live,” she said, “so even though we’ve only been here (in Claremore) for about four years, it’s almost like we’ve always been here — like it’s always been...I don’t know ...home.”

Before settling in Claremore, Cunningham and her husband 10 FALL 2013 Surrey

Claremore resident Susan Cunningham checks on “Maudy,” one of her favorite original sculptings. Cunningham considers her sculpting to be both her hobby but also her ministry.

A touchdown every time with my CashBack!

my CashBack checking rewards you with CashBack when you use your debit card for purchases. Ask us for details today!

RCB Bank - the official bank of NFL quarterback, Oklahoma native and all-around nice guy, Brandon Weeden.

- in Owasso 11633 E. 86th St. N. | 12200 E. 96th St. N. 33 locations ocations and online online at www.RCBbank.com 855-BANK-RCB www.RCBbank.com | 855BANK-RCB Some conditions apply. Member FDIC

Although Cunningham has given away most of her sculptings, she has kept a handful which she displays at home at the urging of her husband, Jerry.

“Bathtub Ginny” and a “Baby’s Nest Egg.” Jerry — a former military man — lived around the country and even the globe, from Alaska to Arizona to North Carolina, and Italy, and until recently, downtown Tulsa.

“I always told myself I’d never by a house this old, but we did,” she laughed, “but it fits our personality — it’s got character, and we’re always doing one project or another on it, and it’s got plenty of room for us.”

And her sculptings.

“Ah, my sculptings,” she begins, “they’re my hobby — one born out

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

12 FALL 2013 Surrey

of boredom. About 10 years ago, I’d bought some clay for my son to make Christmas gifts for people and he wasn’t really interested.

“So, I was just playing with some of it and I looked down and I had shaped a little lady in my hands (from the clay), and I thought, ‘Well that’s interesting’,” she said. “I started from there — with a little lady — and kind of went from there.

It was interesting to me that as I worked on my different pieces, they’d kind of take on a life of their own.”

Curiously enough, one of Cunningham’s earliest experiments in clay took on a life of its own in the shape of their neighbor at the time.

“I’d been playing around with a piece of clay, just shaping it, and Jerry came home, saw it, and said ‘Oh, my gosh — that looks just like our neighbor, Joe,” she said, “and sure enough, it did — I wasn’t even trying to make it resemble him. I still have that piece.”

Since then, Cunningham’s hobby has helped her pass the time productively, benefiting her as well as friends and family.

“Early on, I would sculpt eggs — I had a friend who had a bunch of Ostrich eggs, so I started with those, thinking with one, that it would be a great wedding gift to have one with a man and a woman on top of it,” she said. “I called it ‘The Nest Egg’, thinking it would be good to put money inside of it for them in case they needed it. I guess really, that was the first

‘real’ sculpting I did.

“The next real piece I did was a baby gift, with the baby on top of the next egg, and there have been times in my life, when we were raising our boys — we have six — that, if I’d known we’d had money in the house, I really could have used it,” she said.

Although she studied art, Cunningham never received a degree in her field of talent, instead, honing her craft through practice, practice, practice.

“When I sculpt these days, I usually have someone in mind that I want to make a gift for I made one, an angel, a few years ago for Karen Keith and you know what? It looked just like her,” she said. “Generally, any project might take about a week and I put into it every day whatever I feel like putting into it — whether that’s an hour, two, more — usually more.”

Since starting to sculpt, Cunningham estimates she’s finished “about 30” pieces, the majority of which, she’s given away.

“I’ve kept a few, but most of my finished work, I’ve given to people — people who’ve had anniversaries, or even suffered a loss of a loved one or a child,” she said. “I’ve made angels for them and they’ve proven more of a joy for me to share my creations than to keep them,” she said. “It’s like sharing a little part of me — that’s very satisfying.”

Of the pieces she’s kept, a giggling Humpty Dumpty, a modest flapper in a tub named “Bath Ginny,” a little old man and an old lady feeding the squirrels,

“Maudy,” which is her favorite.

As far as current projects, Cunningham said she doesn’t have anything planned, but she always keeps her mind and her heart open.

