CELEBRATE years of community
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Vol. 52 No. 9 • Six Sections 66 Pages June 29, 2018
50 Most Powerful Oklahomans
1. BILL ANOATUBBY Governor, Chickasaw Nation
3. LARRY NICHOLS Chairman Emeritus, Devon Energy
4. DAVID RAINBOLT Executive Chairman, BancFirst Corp.
5. CHRISTY GAYLORD EVEREST Philanthropist
6. JAMES LANKFORD U.S. Senator, State of Oklahoma
7. DAVID HOLT Mayor, Oklahoma City
8. TOM COLE U.S. Representative, 4th District
2. CLAY BENNETT OKC Thunder Chairman, CEO, Dorchester Capital
Anoatubby nails #1 in vote again By Vicki Clark OKC FRIDAY Publisher What Oklahomans do you think exercise -- through position, ability or wealth -- the most influence in overall decision-making affecting Oklahoma’s present and future? OKC FRIDAY asked that question on 310 ballots mailed to state and city leaders. The ballot had to be mailed back by June 18. The results are tabulated, and there were several surprises this year. While there are literally thousands of smart and wealthy business leaders in the state, the ones who win votes every year are the men and women most involved in civic and charitable organizations. #1 Chickasaw Nation GOVERNOR BILL ANOATUBBY received the most votes in the 2018 MOST POWERFUL OKLAHOMAN statewide poll, winning by an even larger margin than his past two years at #1. Anoatubby’s brilliant leadership has brought wealth to the
Chickasaws and prominence through more than 100 tribal businesses. The visionary Chickasaw Governor is extremely popular, known especially for his kindness and generosity to individuals and the community as a whole. He has provided the leadership and the tribal support to save virtually every worthwhile project in this state. Many nonprofit organizations would have closed their doors during the past few years, if not for the Chickasaw Nation stepping up to be the lead sponsor at fundraising events. #2 CLAY BENNETT, the man who transformed Oklahoma City’s image worldwide by bringing an NBA team to town, the Oklahoma City Thunder, received the second most votes again this year. Despite seemingly reserved in public interviews, Bennett is articulate, funny and wildly popular with the audience at the events, whethere he is being honored or speaking as an inductor, like the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
We Celebrate Oklahoma! with special features
INSIDE TODAY:
Education, Pages 13-20 Nonprofits, Page 21-22 Next Generation of Most Powerful, Pages B1-8 Economy, Pages C1-6
FRIDAY’s
Dog of the Week Sadie Fitzgerald is a 4-year-old Husky/ Australian Shepherd mix. She loves long walks, peanut butter and her stuffed giraffe. She’s a great big sister and loves cleaning up her human brothers’ food messes. Her humans are Blake and Merrick Fitzgerald. Send Dog of the Week, Cat of the Week and Baby of the Week nominations with complete descriptions to rose@okcfriday.com. Submissions are used in the order they are received.
Sponsored by Paulette and Leo Kingston of WePayFast.com
See POWERFUL, Page 2
Alexander to conduct his first pops Red, White and Boom! Parades slated in Quail Creek and Nichols Hills neighborhoods By Jamie Ellsbury Student intern Fourth of July festivities are right around the corner and if you don’t have any plans, we have the perfect line up of events for you to go to.
Starting Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. will be the 12th annual Red, White and Boom celebration at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds. Come to the free event where there will be live music by the OKC Philharmonic, con-
ducted by Alexander Mickelthwate. The concert will be 90 minutes in length and offer a variety of musical selections for the family, following the concert will be a spectacular fireworks display. Gates open at 6:30 p.m.,
parking is free and entrance to the park is available. Due to construction, Gate 5 will be the only open gate for entry and exit to the performance. No outside alcohol, glass bottles or pets are permitted. On-site conces-
sions will be available. For more information go to http://okcphil.org/rwb. “This free concert, presented as our ‘thank you’ gift to our entire community, is one of our favorite See FOURTH, Page 5