The Corridor Magazine_August 2018 by The Corridor Magazine

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AUGUST 2018 / VOLUME XIII / Issue I

back to school EDITION ~ Tulsa to Oklahoma City and everywhere in between ~

Schedule a check-up before it’s back to school. Make sure you and your child have a safe and healthy year. Now is a good time to get a health check-up before it’s back to school.

Find a doctor at

STILLWATERMEDICAL.COM

LOOKING FORWARD

Not just a magazine...a part of your life!

Next Month:

SEPTEMBER: FALL FESTIVALS OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST

Restaurant Guide Giving Thanks Christmas Edition Health & Fitness Bridal Edition Home Improvement Sports Real Estate / Industry

ON THE COVER... It’s a beautiful morning. I think I’ll go outside awhile, and just smile! Just digging the clean fresh air now! At the top L to R: Yale cheerleaders, Stevie Dennis and Lindsey Myers. Middle row football players L to R: Justin Foster, Keegan Martin, Marco Hernandez, and Jarrad Foster. Bottom row cheerleaders L to R: Amberlee Hart, Nikia Sears, and Jayden Moore. Enjoy football season along The Corridor with your favorite schools

COVER PHOTO by CRYSTL’S PHOTOGRAPHY

Watch our september issue for all the 2018

Fall Festivals

Travel Patriotic Edition Back To School

Along The corridor!

The Corridor Magazine is published by The Corridor, LLC www.corridor-magazine.com

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Karson Brown

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Jeree Milligan, Rick Reily, Diane Brown, Pastor Paul Ragel, Missy Husted, Donnie Schroeder, Robbie McCommas and Michelle Brown ©2018. All rights reserved. Reproduction without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. All requests for permission and reprints must be made in writing to The Corridor Magazine, at the above address. Advertising claims and the views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent those of the publishers or its affiliates.

THE CORRIDOR / JULY 2018 3

BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION

TRUMP and JOE It’s back to school for learning along The Corridor!

EDITORIAL by Joe Gooch

BACK TO SCHOOL 2018 by Michelle Brown

KIDS ON THE CORRIDOR by Jeree Milligan

OH HAPPY DAYS by Michelle Brown

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A RURAL OKLAHOMA SCHOOL by Robbie McCommas

COACH ROY GRISSOM by Missy Husted

PASTOR PAUL’S PASSAGES by Paul Ragle

2018 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULES

DELILAH’S DILEMMAS by Diane Brown

NOTES ON THE CORRIDOR by Rick Reiley

CORRIDOR CUTIES by Maci Brown

52 RECIPES by Jeree Milligan 54

DINING ON THE CORRIDOR

HYDRAULIC TREE SHEARS, ETC.

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Artwork by Mongo Allen 4 THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018

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From the EDITOR

OLD SCHOOL: Have you ever heard anyone say, “I’m from the old school?” Well, this month I’m presenting to you, “The Old School”. I am having lots of something called memory loss. Two of my classmates, City Chuck and Country Chuck constantly say, “Joe, you have told me that same story a total of three times.” Sorry guys. However, I can certainly remember to tell you about the Good Old School Days. I can proudly say that I liked school and did quite well until around 1963 when I turned 14 and started Junior High. A huge problem called “GIRLS” began to develop. This just occurred to me since I have a 15 year old son with that same problem. Hmmm... women must be a problem for all men. This issue has become gigabytes versus how the cow chews the cabbage. So, check out the old discontinued/ closed country schools our Corridor writers came across. You may have gone to school there. A couple of weeks ago I was honored with a phone call from Fred Caudle inviting me to breakfast with the Cushing senior men being held six days per week in the former Aqua Pleasures building. Us old geezers remember it as the Forsee Chevrolet dealership. OK! I just returned home; from joining the club. I have my membership card to the Romeo Club with the quote “Real old men eating out!” I had a blast visiting with Bill Candler,

by JOE GOOCH

Larry Calkins, Jim Fraizer, Everett Rossiter, Jack Hudgins, Kevin Clouse, and more. The members vary from 56 to 84 years of age and profess their conversations are of Gospel not Gossip. Fill the coffee cup gentlemen! I will be back for breakfast soon. Guys, I’ll finish with our quote...

ROMEO CLUB

“Real old men eating out”

Greater Wisdom and Knowledge on politics, life, sports, fun and other fond memories n

THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018 5

ALONG THE CORRIDOR

The start of the school year is once again just around the corner. Catch the latest news from the schools in The Corridor Magazine! COMPILED by MICHELLE BROWN

AGRA BEARCATS

CARNEY BULLDOGS

BRISTOW PIRATES

CHANDLER LIONS

Transition Camp for all incoming 6th graders at the Middle School August 7 8am-11:30am. Freshman Connection for all incoming freshman to pick up schedules at the High School is August 7 8am11:30am. Seniors pick up schedules August 7 from 1-4pm, Juniors pick up schedules August 8 10am12pm and Sophomores August 8 from 1-3pm.

CUSHING TIGERS

CLASSES BEGIN - August 9 OPEN HOUSE - August 7 PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCE October 11-12 FALL BREAK - October 18-19 The Cheerleaders are hosting a Cheer Back to School Bash on September 1 with inflatables, food and fun 9am-2pm at the Agra High School. $10 gives access to all activities, $5 for meal only. CLASSES BEGIN - August 10 OPEN HOUSE/MEET THE TEACHER (all sites) August 7, 4pm-7pm JOM EVENT SUPPLY DISTRIBUTION (taco dinner) location TBA August 7, 4pm-7pm

6 THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018

CLASSES BEGIN - August 13 MEET AND GREET - August 9, 5pm-7pm PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES October 8, 11 from 4pm-7pm Baseball “Old Timer’s Night” at the High School Baseball Field is August 3 at 6pm. This is a home run derby and exhibition game with varsity and former varsity players.

Classes begin August 16 PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES - October 16-17 FALL BREAK - October 17-19

CLASSES BEGIN - August 16 MEET THE TEACHER FOR PRE-K - August 15, 12 noon-1pm OPEN HOUSE AT CMS - September 13, 6pm-8pm. CHS Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees will be announced before the football game of August 31.

DAVENPORT BULLDOGS

CLASSES BEGIN - August 9 OPEN HOUSE - August 8 FALL BREAK - October 10-12 Davenport schools have Fridays off (except for other holidays).

DEPEW HORNETS

OILTON PANTHERS

CLASSES BEGIN - August 14 PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES October 16, 3-9pm FALL BREAK - October 18-19

PERKINS-TRYON DEMONS

CLASSES BEGIN - August 16 MEET THE TEACHER August 14, 7pm-8pm PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES September 21 FALL BREAK - October 18-19

CLASSES BEGIN - August 23rd ACT REGISTRATION DEADLINE - August 10 LAST DAY TO CHANGE SCHEDULES - August 24 PARENT TEACH CONFERENCES - October 15, 16 & 17 FALL BREAK - October 18 & 19

DRUMRIGHT TORNADOES

PRAGUE RED DEVILS

CLASSES BEGIN - August 20

KELLYVILLE PONIES

CLASSES BEGIN - August 9 PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES September 11 & 13, 3:30pm-7:00pm FALL BREAK - October 18-19

LUTHER LIONS

CLASSES BEGIN - August 16 PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES October 16 (evening meetings) and October 17 (morning meetings) FALL BREAK - October 18-19

MANNFORD PIRATES

CLASSES BEGIN - August 14 MEET THE TEACHER - August 10 SENIOR PANEL PICTURES - August 1, 3 High School Cheerleaders and Football players pictures - August 6 PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES - October 16, 4pm-7pm and October 17, 8am-11am FALL BREAK - October 18-19 Thank you to the donor of $100,000 made in honor of the late Mr. Jim Parks!

