Curator of Color & Light
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Tim Brown & Artistic Glass Studio
Heroes In Waiting
Coaches' Lunch
Mobile Gaming
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Every week, I get asked the same questions. Any changes to your insurance? Your address? Your medication? Have we had any falls? Any other changes we need to know about? I know the drill. As I stood there, I thought, yes, there have been significant changes. I got a new stove this week. I am very happy with it. Laura, the medical appointment scheduler, tells me she just put in a new dishwasher - she loves it. We chat about how happy we are with our new appliances as an unappreciative line of patients begins to form behind me. Time to move on. I’m all checked in. Onto bloodwork. As Peter draws my blood, we usually talk about his children, car stuff, or the Kansas City Chiefs. We’ve been relationship-building for years - one blood vial at a time. When you have weekly cancer treatments for three years you get to know the nurses, PAs, doctors, and those awesome volunteers who hand out the snacks and sandwiches. And they get to know you. This place has kind of become my Cheers bar of chemo treatments. Honestly, I will miss it. Next month I complete my current treatment plan and having achieved continued remission, I will be starting a maintenance program. That means I will be visiting less frequently. I have to say, there is some sadness there. So for now, I will say thank you to my treatment team, but I hope to see you all much, much less - and I say that in a loving, caring way.
Dave Miller Publisher & Back40 Design President
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Features 8 10 12 16 18 20 26
Retired Coaches Still Winning Discover Local Cuisine Heroes in Waiting Gower Cemetery For the Love of Local Art Entreprenuers Bring Mobile Gaming to Town Curator of Stained Glass
Business 22 24
AAA Link2 Insurance The Grout Doctor
Columns 7 28 30
In Other Words with Dave Louise Tucker Jones A LOOK Back: A Love Story for the Ages
On cover: Tim Brown of Artistic Glass Studio. Photo provided ADVERTISING l 405-301-3926 l laura@edmondoutlook.com MAILED MONTHLY TO OVER 50,000 HOMES IN THE EDMOND AREA 1024 W Covell, Edmond, OK 73003 l 405-341-5599 l edmondoutlook.com l info@edmondoutlook.com
FEBRUARY 2024 Volume 20, Number 2 l Edmond Outlook is a publication of Back40 Design, Inc. l © 2024 Back40 Design, Inc. PUBLISHER Dave Miller l PRODUCTION MANAGER Alison Miller l ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE /EDITOR Laura Beam l GRAPHIC DESIGN Anne Richardson PHOTOGRAPHY Marshall Hawkins sundancephotographyokc.com l DISTRIBUTION Edmond Outlook is delivered FREE by direct-mail to over 50,000 Edmond area homes. Articles and advertisements in the Outlook do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or Back40 Design. Back40 Design does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. The acceptance of advertising by the Outlook does not constitute endorsement of the products, services or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service that is fraudulent or misleading in nature. The Outlook assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.
LOCALLOOK
Retired Coaches Still Winning By Alexandria Williams Some retired coaches may feel a void when they are no longer Bowman explained that the group is much more than retired active in the sports community, but one Oklahoma coach has coaches simply meeting for a free lunch and listening to an changed the rules of the game. inspiring message from a guest speaker. “It’s a sense of belonging Chuck Bowman, co-founder of the to a family where every member is simply known as ‘coach,’” Oklahoma Fellowship of Christian Bowman said. “When people call me coach, it’s positive, it’s Athletes and recently formed group, appreciative, and it’s very valuable.” Retired Coaches Ministry, said some Retired coach Jim Miller served as a football, basketball, and of his favorite moments in life were track coach for 16 years. Since his retirement, he said he longed during his 31 years of coaching for the relationships he used to have within the community. In sports. But once a coach faces joining the Retired Coaches Ministry group, he said the fellowship retirement, the sense of belonging has filled a void and has given him a brotherhood again. “There and importance fades with the last are old-timers here who were coaches when I was going through buzzer of their coaching career. “They high school, so you have a blend of coaches,” Miller said. “I look Chuck Bowman go home, they lose their identity, they forward to the luncheon every month.” lose their self-value, and suddenly, Retired basketball and golf coach, Mike de la Garza, said his they find that they are no