ionOklahoma - April/May 2018 by don swift

ionOK.com

APRIL/MAY 2018

Todd Lamb,

Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence “Unique Way” Oklahomans Support Public Education

Enid native running for Oklahoma Governor

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Contents COVER STORY 14 Todd Lamb: Protecting, Serving, Renewing Oklahoma! John Cox

FILM

Filmmakers Shine at Red Dirt Festival by Tim Farley

Fritz Kiersch gives tips to young filmmakers by Tim Farley

32 EDUCATION 22 Oklahoma Foundation For Excellence: A Glimpse into a Unique Way Oklahomans Support the Public Education System by Don Swift

MUSIC

McKnight Center Chamber Music Festival

NON-PROFIT 42 Non-profits ONE AWARDS 82 Make A Wish Luncheon a Success TRAVEL 60 Artesian Arts Festival: Celebrating all forms of art 62 Travel memiors of a photographer: London 1968 by William S. McIntosh

FASHION 50 Suit Up! by Linda Miller

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GIFTS

Mother’s Day: To Mom, with love by Linda Miller

BUSINESS 72 Express Professionals: 35 Years of Success by Sheena Karami

COMMUNITY

Keep Oklahoma Beautiful

EVENTS 80 Memorial marathon takes off April 29 ART

36 45

2018 Festival of the Arts 2018 Western Heritage Awards by M. J. Van Deventer

REVIEWS

The Emerging Leader by Linda Miller

Killers of the Flower Moon by Jane Goodspeed

60 COMMENTARY 76 Teachers’ walkout more than anyone expected by John Thompson

SPORTS 78 OKC Dodgers 2018 Schedule 84 OKC Energy 2018 Schedule

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Welcome to the world of ion Oklahoma Online Magazine — we are all about the Oklahoma Lifestyle, people, places, events and travel.

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2018 will be an election year and for many Oklahomans living in our cities and towns across the state they will need to become much more knowledgeable about the critical issues and how they are negatively affecting our lives. The Oklahoma lawmakers need to hear that we expect them to come together in a bipartisan way and pass the educational reform that our state desperately needs and then balance the budget. Lawmakers need to understand teachers aren’t the only ones pleading for more state revenue even though they have been grabbing all the headlines. Many other states have been confronted with these same type budget problems and with strong leadership in their state governments found successful solutions. Oklahoma Legislators need to step up and ﬁnd those budget solutions for Oklahoma early in 2018. Oklahoma is a state that offers a very affordable quality lifestyle and many opportunities for entrepreneurial young people. Adequately funding education in Oklahoma must be a priority one in 2018. Oklahoma’s economy needs to become more diversiﬁed by attracting other industries. I would like to congratulate both Oklahoma City and Tulsa for being recognized nationally again in 2017 among two of the top cities in the nation for small business startups. Are you one of those who get much of their daily information over the internet and on your computer or smart phone? Ion Oklahoma Online www.ionok.com can be easily saved as one of your favorite news-entertainment websites. If you enjoy reading about many of Oklahoma’s success stories involving the progress Oklahoma and its people are making then you will want to bookmark ion Oklahoma. So many great things happening in Oklahoma don’t get much media coverage because of all the negative news being reported everyday. Let us hear from you regarding any feature stories about Oklahoma you would like for our editors to review, as we are always looking for those special stories to share with our ion subscribers. Sincerely, Don Swift Publisher, ion Oklahoma Magazine www.ionok.com

12 APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma

COVER STORY

TODD LAMB: Protecting, Serving, RENEWING Oklahoma! BY JOHN COX

When ionOklahoma last featured Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb in 2014, he was emphatic in articulating one of his passions as a public servant; to stop Oklahoma’s brain drain and to create a state full of economic, family and cultural opportunities for young professionals to call Oklahoma home for decades to come.

Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb, is one of multiple candidates campaigning for the Oklahoma Governor’s office in 2018.

14 ion Oklahoma APRIL/MAY 2018

Today, Todd Lamb is taking that message and several others of his RENEW Oklahoma plan to every corner of Oklahoma as he seeks the 2018 Republican nomination for governor within a crowded primary ﬁeld. Lamb grew up in Enid where his mother, Belva Lamb, still operates a twirling academy. His late father, Norman Lamb, was an attorney, football referee, state senator and former gubernatorial cabinet member overseeing the Oklahoma Department of Veteran Affairs during both Republican and Democrat administrations.

On a recent stop in Shawnee Todd visits with local manufacturers.

“As a state senator and lieutenant governor, my mission has always been to make a positive difference, and provide proven, conservative leadership at the state Capitol,” Lamb said. “When I am on the campaign trail in any of our 77 counties, I speak of my record as a proven, conservative leader within a wide variety of issues, including school security, economic development and right-to-life. It is a record not assembled on rhetoric, but on issues I am truly concerned about. As a state senator I led the override of former Governor Henry’s veto of pro-life legislation while also authoring leading school security legislation. As lieutenant governor, I created the Oklahoma

Todd Lamb is the only candidate with a proven track record of recruiting new jobs, and growing existing Oklahoma businesses.” —Todd Booze, President of Construction Ideal Homes, Norman

APRIL/MAY 2018 ionOklahoma 15

Todd and his late father, Norman Lamb. Left, Todd Lamb and his family.

Commission on School Security following the Sandy Hook tragedy in 2012 which resulted in the implementation of five key policies to strengthen security in Oklahoma schools and has now reconvened in the wake of the Parkland, Florida tragedy. My record illustrates that I have been a proven, conservative leader my entire career, and I look forward to transitioning my leadership ability to the governor’s office if Oklahoma voters provide me that opportunity.” Lamb, a former United States Secret Service Agent, has been spreading his RENEW Oklahoma message across Oklahoma in advance of the June 26th primary election, and his Secret Service background plays an integral role in his goal to become Oklahoma’s 28th chief executive officer. “When I was a United States Secret Service Agent, I was required to have a detailed plan and a backup plan. What I learned from this training is that a leader must always be prepared, and having a detailed plan is an integral component to being an effective leader. Whether it pertains to private or public business, community service, family life or just executing your everyday personal life, the more prepared you are, the more effective you are. I firmly 16 APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma

believe that.” To demonstrate his commitment to having a plan and sticking his convictions to implement the plan, Lamb often shares the story of a dangerous incident while protect-ing the President of the United States in a foreign land. “I remember it like it was yesterday. It was my first foreign assignment as a U.S. Secret Service Agent.” Lamb continues to tell the story of the event in Guatemala. Air Force One was landing and the President was soon to be on his way to the destination. A group of protesters began to swell in size and vitriol. Soon they began striking police cars with clubs and burning the American flag. Because of intense training, and previous experience as an agent, Lamb was familiar with difficult and dangerous situations. However, Lamb says that day in Guatemala was different and that he even found himself recounting the bullets he had available. “There was intensity in the crowd that made me concerned for the President’s arrival. As tensions rose, I stood firm, held my ground, executed the plan, enacted part of the contingency plan and remained focused on the mission at hand.” Transitioning from his Secret Service background to his

Members of Boy Scouts of America Troop 120 visit with Todd.

ﬁve-point RENEW Oklahoma plan comes naturally to the 46-year-old former college football player. “Oklahoma is a great state with wonderful people, but we are also a small state with a small tax base. The challenge is how do we lift Oklahoma up to be a global economic competitor, and how do we lift Oklahoma up to where we lead the nation in education outcomes, investing in transportation infrastructure, public safety and other public services? My RENEW Oklahoma plan is a great starting point.” The RENEW Oklahoma plan consists of ﬁve platforms:

Todd Lamb understands what Oklahoma must do to progress economically. As someone who works in the agriculture industry, I know how vital it is for agriculture to remain a sustainable industry, and for it to be protected against financially detrimental public policy. Todd has a detailed plan that not only supports agriculture but focuses on international trade of agriculture to ensure the financial longevity of rural Oklahoma.” — Tom Fanning – May, 2017 OCA Cattleman of the Year

REFORM GOVERNMENT: It is clear Oklahoma’s government is broken. Our solution starts with changing our budget process, moving to zero-based budgeting and holding unelected bureaucrats responsible for how our tax dollars are spent. We must reform our Medicaid program and address the billions of dollars of waste and government giveaways. EDUCATION: The status quo is unacceptable. We must pay Todd with Chuck and Victoria Perry of Grove at the Association of Realtors reception. APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma 17

Todd with members of the Buffalo FFA chapter.

our teachers more and increasing money spent in the classroom is key to accomplishing that goal. We have to put parents back in control, improve academic achievement and reduce administrative costs so we can get a minimum of 65% of every education dollar directly to the classroom. NEIGHBORHOODS: Where we raise our families is what really matters, and all Oklahomans deserve to feel secure in their homes and their neighborhoods. Whether it is a sprawling rural area, a small town or one of our metro areas, we must improve our communities. By focusing on the most basic functions of government: safety, infrastructure, access to health care and educational and economic opportunity, we will make Oklahoma a better state with a 77-county focus. 18 APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma

ECONOMIC GROWTH: Oklahoma must diversify its economy so we are no longer at the mercy of ﬂuctuations in the world’s commodity markets. Energy and agriculture remain the backbone of our economy. I am focused on economic development and recruitment of new types of businesses and jobs to our state. WORK: Work is what it will take to make Oklahoma better. Our citizens deserve a government that works, an education system that works, and our students must be prepared to work. I will work with Oklahomans from every corner of the state to be a part of tapping into our unique pioneering spirit to renew Oklahoma for the next generation. Todd Lamb has been an effective leader throughout his life, having been recognized as a leader in right-to-life efforts and as a champion for tort and workers’

compensation reform. His private sector experience includes working as a petroleum landman and as an executive in the telecommunications industry. He has received numerous awards from pro-business groups, and in 2012, was named recipient of the Christian Business Men’s Coalition Salt and Light Award. He and his wife of 22 years, Monica, have two children, Grifﬁn and Lauren, and attend Quail Springs Baptist Church where Todd serves as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. “I recite a simple message constantly on the campaign trail, and that is when I am a grandparent, Good Lord willing, I do not want to purchase an airline ticket to visit my grandchildren. I want to visit them in Oklahoma.” Oklahoma must address its institutional challenges to elevate our state to the worthy status our citizens expect.