RIPLEY WARRIORS

CLASSES BEGIN - Uncertain at the date of publishing. Please check the Ripley Public Schools website and/or Facebook page for updates.

SAPULPA CHIEFTAINS

CLASSES BEGIN - August 16 SCHOOL ZONE CAMP (incoming 6th graders)- CLASSES BEGIN - August 22 August 7-9, 9am-12pm @ Sapulpa Middle School SCHOOL PICTURES - August 31 VISION SCREENING FOR LOWER EDUCATION - PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES - October 11 and 15 September 17 and 18 PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES - October 15 FALL BREAK - October 17-19 Congratulations to Amy Riff, the new Digital Cur and 16, 4pm-7pm nightly riculum Coordinator for the district. Congratulations FALL BREAK - October 17-19 to Donia Doudican in moving to the role of Director Thank you to a multitude of businesses for their of Instructional Design. total donation of $6,000 for school supplies. Thanks to the Creek County Ambulance for the Congratulations! Todd McKinley and Cole Kilpatdonation of hundreds of books! rick for qualifying for BASS High School National Finals to be held August 2-4 at Kentucky Lake.

MEEKER BULLDOGS

CLASSES BEGIN - August 13 PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES - September 21 NATIONAL ACT TEST DATE - September 8 FALL BREAK - October 18-19

SHAWNEE WOLVES

CLASSES BEGIN - August 16 PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES - October 17 FALL BREAK - October 18-19 Fox 25 paid special thank you and interviewed Mr. McCune for his service to this country and this community. THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018 7

STILLWATER PIONEERS

CLASSES BEGIN - August 16 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING - September 11 HOMECOMING WEEK - Starts September 12 Construction renovations continue on many elementary school buildings. Welcome new Chief Financial Officer, Jericah Dawson. ATTENTION!! SPS will be destroying confidential special education student files for graduating year 2011-2012 on September 26, 2018. Files may be picked up at the Administration Bldg, 314 S. Lewis until that date. Please contact Diane Bradley at 405 707 5036 with questions.

STROUD TIGERS

CLASSES BEGIN - August 16 High School enrollment packets can be picked up starting August 6.

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES - October 17 FALL BREAK - October 18-19 Renovations to the High School continue.

YALE BULLDOGS

CLASSES BEGIN - August 9 PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES - October 15-16 FALL BREAK - October 18-19 Congratulations: Jr. National Stock Show winner Katelynn Williams and Oklahoma High School Rodeo Assn and COLBRA Tie Down Roper, Joby Bush and to Allie Moore for Character Counts Award.

WELLSTON TIGERS

CLASSES BEGIN - August 23 PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES - October 15- 16, 4pm-7pm each night FALL BREAK - October 17-19

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GINGERTALES

Oh Happy Days...

by MICHELLE BROWN

at Happy Valley School

As a writer for The Corridor, I have been blessed to meet not only interesting and talented people, but people who greet me in a warm and friendly way. This month, was no exception. As I met with Larry and Kathy Wolff they welcomed me into their home and I felt like family. Brownies, sweet tea and the dining room table were part of our meeting! At first I was not quite sure how their story would connect with this month’s theme, Back to School. But as Larry and Kathy began to tell me their stories, I realized it was not just stories they recalled. I was hearing old school adventures! Memories came flooding back as if they happened just yesterday. The memories I am referring to are those made at Happy Valley School. I wonder if anyone reading this article remembers this rural, somewhat German familybased grade school? You would be from the families of Haskins, Dethloff, or Noltensmeyer. Your name might be Kluck, Coyner, Meyer, Armstrong, or Niccum. Maybe you are related to the Wolff’s cousins with the name Ewen or Bobo. Or you might have Kathy’s maiden name of Oestmann. Maybe the names of Principals, Mr. Jantz or Mr. Dungan, would jog your memory. I am sure there are even more names to remember as this old school impacted many families throughout its years of education. Happy Valley sits on the dusty country corner of roads 750 and 3520 in Lincoln County. The Wolff’s agree the school started long before they began their time art Happy Valley. Their marriage of 56 years began after meeting at the countryside school as Larry began first grade in 1947 and Kathy began in 1948. There, at Happy Valley, they shared 1st and 2nd grades together, as they told me one class would include two grades up to the 8th grade. But that is not the only ironic memory they share. The Wolff’s three children Dale, Cheryl and Michael, would in later years also attend Happy Valley just like their parents! Before meeting with Larry and Kathy, I drove by Happy 14 THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018

PHOTO by KB PHOTOGRAPHY

Valley School. And the first thing I noticed? Although missing, there was a place for a school bell on top the building. For some reason, school bells just make a statement of simpler days gone by. Long ago, school bells were a significant part of making a school building proper in its architecture. Bells had a purpose and their existence with the building told of the time frame in which the school was in use. As my visit with the Wolffs unfolded colorful details, I learned the fate of the missing Happy Valley school bell – it was stolen years ago! I would venture to say, if all of us can think back about our days in grade school, we can recall incidents, favorite teachers, school traditions, recess time or even childhood friends. I asked Larry and Kathy to do just that – to take me back to their Happy Valley School days and paint a picture in my mind of their life experiences there. Here are some of their vivid memories. Kathy’s memories began here... every Monday morn-

ing each child brought two raw eggs in a brown paper sack. “The cooks used the eggs throughout the week to do the baking and such,” Kathy recalls. Larry said, “You didn’t dare break them on the way to school!” Imagine that – back in those days the kids pitched in to help provide the meals? We talked of how times are so different. School lunches were great. Who can remember the school cooks? Larry and Kathy can. They remember Mrs. Tracy and Mrs. Manatowa. In the summer, mothers would cook chicken, can it, and save to be served later during the school year as chicken and noodles. Both Larry and Kathy remember the basement lunchroom. They described how each child would line up, wash their hands, and say grace all together before eating. Larry is sticking with his story that he was not a naughty young boy. Well…. Kathy says otherwise. To avoid the boys and their pestering games with cap guns (yes they took cap guns to school!), Kathy recalls playing jacks on the girls’ bathroom floor where the boys could not come in. And she admits the girls could play a mean game of jacks! Has anyone ever heard of a game played with knives called Mumble Peg? There weren’t many rules for this game as Larry described it. “The boys would throw a knife at each other’s feet,” he said. “One boy threw the knife and the other spread his legs to meet where the knife landed. The winner was the one who threw the knife when the other boy could no longer stand up after spreading his legs to reach the knife!” Larry remembers his mom complaining at his dirty clothes because the boys would “wrastle” (not wrestle!) and roll across the ground. Hence the statement, boys will be boys! Kathy recounts her clothing. “I always wore a dress, and sometimes with jeans. We didn’t wear our jeans with blouses; we wore them with a dress just because that is what we did.” We all have our school bus ride memories, both good and bad. Larry and Kathy remember what a big deal a school bus ride would be in the rain. The bus had to go over what was known as Krebs Hill. They described what a muddy mess that hill would become during the rain. Larry said, “The bus driver would keep me and the Haskins boy on the bus till last in case he needed help to get over the hill. We were good hands.” Box suppers were always a favorite of the community-based school. The boxes would be auctioned off and we laughed as the story was told of how competitive the bidding could become on each other’s boxes. If it was close to Christmas, Santa Claus would join in. Yes, Happy Valley School had sports. The track was the dirt road out front and the softball field was the field to the North. Additionally, if you were picked to clean the blackboard and beat the chalk out of the erasers, you got to get out of class! Larry and Kathy even had the same favorite teacher, Mrs. Smith. Although the school yard is quite overgrown and unkept now, Larry remembers that, while in the fourth