longer connected number one reason for attending each to anybody,” Bowman said. luncheon is the camaraderie. After enjoying The games on the field a 42-year career, having coached at Edmond The Oklahoma Fellowship of Christian Athletes began roughly 30 years ago with 14 Memorial High School and later serving as may be over, but that coaches and has since grown to 45 men and Athletic Director for Edmond Public Schools women currently coaching across the state. doesn’t mean they have until retirement, he still wished to feel like he Bowman said the organization was created to something special. Through the to sit on the sidelines. belonged to offer a sense of community and positive Retired Coaches Ministry, coaches like de la encouragement to coaches. Garza are able to relive cherished memories For retired coaches, the games on the field and the court and find their value again through fellowship. may be over, but that doesn’t mean they have to sit on the “When you’re young and working hard and coaching and sidelines. The Retired Coaches Ministry provides an outlet for winning games, you’re just trying to do your job, take care of them to serve as a support system for each other and to stay your kids,” de la Garza said. “Now all that’s over, but you get to engaged with their community. They host guest speakers such see another side of all those guys, and most importantly, they as well-known OU and OSU coaches who share stories of their get to see another side of you.” successes and their faith, and how they inspire their players in Retired Coaches Luncheon meets on the first Wednesday those aspects. The group held their first meeting at Johnnie’s of each month for food and fellowship. For more information Charcoal Broiler on 33rd Street in Edmond, and now also holds about the group, visit okfca.org/retired-coaches-luncheon to meetings in Tulsa, Enid, Norman, and Ardmore. learn more.
From left: Coach Rick Word, Bill Brewer, and Patrick O'Dooley along with other retired coaches
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FOODLOOK
Di scover
LOCAL CUISINE By Laura Beam
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with friends, family, and all the special loved ones in your life. You’ll find some sweet treats and yummy eats around town to make the occasion memorable. Indulge and enjoy to your heart’s desire! DONATOS PIZZA
Fall in love with Donatos pizza! Their abundant, fresh ingredients and edge-to-edge toppings satisfy every craving. During Valentine’s week, create your own one-topping heartshaped pizza – uncut so they don’t break any hearts! Tasty toppings like smoked Provolone, Romano, shaved ham, sliced almonds, and hot honey keep you coming back for more. Try their family recipe sausage and meatballs, oven-baked subs, Asiago Cheese Bread, and Hot Honey Wings, too. Visit 1148 S. Bryant, Edmond or donatos.com. Dine-in, pick-up window, delivery, and catering are available.
KANDICE WITH A KAKE & PARTY MAMI
Make every special occasion a delicious success with Kandice’s expert baking skills and Mercedes’ party planning and charcuterie board creations! From stunning wedding cakes to cute and whimsical cupcakes, Kandice crafts each item with love and attention to detail. A lavish array of meats, cheeses, and delectable nibbles really gets the party started and delights hungry guests with a show-stopping spread. The Party Mami offers balloons, decor, and planning too. Follow Kandice on IG & FB @ kandicewithakake and watch for cupcake specials. Follow Party Mami on FB @partymami-salamimami and IG @partymamiok.
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TED’S CAFE ESCONDIDO
Spice things up for your Valentine’s celebration with friends, family, or your special someone! Ted’s, an Oklahoma company, has been serving up delicious Mexican food for over three decades, with all their food made from scratch daily, using the freshest ingredients. Their signature, steamy, just-made tortillas are a warm welcome and every entree includes Ted’s Famous Setup of chips, cheese sauce, salsa, and the homemade tortillas. Try one of their popular margaritas, too! Dine in Edmond at 801 E. Danforth Rd. or 150th & N. Penn or visit tedscafe.com.
BOOM TOWN CREAMERY
Ice cream is always the answer—that’s Boom Town’s motto! Relish every spoonful of their handmadefrom-scratch, smallbatch ice cream in 24 remarkable flavors. Inventive ingredients like goat cheese, balsamic vinegar, and fresh roasted bananas create the most unique flavor combos. Can’t decide? Choose a flight of six ice cream flavors and share with your sweetheart. And don’t miss their Valentine’s special! Pre-order an ice cream tasting box with 3oz. servings of 20 ice cream flavors and tasting cards. Order at boomtowncreamery. com or visit them at 17 E. 5th Street in Edmond.
