Legacies in Leadership

Legacies in Leadership TABLE OF CONTENTS

ON THE COVER: VillagesOKC’s Legacies in Leadership, from left, front row, Kay Stout and Leyda Haley; middle row, Eddie Roach and Gaylene Stiles; and back row, Steve McMaster and Larry Hillman.

Legacies in leadership at any age

Changing the conversation about aging in Greater Oklahoma City

By Marilyn Olson, Executive Director

VillagesOKC

Mature adults are leaders. We have seen a few things, and we have learned a few things. We are hard‐working individuals who have learned leadership over a lifetime of refining career skills. Our brains are “time wise.”

Most of the 370,000 everyday leaders over 55 living in greater Oklahoma City are grateful for an opportunity to give time, experi‐ence, and finances. Mature adults generously offer these resources to the community without which there would be a void. The individuals, businesses, organizations and faith communities who see the value and incorporate that experience will benefit and will also become wise.

There are many examples of this mature, everyday leadership among the VillagesOKC membership, from pastors and former executives to engineers and journalists. All these individuals bring with them an eagerness to remain active and to give back to their community.

VillagesOKC offers the opportunity for older adults to use the skills they’ve acquired over a lifetime or to learn new ways to grow and con‐tribute.

Celebrating its fourth year anniversary at the Oklahoma History Center, VIllagesOKC already has strong support in the community and is poised for growth.

In this edition, we profile six of the members who exemplify this kind of leadership as members of VillagesOKC. Every member is a volunteer.

For example, Gaylene Stiles, who has a degree in gerontology and almost four decades in senior issues, including 30 years at Mercy Health, now uses the experi‐ence and contacts for program development and pursu‐ing grants for hundreds of VillagesOKC members and friends.

The incredible wit and wisdom of people over 50 can reveal secrets and insights for living a meaningful life –simply not possible without experience. Their thoughtful perspectives offer a treasure trove of life lessons about perseverance, the human spirit, and staying positive in the midst of great challenges.

Leaders like Kay Stout tell how after spending time in Korea she said she “left an American citizen but came home a patriot” because she saw a third world country up close. And, after enduring the loss of two adult chil‐dren, she found healing through giving her energy into building a successful animal rescue organization.

Understanding from these experiences refine the heart and skills of great leaders like Kay.

Then there is Steve McMaster, an accomplished electri‐cal engineer, who also is head of 40 Deacons at his church – always serving. Both Steve and Kay are involved with VillagesOKC solving problems and leading segments of this vibrant nonprofit organization designed to help seniors live successfully.

Leaders have achieved because of their love of learn‐ing, and they demonstrate that through curiosity and creativity. These leaders try new things and often have done well in many career fields. Consequently, these leaders have experienced much variety. These experiences always include some failures, some discouragement and hard knocks. But it is the overcoming, the getting through tough times that builds confidence and inspires oth‐ers. This inner resilience propels them with the self‐respect and self‐assurance so fitting to a leader.

Coming as a refugee from Cuba to

Oklahoma as a young person and the hundreds of chal‐lenges since then, Leyda Haley today has a depth that makes her positive leadership very attractive. She takes personal responsibility for befriending and transporting vision impaired members to events.

Larry Hillman had a successful 20‐year career as an Air Force pilot, followed by 20‐year career as a financial adviser, followed by care for his dad’s financial affairs and even learning about the world of digital currency. In each career, Larry led the way for others.

Leaders over 50 became leaders because they have utilized their learning to continue growing. Often this growth has led to a paradigm shift opening more doors of opportunity. This quality gives hope and causes others to say “she is inspiring”; “he is such a delight to be with,” or I hope I can be as sharp and interesting a person as he is.”

This describes Eddie Roach perfectly. Today he is con‐tinuing to hone his years of editing and writing skills by adding social media and advertising placement – for two nonprofits.

Ronald Reagan, Duncan Hines, Colonel Sanders, Julia Child, Grandma Moses, Ray Kroc, Laura Ingalls Wilder and Sully Sullenberger are but a few of the thousands who discovered their purpose in life and became a leader after 50. We are fortunate that out of the 370,000 mature adults in the greater Oklahoma City area, we have hun‐dreds of quiet but strong leaders who have found their purpose and are making the world a better place.