grade, everyone in his class planted an elm tree. “My tree and another boy’s tree is still there and living.” The school had a bible study class. Monthly, a lady would come to teach bible verses. The children would memorize some of these and would then receive plaques for the number of bible verses memorized. Once again, how times have changed! Finally, the school year would end with a pot luck dinner, softball game and ice cream. Families would gather together and enjoy each other’s company and celebrate another year accomplished. As I listened to the history of this countryside school, I felt sadness. In 1984, after many years of service as an educational facility, and just one year after the Wolff’s youngest son, Michael, finished the eighth grade, Happy Valley closed. The students were consolidated into the Stroud or Cushing school districts. We all agreed the closing of such a school was difficult on families. These kinds of schools were the center of rural and agricultural communities and family connections and bonds were strong. I urge you as August has arrived and a new school year begins, make memories. Before you know it, your children will be graduating and school times will be over. I know this year as my teenagers start school again, one for the last time, I will try to savor memories such as Happy Valley School created for Larry and Kathy Wolff, and their children, Dale, Cheryl and Michael. n

Pictured above is the Happy Valley 8th Grade graduating class of 1956.

Happy Valley welcomes its first class reunion sometime in the 1970s THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018 15

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PHOTOS by ROBBIE McCOMMAS

The Life and Times of a Rural Oklahoma School

One teacher, two rooms, a black coal stove and baseball at recess…

Midlothian School 1930s & 1940s

by ROBBIE McCOMMAS

Imagine, a mile and a half walk down an Oklahoma red dirt road at four o’clock after being in school all day. Think of the chitter chatter conversations among siblings and friends while they walked, ran and played along the way. As they passed a turnip field they helped themselves to an after-school snack, and loved it! Rural communities valued education, they embraced a school board and raised all the money they could to aid in training their children. They interviewed and chose each teacher carefully. Midlothian was a self-sustaining, vibrant community in 1901. A post office was established, the 21-block town with four avenues had a railroad, a depot and a telegraph operator. Residents enjoyed grocery stores, a two-story hotel, a liquor store, churches, a Mercantile Store, a filling station, a blacksmith shop, a barber shop and a cotton gin. Parents endured hard work on the farm and the children helped. There were cows to milk; livestock to tend; vegetable gardens to plant, harvest and preserve; crops to sow and fields of corn and cotton to hoe. Going to school was looked forward to, it was somewhere to go off the farm. The first school in Midlothian was a wood frame building that stood on the Tillman Farm named the Stockade School. In 1908, enrollment numbered 109 students with grades first through 10th. The school was located one mile west of the Midlothian school building’s present location. In 1936-1937, a rock school building was constructed by the Works Progress Administration and the Stockade School was torn down. Only used for public education a handful of years, the students who were lucky enough to attend the rock school house remember “good times”. The Earp family’s three daughters, Wanda, Donna and Aileen, attended and 18 THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018

their father, John Earp, served on the school board. “It was a fun school,” Aileen Henderson explained. “We had one teacher for all eight grades. We had a little library, I always wished we’d have more books. We’d study, then have lunch, and recess. We’d play baseball or any games we made up. Then, the teacher would read to the whole group.” As a first grader, Aileen recalls the teacher having her come to her desk and read aloud to her, one on one. Aileen still resides on her family’s farm today. “There were 18 to 20 kids that went to Midlothian,” said Donna Moore, now of Jones. “We all brought our lunch. I remember one boy, Buford Parrot, always brought bananas. He’d share with me. Our family rarely had bananas, we lived on what we had. In the winter, Midlothian store keeper, Harold Gordon, would prepare the black coal stove for heat.” “It was a pleasant setting, we all enjoyed going,” Donna explained. “We always had a Christmas program and all the kids got an orange, an apple and hard candy. We looked forward to that, of course.” The era of box suppers and pie auctions a few times a year were exciting as students decorated their box and hoped their boyfriend bought theirs. (The girl would get to eat with the buyer.) Money raised went into the school’s funds. “Our dad was on the school board with two other men,” Aileen stated. “They helped plan construction of the rock school and teachers would come to our house to be interviewed.” The sisters remember teachers: Amy Gardner, Clara Moulin and Herbert Cox. Going to high school at Chandler was a difficult transition for some. “I was very shy,” Aileen explained. “It took me quite a while to be comfortable in high school, I was embarrassed and didn’t know anybody.” With no other

Midlothian student in your grade, you didn’t have a buddy that would transfer at the same time. The Earp girls’ mother insisted on college and they all attended Stillwater A & M. From a bus station in Chandler, (next to today’s Legacy Cleaners) to a station in Stillwater, and then, a taxi would deliver them to the dorm. “I had great roommates, it all worked out good,” Aileen explained. Eventually, there were too few students at Midlothian and the school closed. The community faded away leaving a WPA rock school house as a landmark of days gone by. Since 1937, the structure remains strong. The native sand stone walls are two foot thick. An arched entrance leads you to the two room school house that has weathered well. Doctor Jack Mileham bought the building and a church was established. In the 1990’s Al Jones inspired a music mission and a congregation of people enjoyed socializing with food, music and fellowship every Friday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. Jerry Bender served as the emcee and a dozen musicians dotted the stage. From a guitar, piano, banjo, to a mandolin and drums, all were welcome. A rotation determined whose turn at the microphone. The brave soul confirmed what key the song was in and the band followed suit to a harmony of sound that paired with a gospel or country song. The place was warm, welcoming and loud, full of lively music. With 60 to over a 100 people in attendance, food was plentiful, hugs were inevitable, and friendship was ever lasting. “It’s a God thing,” explained Jerry Bender. “God would show up and show off! Midlothian Music Mission touched people’s lives in a positive way. We’re called to love God and love others. It’s all worth it. There’s a good spirit about it, it’s a place people love to go!” Lots of senior citizens look forward and attend Midlothian. People bring their families. Kids sing with their parents and grandparents. “Older people kick back and relax,” Jerry further explained. “Their spirits are lifted. When you see that happen, your spirits are lifted as well. It’s all about others, it’s not about you. People show up because they care about others.” Prayer request and praises were always part of the music night. Prayer requests of difficult situations were petitioned. “I know many miracles that have come,” Jerry affirmed. “God is faithful! The fellowship gives people hope. We learned what God can do if we let Him do it.” In November, 2017, Midlothian Music Mission took a short break to complete some repairs to the building. Jerry said the short break turned into a long break but they haven’t given up. Meanwhile, a new music spot started in Tryon and the fellowship continues. Midlothian School was placed on the National Register of Historic places in 1996. The school is owned by Jack Mileham’s wife, Joy Mileham. A sign in the yard reads, “This Acre is Not FOR SALE It belongs to God.” n

Midlothian Music Mission touches people’s lives in a very unique way.

The Bender family brother and sisters, from left: Tracey Bone, Crystal Jopling and Jerry Bender.

Midlothian Music Mission today

Midlothian Music Mission

Midlothian School was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Midlothian School students

THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018 19

20 THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018

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on their property along 3580 Road in northern Lincoln County. Their neighbor, JR Henderson, now 83, proudly attended this little country school. He speaks of riding his Grandfather’s white mule named Wheat to Ravendale in the 1st grade. His teacher was Lavon Smith. The couple dreams of renovating the historical school someday. THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018 21

Coach Roy Grissom by MISSY HUSTED

THEN...