LAURA BEAM Account Executive, editor, and writer with experience in radio, newspaper and magazines. Interested in what Outlook can do for your business? Contact her at laura@edmondoutlook.com
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FEATURELOOK
Heroes In Waiting Anti-Bullying Program Helps Students By Taylor Bollinger
In her application to the Heroes In Waiting Teen Advisory Board, one Edmond ninth-grader said, “I had a friend commit suicide because of bullying. I think about him a lot. I wish I would’ve known how he felt and that I could have helped him.” This student’s story is not merely an anecdote, but rather, a glimpse into what the Academy of Pediatrics has labeled an epidemic. The Oklahoma Department of Education reported that almost 80% of Oklahoma children experience moderate to high depressive symptoms, while a similar study from the Oklahoma Department of Health showed that of the 23% of youth who have seriously considered suicide, 10% have actually attempted it. But it’s not enough to know those statistics. Awareness without action can only go so far. That’s why Heroes In Waiting is reaching as many students as possible with anti-bullying curriculum and assemblies that the organization’s Communications Strategist, Angie LaPaglia says are ultimately about mental wellness.
Heroes In Waiting assemblies include interactive segments to engage students and reinforce the concepts of peace-building and culture change.
OKC Thunder hype guy Malcolm Tubbs at a Heroes In Waiting anti-bullying assembly
The product of years of collaboration, Heroes In Waiting officially launched as a non-profit in 2023. The charge is led by Executive Director and Edmond resident, Jim Stewart, who understands the importance of their mission in the deepest possible way. Jim speaks openly of his son who was lost to suicide. “Our son Marquise was special. He was a beautiful soul,” Jim said. “He gave his life to others, and we want to give our lives the same way he did. We’re giving our lives to kids in other communities, in other schools, and beyond.” So far, the team has brought the 12-lesson anti-bullying program to 70+ schools and held assemblies reaching more than 5,000 students, starting a ripple effect of education and empathy that can hardly be measured. “In studies and surveys, kids are telling us they are not okay,” Angie explained. “If we can intervene early and teach them things like what it means to belong, how to make friends, what to do with big feelings, how to build community and celebrate differences – if we can teach them things like that, then we’ve really done something.” The free curriculum is broken up into 12 digestible sections that can be taught in classrooms, small groups, churches, or wherever kids gather. The organization’s Anti-Bullying School Assemblies offer another format for delivering the “peace-building message kids need now.” At the assemblies, NBA all-star hype guy Malcolm Tubbs engages students from third to twelfth grade in an interactive, high-energy 45-minute assembly. One high school counselor said, “The program was more effective than I thought it could be, largely because he was able to get the students involved, and allow them to be fun and interactive while hearing an important message at the same time.” Angie said it’s about creating a new culture for our children. “We are just one spoke in the wheel, but if we can go in and make a little bit of a difference, then that is what we are going to do.” She said there are two ways for people to get involved. “We always invite people to help us keep this curriculum free,” she said. “It only takes ten dollars to bring the curriculum to one child.” Adults can also download the curriculum or request an assembly at heroesinwaiting.org.
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FEATURELOOK
Gower Memorial Cemetery An American Treasure By Amy Dee Stephens An incredibly significant historic site exists within the bounds of Edmond, but few people are aware of this American treasure. The Gower Memorial Cemetery, off Covell between Douglas and Post Road, is one of the few physical sites in Oklahoma that represents Land Run settlement by African Americans. Thanks to the collective efforts of civic-minded people over the last 130 years, the graves of 122 people have been identified and preserved. Most of them were former African American enslaved persons, including Civil War veterans. Their stories would be lost if not for the generosity of the Gower family and the modern work of some diligent genealogists. 1889-1930: The Beginning John and Ophelia Gower, former enslaved persons, participated in the 1889 Land Run. At the time, their 160 acres of land fell northeast of the Edmond boundary. The Gowers dedicated a one-acre section of the property, over 500 plots, to enable their family and African American neighbors to bury their relatives. In the 1930s, the Gower’s son, Willie, worked for Baggerly Funeral Home. He saw a need for burial places for the poor or homeless, so he designated a section for people who could not afford a funeral plot. 1986-1992: The Renewal In 1986, John and Ophelia’s granddaughter, Myrtle Gower Thomas, began working to revitalize the aging cemetery. She mapped graves, added a metal entry gate, and erected engraved monuments. Thanks to her tenacity, the cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. 2020: The Community Cleanup Stephanie Carel wanted to help with the Black Lives Matter movement in May 2020. She organized a group of people to help the Gower family clean up the overgrown cemetery. Nearly 50 people gathered to do lawn work and grave cleaning. The Gower’s great-great grandson and cemetery owner, Sherrod Wall, was grateful for the help.