“I do think of my talent as a gift and in a way, a type of ministry — I haven’t meant for it to be but it has been,” she said. “It’s been very humbling for me.”

FALL 2013

Surrey

13

Pixley Lumber Turns 50 SPECIAL TO THE PROGRESS

T

he big “50” might strike fear in the hearts of some. But to Pixley Lumber Company, turning 50 this year is a time for celebration, a big celebration. Paul Pixley, second generation leader of the company, said it is also a time of sharing the successes of five decades with others in the Claremore community. And especially those, like him, whose family business dates back 50 years or more with continued active involvement by founding family members.

The late Warren Pixley, company founder, was always about service; service to his customers and to his community. That philosophy continues, says Paul, whose sons, Chris and Mark, are third generation company associates.

His sister, Mary Pixley Warden, is also associated with the company.

To say service to customers was a priority could go back to the first sale made from that abandoned Long Bell Lumber yard. It was purchased with the help of Warren’s brother, Paul, then a Chelsea lumber dealer.

Jim Casey, the company’s first employee, was hosing down the new site when a man stopped by and asked if they had hoses for sale. Paul says the story goes that Warren told Casey to drop everything and rush to Wilson Hard-

14 FALL 2013 Surrey

Warren Pixley starred as a fullback for the 1939-41 Pawhuska Huskies football team. ware (about a block away on the corner of Will Rogers and Missouri), buy a hose and sell it to the man for just what he paid for it.

“That was the first sale,” said Paul, but set a precedent for the future of the company, even to a time when, to meet customer needs, they became their own supplier of pre-hung wood and steel door units at their own “Door Plant.”

The doors to Pixley Lumber Company at 220 N. Missouri were opened in October of 1963.

FALL 2013

Surrey

15

Pixley Lumber building at 220 N. Missouri - 1963

Warren Pixley, seen in a photo in the Claremore Daily Progress in 1967, where he drew the winnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name of a Model T replica given away by RCB Bank . Pixley was president of the Claremore Chamber of Commerce .

Pixley Lumber building at 715 W. Will Rogers Blvd. - 1971

Pixley Lumber building at 715 W. Will Rogers Blvd. - 2013

16 FALL 2013 Surrey

To memorialize this time and to pay tribute to others with a business heritage in the Claremore community, Pixley Lumber hosted a family event on Sept. 27 to share with the public and Pixley customers.

There were clowns, magicians, face painting, and a flyover by Joe Bacon of Pryor, in honor of Warren Pixleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s World War II military service.

The company has grown from the time Warren moved his growing family into a tiny house between the old Lucky and Star Motels on the Highway 66 access road, to the move into a new home in the Marlar Addition on 16th Street.

The lumberyard move to present location at 715 West Will Rogers Boulevard in 1971 was a massive investment and business undertaking, with 7,560 square feet of floor space, 9,000 feet of warehouse with racks, and additional storage above offices.

Additional storage means all lumber under one roof as well as updating the retail area, technical capabilities and adding employees.

The company now boasts 46 employees and the lat-

The Pixley family celebrated the grand opening of their current location at 715 W. Will Rogers in 1971. est in technical equipment and late model vehicles and loading aids.

Warren Pixley, who died in 2003, was active in the Claremore Chamber of Commerce, served as a director of Rogers County Bank, and was a leading supporter of formation of Claremore Junior College, later Rogers State University, Rogers County Homebuilders, Zebra sports, and professional organizations.

Mrs. Pixley served as a member of the college board of regents.

Warren shared a passion with his wife for Meals on Wheels, a program in which she continues to be active.