In my opinion, there is no one more proven to lead Oklahoma as its next governor than Todd Lamb. Todd has the experience, work ethic, and most importantly, the vision to be a great chief executive officer for Oklahoma.” — Chuck Mills, President of Mills Machine Company, Shawnee APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma 19

Todd and campaign supporters at Clantons Cafe in Vinita.

If given the opportunity to lead Oklahoma as its next governor, I will work tirelessly to RENEW Oklahoma.â&#x20AC;? To learn more about Todd Lambâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s RENEW Oklahoma plan, visit VoteToddLamb.com, call the Lamb campaign headquarters at 405.252.4289, or follow the campaign on Facebook and Twitter. n For many years Todd has visited all 77 counties. Here he is in Texas County.

20 APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma

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EDUCATION

Oklahoma Foundation For Excellence A Glimpse into a Unique Way Oklahomans Support the Public Education System BY DON SWIFT

he year was 1985. Former Governor and U.S. Senator from Oklahoma, David L. Boren understood the value and importance for the State of Oklahoma to invest in public education. Senator Boren at the time wisely recruited a statewide group of Oklahoma business and community leaders to discuss ways of improving public education in the state.

These meetings were very productive and resulted in the creation of a nonproﬁt organization named the “Oklahoma Foundation For Excellence” whose mission would be recognizing and encouraging academic excellence in Oklahoma’s public schools. www.ofe.org Since 1987 the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence has awarded more than $4.6 million dollars in merit-based scholarships and awards to the best and brightest students and teachers in Oklahoma’s public schools through its Academic Awards Program. Will Durant, the great American writer, philosopher, once said, “Education is the transmission of civilization.” Durant delved into the study of several civilizations throughout history in some of his publications and noted the importance 22 ion Oklahoma APRIL/MAY 2018

of education as it applies to society, including its economic growth.

ACADEMIC AWARDS PROGRAM Since 1987, the Oklahoma Foundation For Excellence ﬂagship event has been the annual Academic Awards Banquet, where the foundation presents cash awards to recognize outstanding public high school seniors as Academic All-Staters and innovative public educators as Medal For Excellence award winners. David Boren has described the annual selection of 100 “Academic All-Staters” as “Oklahoma’s most rigorous competition” with recipients selected on the basis of academic achievement, extracurricular activities, and acommunity involvement. Five Medal For Excellence awards are presented annually to an innovative elementary, secondary, regional universitycommunity college and research university educator as well as to an elementary-secondary administrator. The Oklahoma Foundation For Excellence is a 501c (3) charitable organization supported solely by private contributions with an annual operating budget of over $1 million. In February, the Oklahoma Foundation For Excellence

announced the Oklahoma 2018 top 100 Academic All-Staters and top educators who will be honored at the 32nd annual Academic Awards Banquet on May 19th in the Embassy Suites Hotel Conference Center, Norman, Oklahoma. Each of this year’s All-Staters will receive a $1,000 merit-based scholarship and medallion. To be nominated students must meet one of the following criteria: ACT composite score of 30 or higher, a combined SAT score (in reading, writing, and math) of 1,340 or higher, or selected as semi-ﬁnalist for a National Merit Scholarship. Each of the ﬁve educators selected for the Medal For Excellence award will receive a $5,000 cash prize and a “Roots and Wings” sculpture, designed by the late Oklahoma artist Ron Roberts and produced by Tim Brown of Edmond.

Academic All-Staters are nominated by their principals or superintendents. Since the inception of the Academic Awards Banquet in 1987 over 3,200 high school seniors from 322 school districts have been named Academic All-Staters. The Academics Awards Program is made possible through the generous support of businesses, foundations, and individual donors, including many who serve as Academic All-State Scholars Partners. The selection committee is chaired by Tulsa Attorney Teresa B Adwan and works independently of all other foundation activities. The committee members are a diverse group of business, education, and civic leaders, as well as past Academic Award program honorees.

2018 Academic All-State Scholars Student Cory Rubertus Kylee Massey Kaden Gibson Kashen Gibson Ryan Oden Allison Knowles Allison Biddinger Amanda Bolinger Tanner Hummingbird Justin Koonce Chase Wilson Hanna Bowlin

School District Ada Adair Afton Afton Altus Arnett Bartlesville Beaver Berryhill Bethany Bethel Bixby

School Ada High School Adair High School Afton High School Afton High School Altus High School Arnett High School Bartlesville High School Beaver High School Berryhill High School Bethany High School Bethel High School Bixby High School

City Ada Adair Afton Afton Altus Arnett Bartlesville Beaver Tulsa Oklahoma City Shawnee Mounds APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma 23

2018 Academic All-State Scholars (continued) Student

“I do not need to tell you that many days it feels like the whole world is against teachers and education. It is a blessing to be able to tell my colleagues and to remind myself that the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence and its donors not only have our backs, but value what we do and are willing to invest financially to prove it. Thank you so much for all you do for Oklahoma teachers, not just sending us places and providing amazing learning experiences, but for making us FEEL valued and respected!” – Tulsa elementary teacher Kathleen Kendall-Walker, Professional Development Grant recipient

24 APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma

Thomas Martinez Jarrod Manning Hunter Janway Lauren Orr Ryne Garrison Leah Sander Maison Cook Jonathan de Gaston Natalie Evans Parker Williams John Joseph Ray Emilt Andrews May Fahrentbold Cassie Bisson Hanna Cook Brian Carlton Kiran Yeahwon Lee Emily Seiler Jay Eischen Daniel Campbell Colby Sutherland Brett Severin Kobe Johnson Lanie Kinney Ryan Zhu Tyler Abbott Avery Black Conner Hefferman Gabe Wilmot Sydney Lowe Alex Walls Jinho Ban Ethan Ho Theodore Stephens Jordan Bays Lauren Nguyen Tho Trinh Brendan Raper Braden Payne Jared Gilbertson Christopher Albert Ashley Jang Ella Moxley Bailey Baustert Tanner Phillips Charlotte Bailey Zachary Beebe Daisy Butzer Sydney Vu Breck Gilespie

School District Bixby Blanchard Broken Arrow Broken Bow Burns Flat-Dill City Cheyenne Chisolm Choctaw-Nicoma Park Claremore Clinton Coweta Deer Creek Deer Creek Durant Durant Edmond Edmond Edmond Elgin Fairview Fletcher Foyil Garber Henryetta Jenks Jenks Jones Lawton Lawton Maysville McAlester Miami MWC-Del City MWC-Del City MWC-Del City Moore Moore Moore Morrison Mountain View-Gotebo Newcastle Norman Norman Norman Okarche Okarche Oklahoma City Oklahoma City Oklahoma City Oklahoma City Oklahoma Union

School Bixby High School Blanchard High School Broken Arrow High School Broken Bow High School Burns Flat-Dill City HS Cheyenne High School Chisolm High School Choctaw High School Claremore High School Clinton High School Coweta High School Deer Creek High School Deer Creek High School Durant High School Durant High School Edmond Santa Fe HS Edmond North HS Edmond Memorial HS Elgin High School Fairview High School Fletcher High School Foyil High School Garber High School Henryetta High School Jenks High School Jenks High School Jones High School Eisenhower High School MacArthur High School Maysville High School McAlester High School Miami High School Carl Albert High School Del City High School Carl Albert High School Westmoore High School Westmoore High School Southmoore High School Morrison High School Mountain View-Gotebo HS Newcastle High School Norman High School Norman North High School Norman North High School Okarche High School Okarche High School Classen School of Adv Studies Pathways Middle College HS Classen School of Adv Studies Classen School of Adv Studies Oklahoma Union High School

City Bixby Blanchard Broken Arrow Broken Bow Burns Flat Cheyenne Enid Choctaw Claremore Clinton Coweta Edmond Oklahoma City Durant Durant Edmond Edmond Edmond Mountain View Fairview Fletcher Chelsea Garber Henryetta Tulsa Tulsa Jones Lawton Lawton Maysville LcAlester Miami Choctaw Oklahoma CIty Midwest City Oklahoma City Oklahoma City Oklahoma City Morrison Mountain View Newcastle Norman Norman Norman Okarche Okarche Oklahoma CIty Norman Oklahoma CIty Edmond Welch

Student Natalie Berryman Jamie Marrara Aniket Dehadrai Dominick Cammuso Faith Letzkus Jusin Derby Whieﬁeld Melissa Green Tyson Harris Areli Villabos Kylanna Hardaway Elizabeth Wennekamp Ashley Howard Alyssa Noel Bali Ong Jack Thompson Brody Hedges Garret Johnson Kaylie Smith Simon Devlin Alexa Sailee William West Ashley Bivens Hanna Hill Ivee Baker Corbin Slattery Eli Brock Cassandra Powell Maya Rogers Joshua Anderson Ferinand Mudjialim Josephine Uerling Jacob Schoeling Kelsey Moore Haley Smith Jackson Li Seth Sims

School District Okmulgee Oologah-Talala OSSM Owasso Owasso Pauls Valley Piemont Plainview Ponca City Poteau Pryor Purcell Putnam City Putnam City Sand Springs Seiling Skiatook Spiro Stillwater Stillwater Stuart Sulphur Sweetwater Talequah Thomas-Fay-Custer Tulsa Tulsa Tulsa Union Union Union Verdigris Wagoner Walters Weatherford Woodward

School Okmulgee High School Oologah High School OK School of Science & Math Owasso High School Owasso High School Pauls Valley High School Piedmont High School Plainview High School Ponca City High School Poteau High School Pryor High School Purcell High School Putnam City North HS Putnam City North HS Charles Page High School Seiling High School Skiatook High School Spiro High School Stillwater High School Stillwater High School Stuart High School Sulpher High School Sweeetwater High School Talequah High School Thomas-Fay-Custer HS Booker T Washington HS Booker T Washington HS Booker T Washington HS Union High School Union High School Union High School Verdigris High School Wagoner High School Walters High School Weatherford High School Woodward High School

City Okmulgee Claremore Norman Owasso Owasso Paoli Piedmont Ardmore Ponca City Poteau Pryor Purcell Oklahoma City Oklahoma City Sand Springs Mutual Skiatook Spiro Stillwater Stillwater Stuart Sulphur Sayre Talequah Thomas Tulsa Tulsa Tulsa Tulsa Broken Arrow Broken Arrow Claremore Wagoner Walters Weatherford Woodward