Sherrod Wall
Cathryn Schmid
Andrea Aven
Photos from UCO Archives & Special Collections
Andrea then recruited the help of Cathryn Schmid, a major turning point in the record-keeping of Gower Cemetery. Over a two-year period, Cathryn expanded her search to everyone interred in the cemetery. She spent hundreds of hours searching military and census records, newspaper articles, databases, and the rarely-available African American obituary. “I’m not an expert, but genealogy is something I love to do as a hobby,” Cathryn said. “I felt trapped at home during Covid, so the project was good for me, and it was an honor to work on it. Every record I found was exciting because it often led me to another piece of the jigsaw puzzle. To me, genealogy is the most challenging and satisfying puzzle in the world.” Andrea compiled and summarized all the records, which came to 1,400 pages of documentation, which is now available to researchers online. Although many names in the cemetery remain unknown, the efforts of Myrtle, Andrea, and Cathryn have ensured that 122 people, including 13 veterans, are not lost to history. “Their lives are inspiring and enduring, and truly reflect the history of the Edmond and Arcadia areas in ways not often shared,” Andrea said. Sherrod added, “Gower Memorial Cemetery was and is a beacon of hope for people of all races and creeds and lifestyles. It is proof that…Americans can appreciate each other as equals and recognize the importance of diversity. This is not just my heritage and legacy; it is ours.” Both Andrea and Cathryn have received Edmond Heritage Awards for their historical research, and the Outlook Magazine article that inspired this project won a national award. Gower Cemetery Research: cordeliasteennsdar.weebly.com/gower.html
Photo Samuel Morrison
2020-2022: The Documenting Andrea Aven read an article about the Gower Cemetery project in Outlook Magazine, which inspired her to research the veterans’ graves. Sherrod granted Andrea access to the original cemetery records. Her genealogy experience helped her wade through handwritten pages, inconsistent information, and missing or damaged gravestone markers.
LEFT: Ophelia Gower. RIGHT: Sons of John and Ophelia Gower, n.d. Seated from left, Willie T., Sr. and Garfield. Standing from left, Henry B., Roosevelt and Daniel
Stephanie Carel
FEATURELOOK
For the Love of Local Art By Taylor Bollinger One of ten children growing up in a two-bedroom house in Chickasha, Oklahoma, Susie Varner says she was only still when she had a pencil in her hand. “I loved drawing and horses, and wanted to be an artist when I grew up.” Though life sometimes limited her artistic pursuits, Susie continued to practice painting in her personal time and as part of various associations. Now a practiced painter specializing in Native American and Contemporary Western Art, Susie has found her home with the Edmond Art Association. As Demonstration Program Chair, she invites others to join the growing group for the love of local art. Monthly Demonstrations The Edmond Art Association recently celebrated its 53rd year of operation. Around 30 members strong, the association unites artists and art lovers for monthly demonstrations and annual gallery tours. Other perks of participation include display opportunities, spring and fall art shows at Edmond’s Spring Creek Plaza, an online gallery page, and a chance at the title, “Artist of the Month.” The monthly meetings feature live demonstrations from acclaimed Oklahoma artists, like Steve Boaldin, Marie Kash-Weltzheimer, and Kimberly Pagonis. The February demonstrator is Jerry Piper, who will demonstrate abstract
realism and discuss his display at The North Art Gallery in North Park Mall. Susie emphasized that membership is meaningful for both artists and art appreciators. “Our group is very diverse. We have muralists, mosaic artists, jewelry makers, welders, sculptors, as well as collectors or people who just really enjoy art.” Artist of the Month At each meeting, members may submit a piece of art for “Artist of the Month.” Votes are taken, and the winner walks away with a little more pride and a lot more bragging rights. But with art, it’s not really about winning. “It’s about getting out and being social,” Susie said, “And most importantly, it’s about exploring new ideas.” To those questioning if the Edmond Art Association is right for them, Susie’s answer is simple: give it a try. “I think everyone has an artist in them. Sometimes it's just taking the time to find it or nurture it.” The Edmond Art Association meets on the fourth Monday of each month at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Edmond. Membership is $35, or $15 for students. But, all are welcome to attend demonstrations for a $5 fee. Learn more about Edmond Art Association and upcoming events at edmondart.org.