Paul has followed in his father’s footsteps in activities of the Chamber, Homebuilders, professional organizations, American Legion Baseball, and board member of CONTINUED ON PAGE 27 FALL @)!#Surrey 17

One for the H

Representing â&#x20AC;&#x153;50 Years in Business in Claremore in the Same Family Clubâ&#x20AC;? is this grou and members of her family. Among those in Claremore who have a half century or m on floor) Kory Burrows Coots and Cade and Micah Post; (front seated) Dorthy Swan Dunlap Post and Justin Post; (second row) Tim Fleetwood, Kevin Froman, Steve Neely, Post; and (back) Darryl Martin, Ryan Neely, Brett and Ron Lessley, Mark and Chris Pix 18 FALL 2013 Surrey

History Books

up joining Patricia Pixley, who with her late husband, Warren, founded Pixley Lumber, more in business in Claremore involving founding family members are (front from left n, Donna Froman, Paul Neely, Mrs. Pixley, John Harvey Burrows, Frank Robson, Patti Meredith Lessley, Mary Pixley Warden, Paul Pixley, Dave Burrows, Ray Akin and Randy xley, Steve Kissee, Larry Rock and Rob and Larry Melton.

FALLâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;2013

Surrey

19

Art on the Hill tions Gallery.

Winners in the adult artist categories were: Virgil Lampton of Claremore, first place; John Hammer, also of Claremore, second place; and Michelle Hammond Bradsher of Oologah, third place.

In the student category, Ghazal

earned best of show. Cayla Ray of Claremore High School won first place; Peter Mascio of Claremore High School, second place; and Haley Snowden of Bartlesville High School, third place.

Now in its fourth year, the Art on the Hill art show and sale is a cele-

bration of fine arts in northeastern Oklahoma.

The two-day festival featured the art show, live music, theatre performances from RSU Theatre and Tulsa Repertory Musicals, children's activities and more. Proceeds from the event support fine arts scholarships for area students.

Dallas Jackson, 7, of Claremore won a bicycle during a Saturday afternoon drawing held in conjunction with a children's coloring contest.

Art on the Hill was sponsored by Master sponsors: Bill Beierschmitt, Oklahoma Arts Council and Ludmila Robson; Aficionado sponsors: AT&T, Cherokee Nation Business and Will Rogers Downs, Key Construction, RCB Bank and Larry and Peggy Rice; and Apprentice Sponsors: Cindy and Jim Smith and Musgrove-Merriott-Smith Funeral Service, Donna and Tony Schenck and Pryor Printing Inc., and WalMart.

To view photos from the weekend events, visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/roge rsstateuniversity/sets/721576358 15204973/ For more information, visit www.rsu.edu/ArtOnTheHill.

22 FALL 2013 Surrey

FALL 2013 Surrey 23

4X4

BUY & SELL NEW & USED TRUCKS-----PARTS/SERVICE/BODY SHOP SERVICE DEPT OPEN 7 DAYS/WEEK ----TOWING & MOBILE SERVICE 24/7----FULL SERVICE RENTAL & LEASING 1023 N GARNETT, TULSA, OK 74116 918-438-2000

1701 N 20TH ST. MUSKOGEE, OK 74001 918-683-5621 DURASTAR NOW AVAILABLE WITH CUMMINS ISB6.7 ENGINE

‘Weird’ happenings at RSU RSU-TV honors Weird Al Yankovic with supply closet September has been a weird month at Rogers State University, and October’s only going to get weirder. In this case however, “weird” is good, as in “Weird Al” Yankovic.

In conjunction with the 25th anniversary of Yankovic’s 1989 movie “UHF,” RSU Public TV slated several events to pay tribute to the locally-filmed movie, some of which included the participation of the Grammy-winning artist himself.

On Sept. 24, communication students in Lee Williams’ corporate media production class at Rogers State University were treated to a trio of very special guest speakers in the form of producer/director Jay Levey, musician/author “Weird Al” Yankovic and “UHF” executive producer Gray Frederickson, all of whom spoke of their experiences in the Tulsa and Tulsa metro area while filming “UHF.” Yankovic was on-hand later that same day in Markham Hall at RSU for the dedication of a supply

Grammy-winner “Weird Al” Yankovic visited with Rogers State University students while in Claremore as part of the 25th anniversary of his 1989 movie “UHF”. closet in his honor, in reference to a scene from the movie “UHF,” and a distinction which Yankovic jokingly referred to as “the greatest honor of his career.”

Celebration of the 25th anniversary of “UHF” continues in October as RSU Public TV will host two pledge drive broadcasts.

