VICTOR CASEY CHARLES ALLCOTT
upfront
Welcome to October, friends. I can’t believe that we are in this month. How fast this year has gone by for us! In just 20 days I will be writing the November issue when we gather for Thanksgiving dinner. This is our favorite time of the year because we have all of our 6 kids and now 6 grandbabies together. Yes, our daughter Mary just had her third child, Claire. There’s no better feeling in the world than to hold such a precious soul, your grandchild, and to see the peace of God on her face.
This month’s feature story takes us outside Bartlesville and our state. Next month will be the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald. Twenty-nine sons, fathers, brothers, and souls were lost on Lake Superior and still lie there today, over 500 feet beneath the surface. Gordon Lightfoot wrote his famous song The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1976. If you have never heard the song, I ask you to go listen to it. I want to give George Schafer credit for calling me one day and saying, “I love your magazine, but have you thought about doing a story outside Bartlesville?” I said yes, we have. We have written about the Tulsa Massacre and many Native American Tribes over the last 8 years. This story is so good.
With every Upfront, I try to be transparent about what’s going on in our lives. I never hold back, and I’m not in this one. If you don’t like what I’m about to say, then stop reading now. I am fortunate to have this space to share my thoughts and opinions.
We are the largest media in Bartlesville. We know this magazine touches many people. So buckle up. Here it comes!!
I want to talk about what happened this past week - about the ASSASSINATION of Charlie Kirk. If you don’t know or this is the first time you have ever read this magazine, my Upfronts are from my heart. I do not hold back on what I say. If you know me personally, you know I will speak what’s on my heart. I will never hold back! When did it become okay to take a person’s life when you don’t agree with what he or she has said? I look back at the past and see so many lives taken because of their words or beliefs! Martin Luther King was shot on a balcony at a hotel, and John F Kennedy was shot in front of his wife while driving in a car. Bobby Kennedy was shot in a kitchen gallery. I can keep going on and on about the people’s lives who were taken before their time because of their voice, their beliefs, THEIR stand on what they think is right or wrong. Do we not
have a country anymore…What the HELL is going on?? Am I next because someone does not like what I write? Where has the country gone? We asked these same questions when one of the greatest people we had was fighting for everyone, whether you were black or white. Martin Luther King. Read his writings and his speeches, there was no division, it was all about unity! Charlie gave his life to our savior, Jesus Christ, in the 5th grade. At the age of 18, he went to a community college, then at the age of 18 started a movement called Turning Point USA. Who does that? I was shooting up cocaine in my body and dealing drugs, and did not have Jesus in my life. If it wasn’t for my wife, who asked me before we married, “DO YOU KNOW JESUS?” where would we be today? She spoke up, and that is what Charlie did. He wanted a conversation with young people who were lost and spoke the truth…GOD, Family, Country! That’s it. I have watched him since 2016, and all I saw was love for others. Yes, you might not agree with him, so it’s ok to shoot him in the neck in front of thousands of students?! The person who shot him does not deserve his name in this story. God will take care of his soul, but I do pray for him because I know Charlie would want that. You know what family means to me because of the forgiveness of my wife and my kids when I wasn’t the father or husband I should have been. So now his wife Erica and his two children only get to see their dad on video, just to know him. Come on, America, Oklahoma, Bartlesville, we are better than this. I do not judge anyone. Every day, Christy and I love the lost, the hopeless, the broken, and the hungry, and I always say I love you just where you are at. I have been judged my whole life. Now there are two kids without a father, just because he went and spoke to colleges. I will say this, he is one of my heroes because he never backed down and always gave praise to our Lord and Savior.
I encourage you to go to page 61 and read my story about the loss of our son, Tyler. Who, at the age of barely 17, went to Heaven sixteen years ago October 8th, 2009. The sting and the pain will be with us until we unite with him in Heaven. So my final word is this…stop the hate! Rest in Peace, Charlie, and in Matthew 25:21 it says, “Well done, good and faithful servant; You were faithful with a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of our Lord.”