NOW...

L to R Carl Teters, Joe Gooch, Roy Grissom, Joe Shelhope and J. R. Owens

I had the honor of sitting down with Roy and Betty Grissom and a few of Coach Grissom’s 1960’s Stroud High School basketball players to visit about the Coach’s experiences in the school systems. I have almost two hours of recorded stories and memories, which are a little hard to decipher because there was tons of laughter! The main thing I pulled from the interview with Coach Grissom is that he was loved, he cared about his players and students, always challenging and pushing them. I also learned that he always got respect and favorable results. A little about Roy Grissom’s history – born April 17, 1929, he stated that Oklahoma had only been a state 22 years when he was born. Grissom was raised on a farm in the Econtuchka Bottom on the North Canadian River just north of Interstate 40. He attended Oklahoma Baptist Univeristy in Shawnee a couple of years before enlisting in the service, where he served in the Philippines when the Korean war started. He returned home for only five days during his four years of service. Af22

THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018

ter his service to our country was over he returned to OBU and finished his degree, which incluced a major in business and minor in secondary education. He played basketball at OBU, or at least tried. The first day of practice there were 60 or so boys trying out. The coach made them run to St. Gregory’s and back, which was just over two miles. The next day there were only about thirty or forty, but again, they ran the two miles. The next day there were only sixteen or twenty. It was at that point that the coach started basketball practice. Roy said he only made it because of the training he had in the service. He said he didn’t get to play a lot but he thought they kept him around because he had a car and could drive them to games. In 1962 he graduated with a Masters Degree in education from Oklahoma State Univeristy. He married Betty Grissom in 1954. He told us that when they married, one of their parents gave them $40 to get started on. They moved to Mounds where he started his career in education and his base salary was $2,000 a year. He and Betty have a son and a daughter

that they are very proud of, and both followed in Roy’s footsteps of education. They also have a combination of 15 grandchildren and great grandchildren. Roy was baseball and basketball coach and was supposed to teach Algebra in Mounds. They had a new history teacher who wasn’t able to handle her class and they swapped classes. He taught history along with his coaching responsibilities. He moved to Stroud in 1959 where he made a huge impact on his players and the school. He stayed until 1970 as basketball and baseball coach and assistant football and track coach.He coached the 1962 basketball team to a State Champion by beating two undefeated teams. He then coached the 1966 State runners-up, getting beat by Wagner two times. After leaving Stroud he went to Glencoe to be Superintendent, also coaching basketball. He served there for only one year before moving to Prague as Superintendent where he stayed until retirement in 1988. He coached one year of girls’ basketball when one of the coaches passed away. Roy was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2003. After retirement from the school system he still needed to stay busy, so he drove a charter bus and a truck for a while, after which the Prague schools found themselves in a bind and hired him back as Superintendent for a little longer. Following that, he worked as Maintenance Director and Bus Supervisor, and could often be seen on the school lawn on a John Deere mower keeping things neat. He said that was one of his favorite jobs because there wasn’t anyone to talk back to him! I asked him what else he wanted me to tell you. He replied, “I married a great gal. And if there was ever a dream job, I had it at Stroud. I liked the school, the faculty, and the kids. If I’d had money, I would have coached for nothing. I liked it that much.” Roy’s wife, Betty, said that he still has that very special title - Coach - and she is proud of him to have it. She was and still is one of his biggest fans. She loves sports and basketball almost as much as he does. Roy told us a story about playing Keifer, who had a terrible team and hadn’t won any games, but they beat his team. Roy was stomping and making a fool of himself and she came down the stands and told him to sit down. He turned around and told her to get back up there and sit down herself. He said it was pretty quiet around the house for awhile. He also told us that he had coached about everything there was to coach: basketball, baseball, football, men’s softball, and even one year he was a girls’ tennis coach. He said he didn’t know anything about tennis and the girls really didn’t either. This story is pretty interesting about Roy’s time as a coach but I don’t want to miss his time as Superintendent of Prague Schools. I spoke with David Cox, who was High School Football Coach and later High School Principal under Roy. He said he realized quickly that Roy was a man of char-

acter, integrity, and a good Christian man. He was easy to relate to and Roy was a good example of the type of person you should be for the students, faculty, and community. I asked him to tell me something that stood out in Roy’s service as Superintendent. He said there was a time that it was hard to get a specific bond passed, he couldn’t remember exactly when it was or what it was for but he thought it was for a new elementary building. David said that Roy was most instrumental in terms of finally getting it passed. He spent a lot of time campaigning for the bond issue, visiting with individuals and groups about the importance of the school. David said the passing of this bond helped set the tone for future growth of the school and it couldn’t have been done without Roy’s help. MEMORIES FROM PREVIOUS STUDENTS OF COACH GRISSOM ~ We were playing Chandler my junior year. They had beaten us in their gym earlier in the year. Before each game the uniforms were washed by Coach Grissom and they would be hanging up in the dressing room before the game. This game I was late to the dressing room, we’d always sprint there during the 3rd quarter of the girls game. Since the jersey tops had numbers we always got the same ones but the shorts were first come first serve and since I was late getting there, I ended up with a size 24 shorts, I was a little bigger than that. During the first quarter I was at the free throw line and when I bent over I felt a tear in my shorts. When I ran by on my way to the other end of the court I told Coach Grissom and he said “keep playing”, so I did. As the game proceeded the tear got worse, each time I’d tell Coach he’d say “it’s okay, keep playing”. It was starting to feel pretty drafty. We finally made it to half time and I got to trade shorts. Even with torn shorts in our home gym we defeated Chandler that game. ~ Carl Teeters I graduated from Stroud High School in 1967. I had many good teachers and coaches back then. Roy Grissom was one of the best I ever had. He not only was a great teacher and coach, but was a lot more than that! He was also a mentor and a good role model for me growing up. He taught me how to live a Christian life and how to treat my friends and everyone else with respect, no matter what their race or their age was. I always thought Roy and his family treated me like I was a member of their family. I will never forget the many things he taught me and I will always have a place for him in my heart! Roy is one great man and I will always remember the days I spent with him. ~ Joe Bill Shelhope Coach was known for stomping his foot on the gym floor so LOUD you could hear it outside! When our team traveled to a game, I would hurry to get the seat directly behind Coach Grissom. As he would drive the bus along Interstate 40, we would talk about farming and he would say, “Joe, just look at all this grassland going to waste between these four lanes! Think of all the hay we could be baling!” ~ Joe Gooch n THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018 23

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January 2018-July 22, 2018 “SOLD & CONTRACTED” Properties 336552 E. 1010 Rd, Meeker 703 Bennett Blvd, Chandler 10511 S. 3520 Rd, Prague 345783 E. Forrest Dr, Chandler 1009 N. Park Avenue, Stroud 603 Johnson Street, Meeker 512 Turner Road, Chandler 102 S. Broadway, Davenport 215 S. Cleveland Ave, Cushing 900781 Oak Ridge, Chandler 336184 E. 960 Rd, Wellston 100919 S. Park Ave, Meeker 980471 S. 3450 Rd, Chandler 43865 Limestone Dr, Shawnee 610 N. Oklahoma St, Tryon 99027 N. 3600 Road, Paden 850 Baltic Avenue, Norman 1601 E. 8th Street, Chandler 104979 S. 3510 Rd, Prague 711 N. 6th Avenue, Stroud 920805 Deer Ridge, Wellston 980485 S. HWY 18, Chandler 950507 S. HWY 18, Chandler 15490 Patterson Road, Shawnee 103210 S. 3290 Road, Harrah 870487 S. Hickory Ln, Chandler 112 N. Blaine, Chandler