Mature adults with experience nurture partnerships and build bridges which bring value to all those involved. These leaders know what is most important and what matters in the end. Having priorities gives clarity. To others it looks like confidence. Even the medical community rec‐ognizes that it takes 50 years to fully mature. With this maturity comes clarity that is win‐some. Perhaps it is this inner confi‐dence that has caused so many researchers to note the increased level of happiness in those people over 50.

For more see, Page 15

We are fortunate that out of the 370,000 mature adults in the greater Oklahoma City area, we have hundreds of quiet but strong leaders who have found their purpose and are making the world a better place.

The son and grandson of ’89ers, William J. Ross was an attorney for Edith Kinney Gaylord when the Inasmuch Foundation was established by her in 1983. He now serves as chairman emeritus of the Board of Directors of the foundation. He received his BBA from the University of Oklahoma in 1952 and LLB from the University of Oklahoma Law School in 1954.

Ross was a member of the Admissions and Grievances Committee for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, and chairman of the Federal Judicial Nominating Committee. He was honored with the OU Regents’ Alumni Award in 2000; Oklahoma City University Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2005; Oklahoma City Public Schools Wall of Fame Humanitarian Award in 2005; Distinguished Graduate Award – Rosary School in 2006; inducted into University of Oklahoma College of Law Hall of Fame ‐ Order of the Owl in 2011; Plaza District’s Urban Pioneer Award 2011; University of Oklahoma Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2012; Lyric Theatre John Kirkpatrick Award in 2012; and Oklahoma Commerce & Industry Hall of Honor, Meinders School of Business, Oklahoma City University in 2014. He is presently co‐Chairman of the OU College of Law Board of Visitors.

He has been engaged in numerous civic activities in Oklahoma City, including, president, St. Anthony Hospital Foundation; chairman, Oklahoma Heritage Association Committee on Teaching of Oklahoma History; member, Oklahoma City Mayor’s Historical Preservation Committee; member of Oklahoma City Bi‐Centennial Commission; president, William Fremont Harn Homestead Museum; director, Oklahoma Symphony Orchestra; and Director, Oklahoma City Philharmonic Society.

A leader in higher education

Tom McDaniel became the 16th president of Oklahoma City University, a posi‐tion he held from 2001 to 2010. The construction and dedication of the Meinders School of Business, the Wanda L. Bass Music Center, the Ann Lacy Visitors and Admissions Center, and the Norick Art Center all occurred during his tenure.

The capital improvements were part of a successful $100‐million centennial development campaign which doubled the university’s endowment and allowed the creation of new academic programs in nursing, dance and film, as well as new athletic programs in rowing, wrestling, and volleyball.

Prior to coming to Oklahoma City University, McDaniel served as president of Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, becoming the first and only grad‐uate (1960) of that school to serve as its president. McDaniel, who has a law degree from the University of Oklahoma, College of Law (1963), has served in the past as administrative director of state courts in Oklahoma and as vice chairman of Kerr‐McGee, where he also was a member of the board of directors.

Tom J. McDaniel became president of the American Fidelity Foundation on September 1, 2011, after having served as president and chancellor of Oklahoma City University from July 1, 2001 to July 2010. McDaniel is active in the community, serving on numerous boards and commissions and currently serves as Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Board for the Maps III projects.

McDaniel and his wife, Brenda, were selected 2010 “Treasures of Tomorrow” by the Oklahoma Health Foundation. Among his recognition, he was recently named Oklahoma’s Most Admired CEO in large non‐profits. In 2006 he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.

WILLIAM J. ROSS

TOM McDANIEL

Legal Eagle

The Grant Writer

“These efforts were designed to improve the quality of health/wellness of community mem‐bers with a special emphasis on the uninsured and economically disadvantaged,” Gaylene said.

After retiring in December 2019, Gaylene said she was prepared to retire but not ready to stay home every day. “I was looking for some way to continue using the skills I had developed over my career but at a reduced pace,” she said.