The monthly meetings feature live demonstrations from acclaimed Oklahoma artists.
Steve Boaldin Gaylon Thompson Marie Kash-Weltzheimer
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FEATURELOOK
Michael and Barbara King, general managers & owners
Get in the Game
Entrepreneurs Bring Mobile Gaming to Town By Taylor Bollinger Barbara King is a busy woman. By day, she leads multiple On top of building a profitable business, Barbara and Michael teams at her government job, applying her expertise in IT enjoy it on a personal level. Their background in children’s ministry and leadership. But on the weekends, she’s a mobile gaming and natural charisma enable them to connect with the constant guru. It seems like a lot to balance, but the fourth-generation stream of energetic gamers they encounter. entrepreneur finds that such skills run in the family. “I love to learn their names and interact with them,” Barbara “My great-grandparents owned and worked a farm, my said. “They have so much passion, like they are really living in the grandparents owned the Oklahoma City restaurant, Alberta’s Tea game. It keeps me young to hang around these kids, and there’s Room, for thirty years, and my parents ran the Baskin Robbins nothing like watching them point and run toward us when they see over on Hefner and May for many years.” All the firsthand the van turn the corner. It brings us so much joy.” experience in family business taught Barbara two things. “I Among the many perks of choosing mobile gaming – minimal thought I would someday like to own my own business, and I mess, engaging entertainment, and pure, unadulterated fun – is knew it would not be in the food and restaurant industry.” the teambuilding Barbara says she witnesses every time. “We teach But it wasn’t until she and her husband Michael attended them to work together. Everyone is included, and it gives them the a family reunion in California that the chance to really play as a team.” seed of a mobile gaming side hustle was And teamwork is something planted. “They had rented a game truck Barbara and Michael know all about. to entertain the kids during the reunion,” With over thirty years of marriage Barbara explained. “My husband and I had and now coworking, they say their never seen one before and had a great roles are clearly defined, and crucial conversation with the owners.” in all aspects of their life. When they returned home, the research “We stay out of each other’s began. They found that while Oklahoma lanes,” Barbara said. “He handles had one or two mobile gaming options, the operations, makes sure everything is market was far from saturated. But they running smoothly, and I am in charge weren’t going to make the jump blindly. of administration, bookkeeping, and From left: Davis Hawkins, Ellis Hawkins, “We researched the idea for over a marketing.” and Game Coach Brayln Jones year,” Barbara said. “We talked to similar Barbara encourages other business owners, researched other mobile entrepreneurs to pursue their ideas party options, made sure there would be a solid return on our with one recurring recommendation: research, research, research. investment, and finally we jumped.” “The great thing about owning your own business is that you can Roymar Mobile Gaming has now operated for over a year, with set the strategy. And when you don’t reach your goals, it’s up to fully booked weekends and an even busier schedule during the you to look at what went wrong and fix it. But the fact that I am in summer. Their custom-built van accommodates 28 gamers at one control of my business vision and destiny is so rewarding for me.” time – 20 seated in the luxurious interior, and 8 on the outdoor Learn more about Roymar Gaming at roymarmgt.com. systems. 20
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BIZLOOK
AAA Link2 Insurance By Maria Veres Choosing the best home or auto insurance policy can be daunting. Cody Link and his team at AAA Link2 Insurance are committed to helping every customer find the coverage that’s right for them. Hands-on Service, Close to Home At AAA Link2 Insurance, you’ll always be greeted by a licensed agent when you call, not an automated menu. With twenty years of experience, Cody knows the territory well and can answer any questions you have. He gives every customer his personal cell
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phone number so they can reach him quickly. His team also includes three other agents and Cody’s friendly office dog, Rylee. The agency offers a full line of personal insurance including home, auto, life, and more. “We don’t just write your policy and walk away,” says Cody. “We stay with you for as long as you own the policy.” That includes reviewing coverage and making sure it still meets your needs before you renew. Protecting Families in Tough Times As inflation skyrockets, insurance prices have increased, too. Cody is happy to review your coverage and see if there’s a more cost-effective option. But you’ll never get a highpressure sales pitch. “If a customer is better off staying with the policy they already own, I’ll let them know,” he says. As a hybrid independent agency, AAA Link2 Insurance specializes in AAA insurance but also writes
policies with other companies. The agency serves customers throughout Oklahoma, with offices in Enid and Edmond. Whether you’re insuring a new asset or looking for a better value on existing coverage, Cody and his team are ready to serve you. AAA Link2 Insurance is located at 1216 West Danforth Road, Edmond. Contact them at (405) 513-6500 or link2insurance.com.