$74,900 $142,000 $115,500 $180,000 $30,000 $27,500 $144,900 $133,500 $20,102 $159,000 $95,000 $175,000 $125,000 $193,000 $16,150 $330,000 $280,000 $170,000 $125,000 $59,900 $340,000 $268,000 $272,000 $324,800 $138,000 $197,000 $300,000

940600 S. 3490 Road, Chandler $75,000 1005 W. Inglewood, Broken Arrow $165,000 302 Oklahoma Street, Carney $81,500 332433 Oak Hill Drive, Wellston $185,000 1001 Truck Bypass, Drumright $71,000 960603 S. HWY 18, Chandler $58,000 980169 S. Shadowood Dr., Wellston $28,500 70.77 Acres-HWY 99, Stroud $130,000 4011 Blaine Rd, Shawnee $91,500 2126 Whispering Pine Blvd, Shawnee $175,000 980263 S. HWY 18, Chandler $252,000 602 E. Highland, Techumseh $135,000 900656 S. Oak Hill Dr, Chandler $165,000 920720 S. 3370 Rd, Wellston $300,000 14725 79th, Choctaw $230,000 424 N. Oak, Chandler $32,000 101625 S. HWY 177, Meeker $95,000 503 N. Bryan, Stroud $130,000 105 E. Chicago Street, Cushing $85,000 1326 Oak Hill Dr, Chandler $171,900 980032 S. Shadowood Dr, Wellston $30,000 1301 Windsor Pl, Shawnee $161,500 316 E. 15th St, Chandler $155,000 920203 S. 3441 Rd, Chandler $175,000 504 S. 1st Ave, Stroud $54,900 356353 E. 970 Rd, Stroud $240,000 401 N. Oak, Chandler $58,400 923 Tilghman Dr, Chandler $145,000

! ! D D L L SO SO ! ! D D L L SO SO

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S. 3470 Rd, Chandler 830488 S. 3480 Rd, Stroud 113 Key Drive, Wellston 519 Fir Avenue, Wellston 511 W. Central, Stroud 124 N. Oak, Chandler 9212 Arrowhead Lane, Wellston 880907 S. 2448 Road, Chandler 341225 E. 880 RD, Chandler 106 N. Oakwood, Chandler 870865 S. Schooley Lane, Chandler 205 Birch, Wellston 305 S. Harrison Ave, Cushing 402 S. Kings HWY, Cushing 900585 S. Sandy Lane, Chandler 345895 E. Forrest Dr, Chandler 720 N. Park Avenue, Stroud 304 W. 2nd Street, Chandler 900487 S. Oakhill Dr, Chandler 343764 E. 860 Rd, Chandler 19707 Prairieveiw , Tecumseh 3466421 E. 960 Rd Chandler 505 S. Layton Ave, Drumright 712 Ladd Street, Depew 1120 W. Washington, Tecumseh 860323 S. 3460 Rd, Chandler 1706 N. Old Stroud Rd, Stroud 3109 Castlerock Rd., OKC

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THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018

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{

PA S TO R PA U L’ S PA S S A G E S

by Pastor Paul Ragle

IT’S BACK TO SCHOOL TIME{

It’s back-to-school time, so I’ve written my 14 year-old self an epistle to help him get ready for high school! Dear 14 year-old me, High school really will be some of the best and most

tell the teachers that you really like “thank you.” Gratitude is the attitude that will take you furthest into the

fun years of your life. One day you’ll look back and

future. And about those teachers for whom you don’t

celebrate all that you’ll experience and learn and get

have warm feelings, go up to them, shake their hands,

away with over the next few years. Don’t worry so much

and thank them for what they do. Believe me, these

about how you look, especially your nerdy glasses –

teachers will teach you things that you’ll carry with

after college you’ll get contact lenses and wear them for

you through your adult years.

a bunch of years, but you’ll come to a point when you

About girls - and guys. Treat girls well. Be the gentle-

won’t hate wearing glasses any more. You’ll look back at

man your mama has taught you to be. Girls are much

pictures from high school, and you’ll realize that most

more than “eye candy” to be used and discarded. Girls

everybody looked funny in the 70’s.

are real gifts of God – so are your guy team mates, only

I’m glad you’re into athletics. School sports will provide you a great group of friends. You’ll learn that

different. Everybody is different … and the same. Be grateful for all the people God puts in your life.

– although you’ll never be the superstar athlete your

They are precious gifts from heaven. Don’t fear girls –

old brothers were – you’ll be a valuable part of the team

take time to get to know them; they’ll like you. You can

and being a team player will absolutely be an important

be silly around them and even tease with them a bit, but

thing for you to know. You’ll letter in football, wrestling,

figure out that all women - and men - are beautiful and

and baseball like your brothers, but I wish you’d gone

gifted. Be grateful for every woman and man in your life.

out for soccer and tennis! Right now you think being

There will be some really tough days in high school,

an athlete is the main thing in the high school pie, but

but most will be great. Try not to do anything that will

you’ll gain important life skills from playing in the band,

embarrass your kids in the future. But you will, so don’t

singing in the choir, and the theatre. Still, sports will

worry too much about it. You’ll grow through the years

teach you how to hang in there and gut it out through

and become a very different person.

difficult times. You’ll have some really great teachers in high school

You’ll learn from your mistakes - that’s what you are going to high school for. The future will be way cooler

who will open up fascinating new worlds of knowledge

than you know.

and insight for you. You’ll learn to love learning. You’ll

Sincerely,

even survive typing class and later, when computers

Your 62 year-old Self who has learned that he still

become a thing, your keyboard skills will serve you well. A suggestion: think about saving up enough money to

has much more to learn. P.S. If you get up enough courage to ask a girl named

buy an electric typewriter - the manual typewriter your

Gail to meet you at the game, it’ll be ok to reach out and

parents will give you is gonna be a finger buster! Please

hold her hand. She won’t bite. n

26 THE CORRIDOR AUGUST 2018

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On the following pages, we have provided football schedules of many high schools along The Corridor! Support your team and all the others that make FOOTBALL ALONG THE CORRIDOR possible!

ENJOY THE GAMES ALONG THE CORRIDOR!

FOOTBALL POSITION WORD SEARCH PUZZLE

FOOTBALL POSITION WORD LIST CENTER CORNERBACK FLANKER FULLBACK GUARD HALFBACK

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Sept 1 Sept 7 Sept 15 Sept 22 Sept 29

@Liberty Bristow @Mounds @Pawnee @Morrison

Oct 6 Oct 12 Oct 20 Nov 3

Oklahoma Bible (Enid) Crescent Cashion Drumright

Aug 25 Sept 1 Sept 15 Sept 22 Sept 29

@Duncan Choctaw @Bishop Kelley Page (Sand Springs) @Washington (Tulsa)

Oct 6 Oct 13 Oct 19 Oct 27 Nov 2

Bixby @Bartlesville Ponca City @Muskogee Broken Arrow

Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28

Berryhill @Cleveland Bristow @Perkins @Kingfisher

Oct 5 Oct 12 Oct 18 Oct 26 Nov 2

Mt. St. Mary Blackwell @John Marshall Bridge Creek @Heritage Hall

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FOOTBALL Jerri Saliba SCHEDULES on SEPARATE SPREAD

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1501 East Main / Cushing 32 THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018