God bless, Keith and Christy
Volume XVI Issue X
Bartlesville Monthly Magazine is published by ENGEL
PUBLISHING
New office located in the B the Light Mission 219 North Virginia Avenue, Bartlesville, Oklahoma 74003 www.bartlesvillemonthly.com facebook.com/bartlesvillemonthly
Publisher Brian Engel brian@bartlesvillemonthly.com
Graphics Engel Publishing matt@engelpublishing.com
Director of Sales & Marketing Keith McPhail keith@bartlesvillemonthly.com
Community Liaison Christy McPhail christy@bartlesvillemonthly.com
Project Manager Andrea Whitchurch andrea@bartlesvillemonthly.com
Administration Shelley Greene Stewart
Delivery and Distribution Dewayne Engel Calendar/Social Media calendar@bartlesvillemonthly.com
Contributing Writers
Debbie Neece, Kay Little, Kelly Hurd, Jay Hastings Brent Taylor, Keith McPhail, Jay Webster
Abigail SIngrey, Mike Tupa, Lori Just, Miriam Walker Joe Todd, Greg Wheat, Maria Gus, George Schafer
Contributing Photographers
Bartlesville Area History Museum, Mike Tupa Baileigh Virden Photography. Debbie Neece Charles Chapman, Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
Calendars
Debbie Neece, Jessica Smith
A look at the sinking of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald.
Creative concept by Keith and Christy McPhail Design by Engel Publishing
Keith and Christy McPhail, Managing Editors
Ignite Adams PARC Announces Partnership with Specialty Providers
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Thomas Loafman, APRN-CNP Cardiology Specialist
Tyler Woods, APRN-CNP, CWS Wound Specialist
Georjane Woodburn, APRN, FNP Pain Management Specialist
Samantha Nunn, APRN-CNP NP to Medical Director
Dr. Robyn Lovitt-Fry, MD Medical Director
Rebecca Rhone, APRN-CNP, CWS Wound Specialist
Travis Buchanan, PA-C Pain Management Specialist
Whitney Virden
A Life Journey Rooted in Faith, Family and Flowers
by Lori Just
The founder of Roots + Blooms, a beloved Native-owned flower shop now thriving in Bartlesville, didn’t grow up dreaming of bouquets or storefronts. Her journey was nonlinear, a winding road paved with resilience, tragedy and faith.
“I’m Comanche, Kiowa and Cherokee,” Whitney Virden proudly began. “I’m a first-generation entrepreneur and a first-generation florist.”
Before flowers, there was hustle. She worked as a waitress until she became pregnant with their first child. Then she got her first professional job at Truity. Juggling work and night classes at Wesleyan University, she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. But her corporate career took an unexpected turn after being let go, and that’s when she tried her hand at real estate.
“Thanks to my mother-in-law, a seasoned realtor in Bartlesville, I landed as an assistant and later earned my own license just two weeks before my daughter Emma was born,” she said. “I was not the best realtor. I was better as a support, but I eventually became a team leader for Keller Williams, helping expand offices across Oklahoma and Kansas.”
Her sights were set on becoming a coach until tragedy struck when her nephew unexpectedly passed away.
“I quit,” she said. “You get into real estate and it’s like make the most money you can. That was my focus. But losing him just shifted everything. In chasing success, I had sacrificed time with my family, especially my own children. The loss of her nephew recentered my priorities.”
She wanted to be a mom. She wanted to take that time with her kids. And then she had to help plan her nephew’s funeral and on the day of his service, there were no flowers. That really stuck with her.
Her husband, Ryan, works as a ranch manager for the Crossbell Ranch. That summer, she spent long days with her children fishing, walking the creeks and picking wildflowers.
“It was during this time God began to heal my heart and put the idea of becoming a florist in my mind,” she said. “This business is a relationship I have with God and all the ways He shows up.”
Everything she learned and carried, the big steps and risks she’s taken she said has been in faith and something she could not
do on her own.
She started working with flowers in 2019, went full-time in 2020, and within five years had opened a second location and purchased a commercial property.
“ I can’t take credit for that,” she said. “It’s been a wild ride and it’s been God the whole time.”
Another moment still stands out vividly when a second devastating loss that became a sign of God’s presence.
“After I’d been in business a few years, I lost another nephew,” she said. “My brother asked me to do the flowers for his service. I remember going to the wholesaler, so overwhelmed, praying for strength. I picked yellow roses, orange gerberas and blue hydrangeas. These were colors I wouldn’t normally choose. Then when I delivered the piece, they had just changed his outfit to a blue, orange and yellow Nike hoodie. The flowers matched perfectly. That was just confirmation of how close God is.”
What surprised her most about floristry wasn’t just the demand or the business success, it was discovering a gift she never knew she had.
“I didn’t believe I had a creative bone in my body until I found flowers,” she said. “My mom used to sew our Native American clothing, and she was amazing. I tried my hand at sewing, drawing, painting, and I was not great at any of it. My sister could draw. She now makes jewelry and sews her kids’ regalia. I just believed the creative gene passed me.”