That’s when she discovered VillagesOKC.

“After helping on a team project to write a grant, I got to see people I already knew in the com‐munity who were members,” she said. “After some due diligence on my part, I was convinced VillagesOKC was the right place for me to volunteer.”

She stepped right up and began performing at the same high level she had in her full‐time career. In 2021, she secured a grant from the Oklahoma City Community Foundation and its Services for the Elderly iFund grant program. It funded “Porch Pals,” a monthly delivery of a small gift along with a socially‐distant conversation to members who were feeling isolated because of the coronavirus pandemic.

This year, as a leader of VillagesOKC’s veteran’s committee, she secured a grant from the Force 50 Foundation to implement a veterans initiative called “One‐On‐One Honor.” This program will recognize veterans in assisted living and low‐income senior housing who are unable to attend the annual veterans‐pinning ceremony in March.

Gaylene was recently given the title of community momentive director. According to Executive Director Marilyn Olson, this unique designation is intended to recognize her “mover and shaker momentum” in promoting VillagesOKC and providing opportunities for growth.

Gaylene Stiles spent 30 years at Mercy Health, Oklahoma City, retiring as the director of com‐munity health and access with responsibility for provided programming and educational oppor‐tunities in collaboration with other community resources.

GAYLENE STILES

The Investor

Larry Hillman says he is fully retired now, but he had two professions during his career – and still has an avocation of trading in the market.

Larry retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Major after more than 20 years as a pilot. During his career, he flew C‐130 aircraft from Thailand east around the world to Turkey, in a wide variety of missions.

After the Air Force, he immediately began a second career in financial services, as he says, “working with middle class families, doing for them what financial planners do for folks who already have money.”

He spent another 20 years as a financial adviser before retiring a second time. Since that time, he has worked on continuing to build his dad’s and his own family’s wealth. Now, he’s learning about crypto currency and how it fits into his investing strategy.

“I encourage folks to look at their financial lives in a more long term fashion and to do more detail planning for their future,” Larry said. “Too many people get too conservative too early.”

He did a Zoom presentation to VillagesOKC members about what options are available and some things to avoid in today’s financial environment. The presentation can be viewed here: https://tinyurl.com/4y773sdc. Larry cautions that his first‐ever Zoom pres‐entation is a little rough.

His wife, Nancy Driver, is the one who got him interested in VillagesOKC.

“We talked about the variety of services being offered to help seniors with issues that come up as we age into the last third of our lives. There were a few things specifically that we thought we could take advantage of, like the GIFT (Gathering Information for Transitions) workshop, brain enhancement classes and social activities. Plus, there were going to be opportunities to leverage our backgrounds and provide assistance to the community.”

LARRY HILLMAN

The Consultant

Kay Stout has worked with executives and senior man‐agement when their careers were impacted by mergers and acquisitions. As vice presi‐dent, she opened the Oklahoma City office of Right Management Consultants in 1995.

She has held executive posi‐tions in several nonprofits and founded innovative rescue pro‐grams. She continues her active life with her current work in ani‐mal‐rescue consulting, as a public speaker/radio personality and as a writer/researcher/blogger.

Her nonprofit management experience includes service as the executive director of Second Chance Animal Sanctuary. The "Dogs of Lexington" documentary created during her tenure featured rescue dog, Sarge, a therapy dog for Norman Veterans Center. She served as the first executive director of the Peaceful Animal Adoption Shelter (PAAS, pro‐nounced PAWS) in Vinita, where she founded the animal shelter's innovative "PAAS Ride‐to‐Rescue Program." By 2020, the out‐of‐state transport and adoption program had saved 6,700 Oklahoma dogs after PAAS partnered with a Colorado non‐profit rescue, Dumb Friends League.

She also joined forces with the Humane Society of the United States Pets for Life program, and 5,000 pets were spayed and neutered. Under Kay’s leadership, PAAS received the HSUS Campsite Award for outstanding program imple‐mentation.

Kay said she was attracted to VillagesOKC because of its sense of community, reminding her of her small‐town upbringing and folks gathering around the pot‐bellied stove in the local grocery.