OTBALL

ALONG THE CORRIDOR

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Dena Floyd

Aug 23 Aug 31 Sept 6 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28

@Norman Edmond Memorial @Norman North Southmoore @Deer Creek Midwest City

Oct 5 Oct 12 Oct 18 Oct 25 Nov 2

@Choctaw @Lawton Putnam City West Putnam City @Del City

Aug 17 Aug 23 Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21

@Jones Mannford Bristow @Perkins Berryhill @Madill

Sept 28 Oct 5 Oct 12 Oct 18 Oct 26 Nov 2

Tecumseh @McLoud Bethany @Harrah Blanchard @Tuttle

Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28

201 E MAIN ST STE A, CUSHING, OK 74023 Tel 918.225.0726 Fax 918.225.0732 DFLOYD@FARMERSAGENT.COM

FOOTBALL SCHEDULES on SEPARATE SPREAD

@Cushing Langston Hughes @Mannford McLain Oologah

Oct 5 Oct 12 Oct 18 Oct 26 Nov 2

CIRCLE

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THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018 33

324 W. SECOND ST. / WELLSTON, OK

405-356-2477

EMAIL: steffenson06@sbcglobal.net

2018 FOO Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28

Pawnee CHA @Crooked Oak OCA @Cashion

Oct 5 Oct 12 Oct 18 Oct 26 Nov 2

Physical Therapy FOOTBALL Associates DIAMONDBACKSCHEDULES on STORAGE SEPARATE SPREAD

5 x 10 10 x 10 10 x 15 10 x 20

405-356-0840 SUPPORTING SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ALONG THE CORRIDOR

Aug 23 Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28

Stroud Centennial BYE @Mount St. Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s @Jones @Kellyville

Oct 5 Oct 12 Oct 18 Oct 26 Nov 2

Watongal @Crossings Christian Crescent @Minco @Northeast

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Meeker Prague @Okemah Henryetta @Holdenville

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OTBALL ALONG THE CORRIDOR

Aug 24 Aug 30 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28

@Meeker @Community Christian BYE Prague Newkirk Centennial

Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28

Cashion Stroud @Luther @Holdenville @Henryetta

Aug 24 Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28

Oct 5 Oct 12 Oct 18 Oct 26 Nov 2

COME SE

BEFORE

405.240.3437 / WELLSTON, OK

Hennessey @Alva Perry Chisholm @OCS

Okemah @Chandler Kellyville @Meeker Jones

FOOTBALL SCHEDULES on SEPARATE SPREAD NEW

Luther McLoud @Perry BYE @Kellyville Jones

THE GAMS E!

Oct 5 Oct 12 Oct 18 Oct 26 Nov 2

www.visionbank.bank

@Chandler Okemah @Holdenville Prague @Henryetta

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LOCATIO

PREPARE

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INSTRUCTOR is a 12-year veteran police officer and CLEET instructor. THE CLASSROOM PORTION will be held at 116 W Broadway/Drumright, OK THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018 35

BEHIND EVERY PROJECT IS A

224 W. Main / Stroud, OK

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2018 FOO Aug 23 Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28

CHERYL PAYNE

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CARDS2 magazines 2BUSINESS POSTER DESIGN 2 NEWSLETTERS O BROCHURES2 2 cherylpay@gmail.com • cherylpay@gmail.com • cherylpay@gmail.com

@Chandler Okemah @Prague BYE Wayne @Wewoka

Aug 24 Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21

@Pawhuska @Kiefer OPEN @Morris Meeker

Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28

Wetumka @Regent Prep @Summit Christian Keota @Weleetka

Oct 5 Oct 12 Oct 18 Oct 26 Nov 2

Sept 28 Oct 5 Oct 12 Oct 18 Oct 26 Nov 2

DESIGN

FOOTBALL 405.743.9573 SCHEDULES on SEPARATE SPREAD

D&D Office Supply & Gifts 918-367-6263 / www.danddofficesupply.com 36 THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018

Oct 5 Oct 12 Oct 18 Oct 26 Nov 2

Wynnewood @Liberty Konowa Allen @Mounds

Chandler @Jones Henryetta @Prague Holdenville @Okemah

Olive @Davenport Wesleyan Yale @Prue

TEAMS!

OTBALL ALONG THE CORRIDOR Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28

@Hennessey Cushing McLoud Mannford @Blackwell

Oct 4 Oct 12 Oct 18 Oct 26 Nov 2

@Heritage Hall Kingfisher @Bridge Creek @John Marshall Mount St. Mary

223 Broadway / Davenport, OK

918-987-1414

Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28

Weleetka @Wetumka Alex @Strother @Dewar

Aug 24 Aug 31 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28

@Cashion Hulbert @Barnsdall Tonkawa BYE Hominy

Oct 5 Oct 12 Oct 18 Oct 26 Nov 2

Weslyan Depew @Prue Olive @Yale

FOOTBALL SCHEDULES on SEPARATE SPREAD Oct 5 Oct 12

Oct 18 Oct 26 Nov 2

OFFICE: 918-377-4362 DAVENPORT, OK www.orr-construction.com

Pawhuska @Langston Hughes Academy Morrison @Pawnee @Woodland

H & T STORAGE 10 x 10 10 x 20 223 Broadway Ave. / Chandler, OK

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405-258-5122 THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018 37

ONCE HOMELESS AND HELPLESS Now Giving Back to the Program That Helped Him Achieve Success Kelby Thompson, like many Oklahomans in the early 1980’s, jumped with both feet into the industry so often described as “feast or famine” – the oil and gas industry. The Ada native’s college degree couldn’t entice him away from the prospect of what of was promised in the patch. Fortunately, for many years Thompson’s career in oilfield sales and various other capacities thrived. However, after 16 years, he found himself experiencing famine. The oilfield went bust and he was unemployed. “I lost everything I owned when I lost my job,” Thompson said. “I ended up basically homeless and hopeless.” Faced with starting over, Thompson decided to begin a new career with the help of Central Technology Center’s Truck Driver Training program. “I chose Central Tech based on the school and the program’s outstanding reputation,” he said. “Being a part of the program only proved what I had heard 38 THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018

by JACOB GOFF, Central Technology Center Marketing & Communications Specialist

“Being a part of the program only proved what I had heard from others. The training I received was top-notch and very professional.”

from others. The training I received was top-notch and very professional.” Located at the Central Tech campus in Drumright, the Truck Driver Training program has been in operation since 1988. Today, the school has a placement rate of 98.7 percent and a reputation for producing professional, employable trainees. In only 23 days, students receive hands-on training that gives them the opportunity to go directly into the trucking industry.

“Kelby came to school as a student with nothing to lose and everything to gain, and gain he

did,” said Central Tech’s Transportation Safety and Education Director, John Thorpe

“Kelby came to school as a student with nothing to lose and everything to gain, and gain he did,” said Central Tech’s Transportation Safety and Education Director, John Thorpe. “He is the kind of person who everyone likes and wants to be around. As a student in our school he gained the respect of our instructors from the very beginning due to his great attitude and willingness to get along with everyone. He also demonstrated a dedicated work ethic which made him and others around him very successful while at Central Tech.” Thompson completed the program and went straight to work for Aero Trucking out of Tulsa, where he worked for a decade, moving up from driver into operations and sales for the company. From there he was hired to work for one of the nation’s premier Trucking companies, TMC Trucking, where he has worked for the last 14 years. Headquartered in Des Moines, IA, TMC Trucking is an employee-owned company, hauling freight primarily in the Eastern United States, east of I-35.