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BIZLOOK
The Grout Doctor By Maria Veres You don’t have to replace your ugly tile surfaces to make them new again. Corey Brown of The Grout Doctor specializes in refurbishing grout, bringing your tile floors and showers back to their original beauty. Transforming Tile Surfaces The Grout Doctor offers an affordable and environmentally friendly way to revitalize your tile. “We can bring dirty grout back to life at one-third to one-fourth of the cost of removal and replacement,” says Corey. Services include recaulking,
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refurbishing, and sealing grout to preserve its beauty. If you want a different look for your surface, The Grout Doctor can even change the color of your grout. They also clean and refurbish ceramic and natural stone tile. The Grout Doctor will give you a free estimate before starting any job. All services are guaranteed, and most jobs can be completed in a single day. Serving Edmond Since 2015 Raised in a military family, Corey lived in many different places before settling in Oklahoma. He met his wife here and is now raising a family in Edmond. “I intended to move on, but Oklahoma stuck to me,” he says. “I’ve always felt at home here.” Corey honors his military roots by offering a discount to service members. He also extends a discount to other public servants including teachers, firefighters, and police officers. He strives to treat every customer like extended family. “Our goal is to
Corey Brown and family
make you happy,” he says. “If you’re happy, we’re happy.” Seeing ugly surfaces made beautiful again is Corey’s favorite part of his job. “People are blown away by how something they gave up on has been transformed and is absolutely beautiful,” he says. “It’s remarkable what we can do.” Contact The Grout Doctor at groutdoctor.com/locations/oklahomacity-ok or 405-227-0700.
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FEATURELOOK
Curator of Stained Glass By Amy Dee Stephens Light streaming through panes of colored glass: jewel tones, geometric shapes, stories of Jesus. It’s an art form that changes with every small movement of the sun and generates strong emotions. For Tim Brown, owner of Artistic Glass Studio in Edmond, glass is fascinating, even though it breaks. “Expect breaks,” Tim said with a laugh. “My workshop is full of broken pieces.” He also has art “pieces” of beautiful stained, painted, and engraved glass all over the world. His resume includes notable churches, museums, Hard Rock Café windows, and the Oklahoma State Capitol. Tim Brown
“I Just Like Glass” For 40 years, Tim has made a career of creating, repairing, and restoring decorative glass. Tim’s entry into the glass field was a fortuitous summer job in a shop in 1984. During training, he was given a week-long class on stained-glass basics, and loved it. “Glass is so versatile. Besides stained glass, I enjoy painting glass, blowing glass and working with a torch to make beads and marbles the old-fashioned way,” Tim said. “I just like glass.” Edmond Windows According to Tim, Edmond has more stained glass than most people realize, especially in private homes, but his current project is more visible. The First United Methodist Church is restoring its windows from the 1920s. The windows are remarkably undamaged, but the window fittings are aging and starting to leak. The congregation raised money through organ recitals to hire Tim for the job. Working on a few panels at a time, it will take Tim several years to complete the project. A Dying Craft Tim’s jobs keep growing bigger as the number of glass experts grows smaller. “It’s a dying art, in a way,” Tim said. “Companies with centuries of experience have recently closed, including the oldest glass blowing company in the United States and the last glass manufacturer in the United Kingdom. Glass is fixable, repairable, and worth saving--but it’s getting harder to replace historic glass.” Restoring glass windows intrigues Tim, because each piece reveals intricacies about the glazer or the painter. He finds it satisfying to try to “get in the head” of each creator, particularly when he’s been commissioned for new works in the style of the best-known designers, like Frank Lloyd Wright or Louis Comfort Tiffany. A Capitol Job One of Tim’s most significant projects is his recurring work with the Oklahoma State Capitol’s stained glass. His first encounter was in 1991, when a piece fell from the ceiling. Next, Tim