“The Academic Awards Banquet was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We were treated like VIPs throughout the day as we mingled with the greatest minds in Oklahoma. Being able to meet with David Boren for an extended amount of time sparked a flame of passion for teaching and leaving the world a better place than we found it. The banquet itself was a ceremony of honor that emphasized the importance of greatness in the classroom and inspired us to strive for greatness in the future as well.” – Rachel Yauk, Academic All-State Alumna

The 2018 Awards Banquet Keynote Speaker is Johann Neem, a historian of the America Revolution and the early American Republic. The author of such works as “Democracy’s Schools: the Rise of Public Education in America.” Neem will speak on the history and importance of public education in a Democracy. Neem received his BA from Brown University. He went on to complete his PhD at the University of Virginia. Neem is currently a Professor of History at Western Washington University and a Senior Fellow of the University of Virginia’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture. The Academic Awards Banquet is open to the public and friends, family members, and relatives of the honorees are welcome to join them at the Awards Banquet for the admission price of only $50. Other Foundation For Excellence programs include a Local Education Foundation Outreach Program, Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute Fellowships, Teacher Grants for Professional Development and the David and Molly Mentoring Initiative. APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma 25

“The entire week at the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute was magical, from walking the Duke of Gloucester Street and visiting Jamestown where the first English settlers fought for survival, to seeing the Capitol where we debated our independence just as the colonists had in 1776. Not only have I gained a wealth of knowledge, materials and activities that can be shared with my students, but I now have the ability to see things from the perspective of colonists. This helps to bring history to life for my students.” – Beverly McCutchan, Poteau Upper Elementary School teacher and 2017 Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute participant

Nicholas Grant of the Spiro Education Foundation and Susie Thurmond of the Cheyenne Educational Foundation share strategies for success for small foundations during the 2017 Fall Forum for Local Education Foundations. “The Fall Forum is always a good day with helpful information. We will continue to be back and try to bring more of our board members each time to experience it and get some much needed understanding and insight.” – 2017 Fall Forum for Local Education Foundations participant 26 APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma

Recognizing and Encouraging Academic Excellence in Oklahoma’s Public Schools While the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence is best known for its Academic Awards Banquet honoring the state’s leading public school students and educators, the foundation sponsors programs throughout the year to strengthen public education in Oklahoma. Through its Local Education Foundation Outreach Program, the foundation provides free technical support and training to start and support local school foundations across the state and sponsors the Fall Forum for Local Education Foundations and other training events for foundation volunteers and public school supporters. Among its other initiatives, the Foundation for Excellence coordinates a summer fellowship program to send Oklahoma ﬁfth- and eighth- grade teachers to the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute. Inspired by David and Molly Boren’s passion for mentoring, the foundation’s Boren Mentoring Initiative promotes the growth and establishment of quality youth mentoring programs throughout Oklahoma. Through the initiative, the foundation works with school districts, businesses, faith groups and mentoring organizations to promote mentoring as a positive step toward academic success. The foundation also administers Professional Develop-ment Grants for

Mentor Day 2018, Merritt Mentors present a award to student Brad Posey

Teachers to attend national conferences and institutes, and partners with the national Fund for Teachers and the Tulsa Community Foundation to provide grants for self-designed summer professional development oppor-tunities for teachers in locations around the world. Thanks to generous bridge funding from the national Fund for Teachers, 852 Oklahoma educators have received Fund for Teachers grants totaling more than $3 million since 2006.

THE DAVID AND MOLLY BOREN MENTORING INITIATIVE David and Molly Boren are indeed to be commended for their vision of creating a mentoring program and culture within the Oklahoma Foundation For Excellence. They understood the impact that mentoring can make on a student’s success in and out of the classroom. The mission of the mentoring initiative was to promote the growth and development of quality youth mentoring programs statewide.

Mentoring is most often deﬁned as a professional relationship in which an experienced person(the mentor) assists another (the mentee) in developing speciﬁc skills and knowledge that willenhance the less-experienced person’s professional and personal growth. The Foundation has established a directory of more than 160 mentoring organizations statewide and provides opportunities for networking, training, and promotion among its mentoring partners. The program works with school districts, community leaders, businesses, faith groups, and mentoring organizations to promote the growth of mentoring. David Boren, Chairman of the Oklahoma Foundation For Excellence has often said “We know that education is the best investment Oklahoma can make in its future” and he has followed his vision during the past 32 years now leading this very worthwhile Foundation and investment in Oklahoma. n

APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma 27

FILM

F ILMMA KE R S SH IN E AT

RED DIRT FESTIVAL BY TIM FARLEY

ouisiana movie producer Tom Bhramayana was a happy man during the awards ceremony at the Red Dirt Film Festival in Stillwater. The first-time movie producer made five trips to the stage to accept awards for the film “Tinker,” which collected the most wins of any film. “Tinker” won for best narrative feature, best direction, best actor, best supporting actor and best production design. The film’s director was Sonny Marler. Film festival chief operating officer and actress Erin Elizabeth Cook, a 1998 graduate of Yukon High School, was thrilled with the films that were nominated for awards. “Having winners like Shia LeBeouf, Colman Domingo, Clayne Crawford, Tom Bhramayana and Sonny Marler says a lot about how the quality of our fest is growing,” she said. “It was also fantastic to see so many local filmmakers take home awards for their hard work.” Bhramayana said the film is attractive to everyone because it strikes so many human emotions. “The messages in the movie are about compassion, love and caring,” he said. “We wanted it to be inspirational and PG.” 28 ion Oklahoma APRIL/MAY 2018

Tinker centers on a hermit farmer who discovers his late father’s secret journal containing plans to a magnetic powered machine that could change the world. At the same time, the farmer becomes custodian of his gifted 6-year-old nephew after the boy’s mother dies. “I wanted something I would be proud to show my mama,” said Bhramayana, who developed the story and wrote the screenplay. People who watched the film during last weekend’s festival provided rave reviews, which was exciting for festival organizers. “We were honored to have quality films like Tinker, Nothingman and Long Goodbye in addition to a lot of other greats,” Cook said. “It’s amazing to see what can be done with a low budget. The submissions get better and better every year.” Several films had direct Oklahoma connections including “Long Goodbye,” which was directed by 2003 University of Oklahoma graduate Christopher Vernale. In addition,

Indiana State University professor Brent Simonds, formerly of Holdenville, directed the documentary feature “Sweet Dreams Do Come True,” which is a musical memoir of veteran Nashville songwriter Verlon Thompson, who was raised in Binger. Oklahoma actor and director Ben Richardson also won the best Oklahoma film with “Repercussion.” Two special awards were presented to men with Oklahoma ties. The first Shawnee Brittan Mark of Excellence Award went to Matthew Mungle who spent a career as one of the top makeup artists in Hollywood. Mungle, who was born in Durant, has been nominated four times for an Academy Award in the Best Makeup category, winning in 1992 for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Mungle also was nominated for “Albert Nobbs,” “Ghosts of Mississippi,” and “Schindler’s List.” He has also received 26 Emmy nominations, winning six times. Festival organizers presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Oklahoma City resident and longtime Hollywood director Fritz Kiersch who began his directorial debut with “Children of the Corn” in 1984. He directed several other movies including “The Hunt,” and “Surveillance.” Kiersch also developed film programs at Oklahoma City Community College and Oklahoma City University. During a presentation last Saturday, Kiersch told eager actors and filmmakers the movie business has a plethora of peaks and valleys. “I’ve made a huge income and I’ve struggled. It’s a wonderful experience. Just jump in,” he said. n APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma 29

FILM

Surviving Hollywood Filmmaker Fritz gives tips to aspiring young directors, producers at Red Dirt Film Festival BY TIM FARLEY News Editor

acclaimed horror film Children of the Corn. The film was released in March 1984 and turned out to be a box office smash financially speaking. The movie had a $800,000 budget and grossed $14.5 million. After spending 35 years in Tinseltown as a screenwriter, Speaking to a group of aspiring filmmakers at the Red director and producer, Kiersch decided enough was enough. Dirt festival, Kiersch said, “it’s all governed by the money.” He was going to take decades of movie knowledge and help In his next breath, Kiersch urged his listeners to “just younger people learn the filmmaking craft. jump in.” Today, he’s the head of Point Park University’s Cinema “I’ve been all over the world,” he told them. “I’ve had a Arts program. Point Park is in huge income and I’ve Pittsburgh, Pa. struggled. It’s a wonderful Kiersch developed the However, this isn’t the first experience.” time Kiersch made his impact on cinema and film departments But after years of directing, young college students. Kiersch, at Oklahoma City Community writing and producing films in who has a home in Oklahoma Hollywood, Kiersch put that part College and Oklahoma City City, developed the cinema and of his life on old and decided to University at the request of teach others about the movie film departments at Oklahoma City Community College and business. He accepted a school officials. Oklahoma City University at the challenge from Oklahoma City request of school officials. Community College to develop a moving images program. Kiersch was a featured speaker at the Red Dirt Film “The idea started small and we would roll out the Festival, which was held March 28-31 at Oklahoma State curriculum as it grew,” he recalled. University. During the awards ceremony, Kiersch was Within a couple of semesters, students were flocking to presented a Lifetime Achievement award for his filmmaking the program as it became one of the most popular at the work, which included his directorial debut for the two-year school. Five years later, the moving images

ritz Kiersch is teaching college students the finer points of surviving Hollywood as a filmmaker.