TMC is the largest privately-held flatbed carrier in the nation. Now, 24 years after completing Central Tech’s program, Thompson’s role as a recruiter allows him to give back to the school that gave him the opportunity to start a new career. Thompson speculates that he’s recruited between 100 and 200 drivers from Central Tech’s program over the years, and estimates that around 60 or 70 percent of those remain employed with TMC. “TMC is a great company to work for. Once drivers come to work for us, they don’t usually leave. They treat their employees well, and that’s important.” Thorpe further praises Thompson for his efforts to continue to be involved with the Central Tech program. “I have worked at Central Tech Truck Driver Training for the last five years in which Kelby has been recruiting at our school. I have met hundreds of recruiters who have come to our school over the past years, and I can say without a doubt that Kelby is one of the finest. He’s able to speak to our student’s and relate to them simply because he’s been in their shoes.” Today, Thompson reflects on how his life has changed and what an impact his training from Central Tech has made. “Central Tech’s program is professional and regimented. The instructors and people involved with the program genuinely care about the students, their well-being, and helping them find jobs. They want students to succeed. That’s the bottom line for the people involved with Central Tech’s program.”

“I am proud to be a product of the training program and know that it’s a place where I can find quality employees for a company I genuinely love working for.”

THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018 39

AUGUST Birthdays Along The Corridor

40 THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018

AUGUST 1 Austin Cole

AUGUST 16 Geoffrey Cole

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Delilah’s DILEMMAS

Delilah had located her cell phone which had mysteriously vanished from its designated spot the night before. No one, including Delilah, seemed to know how the contraption had moved from one room to another. Gus and Joel had gone to town to get bait and traps for the creatures who had taken up residency inside Delilah’s walls on the second floor. She had heard their scratching and scurrying early that morning. Joel had slept soundly through the entire ordeal, and Delilah got the feeling that Gus and Joel doubted her sanity. It was late-afternoon. Delilah had just answered another prank call on the landline. There was silence on the other end, just like the other calls. Delilah hung up the phone and plopped down in the desk chair with a thunk. She starred, unseeing, out the windows. “And why wouldn’t I be crazy?” she asked herself and the tape dispenser on the desk. “I mean really, it’s not like my life has been simple. The last year alone would be enough to send any normal person right over the edge.” She contemplated the other options. Was she ill? Was something physiologically causing a loss of memory? Was someone trying to push her over the edge? Not likely. No one on the ranch would want to cause her such distress. So, the only explanation left was that her grip on reality was slipping. She was on her way to crazy and the trip would be so quick she wouldn’t even need to pack a bag. Delilah had buried her two-timing (well, in this case, three-timing) fifth husband a little more than a year before. Jerry Smith, a traveling aerospace parts salesman had married Delilah while already married to a sweet, petite blonde and a fiery red head. When the sweet petite discovered her husband’s duplicity, she shot him. Dead. The red head was blessed with his bounty, while Delilah was burdened with his burial. And then, a year ago at the end of February, Delilah got the call that her precious Aunt Net42 THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018

DIANE BROWN

tie had passed away. The dysfunctional Beauregard family converged on the Royal Flush Ranch to lay Nettie Mae to rest. To everyone’s surprise and, in some cases, dismay, Delilah inherited the ranch, along with the prized stud horse, Henry’s Last Hoorah, a Renoir, and a rare Alexandrite stone in a brooch. Though in all fairness, Delilah’s cousin Sonny was supposed to get the pony, and his witch of a sister, Abigail had inherited the painting. When they’d both declined their gifts, the treasures went to Delilah. Delilah had had mixed feelings about the inheritance. As a child, she had spent many a summer on the ranch where she was allowed to explore and play like a kid. So, on one hand she felt like she was coming home to the place where she’d been so happy. On the other hand, the place seemed foreign with Nettie gone. The house was nothing compared to the 6000 square foot antebellum mansion she e had been raised in, but it was more like home than the mansion. When the modest 1600 square foot, two-story farm house was built in 1929, the only indoor plumbing was a hand pump at the kitchen sink. Because there was no electricity, the water well was powered by a windmill. It wasn’t until 1959, that the second owners added electricity and a 13 x 24 kitchen with a half-story bedroom above, on the back of the house. And the outhouse w a s r e -

p l a c e d wi t h a f ul l b a th r o o m u p s ta ir s a n d h a lf - bat h downstairs. It sat on top a hill about a quarter of a mile off the road, facing east. Upon entering the front door, there was an open staircase immediately to the right, the living room to the left, and a long hall between the two that led back to the kitchen. The dining room was behind the living room and connected by double pocket doors. The dining room could also be entered from the hall. There was a closet beneath the stairs, and a half-bath behind the stairs, across the hall from the dining room. A utility closet for the water heater and HVAC unit was positioned behind the bathroom. Once you enter the kitchen from the hall, the banquette and washer/dryer closet were to the right, and the U-shaped kitchen to the left. The back door; straight through. Upstairs, the master bedroom, only bathroom, and closets were directly over the living room. The second bedroom was directly over the dining room, and a halfstory, attic like, bedroom with dormer on the south side, was at the end of the hall and over the kitchen. In 1974, Nettie Mae Beauregard won the ranch in a heated poker game. Over the years Nettie had added the screened porch off of the dining room, energy efficient windows and interior plantation shutters, central heat and air, and most recently a new oversized, two-car garage

apartment to house her 1967 Camaro RS/SS 427. And so, Dooby, Delilah’s best friend, had packed all her belongings in Macon, Georgia, and moved them to Oklahoma, where Dooby set up residency over the garage on the Royal Flush Ranch. She sat motionless in the chair, unaware of just how uncomfortable the chair was. Her breaths were deep, as though she were sleeping. And in a way, her mind WAS in a dream-like state as she ticked off the number of predicaments she’d been in over the past year. Lost in her recollections, Delilah hadn’t realized how late it was getting, or how dark. Suddenly, there was a violent banging on the front door that jolted Delilah back to reality and sent her heart racing. She quickly realized she had not yet closed the shutters, and she suddenly felt vulnerable. The banging at the front door continued. Delilah hopped up and went to the front window. She didn’t see a vehicle parked in the circle drive in front of the house. She turned her head and squinted; peering through the windows on each side of the fireplace. The high-pressure sodium security light at the corner of the garage had just flickered to life and illuminated the drive on the south side of the house. No vehicle there. “What the devil?” she said under her breath. She could feel her pulse pounding furiously, and her breath was catching in her chest. She slowly made her

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way to the entry hall, turning on lamps as she went. When she got the front door, she flipped the switch to the porch light, and peeked out the side window. A man stood with his back to the door. He was nearly six feet tall with wide shoulders. He was wearing dark jeans and a dark hoody, with the hood pulled up over his head. His hands were plunged into the pockets of the hoody. Delilah couldn’t understand why he wasn’t wearing a coat. He started to turn toward the door. With a jerk Delilah pulled away from the window. Dooby was still tending to an injured Karon in Cushing and not expected to be back on the ranch for a couple days. Gus and Joel hadn’t returned from town, and Marietta was at the trailer. Delilah was alone. The man banged on the door again. Delilah was beginning to get annoyed. She turned, opened the door, and immediately made sure the fullglass storm door was locked. “Can I help you?” she asked. Delilah guessed the man was in his mid to late thirties. His hair was short and mousey brown. His eyes were dark brown. “Yeah, can I use your phone?” he said. His hand went to the handle of the storm door. “My car broke down.” Why didn’t he have a cell phone? Everybody had a cell

phone these days. And why wasn’t he wearing a coat. Something wasn’t right. Something felt very wrong in Delilah’s gut. She hated to leave the poor man standing out in the cold. At last check, it was only 28 degrees. But she was not about to let him in the house. “If you’ll give me the number, I’ll be glad to make the call for you,” Delilah said. The man scowled. He turned and looked toward the road, then back at Delilah. The look in his eyes was unnerving. So much so that Delilah recoiled slightly. It was an expression of evil calculation. “Sure,” he said so softly Delilah could scarcely hear him. And then he told her the number. Delilah closed the door and immediately engaged the deadbolt lock. She hurried through the living room, picking up the cordless landline as she went, and made a bee line for the French doors off the dining room to the screened porch. She engaged the deadbolt lock on those doors, and practically ran to the kitchen to check the back door. She had already forgotten the number the creepy man had given her, but it didn’t matter. Her only concern was securing the house. When she reached the back door, she flipped the deadbolt on it, too. She reluctantly made her way back down the hall to the front door, softly tippy-toeing so the man couldn’t hear her. When she reached the door, she took a deep