She applied for Art in Bloom at the Philbrook Museum in Tulsa and ended up winning the People’s Choice Award. Her submission? A floral sculpture of a mother and child, honoring those lost during the boarding school era entitled
“What will take root, a fight for the heart.”
“This was my first time to sculpt,” she said. “I played around with mechanics, used chicken wire, air clay, dried leaves and rose petals. I even used different colored leaves to bring life to their faces,” she recalled. “It wasn’t until I found flowers that my ability to create began to come through.”
When asked what makes her and her business unique, she answered simply: “I believe my Native American background and my faith.”
That connection deepened in Pawhuska which is a pivotal chapter in her story.
“We started in the ITIO building and outgrew that quickly,” she explained.
With limited cooler space, she began looking for a larger storefront. And that’s when she landed in Osage County.
“I absolutely love Pawhuska as it was the first time for me to be in a close-knit Native American community,” she said. “The Osage are an amazing, resilient people. I formed many relationships.”
That community helped her reconnect more deeply with her own Native roots and begin to express them through her business. But balancing both locations became a challenge.
“We spent so much time in the Pawhuska community, our ability to keep Bartlesville stocked began to lack,” she said. “I knew we needed to find another place in Bartlesville.”
Finding her current location was a test of patience and faith.
“I was so frustrated,” she said. “I kept asking God ‘where’s my door?’ And He told me, ‘How are you going to know if a door’s open if you’re not even knocking?’”
She started knocking on every door she could and wrote dozens of business plans for different spaces.
“I got all the way to Plan O,” she laughed. “And when that door closed, I got the call about the Flowerland building. And I said, OK, I’ll knock. And I moved fast.”
From the beginning, her business has been built with family.
“We brought my mom on in October, and two weeks later I found out I was pregnant again,” she said. “So now I’m raising another baby while running the business and my mom’s here helping. It’s been perfect timing.”
She met her husband in high school. They’ve been married 17 years.
“He told me three months in that he wanted to marry me,” she remembered. “He said he knew he wanted to be a cop, live on a ranch and raise cattle. At 15, I was like, ‘that sounds like a dream.’ Then we moved 30 minutes outside of town into the middle of nowhere and I was like, ‘maybe not my dream!’ But now, I wouldn’t
have it any other way.”
Together, they have four children: Weston, Emma, Josie and Brayden.
“Weston’s 17 and a big hunter, like his dad. Emma just turned 13 and into volleyball and honestly a great designer. Josie is super creative. She grew up in the flower shop. She’s always building things. And Brayden’s our baby just along for the ride in the stroller while we work,” she said.
Their family has been hands-on every step of the way.
“My son helped with the remodeling, and he put in all the ceiling tiles,” she said. “My daughter Emma and I did a wedding together recently. She helps with arrangements. We really have built this as a family.”
She remembers one moment with Emma that meant everything:
“When we first opened the new space in Pawhuska, Emma told me, ‘You need to stop and look around. You did it.’ That’s just who she is. She’s got such a deep soul.”
There were moments she almost quit. The tourist-driven nature of their location in Pawhuska was tough. People would peek in and walk away.
“I remember thinking, I really messed up,” she confided. “I wanted to quit. But my husband said, ‘You’ve worked too hard. You’ll figure it out.’ That’s all I needed.”
And she did. The shop adjusted, expanded and flourished.
“I think when we started this, my husband thought it was just something to keep me busy. But it’s grown so much, and he’s been my biggest supporter.”
With the flower business flourishing and a new baby in her arms, her life looks very different than it did five years ago. But it’s all deeply aligned with her values and purpose.
“I’ve never wanted to waste this life,” she said. “If I’m not walking in my passion, I’m not fulfilled. I just move. I make a decision, and I go. And God’s been with me every step. I’ve walked through tragedy, risked everything, doubted myself, and leaned fully into my faith. This business has never just been about flowers. It’s about how God has healed me. It’s about carrying culture forward. It’s about showing my kids what’s possible.”
What began as a search for meaning after deep personal loss has grown into a thriving business. Whitney’s story is living proof the most powerful blooms are the ones rooted in faith, resilience and purpose.
The Great Search on the Great Lakes
The Sinking of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald
by George Schafer
The Great Lakes region of North America is a U.S. and Canada shared resource; touching eight U.S. states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, NewYork, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin) and two Canadian provinces (Ontario and Quebec). However, only Lake Michigan is solely in the United States. There is a series of connecting rivers, canals and locks that allow ships to navigate to the St. Lawrence Seaway on their way to the vast Atlantic Ocean.
The Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario) are greatly plagued by unpredictable weather and each lake offers its own pleasures and challenges. Even during the hottest of summers, the water temperatures are dangerously frigid and hypothermia is a tremendous risk. The weather has been the contributing factor in thousands of shipwrecks, most of which fell victim in the area known as the Graveyard of the Great Lakes, along the southern shore of Lake Superior. The largest ship to ever wreck on the Great Lakes has been the SS Edmund Fitzgerald.
When the Edmund Fitzgerald was launched in 1958, it was the largest freighter to navigate the Great Lakes. At 729 feet long, it was an incredible piece of engineering mastery. She was a workhorse freighter transporting taconite ore pellets from the mines near Duluth, Minnesota, to iron factories in Detroit, Michigan, and other such ports. With Captain Ernest McSorley at the helm, the Edmund Fitzgerald set and broke seasonal transportation records. On November 9th, 1975, the Captain and crew set out from Superior, Wisconsin, destined for a steel mill in Detroit with calm seas that quickly turned wicked.
Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area, covering approximately 31,700 miles, roughly the
size of South Carolina. It is over 350 miles wide and 160 miles at its largest north to south point. In addition, this inland ocean has an average depth of 483 feet and a maximum depth of 1,333 feet; in other words, it is a BIG lake.
Another big freighter, also with a cargo of taconite ore, by the name of the SS Arthur M. Anderson, was leaving Two Harbors,
Minnesota, just north of Duluth. Both Captain McSorley of the Edmund Fitzgerald and Captain Bernie Cooper of the Arthur Anderson, kept in constant radio contact, and decided to take the northern route around the lake, closer to the Canadian mainland, to avoid the forecasted eye of the storm. Keep in mind, this was 50 years ago, and the modern technology of today would have had a better handle on the storm’s direction and intensity. Captain McSorley was on his last trip across the big lake with plans to retire the following week, after 44-years at sea.
By midnight on the 9th, both ships reported high winds and rough seas. By mid-afternoon, on the 10th, the Fitzgerald reported to the Anderson, he had a couple of vent pipes that had cracked off, some of the ship’s railing was gone due to the nearhurricane-force winds and 35-foot pounding waves. The ship’s pumps were handling the water coming in through the vent pipes, one radar set was not operating and the other was failing.
All afternoon and early evening, the Edmund Fitzgerald was in constant contact with the Coast Guard. The Fitzgerald was a much faster freighter than the Anderson, and by this time, she was a full ten miles ahead of the Anderson. Captain McSorley decided to slow down, so the Anderson could catch up, to help the Fitzgerald navigate. Captain McSorley rode the waves and fought with his might. He reported to others, “I have a bad list, lost both radars. And I am taking heavy seas over the deck. One of the worst seas I’ve ever been in.” McSorley never wavered, never sent a distress signal. His last communication with the Captain of the Arthur Anderson was, “We are holding our own.”
Then, shortly after 7:10 p.m., Monday, November 10th, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank 530 feet deep in the frigid Lake Superior waters, off the Canadian coast.
That evening, a young man from Noble, Oklahoma, was all set to watch the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football. While sitting in his living room in Duluth, Minnesota, he received a phone call that changed his life forever. Captain Jimmie Hobaugh, of the U.S. Coast Guard Woodrush, was called to rally his crew and head out in search of an overdue freighter. Within 90 minutes, he and all but one of his 42-man crew headed out into what began as calm and dark waters of western Lake Superior. But that was about to change. As they round the Keweenaw Peninsula in Upper Michigan, they ran into the teeth of the angry storm-driven lake. As they headed east, the towering swells become larger and larger. The U.S.C.G. Woodrush was a 180-foot cutter with a storied history of rescues and lifesaving bravery.
As the Woodrush fought the tremendous waves and
winds, it finally reached the area where the Edmund Fitzgerald dropped off radar. As the ravaging storm subsided, there were no signs of the big freighter or its crew. A couple of lifeboats had washed upon the Canadian shore with other debris and oil spillage shimmering on the water’s surface. Other ships assisted in the search, including the Arthur M. Anderson, who made it into the safer waters of Whitefish Bay, but returned to help find the Fitzgerald. For many years, Cooper would not share his thoughts about why he put his crew back in danger to help find McSorley and his crew. Finally, when pressed during an interview, he stated, “I keep thinking, if my son was on that boat, what should I do?” He said it was an easy decision.