“VillagesOKC is my new ‘gathering place’ where I meet new friends and have new adventures,” Kay said. “VillagesOKC is a plan, not a place. It is a plan for connections which provide access to information, resources and most importantly trusted friendships.”

A longtime civic and community volunteer, in addition to her leadership as a VillagesOKC mem‐ber, Kay is a member of Common Bonds, a collec‐tive group of animal welfare organizations, where she's a member of the Executive Board and Spay/Neuter Board.

KAY STOUT

The Engineer

After graduating Oklahoma State University in 1983, Steve McMaster began his career as a test engineer with Western Electric. Through all the company name changes, he retired from Alcatel‑Lucent in 2012 with 29 years of service.

While working in the telecommunications equipment manufacturing industry, Steve was able to travel across the globe helping to setup and support manufacturing and repair operations, developing leadership skills that would be put into action over the coming years.

“Loved the career with AT&T/Lucent,” Steve said. “It was great people who mentored well and managers that managed well.”

After retiring from Alcatel‑Lucent in 2012, he was moving into a new phase and took a senior engineer’s position. Steve not only led a software development group within an FAA major projects group but also acted as an informal mentor to younger members of his group. He retired from the FAA in January 2022.

Steve has been very active in his church, Council Road Baptist Church for nearly 35 years. “I loved teaching in the high school ministry. I was able to provide guidance from time to time to students.” He is currently serving in a deacon leadership role.

In the very early days of the VillagesOKC, when it was just a concept, he led a committee developing a segment in the early architecture of VillagesOKC. This involvement evolved into a leadership role in a program called Caregiver Ambassadors, a VillagesOKC program designed to recruit and equip ambassadors with resources available to caregivers.

With Steve’s leadership, as well as work from several others, the program has nearly attained a goal of 20 faith communities with two or three members of each community to support caregivers within that community.

Steve is an avid hunter and loves to fish as well. He enjoys fast cars and is a big fan of NHRA drag racing.

STEVE McMASTER

The Adventurer

A student at the University of Havana, she returned home to her parents when the university was closed. Then began the plans for the family to leave Cuba. She said they were terrified for her dad, a prominent businessman in the community, because he was an outspoken critic against Castro.

Leyda’s fate was to be a good one as she made her way to Miami and eventually to OKC.

A friend told her father that a family in Oklahoma City was looking for a companion for their 16‐year‐old daughter. Leyda, an adventurous young woman, volunteered. This fortunate connection turned out to be the family of then‐Oklahoma City Mayor James H. Norick and his wife, Madalynne.

That became a lifelong friendship with the Noricks. “He called me his second daughter,” Leyda said.

Leyda had a career in early computer operations, as a tape librarian and keypunch team supervisor, with some “light programming” thrown in. She and her husband, Douglas, lived in Las Vegas for 21 years, where she was secretary‐treasurer and office manager of his engineering firm.

After retirement, they decided to move back to Oklahoma City in 2003. Douglas died in 2012 as the result of a stroke.

“If I could do it all over again, I wouldn’t change anything,” Leyda said. “I have no regrets in my decisions. I’m a happy person. I’m always smiling.”

Leyda loves her retirement years. In addition to VillagesOKC, she volun‐teers for animal rescue and Triad, a law enforcement effort to reduce crim‐inal victimization of older adults. She enjoys helping seniors including transporting those with low vision.

Leyda Haley came to Oklahoma City in 1962 as a young political refugee from Cuba. She recalls it as a time of great persecution after Fidel Castro’s guerrilla army overthrew dictator General Fulgencio Batista and the US responded with the failed Bay of Pigs attack in April 1961.

LEYDA HALEY

The First Lady

Cathy Keating is a fourth‐generation Oklahoman who has focused much of her life on community service, most prominently while First Lady of Oklahoma from 1995 to 2003.

While First Lady, she planned and organized the International Prayer Service, then authored “In Their Name,” both on the heels of the Oklahoma City bombing. She has also authored “Our Governors Mansions” and “Ooh La La: Cuisine Presented in a Stately Manner.”Additionally, Keating founded Friends of the Oklahoma Governor’s Mansion, Septemberfest, and the Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony as well as started the tradition of an Oklahoma Christmas tree ornament.

