Ballet Ball
Inside today:
Senior Follies
Valerie Naifeh and her husband George Catechis attend the 2022 OKC Ballet Ball. The event raised $375k for ballet programs. Page 4
Easter Coloring Contest winners, Page 2 Community Calendar, Page 6 Students, Page 7 Sports, Pages 10 & 11 Easter Worship Services, Page 15
John Ferguson, the “Count” and 2022 Oklahoma Senior Follies king, during a kickoff party for the May 20-22 performances. Page 4
OKC FRIDAY Vol. 55 No. 45 • One Section • 16 pages • April 15, 2022
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www.okcfriday.com facebook.com/okcfriday OKC’s only locally-owned legal newspaper with all local news Serving Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills, The Village, Quail Creek, The Greens and Gaillardia for 48 years
Sidewalk safety concerns prompt action from The Village Council
Three presidents OCU President Kenneth Evans, left, with his predecessors Martha Burger and Tom McDaniel. Evans was inaugurated into the position last week.
By Eric Oesch Staff Writer
For photos from the gala, see Page 13.
Kenneth Evans inaugurated as OCU president Kenneth Evans, OCU’s 19th president, was inaugurated in the Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel on campus. Alumnus and Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt delivered the ceremony welcome address. Alumni dignitaries gave remarks during a presidential call to service, including City Councilperson James Cooper (MFA ’15), state Senator Carri Hicks (BA ’05 and
MLA ’09) and Holt (JD ’09). Following the ceremony, a recessional looped around campus to a celebration gathering in the University Center. “I am honored to be in this position, at this university,” Evans said during his remarks at the formal inauguration ceremony. “The legacy we have built over the years, our history of producing transformative leaders, our track
record of impacting the city and the world – these are awesome standards and I see it as my responsibility to steward and elevate them.” Evans officially joined the university in July 2021 after serving as president of Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. He formerly was dean of the Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma.
Concerns about sidewalk safety in her neighborhood prompted Village resident Debbie Bass to address the Village City Council during its recent meeting. Bass, who lives on Major Avenue west of May Avenue, called sidewalks near her home “extremely dangerous,” and told the council, “We need to watch out for the elderly who use our sidewalks.” Bass described “buckling” and “uneven” sidewalks that cause her neighbors to walk in the streets instead of on the sidewalks. “My husband’s physical therapist told him to walk in the street rather than use the sidewalks for fear of tripping,” she told the council. Bass’s comments prompted Mayor Sonny Wilkinson and Councilman Bubba Symes to suggest the city look at all existing sidewalks to look for trip hazards. See VILLAGE, Page 3
Jane Harlow to be inducted into Maestro’s Circle By Mark Beutler Special to OKC FRIDAY
Jane Harlow, OKCPHIL Maestro Alexander Mickelthwate and retired Music Director and Founder Joel Levine.
Back in the 1970s, Jane Harlow enjoyed a full life as a homemaker and mother. Her husband James was chairman and CEO at Oklahoma Gas & Electric, and life was good. But she needed a creative outlet, and soon found it volunteering with the Women’s Committee of the Oklahoma Symphony Orchestra. Harlow is set to be inducted into the Maestro’s Circle during
‘Why we run’ Memorial Marathon set for April 24 Set for Sunday, April 24, at 6:30 a.m., the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon is a Boston qualifying USATF sanctioned event on a certified 26.2-mile single-loop course. It’s been rated one of 12 “mustrun” marathons by Runner’s World magazine, organizers said. The course begins at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum and winds through downtown, Bricktown, past the state Capitol, through northeast Oklahoma City and through some of the city’s most beautiful and historic neighborhoods, the organizers said. Crowds of
spectators line the course to cheer on runners. And along the way, 168 banners — each bearing the name of one of those killed in the Oklahoma City bombing — reminds all of “Why We Run.” The Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon is the largest fundraiser for the privately owned and operated Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. As an additional benefit to running in any of the races, each participant will receive one free admission to the museum. For more information, visit okcmarathon.com.
OKCGCC to host ball In what is quickly becoming one of the social events of the year, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic presents the annual Maestro’s Ball, Friday, April 22 at Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. The black tie event begins with cocktails at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and entertainment at 7:30 p.m., and an after party at 9 p.m. See BALL, Page 5 the event on Friday, April 22. “My first volunteer experience was serving as an usher for children’s concerts at the Civic Center Music Hall,” Harlow said.
“Later I served on the board of the Women’s Committee, eventually becoming president. When we announced the first Symphony Show House, I got involved and sold ads
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for the program. “Each day after car pool while my sons were watching ‘Gilligan’s Island,’ I was on the phone calling prospects!” It was a whirlwind of activity for the busy wife and mother, and the years passed by swiftly. In 1987, the orchestra went on strike and ultimately the board voted to disband. But through Harlow’s hard work and her never-give-up attitude, a new organization was born. “I was part of the See HARLOW, Page 5
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