The Pixley Family: Paul, Mary Pixley Warden, Pat, Ruth Pixley Stone, Joseph and John.

Pixley Lumber Company published two ads in 1963 as part of its grand opening. The ads appeared in the Claremore Daily Progess.

26 FALL 2013 Surrey

Pixley Lumber turns 50 McDonalds. Then there are those not controlled by a founding family memBancFirst. ber, but with a long history of family Members of Paul’s self-proclaimed service and in business in Claremore “50 Years in Business in Claremore in for the last half century or longer. That the Same Family Club” include Neely list would include Dot’s Café, one-time Insurance, Akin Plumbing, RCB Bank, Gray Goose, owned by Cecil Claremore Nursing Home, Love Air ConChenoweth, then Nell’s Café, owned by ditioning, Warehouse Market, and BurNell Sparks before becoming Dot’s, rows Agency, like the Pixley’s are three generations; Dunlap Auto Glass and Wrecker Service, Melton Sales, Swan Brothers Dairy, and Froman Oil and Propane, four generations; and R&S Auto Parts and Jack Kissee Ford, two generations.

Some of them have been in business more than 50 years.

Paul is quick to point out other businesses 50 years old and older, but with a shorter history in Claremore including Reasor’s, Sonic, Stillwater Milling and FROM PAGE 17

now operated by three generations of the Washom family.

Heins Jewelry was passed down to Clara Heins Evans, then to Jack West and now operated by Vic West. Others are Musgrove-Merriott-Smith Funeral Service and Crematory, Rice Funeral Service, Dorothy’s Flowers and the 121-year-old Claremore Daily Progress.

FALL 2013 Surrey 27

â&#x20AC;

LOWER ENERGY BILLS ...

A More Comfortable Home $ 1 ,500 O F F

Windows

EXPIR ES

11/30

**

Whole Hous e of Win dow s

TAX CREDIT

LOW MONTHLY PAYMENTS!**

AVAILABLE â&#x20AC;Ą

Trust Champion H u rry - o f f

s )NCREASE 9OUR (OME S 6ALUE s 0ROTECT 9OUR &AMILY S (EALTH s ,IFETIME ,TD 'UARANTEE

e r s e n d s oo n!

Roofing

Siding

Sunrooms

EXPI RE S

EXPI RE S

11/ 3 0

11/30

$1,800 OFF * COMFORT 365 ROOFING SYSTEMSÂŽ

Windows

Sunrooms

$2 ,250 OFF * $2 ,000 OFF *

ALL SEASON SUNROOMS Roofing

VINYL SIDING

Siding

Doors

Single Source Responsibility... We Design it... Build it... Install it... Guarantee it.

Over 75 Locations Nationally â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Showroom & Service Locally

FREE In-Home Estimates

918-615-4117

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Premium Quality...

Wholesale Valueâ&#x20AC;?

Local Crews Serving Greater Tulsa Area and Green Country 'ET#HAMPION COM 4ULSA

3OUTH 'ARNETT 2D s 4ULSA

*Minimum purchase of 8 Comfort 365 WindowsÂŽ, 2000 sq. ft. of siding, 150 sq. ft. sunroom or 20 squares of roofing. All discounts apply to our regular prices. All prices include expert installation. Sorry, no adjustments can be made on prior sales. Cannot be combined with other offers. See store for warranty. Offers expire 11-30-13 ŠChampionÂŽ, 2013 **Offer applies only to single-receipt qualifying purchases. Subject to credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required. See store for details. â&#x20AC; Cost savings may vary from customer to customer based upon different factors, including a customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s location, type of HVAC system, square footage of home, utility costs and more. â&#x20AC;ĄSee your tax consultant for details.