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O Z E R SE R VI C E

breath and swiftly peeked through the side window. No one was there. He was gone. Delilah could feel anxious tears filling her eyes. Her heart sank to her feet. Her shaking fingers dialed the landline at the trailer. “Si?” Marietta answered. “Marietta,” Delilah said, breathlessly. She inhaled deeply to calm herself. “Make sure all your doors are locked, and if someone comes knocking, don’t answer.” “Oh, my goodness! What eez the matter?” Marietta said with a heavy Spanish accent. Delilah gasped. She could see the lights of a vehicle coming up the drive. Her first thought was that the creepy guy had an accomplice. “Wait,” Delilah said, watching the old pickup pull up past the house and toward the back near the garage. She hot-footed it back to the kitchen and peeked out the window. She let out a long sigh. “Thank goodness, it’s Gus. I’ll call you back.” Delilah unlocked the door and dashed outside. “Did you see him?” she shouted at Gus and Joel as they emerged from the pickup. “The guy. Did you see that guy?” Delilah pressed. “What guy?’ Gus asked. “We didn’t see anyone, Delilah,” Joel said. n

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Notes

ALONG THE CORRIDOR

by RICK REILEY

CHRIS BLEVINS Tulsa Singer/Songwriter Delivers Along The Corridor I’d heard a rumor that Chris Blevins, this Tulsa songwriter, had given up a job working for the United States Post Office in his hometown of Henryetta to pursue his calling as a songwriter. Turns out to be true. He even remembers the exact date: “December 19th, 2016,” he says. It was one of those periods when the day job finally interfered heavily enough with the pursuit of his art that he knew one of them would had to go. “And I knew I wouldn’t give up on the music,” he said. “I was delivering mail one afternoon and the notion just struck me that if I didn’t at least try, right then, that very day to take my shot, I never would.” It seems that’s how a lot of important decisions are made. Legendary artist John Prine had a similar story, giving up the Post Office for an uncertain future. Blevins gravitated to Tulsa. Tulsa is a gold mine of talent that serves the local, regional and national musical community well. He says that there he had a chance meeting with Tulsa musician/producer Chris Combs which led him further and wider into the field. They pulled together a few musicians to serve the musical endeavor which eventually culminated in the recording of his initial album, ‘Better Than Alone’, released late last year on Tulsa’s Horton Records. It’s a really pleasant combination of laid back Tulsa rock, with a hint of blues thrown in for good measure. The musicianship is superb which is what I’ve come to 50 THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018

expect from Tulsa and Horton Records. Blevins’ voice is commanding, succinct and sails through the ether like a pro who knows just when to pull back and when to dive in full force. He knows just how to hover, float and weave and finally tie it all up in a neat bow delivered right to your ears for safekeeping. Maurice Hope of ‘Americana UK’, an online music review site, had this to say about ‘Better Than Alone’-

“Chris Blevins’ music is like a breath of fresh air; his narrative and full-bodied sound and way he removes the veneer to get to the source sets him apart from the field. Americana music has many branches but not too many where the trunk is as stout as with this Oklahoma native and fruit so succulent…” I love the political song ‘Big Man’ about the politicians who, every four years try to find ‘new ways to wear the same old sin’. Wicker Man and Jezebel are two of my favorites as well. Blevins’ voice is his best asset. It soars, floats, hovers- is at home in the quiet zones and rises to punch the lights out when the time comes. It is a seasoned instrument that uses everything to to its best advantage. While his father was a touring musician who played trumpet and piano, Blevins was raised mostly by his grandmother. He tells me one of his earliest musical influences was Harry Chapin -remember him? He wrote ‘Cat’s in the Cradle’ among many others. These days he listens to lots of Okie influences, John Fullbright, Wink Burcham, Jared Tyler, John Moreland chief among them. He’s also a huge fan of Jason Isbel. When I first saw him it was approaching winter. At first glance I’d figure him for aloof Wyoming cowboy come down from the mountains for a hundred pounds of coffee beans, a fresh supply of salted pork belly and enough whisky to replenish supplies for the winter. Little did I know he was simply a former postal carrier from Henryetta come to Tulsa to sing his heart out. I heard him last year at a Red DIrt Relief Fund fundraising event about a year ago in Tulsa and was very impressed with the way he delivered his songs. Great voice. You know those enteretainers who are all high energy, flashy, talk constantly about themselves in increasingly louder and louder tones as if to say, “Hey LOOK AT ME, I”M OVER HERE!!!!” ? Well that is not Chris Blevins. From what I’ve seen he’s more of a shadow kinda guy. Not the guy hogging the limelight but the guy who hangs out between the front door and the stage, down along the back wall. Quietly taking it all in. And that’s fine by me. Daydreams, politics, heartbreak, jobs, love and living in the USA, these are topics he visits. Nothing new about that but he does it well and each cut on this project wears it’s groove well. Blevins says he grew up singing in church , “... like everyone in my hometown’’. And learned trumpet and played in the brass section all through high school. He also picked up the guitar and a few other instruments along the way. I asked about what he considers to be highlights of his career so far and he says it’s a tossup between appearing on the stage at Cain’s Ballroom and appeaering at the Moulin Blues Festival in Holland. (Yes, he’s also got a European tour under his belt too!) Asked how education played into his musical decisions he told me that he took a few music theory

courses in college but ultimately the niche he found was outside of anything academic. I’d say that might be a common occurrence in many singer/songwriters. If you are a fan of other Okies, John Fullbright, Parker Millsap or folks like Hayes Carll, Chris Blevins is right at home in that mix. Indeed, Fullbright makes an appearance on this record playing the Wurlitzer and Millsap’s percussionist, Andrew Bones, is listed here as well. Here are the credits on the ‘Better Than Alone’ CD. Maybe you know a few of these area folks: CREDITS INCLUDE: Chric Blevins- vocals/acoustic guitar Chris Combs- electric guitar, lap steel, synthesizer Aaron Boehler- bass, backling vocals Andrew Bones- drums, percussion Corey Mauser- Organ Chris Foster- Piano Jason Weinheimer- Organ Produced by Chris Combs Recorded at Fellowship Hall Sound Engineered and mixed by Jason Weinheimer Additional engineering and overdubs by Chris Combs Masterd by Ryan Foster His second collection is scheduled to drop later this year. Currently untitled, he tells me this new collection is more of an acoustic flavored joy and heartbreak shout out to his hometown roots, and to the folks who raised him. Sounds like a promise Oklahoma music lovers can look forward to! (Blevins currently plays on Mondays at Tulsa’s Mercury Lounge at 18th and Boston. You can find him on Facebook. And you can find his music online at all the usual download sites).

THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018 51

52 THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018

THE CORRIDOR / AUGUST 2018 53

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