30 ion Oklahoma APRIL/MAY 2018

program became a degree program of its own. Kiersch later turned his attention to developing a similar program at Oklahoma City University after receiving a call from then-school President Tom McDaniel. “We started from scratch. I remember my first office was the janitor’s closet, but every year we built and built,” he said. After five years, the program was up and running at full speed. Now, OCU offers a degree in film production with a complete schedule of courses that range from introduction to film studies to production design, on-camera acting, cinematography and film editing. Although OCCC and OCU have successful film programs, colleges often leave out the financial side of the business. “Young people need skill sets in managing their careers. They need to learn about invoices because it’s all about the money,” Kiersch said. “You have college academic programs that provide the theoretical, but the practical side takes money.” Kiersch applauded the young filmmakers for their willingness to enter a tough industry that is highly competitive. “This is a global industry, so don’t be afraid to do the small projects. Eventually, the small projects you do will get you a call for a much bigger project,” he said. Turning his attention to Oklahoma’s filmmaking industry, Kiersch urged the young writers, directors and producers to use the state as a venue for their movies. Oklahoma has a film rebate program that provides generous financial incentives to filmmakers. “Hollywood is in Oklahoma,” he said. “We have trained people who are making films right here.” The most recent example is the box office smash “I Can Only Imagine,” which is a Christian-themed film about the life of Bart Millard, who wrote the hit song with the same name as the movie. Millard is the lead singer of the Christian band MercyMe.

Fritz Kiersch, Mary Ledet-Eaton and Shawnee Britton

Most of the movie was shot in Oklahoma, including scenes at the downtown Civic Center, Centennial Rodeo Opry, OKC Farmer’s Public Market, a farm in Yukon and Del City’s Castle Row Studios. Who can forget the movie Twister, with its story about tornado trackers. Wakita, OK, played a big role in the movie and the University of Oklahoma’s Owen Field was part of the film. Part of the Academy Award winning film Rain Man was shot in Oklahoma. Other films made in the state include Phenomenon, Elizabethtown, Dillinger, Splinter and AllAmerican Murder. n APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma 31

MUSIC

McKnight Center Chamber Music Festival

ore than 1,500 people attended a week of concerts in mid-April as part of The McKnight Center Chamber Music Festival in Stillwater, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. “The crowd reaction was very good. We had numerous standing ovations,” said Heidi Kelley, spokeswoman for the McKnight Performing Arts Center. “I believe the musicians enjoyed themselves and were very happy to be part of this inaugural event.” The concerts featured a variety of world-renowned and talented chamber musicians including famed concert pianist Anne-Marie McDermott, who served as the festival’s artistic director and was responsible for recruiting each of the musicians and organizing the programming for each concert. McDermott’s career spans more than 25 years as a soloist and collaborator. With more than 50 concerts in her repertoire, McDermott has performed with many leading orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, the Zurich Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Mexico among many others. She also is a member of the Chamber Music Society at Lincoln Center. Amy Schwartz Moretti

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Anne-Marie McDermott

Susanna Phillips

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Bruce Adolphe

The festival’s musicians included: Alex Kerr – violin, concertmaster of Dallas Symphony Amy Schwartz Moretti – violin, former concertmaster of Oregon Symphony, head of Strings at McDufﬁe School for Strings Roberto Diaz – viola, former Principal Viola of Philadelphia Orchestra and current President of Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia Christopher Costanza – cello, St. Lawrence String Quartet Todd Levy – clarinet, Principal Clarinet of Milwaukee Symphony and Santa Fe Opera Orchestra

34 APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma

Christopher Costanza

Susanna Phillips – soprano, Metropolitan Opera Singer Bruce Adolphe – composer, musicologist and educator, member of Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center The festival included three intimate ticketed soiree performances with unique performances in Stillwater, tulsa and Oklahoma City; masterclasses for OSU students, a music-education concert for area elementary students and a free concert in Stillwater. Each of the three soiree performances included a preconcert reception and post-concert dinner. n

Todd Levy

Architectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s renderings of the McKnight Center at OSU

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ART

Festival of the Arts

36 ion Oklahoma APRIL/MAY 2018

returns to OKC Features nation’s fines artists, food favorites, expanded children’s art field The annual Festival of the Arts returns to Oklahoma City April 24-29 with more than 140 of the nation’s finest artists, an expanded children’s art field, returning food favorites, culinary demonstrations and three performing arts stages featuring over 250 performances. The 2018 Festival in Bicentennial Park marks the 52nd annual event for Arts Council Oklahoma City. Event co-chairs for this year’s festival are Molly McBride and Paul Tyler. Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through

APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma 37

Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free, and the festival is expected to attract more than 700,000 visitors. More than 400 artists submitted visual art for the Festival jury process and 144 were selected with media including oils, water, drawing and printmaking, photography, ceramics, glass, sculpture, fiber, jewelry, wood and two and three-dimensional works. Continuing its celebration of the culinary arts, the Festival will feature 31 vendors in International Food Rows with proceeds benefitting local nonprofit organizations. This year’s event features an expanded children’s art field where participants can complete three art projects for $3. The face painting area also will include more extensive options in addition to the traditional $1 designs. All proceeds from Festival of the Arts support Arts Council Oklahoma City’s year-round, free and low-cost 38 APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma

Right: Joy Richardson is the Designated Artist 2018 Festival of the Arts OKC

arts programming throughout the greater Oklahoma City community. Arts Council Oklahoma City is a non-profit 501 ÂŠ(3) organization dedicated to bringing the arts and the community together through free or low-cost cultural events and a variety of arts outreach activities that impact underserved populations. Each year, Arts Council events, programs and services reach nearly one million Oklahoma City residents and visitors. Arts Council Oklahoma City is sponsored by Devon Energy Corporation, MidFirst Bank,

Inasmuch Foundation, The Oklahoman and NewsOK.com, OGE Energy Corporation, Ozarka Water & Coffee Service, Sonic - Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Drive-in, ICG, Toucan Production, Oklahoma City Thunder and Tyler Media. Arts Council Oklahoma City receives funding from the Oklahoma Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Kirkpatrick Family Foundation and is an Allied Arts member agency. For more information, call 405-270-4848 or visit www.ArtsCouncilOKC.com. n

APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma 39

REVIEW

Book details lessons for emerging leaders BY LINDA MILLER

hat does it take to be a successful leader?

Simple question, but the answer isn’t simply hard work, knowledge or passion, though those are good starts and attributes of most emerging leaders. David Lewis says those who want to become an emerging leader in today’s economy often need a roadmap to reach the goals they desire professionally and sometimes personally. He provides that direction in his book “The Emerging Leader: Eight Lessons for Life in Leadership,” now in its second edition. Lewis says it’s the help many need to advance their career with a positive reputation. One of the ﬁrst lessons is to turn loose of any belief that you deserve success or recognition. He calls that the entitlement attitude. “You will not reach your full potential if you believe you are entitled to that success,” he writes. That also applies to repeatedly using excuses – from lack of education to race, gender or age. They’re all excuses. Learn to navigate through disadvantages. Throughout the book Lewis shares interesting and enlightening stories about how others – from coaches to presidents to Noah — have navigated and succeeded. 40 ion Oklahoma APRIL/MAY 2018

Every lesson drives home a point. Prepare instead of procrastinate. Outwork the competition during your window of opportunity. When the time comes to lead, be prepared internally regardless of the conditions outside. Sustained success is about continued planting and building a network of supporters. Lewis also relates his own personal experiences, including a feeling of insecurity at one point in his life. “Those who become emerging leaders learn to use the obstacles of our past, and often those obstacles in our present, as our fuel. It is up to us individually to decide if we are a victim or if we are a victor,” he writes. Mastering the eight lessons cannot be accomplished in a lifetime, Lewis writes. However, he reminds readers to ask themselves, “Did I do better than yesterday? The answer better be ‘Yes.’ “ Lewis is vice president of franchising for Express Employment Professionals based in Oklahoma City and is well-versed in leadership topics and workplace dynamics. This is a small, easy book to read and a good source for anyone wanting to become an emerging leader – or a better leader. Just 114 pages, but they’re packed with wisdom and wit. Cost is $9.99, available on Amazon.

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NON-PROFIT

Non-Profits

ONE AWARDS

deadCenter Film Oklahoma City

The Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits announced that Tulsa Area United Way has won the 2018 Tulsa Community Foundation Award for Excellence, as well as receiving a $10,000 grant. The Center held its eleventh annual Oklahoma Nonprofit Excellence (ONE) Awards on April 15 in Tulsa, honoring 24 nonprofits from throughout the state for superior leadership and exceptional service to their constituents and communities. “Every year, the ONE Awards honors the best of the best of the nonproﬁts in Oklahoma,” Marnie Taylor, President and CEO of the Oklahoma Center for Nonproﬁts, said. “This year’s winner of the Tulsa Community Foundation Award for 42 ion Oklahoma APRIL/MAY 2018

Excellence, the Tulsa Area United Way, is a deserving winner. It is lauded throughout the country as being one of the best, and we’re thrilled they were honored with the top ONE Award this year.

A New Leaf Tulsa

The ONE Awards honors a total of 24 organizations in eight categories: arts and humanities, community, education, health services, open services, self-sufﬁciency, seniors, and youth development. Additionally, the Center names an overall winner of the event sponsored by the Tulsa Community Foundation. All 24 nonproﬁts receive at least a $5,000 prize, and category winners receive $7,500. The overall winner receives a grand prize of $10,000. “We couldn’t do this without the generous foundations, corporations, tribes, individuals and volunteers to the ONE Awards,” Taylor said. “They really go above and beyond to

Pencil Box - Tulsa

Home of Hope Vinita

make this night special. Because of their generosity, we are able to give $142,500 out in grants to these 24 nonproﬁts. That will have real impact in the communities.” Finalists in each category are as follows (category winners designated by an asterisk): The Chickasaw Nation Award for Arts & Humanities: deadCenter Film, * Norman Firehouse Arts Center, Red Earth Potts Family Foundation Award for Community: Tulsa Area United Way,* Latino Community Development Agency, Sara’s project

Latino Community Development Agency Oklahoma City

APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma 43

Red Earth, Oklahoma City

t Firehouse Art Center, Norman

44 APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma

Moran Family Foundation and Inasmuch Foundation Award for Education: General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum,* Pets Helping People, The Pencil Box The Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation and Herman Kaiser Foundation Award for Health Services: Jim Riley Outreach*, Parkside, Tulsa County Medical Society Foundation Express Employment Professionals Award for Self-Sufficiency: The Curbside Chronicle*, Palomar: Oklahoma City’s Family Justice Center, 12&12 Boeing Award for Seniors: TSHA*, Healthy Living OKC, Claremore Senior Citizen’s Center The H.A. and Mary K. Chapman Charitable Foundations Award for Youth Development: A New Leaf*, Bridges of Norman, Loveworks Leadership Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Chahta Foundation and Cherokee Nation Open Category Award: Opportunities, Inc. CAA*, Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra, Home of Hope This year’s grants bring the total awards for Oklahoma Nonprofit Excellence to more than $1.65 million to nonprofit organizations in Oklahoma. Past Award of Excellence winners have included McCall’s Chapel School, Inc., United Way of Central Oklahoma, Myriad Gardens, Elder Care, Little Light House, Oklahoma FFA Foundation, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Mental Health Association in Tulsa, Oklahoma Blood Institute and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. Nonprofits may use the prize money as they see fit to aid current programs or make transformational changes for their organizations. n

ARTS

Western Movie Stars Highlight Western Heritage Awards BY M.J. VAN DEVENTER

ovie stars who have graced the Western screen for several decades were among the celebrities attending the 58th Western Heritage Awards gala during the weekend of April 13-14 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

Sam Elliott and Katharine Ross emcee the 2018 Western Heritage Awards

APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma 45

Bruce Boxleitner and Wyatt McCrea present award at 2018 Western Heritage Awards.