OFFER CODE: 26292

Spencer Slater:

e things â&#x20AC;&#x2122;t physically do th dn ul co I at th ed iz In 2008, I real pounds, t was around 210 gh ei w y M . do to I used affect my job ght was starting to and being overwei the Claremore my health. I joined as l el w as ce an m gular perfor exercising on a re n ga be d an er nt Recreation Ce k, my workout sing six days a wee ci er ex d te ar st I incline on basis. alking on a steep w k is br of g tin is routine cons r four miles each the Summit Traine g in us or ill dm ea eating the tr intake and began rie lo ca y m ck ba t A year day. I also cu , and lean protein. es bl ta ge ve , ts ui healthier; more fr cise routine. t lifting to my exer ago I added weigh my energy of 55 pounds, and I have lost a total ve more dramatically. I ha d se ea cr in s ha l leve at withstand the he stamina and I can er months. My more in the summ d cholesterol blood pressure an d levels have droppe I feel considerably, and much healthier.

RECREATION CENTER

595 Veterans Parkway Claremore

918-341-4516

visit www.cla www.claremorecity.com/reccenter ww.cla

Celebrating Will

The Tulsa Oratorio Chorus performs in the Will Rogers Theatre at The Event.

Will Rogers Memorial Museum supports honor namesake

T

he halls of the Will Rogers Memorial Museum were filled with music, food and cheer to celebrate “The Event,” marking the 75th anniversiary of the Will Rogers Memorial Museum.

Several dignitaries and local community leaders joined in the celebration of the rich history of Will Rogers.

Sponsored by the Will Rogers Memorial Foundation and Cherokee Nation, the evening brought together a community to, once again, honor the memory and celebrate the life of Oklahoma’s favorite son.

30 FALL 2013 Surrey

Will Rogers’s grandson, Kem Rogers, and great-grandaughter, Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry, thank the crowd of more than 100 for supporting the memory of Will for the past 75 years.

I never met a stranger. — Will Rogers

Phil Albert, right, and Oklahoma City University President Robert Henry walk the red carpet greeting guests at The Event.

Andy Hogan gives his best performance as “Will” while greeting patrons and guests.

More than 50 individual and business donors contributed to the success of the fundraiser.

Former Gov. George Nigh spoke of the day Will Rogers and Wiley Post died and how people stood in the streets in shock.

“The reason I will never forget that day is because grown men and women got out of their cars and embraced each other,” Nigh said.

“It was the first time I saw grown men cry,” Nigh said. “I will never forget the day the world stood still

Former Gov. George Nigh spoke candidly about his childhood memories of Will Rogers.

FALL 2013 Surrey 31

Wearing a red ribbon means more than being a donor, it shows your support for 75 years of history at the Will Rogers Museum.

32 FALL 2013 Surrey

for Will.”

Nigh honored the memory of Will, speaking of his impact on society and the world.

“What a thrill it is to this day when people around the world to this day say Oklahoma, oh Will Rogers,” Nigh said.

Kem Rogers and Jennifer RogersEtcheverry accepted the award honoring the founders and pioneers of the Will Rogers Museum.

Presented by Chief Bill John Baker, Nigh and Commission Chair Jim Hartz the award honored the Rogers family and their instrumental effort in the establishment of the memorial.

The Rogers family then dedicated the award to the museum to share it with the community and visitors to the memorial.

Keynote speaker Judge Robert Henry shared many memorable quotes and stories of Rogers’s life.

The evening’s entertainment included Country Fiddler Jana Jae, Trick Roping Title Holders Kowboy Kal Cook and Doug Smith, Tulsa Playboys, Mime Troy Scott and Tulsa Oratorio Chorus.

It was 75 years ago on Nov. 4, 1938 that the museum doors opened as an agency of the State of Oklahoma.

For many years, the museum has depended primarily on state funds to support all the functions from programming and salaries to maintenance and exhibit expansion.

A second night of Diamond Jubilee celebration was hosted Friday night at the Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, featuring Jessi Colter, Shooter Jennings and Red Dirt Rangers.

All proceeds from the concert were donated to support the Foundation.

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY F Zombies Hunt For Dar Castle in the Dark

11 Events From NOT Scary to VERY Scary!

Oct . 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, Oct. 18-19, 25-26, 31 Nov Nov.1-2 .1-2 www.okcastle.com

1-800 / 439-0658 FALL 2013 Surrey 33