painted the state seal when the glass dome was added to the state capitol. Most recently, Tim was hired to clean and repair the building’s decorative glass, some which was “hanging on by a thread” after a century of gravity. It took a team of 26 people, including his wife, Rebecca, who worked two-and-ahalf years up in the Capitol attic. The project was complicated by COVID-19, which required separation and multiple shifts. “It was really a four-year job, but we had a hard deadline to meet, so we did. We streamlined a system of photographing, numbering, and storing every piece of glass so it could be reassembled exactly. Luckily, I’m good at puzzles,” Tim said. Everyone was surprised by the brightness of the colors shining through the Capitol’s glass, where 100 years of dust had settled, blocking most of the sunlight. “There’s nothing like working months on a project, and then standing back to see the light shine through, in the very place it’s going to stay for another 100 years,” Tim said. Visit ArtisticGlassStudio.com to learn more.
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ALOOKBACK
A Valentine Surprise! By Louise Tucker Jones Since February is the “love” month, I’m sharing a special story about a couple of friends. Gerald Meeks moved to Edmond just as Covid hit. Being a widower, he was alone in the house he had built to host old and new friends. But being a “people person,” he kept in touch by e-mail, phone, text, etc. One of those friends was a widow he met years ago while working in Wichita. And though Bonnie had since moved to Tennessee to be near her son, they still kept in touch. Then one day, post Covid, Gerald had business in Nashville and stopped by to see Bonnie in Memphis. Old friends! Both retired! And both widowed for 18
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years. They had lunch. They visited then visited some more. Gerald returned to Edmond but made another trip to Tennessee, again stopping to see Bonnie. On that visit, after their goodbye hug, Gerald dropped a quick kiss on Bonnie’s lips. “Wow! Where did that come from?” thought Bonnie. Well, you might guess the rest of the story but it also has a surprise. Bonnie had an 8-year-old granddaughter who was anxious to have a grandpa like her friends so the first time she met Gerald she got straight to the point. “Are you going to be my grandpa?” Talk about surprise! You see, not only was Gerald widowed, but he had also lost his only child, a son, several years earlier. He never even thought about becoming a grandparent—until now. His heart was already wanting to propose to Bonnie so this was a little prompt and on Valentine’s Day, 2023, Gerald got down on one knee at a restaurant and proposed. They were married the following July. End of story? No way! In November, Elli, that sweet granddaughter who now had a grandpa, called to say her
4th grade class was part of a Veteran’s Day program. Could Gerald come since he was a veteran? It would be a ten-hour drive! But to someone now called Pop-Pop that was no big deal. So Bon-Bon and Pop-Pop made the trip. After all, that’s what grandparents do. And Gerald was now an official grandpa! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Louise Tucker Jones is an award-winning author, inspirational speaker & founder of Wives With Heavenly Husbands, a support group for widows. LouiseTJ@cox.net or LouiseTuckerJones.com.
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Photo provided by Edmond History Museum, edmondhistory.org
ALOOKBACK
a look back A Love Story for the Ages Quimby Enterline of Piedmont met and married his sweetheart, Margaret Valeriani, while he was stationed in England in 1945. Because of the war, their early communication in 1945 and 1946 was often in the form of love letters. Margaret wrote: “Honey, I miss you so terribly, at times it’s almost unbearable, and I have had a hard job to keep an even temper…. I must say how thrilled I am at the thought you may be able to get a pass [to come home]... I’ve been meeting about three trains a day just in case you came.” Once the war ended, Quimby was discharged. He returned to Oklahoma, but it was five months before Margaret could catch a ship to America and her beloved husband. The Enterlines were very active in Edmond, and their 43 years together are still remembered as a life-long love story.
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l EDMONDOUTLOOK.COM l FEBRUARY 2024
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