Among those stars were Sam Elliott and his wife, Katherine Ross, who served as emcees for the star-studded evening. This celebrated duo was no stranger to the Museum stage. Both have been honored previously with WHA awards. Actor Barry Corbin, also no stranger to the Museum podium, was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers as was Lynn Anderson, (1947-2015). All the honorees receive a handsome bronze statue of “The Wrangler,” a cowboy on horseback created by Harold H. Holden, a Kremlin, Oklahoma artist and a 2017 Hall of Great Westerners inductee. The distinguished award recognizes people from a variety of walks of life who have made signiﬁcant contributions to the American West. In her ﬁrst appearance at WHA, the Museum’s new President and CEO, Natalie Shirley, said, “This exciting evening represents the highest echelon for Western songwriters, musicians, entertainers, artists, writers and 46 APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma

promoters. Each honoree demonstrates the Code of the West philosophy of doing hard work to create a sense of community where integrity and courage bring out the best in people. We could not be more thrilled to honor these exceptional individuals.” A new award this year – the Western Visionary Award – was presented to Philip Anschutz, a Colorado resident and owner of The Anschutz Collection of impressive Western art. He once hosted the Museum’s Prix de West Society for a private showing of this collection at his museum in Denver. Forbes Magazine named Anschutz one of its “100 Greatest Living Business Minds.” The award recognizes an individual who has made a signiﬁcant contribution and a national impact in preserving and protecting Western Heritage and its ideals. Inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners were Jim Odle and Walter Vail (1852-1906.) Randy Cate received the

Michael Martin Murphey presents an award at 2018 Western Heritage Awards.

Chester A. Reynolds Award, named for the Museum’s original founder in 1955. The gala black-tie evening celebrates creative works in literature, music, film, and television that reflect the significant stories of the Western genre. Among sponsors for the evening were Pitchfork Cattle

Company, LLC, Wrangler, and Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Museum Partners include Devon and the E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation, and Community Partners include OG&E, Oklahoma City’s Adventure District, Allied Arts, Adventure Road, and American Alliance of Museums.

Other honorees include: FILM & TELEVISION AWARDS Theatrical Motion Picture – Wind River starring Kelsey Asbille, Elizabeth Olsen, Jeremy Renner, and Julia Jones, directed and written by Taylor Sheridan, produced by Acacia Filmed Entertainment, Film 44, Savvy Media Holdings Fictional Drama – Homecoming, Godless, S1, E7, starring Jack O’Connell and Michelle Dockery, directed and written by Scott Frank, produced by Netﬂix Documentary – Floating Horses: The Life of Casey Tibbs, directed and written by Justin Koehler, produced by Nowlin Town Productions APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma 47

John Wayne's granddaughter, Anita Swift, and Rex Linn present 2018 Western Heritage Awards.

Western Lifestyle Program – Today’s Wild West, S.1 E6, directed and written by Mark Bedor, produced by Today’s Wild West Docudrama – Home on the Range, starring Buck Taylor, directed by Ken Spurgeon, produced by Lone Chimney Films Television Feature Film – Unspoken: America’s Native American Boarding Schools, directed and written by John Howe, produced by KUED/PBS

LITERARY AWARDS Magazine Article – “All American Indian Days and the Miss Indian America Pageant” Montana: The Magazine of Western History by Gregory Nickerson, published by Montana: The Magazine of Western History Poetry Book – Wooden Lions by Karla Morton, published by Texas Review Press Western Novel – Stranded: A Story of Frontier Survival by Matthew P. Mayo, published by Five Star Publishing 48 APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma

Michelle Dockery in Godless

Nonfiction Book – Lakota Performers in Europe: Their Culture and the Artifacts They Left Behind by Steve Friesen, published by University Press of Oklahoma Press Art/Photography Book – Once Upon a Time…The Western: A New Frontier in Art and Film, Editors: Thomas Brent Smith and Mary-Dailey Desmarais, published by 5 Continents Editions with Denver Art Museum and Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Juvenile Book – Lotta Crabtree: Gold Rush Fairy Star by Lois V. Harris, published by Pelican Publishing Co.

MUSIC AWARDS Original Western Composition – “A Nickel A Head,” recording artists K.R. Wood and Michael Martin Murphey, composed by K.R. Wood. Traditional Western Album – “Take Me Back to Texas,” recording artist Maye Kaye, produced by Don’t Fence Me In Records n

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FASHION

! P U T I U S BY LINDA MILLER

SUMMER IS FAST APPROACHING. It’s only natural that our thoughts turn to swimwear. Beach vacations. Weekends at the lake. Backyard pool parties. Who better to share what’s in store than Megan Barnes, owner of L.A. Sun & Sport, Oklahoma City’s only year-round swimwear destination. “It’s that time of year again where sunshine, swimsuits and sun-kissed skin are on the brain,” Barnes said. With so many trends in swimwear, it may be difﬁcult to choose just one, she said.

All suits from L.A. Sun & Sport Top: Beach Bunny sequin bikini, top $146, bottom, $132. Middle: Beach Bunny stripe knot bikini, top $130, bottom, $95. Bottom: Beach Bunny lace gun powder bikini, top and bottom, $130 each.

50 ion Oklahoma APRIL/MAY 2018

Left: Burgundy one-piece with high-neck and side cut-outs, $178. Below: Aqua Clara green and blue print one-piece with plunging neckline, $175.

Left: Coral crochet off-the-shoulder bikini by Luli Fama, top $102, bottom $90, all suits from L.A. Sun & Sport. Below: Rainbow colored cover-up by Luli Fama, $163.

“One-piece swimsuits are huge this year. Everything from the sky-high sides to plunging necklines and everything in between. One pieces are starting to be seen as sexy and even the women who usually gravitate towards a bikini have been jumping on this trend.” Those who prefer a bikini won’t be disappointed though. “The bikini is still selling like crazy and has trends such as off-theshoulder tops, ﬁtted tube tops with arm bands, high necks with cut outs, knotted front tops and lots of rufﬂes,” Barnes said. “The ‘70s inspiration is still trending and is showing up this season with grommets, lace-ups and an earth tone color palette as well as other colors.” So, show more skin or less. Go for feminine or sporty. Embrace details such as lacing, belts or mesh. It’s time to dive in. n

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GIFTS

BY LINDA MILLER

Mother’s Day rolls around every year, but finding the perfect gift isn’t always easy. Should it be flowers or fragrance? Maybe a gift card to her favorite shoe or clothing store? It doesn’t have to be the most creative gift, but it’s always important to keep someone’s likes in mind. Most of all, let her know she’s special. To help, here are a few suggestions. Statement earrings are a big trend. Anna and Ava blue floral earrings, $30 at Dillard’s. Scalloped bone frame by Opalhouse, Target’s new collection. 4x6 size, $14.99. Add a family photo for a special touch.

54 ion Oklahoma APRIL/MAY 2018

Does she love the smell of ﬂowers? Miu Miu’s new L’eau Rosée fragrance is created from lily of the valley and cassis buds. 1.7-ounce eau de toilette spray, $81 at Sephora. Can’t afford to give her a beach getaway? Consider a Bath & Body Works candle with scents reminiscent of the islands. $24.50.

A little arm candy is always a good idea. Rustic Cuff, based in Tulsa, offers dozens of colors and styles. Stores are in Spring Creek in Edmond, Classen Curve in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

Wrap up a new agate iPhone 8 or 8 Plus case and she’ll think of you every time she gets a call. $30 by Casery at Jonque Mode, Paseo Arts District. n

APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma 55

COMMUNITY

Keep Oklahoma Beautiful Photos Provided

n estimated 60,000 Oklahomans will join millions nationwide from now until the end of May in the 2018 Great American Cleanup thanks to the efforts of Keep Oklahoma Beautiful (KOB). “We are so proud to continue to be a state that has had 100 percent county participation for eight consecutive years, hoping to achieve nine this year,” said Jeanette Nance, executive director of Keep Oklahoma Beautiful. Individuals and groups wishing to participate in the Great American Cleanup in Oklahoma must register through Keep Oklahoma Beautiful. Registered groups can receive free cleanup supplies, program materials and grant opportunities. Free supplies include trash bags, gloves, vests, water, tshirts and promotional banners. The ﬁrst shipment of supplies for more than 267 events have already been disseminated throughout the state.