Her previous board commitments range from Habitat for Humanity International Women’s Build to the National Trust. She also co‐chaired the Washington, D.C., American Red Cross and the Oklahoma City Salvation Army capital campaigns.

Keating currently served on the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Board, where she co‐founded and Chairs the Annie Oakley Society. In that capacity she led the campaign to raise funds and build Liichokoshkomo, a new educational outdoor experience on the museum grounds. In addition, she serves on the boards of the Palomar Family Justice Center, Cristo Rey, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, and on the National Advisory Boards of the OKC National Memorial and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

Keating is the recipient of several awards, including the Salvation Army’s William Booth Award, Tom Brokaw’s People of the Week honor and the David and Sybil Yurman Foundation’s “Thoroughbred” Award. She has been inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and the Tulsa Hall of Fame and has been named an “Outstanding Southerner” in Southern Living magazine.

The Philanthropist

Judy Love helped her husband, Tom, start Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores in 1964. She worked full time in the company until 1975 when she returned to college to become an interior designer. She serves as chairman of Love’s Family Foundation and secretary of the corpora‐tion, as well as performing other special assignments. An Oklahoma City native, she graduated from Bishop McGuinness High School, and today outstanding theatrical stu‐dents at McGuinness are awarded the Judy McCarthy Love Award. The Loves have given back to McGuinness with the McCarthy Gymnasium, named after her father. The Loves have established Love’s Entrepreneurial Center and the Love Boat at Oklahoma City University and the Frank C. Love Cancer Institute and Margaret Love Surgery Center at St. Anthony Hospital, named after Tom’s parents. Love serves on the boards of St. Anthony’s Foundation, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, the Civic Center Foundation, Allied Arts, Oklahoma City Community Foundation, University of Central Oklahoma Foundation,and SSM Health Care of Oklahoma. She has co‐chaired many, many charitable events and campaigns. Most recently, she and Cathy Keating co‐chaired the campaign to construct the Love Family Women’s Center at Mercy Hospital. The Tom and Judy Love Fmily gave a $10 million lead dona‐tion to this project.

Love’s honors include the Lifetime Achievement Award and Distinguished Woman Award from Oklahoma City University, Woman of Distinction from the Girl Scouts, Oklahoma Health Center Foundation’s Treasures for Tomorrow, Notre Dame Club Woman of the Year for Oklahoma, Bishop’s Outstanding Lay Catholic Leader and Outstanding Philanthropist Award from the Oklahoma City Chapter of the National Fundraising Professionals.

CATHY KEATING

JUDY LOVE

The Journalist

Eddie Roach worked 40 years in print and online information careers. In retirement, he contin‐ues using the expertise he gained over those years.

He started at The Oklahoman as a reporter with a fresh journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma. He worked his way up to news editor before joining a start‐up online company –DataTimes – launched by The Oklahoman in 1984.

From there, he had a number of titles and responsibilities: production director, technology edi‐tor, project manager, operations director and business development manager. He retired in 2017 as Digital Director of Content and Analytics.

Like so many retirees, he wanted to continue being active, but on his own schedule. He began a second career as a freelance writer/editor and started looking for volunteer opportunities. That’s when he found VillagesOKC. He was already a pillar volunteer at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Food and Resource Center in Moore and a longtime board member and media director for the Texas nonprofit Libraries of Love‐Africa.

“I joined VillagesOKC in January of 2021,” he said. “Now, I volunteer as a media strategist, lever‐aging the 40 years of experience I have working in print and online media. I work with a small team of talented individuals to spread the VillagesOKC message on social media, print and broad‐cast.”

Eddie said he was attracted to VillagesOKC when he learned about the Gathering Information for Transitions (GIFT) workshop being moderated by Dr. Nikki Buckelew.

Led by trained facilitators, the GIFT includes discussions about personal, medical, legal, financial, power of attorney, living will, home health, hospice, downsizing and real estate, care plan, crisis plan, funeral preferences, digital connections and more. At the end, participants have a personal‐ized notebook filled with all of this important information.

“I am amazed at the number of truly skilled member/volunteers who lend their expertise to VillagesOKC,” Eddie said.

EDDIE ROACH

Mr. Oklahoma City

Oklahoma native Lee Allan Smith graduated from the University of Oklahoma and began his career in radio and television production as a salesman when he joined Gaylord Broadcasting Company’s WKY Radio/TV. He eventually became president and general manager of KTVY (formerly WKY and currently KFOR) televi‐sion.

Smith produced the “Stars and Stripes Show,” which was televised nationally and often featured Bob Hope and a cast of celebrities and national sports figures. He was the project chair for the building of Aquaticus at the Oklahoma City Zoo and as president of Oklahoma Centennial Sports, Inc., brought the U.S. Olympic Festival to Oklahoma in 1989. Smith launched the Festival of the Horse in 1990, and only a year later, the event was named among the top 100 attractions in North America.

Known as “Mr. Oklahoma City,” Smith is president of OK Events, was named “Oklahoman of the Year” in 1990, presided over the grand re‐opening of Oklahoma City’s Civic Center Music Hall in 2001 and was co‐chairman of Oklahoma’s 2007 centennial events.

He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1994.

Smith served three years as chairman of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. He is active on several boards of directors. His civic and professional activities have included: Allied Arts of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Zoological Society, Inc., Oklahoma City Zoo Trust Board and board member of the Oklahoma Heritage Association.

The list continues with the Last Frontier Council, Boy Scouts of America Executive Board, State Fair of Oklahoma Board of Directors, Kirkpatrick Center Board of Consultants and numerous others.

The Entrepreneur

Bob Funk Sr. has been in the staffing industry since 1965, beginning his career at a national firm in Seattle before moving to Oklahoma, where he founded Express Employment Professionals in 1971.

As founder, chairman and CEO, Funk led Express on a trajectory of success that grew the business into one of the nation’s largest privately held staffing companies. Today, Express puts more than a half million people to work each year and records more than $3 billion in annual sales.

As president and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals –Oklahoma, Funk also operates one of the largest and most productive Express fran‐chises with more than 50 offices in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Kansas.

Funk’s talent for excellence in business extends beyond the staffing industry. As owner of Express Ranches, he produces some of the nation’s finest stock, and is the largest genetic seedstock producer in America. Express Ranches is also home to Funk’s collection of championship‐winning Clydesdales and Percherons, which com‐pete in horse shows across the U.S. and Canada each year.

He has served nationally as chairman of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank and he also has served on the boards of several local banks, as well as the American Staffing Association and Future Farmers of America. He’s been chairman of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and the Oklahoma Youth Expo.

Funk has been named Most Admired CEO by the Journal Record newspaper, Man of the Year by Impact OKC Magazine, and he’s been inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the International Franchise Association Hall of Fame and the Sales and Marketing Executives International Hall of Fame.

Lee Allan Smith

BOB FUNK

VillagesOKC: Changing the converation about aging

And it is no wonder. A 2013 Gallup survey indicates people tend to be happy in their 20s before a low in late 30s and 40s, returning to happiness in their early 50s. Why? After 50, people begin to know who they are and what they want to be. Experience chooses the long view, “smile, we will get through this” and “you will make it.”

When people are happy and confident, others enjoy their company and follow their leadership in the community or organization. To think that organizations, businesses and faith communities would ignore those over 50 when they could be the beneficiary of experience, talent and generosity.

Fortunately, Oklahoma City is the kind of community which values the irreplaceable talent and wisdom of mature adults in every sector of the community. It simply makes sense to begin changing the conversation about aging and include these generous and wise adults as an integral part and a key partner.

The community benefits when recognizing leaders are leaders at any age. VillagesOKC is a plan for aging that con‐nects a community leading the way to fill the gaps.

Fortunately, Oklahoma City is the kind of community which values the irreplaceable talent and wisdom of mature adults in every sector of the community. It simply makes sense to begin changing the conversation about aging and include these generous and wise adults as an integral part and a key partner.