Redland United Methodist Church 2018

56 ion Oklahoma APRIL/MAY 2018

“Groups have begun their events and we are so proud to be able to supply them,” Nance said. The largest one-day cleanup during the Great American Cleanup in Oklahoma is the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s “Trash-Off,” which was scheduled for April 21. The Great American Cleanup in Oklahoma is sponsored by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, ODOT, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Oklahoma Beverage Association, Oklahoma Environmental Management Authority, OGE Energy Corporation, P&K Equipment, Warren CAT, Waste Connections, Waste Management and American Waste Control, Inc. KOB is a statewide nonproﬁt with a mission to empower Oklahoma citizens to preserve and enhance the state’s natural beauty and ensure a healthy, sustainable environment. “During this season (spring), we have multiple things

Redland United Methodist Church

happening at the time, which is why spring is so exciting for the KOB ofďŹ ces,â&#x20AC;? Nance said. Recently, Nance joined ODOT Director Mike Patterson to present an End Litter check to Mooreland High School. The students were challenged to make a 3045 second video highlighting the cost of littering in Oklahoma. In addition, the video showed ways to combat littering and the effects of illegal dumping. Large tree planting Recycling

Friends of KOB

UP with Trees APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma 57

Twin Cities Revitalization

Mooreland High School '18

SWOSU End Ltter Winner. 58 APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma

Oklahoma Turnpike Authority

The students collaborated and were awarded an equal portion of the $750 check. The students who participated are Jane Curry, Hunter Vaughan, Logan Maher, Kimber McNaught, Madison Syms and Kereeya Thavanapong. “While all of this is going on, we have a unique regional workshop happening April 26 at the Wilshire Gun Range,” Nance said. The workshop is focused on any law enforcement ofﬁcers, providing them with four hours of CLEET certiﬁed training in connection with littering and illegal dumping. KOB is able to host the workshop in collaboration with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. “Keep Oklahoma Beautiful is as busy as ever and we hope to see new faces continue to utilize our resources and participate in our programs,” Nance said. “Don’t forget to register for the Great American Cleanup and our regional workshop. We’re always excited to share with our fellow citizens ways to enhance our state’s natural beauty by preserving our environments. n

SEEKING OKLAHOMA’S PROMINENT FUTURE LEADERS

SEND US YOUR NOMINATIONS

ion Oklahoma Online aims at finding the next generation of leaders in the state of Oklahoma with the Eighth Annual “Next Gen” awards gala. Next Gen Under 30 will recognize innovative, creative-thinking and inspiring young individuals who push the boundaries beyond their years in 15 different career categories – arts, entertainment, business, media, sports, technology and more. To nominate a candidate, go to ion Oklahoma Online’s website: www.ionok.com/nextgenunder30 or visit www.nextgenunder30.com Any nominee 30 years old or younger in 2018 qualifies. Nomination deadline is Wednesday, August 1st, 2018. Winners will be announced September 7th on www.nextgenunder30.com Monday, Oct 1 10:30 -12 will be the Day at the Capitol with Lt Governor Todd Lamb.

nextgen AWARDS CEREMONY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2018 EMBASSY SUITES HOTEL NORMAN

ion Oklahoma Online | 220 West Wilshire Blvd, #F2 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73116 | 405.607.0930

TRAVEL

CELEBRATING ALL FORMS OF ART The Artesian Arts Festival is expected to attract thousands of people on May 26 in Sulphur.

rt, music, dance and food will be showcased during the fifth annual Artesian Arts Festival set for May 26 in downtown Sulphur.

The Chickasaw Nation hosts the community event which celebrates all forms of art, with an emphasis on Native American art and artists. One-of-akind works from more than 90 artists will be on display including paintings, baskets, jewelry, sculpture, metalworking, bead work, textile and pottery. A senior citizens’ arts and craft booth also is planned. But there’s more than art to experience. The family friendly event will offer children’s activities, a variety of musical entertainment, tribal dance 60 ion Oklahoma APRIL/MAY 2018

The Pueblo Enchantment Dancers will perform at the 2018 Artesian Arts Festival. Right, an artist concentrates on her bead work.

demonstrations and artist talks. And what’s a festival without food? Bring your appetite. Food vendors will be dishing up their favorite ﬂavors. The festival, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., is open to the public at no charge. Last year’s event welcomed more than 8,000 people. Since it’s inaugural year in 2014, the festival has continued to expand to become one of the fastest-growing Native American art markets in the U.S. The Artesian Arts Festival is centered on the Artesian Plaza, adjacent to the Artesian Hotel and Spa at 1001 W First Street. n

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TRAVEL

TRAVEL MEMOIRS OF A PHTOGRAPHER:

LONDON 1968

BY WILLIAM S. MCINTOSH, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA

turned 40 years old in 1968 and had been a practicing photographer for 20 years. My success in photography enabled me to build the largest portrait business in Virginia. Life seemed productive. My family grew with 4 daughters at 11, 9, 7, and 3 years old. Lucie said that the house we built in 1960 had become no longer adequate for the family. A 5-bedroom house came on the market in our neighborhood and we bought it. I had plans for Lucie and me to go to London sometime after Christmas, 1968, as a vacation for me to recuperate from a long season of work. This changed when we decided to move into the new home between Christmas and new years. A bargain round trip offered to ﬂy to London for 2 weeks at the Tavistock Hotel in Central London with breakfast included for $300. Lucie preferred I go on this trip and she would take care of the move without me getting in the way. Because this trip offered my ﬁrst attempt to make a multimedia slide show, I decided to make it about London. Upon arrival, I visited the Tourist Bureau to get advice on the most interesting places to photograph. I mentioned a 62 ion Oklahoma APRIL/MAY 2018

particular interest in photographing the London people. A favorite location they thought I would like was Portobello Road. A few areas they thought necessary included Trafalgar Square, the Tower of London, the Tower Bridge, Parliament, Piccadilly Circus and some interesting museums and historical restaurants and Pubs. I began by walking around Trafalgar Square, the largest square in London, considered the Heart of the city. On one side of The Square stands the National Gallery, founded 1824, considered by art critics to be the ﬁnest museum for paintings in the world, across the street on the North East corner is St Martin in the Fields Church, one of the most important churches in England. Constructed 1722, the earliest church built on that location 1222, rebuilt by Henry VIII 1542, kept plague victims from the area passing through his Palace of Whitehall. At this time it was covered in the ﬁelds between London and Westminster hence the name, St. Martin in the Fields. Starting at Trafalgar Square, I photographed people with pigeons on their heads and shoulders and children climbing

on the huge Lion statures. Four little girls posed for me, I told them I was making pictures for Hollywood. Two Bobbies Policeman posed for me (I returned 10 years later and the Bobbies would not let me photograph them).

PICTURES I MADE AT TRAFALGAR SQUARE While exploring Trafalgar Square I encountered an amiable London native. He was attracted to the way I talked to the children to let me photograph them, and we began a conversation. He introduced himself as Tom. It took me a moment or so to get used to his cockney accent (an accent traditionally spoken by working class Londoners), he spoke like Liza Doolittle in the movie “MY FAIR LADY,” I asked if I could photograph him, I told him I was photographing London and it’s people for use in a series of lectures in America on London. It was obvious he was an older guy and not in the working population, he was pleased to talk to me and volunteered to show me around the square. After spending some time taking some more photos throughout Trafalgar Square, I mentioned I would like to take him to lunch. He said I would show you a great place. After a pleasant walk we arrived at The Sherlock Holmes Pub, (in addition to a bar and restaurant, upstairs there was a recreation of Holmes & Watson’s study with a collection of objects and photographs related to the characters from his novels). We had a good lunch with a pint of British Ale. It was time for me to move on so we parted amiably and I took a subway ride to Portobello road.

NEWS YEAR’S EVE IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE I n talking to my new friends in the Tavistock Drawing room over coffee and dessert and discussing my London photography project, they mentioned I should not miss this photography experience. Trafalgar Square on New Years Eve, the biggest celebration of the year. I arrived at what I thought a reasonable time for the big midnight event. Over 250,000 people ﬂocked to the Square. Whiskey and beer bottles rolled around ankle deep. The Bobbies faces are covered with lipstick and the women are kissing those would stand still, the temperature is freezing and there are half a APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma 63

New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve Trafalgar Square

dozen ambulances near the fountain with the water turned on. Young men are climbing the fountain and forming a Ring Around the Rosie chain on each layer. I climbed a tree to get a better angle of the group. A Bobbie hit the tree with his baton and yells for me to come down. However, he had to deal with so many kisses he wandered off and I stayed in the tree. Loud speakers were playing music and close to midnight began a count down. One reveler in a bikini stood at the top of the fountain and mooned all four sides of the group at the stroke of 12. The festivities were over and the fountain participants came down and went to the ambulances to get out of the New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cold.

64 APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma

PORTOBELLO ROAD Arriving at Portobello Road, astonished me the variety of funky stores and London characters with unique individuality. I know of only one place I have visited that would come close to comparing, Greenwich Village, New York City. Greenwich Village today thrives conventionaly by 1968 standards. Before I photograph someone I ask their permission, this gets us into a conversation. Most know I am an American by my accent, and a few want to know why I am photographing them. I tell them I am writing an article about England for my city, Norfolk, Va., Norfolk England will be covered in my trip. The young people did not care (continued on pg 65)

Some of the unique individuals along Portobello Road in 1968.

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66 APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma

(continued from pg 63) they just smiled and moved on; for the most part I found them to be a happy group having a good time one could see this in the big smiles of the young girl with England and the British ďŹ&#x201A;ag on her T shirt and the couple with the very blond hair. I thought they would mainly speak cockney. I was surprised that they spoke normal everyday good English, except the one with orange hair; he spoke like an actor in a Noel Coward play. I had a good chat with the lady holding a kitten in her fur coat. She mentioned she had a sister that married an American soldier during War II that lived in Richmond, VA. At the end of Portobello Road I came upon this billboard of the very muscular woman comparing her body with a big automobile, I included it in my photo series because I thought it was uproariously funny. n APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma 67

REVIEW

The Richest People on Earth, Murdered and Swindled BY JANE GOODSPEED

“For greed all nature is too little.” —Seneca

n oil gusher is a filthy business, and capping a blowout is dangerous and often fatal. But that hazard pales in comparison to the actions of bad guys attracted to the Osage Reservation oil fields, eager to steal as much of the oil wealth as they can from what in the early twentieth century were the richest people on earth. Deceit and murder followed in one of the saddest chapters of Oklahoma history. In the late nineteenth century, the Osage Reservation was 1.47 million acres of land over a pool of oil that through the 1920’s would produce more wealth than all the gold rushes combined. The Act of 1906 created the Osage Mineral Estate for the beneﬁt of the Osage Nation, controlling all gas, oil, and other minerals on and under the Reservation. Each member of the Nation at that time was granted a “headright,” a share in the distribution of proﬁts from mineral sales. A headright represented an unimaginable fortune. In 1923 alone, the Osage Nation earned $30 million in royalties—in today’s dollars, that’s $407 million, or about $203,000 (in today’s dollars) for each headright. Per year. In his book Killers of the Flower Moon (Doubleday, $28.95, 336p, ISBN 978035534246), David Grann recounts “the Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI.” Picked by Amazon editors as the best book of 2017, the book describes acts of exploitation and greed in the early 1920’s as white men 68 ion Oklahoma APRIL/MAY 2018

Anna Brown, a wealthy Osage Indian of Gray Horse, Okla., whose death in 1921 led to one of the first and most complicated investigations in the FBI’s history. (Photo courtesy of the FBI)

In an interview with NPR, author married Osage women—and then David Grann discussed Barney murdered them to inherit their McBride, the man tapped by the headrights. Twenty-four murders Osage with going to Washington, later, this became the focus of J. D.C., to get help. Edgar Hoover’s first murder “Barney McBride was an oilman investigation by his young in the area, a white man. The organization, the Federal Bureau of Osage - he was a friend of the Investigation. Today, the FBI regards Osage. The Osage trusted him. And the Osage Murders as one of its so they asked him to go to most complicated cases. Washington, D.C., to try to plead for It began in May of 1921, when a help. And Barney McBride went. He group of hunters discovered the showed up in Washington, D.C., badly decomposed body of Anna and he brought with him a Bible Brown, an Osage woman, in a and a pistol. That night, when he remote ravine in Osage County. At arrived at his boarding house, he first, police chalked up her death to received a telegram, and it said be alcohol poisoning. Later an careful. Then, that evening, he undertaker found a bullet wound in Rita Smith, the Osage wife of W. E. Smith, walked out of the boarding house. the back of her head. The same day photographed here with the couple’s servant, Nellie Brookshire. On March 10, He was abducted. Somebody put a the body of Charles Whitehorn, also 1923, a bomb explosion beneath the bag over his head. The next Osage, turned up nearby. Two months Smiths’ home killed Rita and Nellie morning, he was found in a culvert later, Brown’s mother, Lizzie Kyle, died instantly. Four days later, W. E. Smith died in the hospital. (Photo courtesy of the FBI) in Maryland. His head had been unexpectedly, her death blamed on beaten in. He had been stabbed, I bad whiskey. think, at least 20 times. His body had been stripped naked. Then in February 1923, Brown’s cousin Henry Roan was It was clearly a warning. And The Washington Post later shot to death. The following month, Brown’s sister, Rita reported what had become increasingly evident, which was Smith, and her husband were killed when their house that there was a conspiracy to kill rich Indians.” exploded. One by one, Osage people in the area died from Grann describes the worsening situation: “There was one violence or suspicious causes. As grief for the victims champion steer-roper Osage who got a call one night. He subsided, panic set in. went out of his house. He came back and suddenly While it became increasingly clear that the deaths were collapsed, frothing, his whole body shaking. Somebody had homicides, local police seemed unable, or unwilling, to slipped him what was believed to be strychnine, which is solve the crimes. Officers routinely overlooked unusual details when an Osage passed away. By the spring of 1923, just a horrible poison. It makes your whole body convulse the Osage community had developed such intense distrust as if with electricity. You slowly can’t breathe, but you’re conscious throughout until finally you mercifully suffocate. of local authorities that the Tribal Council decided to turn So this was just one of the many means of targeting the to the FBI for help. APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma 69

Left: William King Hale (Archives, Oklahoman)

Right: J. Edgar Hoover, in the 1920’s

Osage in these very systematic and brutal ways.” Anna Brown and her family were particularly vulnerable, especially to “squaw men,” men who would marry wealthy Osage women either to be kept by their money or to inherit their headrights. Anna, her mother and her sisters were immensely wealthy, with seven headrights: Anna’s mother, Lizzie Q. Kyle, with four headrights; and Anna and her two sisters, Mollie and Rita, with one headright each. By the end of the decade, a widespread conspiracy led by one man left Mollie as the sole survivor. And she, it was determined, was in the process of being poisoned when federal agents stepped in. In the early days of oil discoveries on the Osage Nation Reservation, a man named William King Hale found his way into the county from Texas. He reportedly was uneducated but was able to amass a fortune, mostly from insurance fraud and his unscrupulous dealings with the Osages. “Eventually he became a millionaire, who dominated local politics and seemingly could not be punished for any of the many crimes which were laid at his door,” Thomas B. White, special agent in charge, wrote in a 1932 memo to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. “His method of building up power and prestige was to put various individuals under 70 APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma

obligation to him by means of gifts and favors shown to them. Consequently he had a tremendous following in the vicinity composed not only of the riffraff element which had drifted in, but of many good and substantial citizens.” W. K. Hale was one of the men arrested for the events surrounding the deaths of 24 Osage between 1921 and 1923. Few in the county would agree to testify against him. “The Indians and several white people in Fairfax and vicinity are very much afraid that some deed of violence is going to befall them, probably by the hands of the Hale faction, and have placed in the rear and front of their homes electric lights, which they burn all night. Quite a number of these people want to sell their homes and leave the Osage country,” Special Agent F.S. Smith said in a report to the bureau. The well-researched Killers of the Flower Moon describes in gripping detail the murders, the investigation, and trials. As a result of the events of the early 20’s, a law was passed in 1925 that prohibited non-Osages from inheriting the headrights of tribal members possessing more than one-half Osage blood. n

Oklahoma City Community College 2017-2018 Performing Arts Series Presents

Tuesday, May 1 • 7:30 PM ABBA MANIA the tribute, the highly polished and professional production created in 1999, takes you back in time by recreating one of the world’s finest pop groups in a live stage performance. Fantastic costumes, exciting choreoraphy and lots of glitter make performances of “S.O.S.,” “Super Trooper” and “Dancing Queen” as thrilling and fresh as the day they debuted.

Tickets: $49, Youth 17 and under, $24.50 tickets.occc.edu • Box Office 877-288-5996 • www.occc.edu/pas

ONE

BUSINESS

35 Years of Success BY SHEENA KARAMI

n 1983, the economy was in the throes of a recession with a peak unemployment rate of 10.8 percent, devastating established businesses and seemingly dooming new ones. But 35 years later, Express Employment Professionals not only survived those difficult circumstances, but grew into a $3.4 billion staffing company with more than 800 offices in three countries. Thirty-ﬁve years ago, founders William H. Stoller, Robert A. Funk and James Gray were left with a tough decision after the dissolution of their employer, Acme Personnel. The three banded together to form Express Employment

72 ion Oklahoma APRIL/MAY 2018

Professionals and established the headquarters in Oklahoma City. “Bob, Jim and I began with the shared vision to help people find good jobs by helping clients find good people,” Express CEO Bill Stoller said. “Our shared values set the foundation of Express; based on integrity, supported by people, teamwork, and a philosophy of building a company that will endure. And upon that footing, the story of Express began.” In 1986, the partners acquired the franchise rights to 30 Acme offices across the United States, officially entering

the franchise business. Within five years, Express was ranked among the top staffing firms in the United States and was recognized as one of the fastest growing privately held companies in the country. By 1990, Stoller and Funk purchased Gray’s shares of the company. In 2017, sales reached a record $3.4 billion through 800 franchise locations and the company put more than 540,000 people to work. “Our company’s vision is to pair quality job seekers with reputable companies, and the sales numbers will follow,” Stoller said. “When an Express franchise owner opens a location, an average of 600 people are employed annually through that office. We know that families count on jobs to put food on the table, so we don’t take our mission lightly.” Award-Winning Service

As Express has expanded through the years, the staffing giant has received numerous awards, including being named the number one staffing franchise for seven consecutive years on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 List and the designation of one of Forbes’ Best Franchises to Buy Under $150,000. Staffing Industry Analysts also deemed Express one of the fastest growing major staffing companies and job seekers rated the company as one of the best to work with, as evidenced by the receipt of Inavero’s Best of Staffing Talent Award. “There’s a reason we have been named the number one staffing franchise by Entrepreneur on its Franchise 500 List for seven years in a row. Business continues to boom for Express and shows no signs

APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma 73

of slowing down anytime soon,” Stoller said. “When business is soaring, you’ve got to take care of your people. There’s nothing more important than the employees of a company, and we want to invest and give something back to them for their dedication and hard work.” In December, Express International Headquarters was named one of The Oklahoman’s Top Workplaces, highlighting what attracts associates, clients and franchisees to the company—its culture. Since 2016, the company has introduced several new beneﬁts for headquarters employees, such as up to $5,000 per dependent for dependent care, 100 percent health insurance coverage for employees and 75 percent coverage for dependents, lower health insurance premiums, and free full body scans for qualiﬁed employees.

Express Franchise Development Closing in on 900 territories worldwide, the company recently announced the launch of its emerging brands equity investment and development company, Express Franchise Development. Express Franchise Development will allow Express Employment Professionals to invest equity into emerging franchise brands while leveraging the staffing company’s world-class franchise development team and competencies as a 35-year proven franchisor. As its first venture, Express Franchise Development has entered into an agreement with boutique fitness studio franchise The Barre Code. “We have an incredible team of experts within our organization, so it makes sense to leverage our know-how, relationships and growth capital to elevate emerging franchise brands,” Stoller said. Additional investments in other emerging franchise brands are expected to be tcompleted in 2018.

74 APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma

Philanthropy Express Employment Professionals has employed more than 6 million people since its inception and is committed to giving back to local communities. Recognizing that the children of today are the workforce of tomorrow, Express focuses on children as the beneficiary of its corporate contributions. In 1991, Express became affiliated with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, which provides medical resources, research and community outreach to help millions of children and teenagers in more than 170 hospitals in North America. To date, Express has contributed more than $4.8 million to the nonprofit. In 2017 alone, Express donated more than $1.14 million to charitable organizations through its philanthropic committee. Through the Brand It Blue Initiative, Express franchise owners also support charities benefitting food pantries, animal shelters, youth organizations, and more. In recent years, franchise offices partnered with local food banks to help end chronic hunger. Between 2013 – 2017, Express staff, associates, clients, friends and family provided nearly 600,000 meals through food drives, monetary collections and volunteer hours served.

Looking Ahead As businesses constantly adapt to keep up with innovative technology and workforce demands, Express looks forward to offering streamlined solutions to a myriad of hiring needs for the next 35 years and beyond. “Moving forward we will continue on our mission of putting a million people to work, annually,” Stoller said. “We will continue our collaborative, people-centered approach and will continue to operate with integrity.” n

The Bestselling Book by Kent Frates

Oklahoma’s Most Notorious Cases Six cases that remain the talk of the courtroom Oklahoma has had more than its share of sensational legal battles with national ramifications, but for the first time in one volume, attorney/historian Kent Frates reveals the facts behind six cases that helped shape the history of the state—and the nation. From bloody murders, to political scandal, to the horrific act of domestic terrorism known as the Oklahoma City Bombing, OKLAHOMA’S MOST NOTORIOUS CASES captures the stories, the times, and the import of these landmark trials.

Read the book that inspired the serial podcast We Will Always Remember (RealMysteries.us | weekly Feb. 12 to April 23) www.

Order now by visiting

OkMostNotoriousCases.com

or calling toll free 877.536.7634

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$24 Includes 16 pages of historic photos!

available at Full Circle Bookstore, OKC Best of Books, Edmond The Bookseller, Ardmore The Book Place, Broken Arrow and Barnes & Noble

COMMENTERY

Walkout is more than anyone expected Great Recession, test-driven accountability system on steroids created education dilemma BY JOHN THOMPSON

never expected more than a one-day teacher walkout. Neither did the teachers unions anticipate the work stoppage which has drawn national and international attention to Oklahoma schools and politics.

I bet most rank-in-file teachers didn’t realize at first how exhausted and angry they are. Teachers tend to ignore politics as much as possible, block out the insults that are repeatedly thrown at the profession and focus on their students. I didn’t fully recognize the depth of teachers’ feelings until the fifth day of the walkout. Reading between the lines of press coverage, and listening to people inside the Capitol, I assumed that a deal would probably be struck on that Friday. As luck would have it, however, I kept running into former colleagues, who had always been extremely apolitical, and saw their fervor. Regardless of what their leaders sought in terms of reaching an agreement, it dawned on me that teachers need more time for letting out their righteous anger. Two types of lessons should be drawn from the walkout; one will displease Republicans and the other will upset Democrats. During the Oklahoma teacher strike of 1990, the state’s economy had cratered, savings and loan banking systems across the state had collapsed, and a downturn in the real estate market left foreclosed, abandoned houses 76 ion Oklahoma APRIL/MAY 2018

throughout central Oklahoma City. I became a teacher after the Hoova’ set of the Crips took over my neighborhood and I befriended the children growing up in the crack houses. Back then, it looked like our community was cratering due

to factors beyond our control. Today’s education crisis was produced by unforced errors. It was basically caused by tax cutting. Had the state operated the way that Oklahoma City does, and raised enough revenue to pay for basic services, Oklahoma would not be in this mess that undermines its ability to compete in the global marketplace. But, teachers’ and students’ ordeals have also been made much worse by risky competition-driven, accountability-driven reforms. The walkout was a grassroots uprising by frustrated educators. From ﬁscal year 2010 to 2017, the average, inﬂation adjusted Oklahoma teacher salary plummeted by $8,150. As the state’s teacher salaries declined to 49th in the nation, the average salary dropped to a level ($45,245) that is virtually identical to the average pay of 1990, before the strike which led to House Bill1017. Almost certainly, the extreme drop in salaries was due in large part to policies imposed by state leaders who didn’t even known that the reformer’s self-proclaimed plan was to replace Baby Boomer teachers with 23-year-olds. And that brings us to the second problem, the teacher bashing which took off with the bipartisan No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The message was that failing schools were the result of the “benign racism of low expectations.” The teacher-blaming was put on steroids in 2010 as Democratic and Republican party funders pushed the “bad teacher” narrative. Get rid of burned-out veteran teachers, it was thought, and “disruptive innovation” will produce “transformative” improvement. Oklahoma joined almost all of the rest of the nation in passing legislation that allowed it to compete for federal Race to the Top funds. Even though I am a Democrat who will always remain loyal to President Obama, his administration contributed greatly to this mess. Democrats joined with sincere, but uninformed, edu-philanthropists to impose a market-driven system of school improvement. Democrats wanted to sound tough by challenging their constituencies – teachers and

unions. Bill Gates and other billionaires assumed that the imposition of corporate governance would make schools operate more effectively. Oklahoma’s grant wasn’t funded, but like 40 other states, it committed to millions of dollars of additional costs for standardized testing, computer systems for keeping track of test score increases, and for using an unreliable and invalid statistical model for ﬁring teachers. Reformers didn’t bother to inventory the capacity that would be required to implement such a half-baked agenda. They simply imposed huge workloads on teachers and administrators trying to comply with dubious mandates. The experiment failed, and the law was repealed, but the money and energy squandered in the reckless experiment are gone forever. There is a theme that applies to both the Republican taxcutting and the Democrat’s rushed experiment. Everyone has been to school, and many people thus feel free to make snap judgments about the way education should be run. Teaching has a long history of being treated as a “semiprofession.” Politicians and philanthropists feel free to impose their hunches on teachers in ways that they would never do to doctors, engineers, or other respected professions. There is a long history of non-educators mandating one untested “silver bullet” after another on schools. This time, educators received a double shotgun blast of risky policies during the Great Recession. State budgets were cut 28 percent as teachers were subjected to a test-driven accountability system on steroids. Hopefully, adequate funding will be restored and, this time, policy makers will listen to practitioners and deliberate more carefully before adopting new policies. n John Thompson is a former teacher who spent 19 years in the Oklahoma City Public School system. He is an author and former historian with a doctorate from Rutgers University. APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma 77

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AMERICAN SOUTHERN DIVISION MEM MEMPHIS REDBIRDS (CARDINALS) NAS NASHVILLE SOUNDS (ATHLETICS) NO NEW ORLEANS BABY CAKES (MARLINS) RR ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (RANGERS)

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| CHICKASAW BRICKTOWN BALLPARK OKLAHOMA CITY DODGERS | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73104 | 405.218.1000 2 S. MICKEY MANTLE DR.

EVENTS

IN HIGH GEAR MEMORIAL MARATHON TAKES OFF APRIL 29 Photos provided by the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum

housands of runners will compete in the 18th annual Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon Sunday, April 29 in front of the National Memorial and Museum.

There will be a race for everyone â&#x20AC;&#x201C; marathon, half-marathon, relay, 5K and kids race. These races are about more than running. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a celebration of life while honoring and remembering the 168 people killed in the Oklahoma City bombing April 19, 1995. Runners from all 50 states and 11 foreign countries have already registered. Runners may still register until the day before the race. The Memorial Marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifying USATF sanctioned race.

OKC-4-5 Arya Bahreini, 2017 Marathon Winner (2:29:15 2017 time)

Catherine Lisle, 2017 Women’s Marathon Winner – Cat Lisle is the only 4 time Memorial Marathon winner (2017 time 2:56:10)

From its inaugural race in 2001 with just shy of 5,000 participants, the event now hosts more than 24,000 runners and walkers from every state and several foreign countries. The Health and Fitness Expo at the Cox Convention Center is the best place to start the race weekend. The Expo begins Friday, April 27 and continue through Saturday, April 28. People can head to the “Why We Run” section of the Expo and select a running bib to run “In Honor Of” one of the 168 who were killed 23 years ago. The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum is the sole beneﬁciary of the Memorial Marathon. There will be some changes to the race this year. Runners and spectators will not be allowed to use back packs, hydration vestgs, CamelBaks, ruck packs, air tanks or any other over-the-shoulder bags on the marathon course. Running belts, hand-held water bottles, or clip-on water

bottles that hold less than one liter will be allowed. “We know some runners prefer to use hydration vests, but we join other major marathons across the country in enhancing our security around the course,” Race Director Kari Watkins said. “After attending the National Marathon Safety and Security Summit and working with local police departments and Homeland Security we made these changes to ensure we provide the safest course possible to all of our runners.” The Marathon is not only the largest race in Oklahoma, but is the largest fundraiser for the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. The Memorial does not receive annual operating funds from any local, state or federal government, but rely solely on the support of generous donors to help us maintain and preserve the Memorial and Museum year-round. n

APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma 81

NON-PROFIT

A Bag Full of Wishes The 11th annual Make A Wish Foundation luncheon raised more than $115,000 to grant wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. The event was held at the Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club March 6 to a sold-out audience. The event started with an auction as guests bid on a stunning collection of designer handbags, jewelry, accessories and gift baskets donated by a variety of specialty and fashion retailers from across the state.

82 APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma

Staff members (L to R) Row 1: Laurel Maulin, Erin Nantois, Kelli Warmath, Betty Kay Karim, Katie Massad, Juanita Torres, Kiyana Dan Row 2: Jane Rohweder, Beverly Mullen, Lindsey Percival, Robyn Dumas Row 3: Brad Barghols, President & CEO

ull of W A Bag F

ishes

The registration table is busy before the luncheon.

During the luncheon, seven fabulous live auction items were presented to more than 400 people as several different inspirational wish stories were told. The mission of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oklahoma is to grant the wish of every eligible child and help chance a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. Many families and healthcare providers believe the wish experience is the turning point in a wish childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s battle against the illness. Granting wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions gives them more than an amazing experience. A wish come true has the power to make children feel stronger, more courageous and more determined to overcome their illnesses. n

LUNCHEON COMMITTEE MEMBERS Carly McDavis (Event Chair) Shannon Barghols Addison Buck Lenice Cattley Kim Denny Kindsay Dincan Lori Garcie

Donna Lisle Stacy Lopez Lindsey McElvaney Jennicer Mickelson Shannon Presti Kerri Smith Kristen Smith

APRIL/MAY 2018 ion Oklahoma 83

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TEAMS COS / Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC FRE / Fresno FC LA / LA Galaxy II LAS / Las V egas Lights FC OC / Orange County SC PHX / Phoenix Rising FC POR / Portland T imbers FC 2 RENO / Reno 1868 FC RGV / Rio Grande V alley FC Toros RM / Real Monarchs SLC SAC / Sacramento Republic FC SAN / San Antonio FC SEA / Seattle Sounders FC 2 SPR / Swope Park Rangers STL / Saint Louis FC TUL / T ulsa Roughnecks FC

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