The search seemed futile; searchers believed all twentynine crew members of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald were lost at sea. As the search continued, Captain Hobaugh and his Woodrush crew used a solar device to locate a large debris field, 530 feet below the surface, on the Canadian side of the border, broken up in three large parts, concluding there were no survivors.
During the past fifty years,
there have been many theories of what may have happened to the Edmund Fitzgerald that fateful night, from alien abductions to the three sisters, where three large waves hit the boat at the same time after bouncing off the shorelines. Both, just theories, nobody really knows what took down the freighter. The Fitzgerald sank about seventeen miles short of reaching Whitefish Bay near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, where safety would have been secured.
The crew members ranged in age from a 20-year-old Watchman to the 63-year-old Captain Ernest McSorley. Respectfully, the following picture lists the names of the men who were lost at sea.
This incredible storm created such a tragedy that it has been studied in-depth, recorded in history books and inspired a Gordon Lightfoot song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” Please read as a poem with the song playing along in your head:
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, by Gordon Lightfoot.
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down of the big lake they call Gitchee Gumee. The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead, when the skies of November turn gloomy. With a load of iron ore, twenty-six thousand tons more than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty. That good ship and crew was a bone to be chewed, when the gales of November came early.
The ship was the pride of the American side coming back from some mill in Wisconsin. As the big freighters go, it was bigger than most with a crew and good Captain well-seasoned, concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms, when they left fully loaded for Cleveland. And later that night when the ship’s bell rang, could it be the north wind they’d be feeling?
The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound and a wave broke over
the railing, and every man knew, as the captain did too, t’was the witch of November come stealing. The dawn came late, and the breakfast had to wait. When the gales of November came slashin’. When afternoon came, it was freezin’ rain in the face of a hurricane west wind.
When suppertime came, the old cook came on deck sayin’ “fellows it’s too rough to feed ya.” At seven p.m. a main hatchway caved in, he said, “fellows it’s been good to know ya.” The captain wired in he had water coming in and the good ship and crew was in peril. And later that night when his lights went out of sight came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours? The searchers all say they’d have made Whitefish Bay if they’d put 15 more miles behind her. They might have split up or they may have capsized. They may have broke deep and took water and all that remains is the faces and the names, of the wives and the sons and the daughters.
Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings in the ruins of her ice water mansions.
Old Michigan steams like a young man’s dreams. The islands and bays are for sportsmen and farther below Lake Ontario takes in what Lake Erie can send her. And the iron ore boats go as the mariners all know when the gales of November remembered.
In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed, in the Maritime Sailors’ Cathedral the church bell chimed ‘til it rang twentynine times for each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald. The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down of the big lake they call Gitchee Gumee. Superior, they say, never gives up her dead, when the gales of November come early.
In the words of Reverend Richard W. Ingalls of Detroit’s Mariners’ Church, “I was awakened by Robert E. Lee, curator
of Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isles who said that the “Fitzs” was in trouble. He had a ship-to-shore phone/ radio and so I immediately got dressed. In a few minutes, he called me again, and said it doesn’t look good, which was the way of saying that the ship has gone down but no official word has been made. I came from the rectory in Grosse Pointe, down Jefferson Avenue to this old church, and entered into the door, came up the steps going across the Narthex and down into the bell tower, where I rang the Brotherhood Bell 29 times. Then, I came into the church, took out my prayer book and knelt at the pulpit, where I had prayers. All of this I thought was being done privately but when I was finishing, I heard rustling and after the final prayer, I arose and came down to the steps. I looked out and there were the media, radio, TV, newspapers, magazines and they queried me about the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” This was the church Lightfoot referred to as the “musty old hall of Detroit, Maritime Sailors’ Cathedral.”
Stories remain of these courageous crew members as told by family and friends:
Ransom Cundy was a proud marine, serving with the 1st Battalion 23rd Marines, seeing battle action in Iwo Jima. After the war, he was honorably discharged; then he found work at the Great Lakes Shipping Company as a Wheelsman. His father introduced him to a Captain of an ore freighter. This
kicked off Ransom’s career as a sailor and he joined the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1967. He often joked with his family, “If the ship would go down, I would go down with it, because I can’t even dog paddle.” Mr. Cundy’s daughter, Cheryl Rozman, said, “A man deserves a memorial and they should have had one long ago.”
Robert Rafferty was immortalized in Mr. Lightfoot’s song. Mr. Rafferty’s daughter, Pam Johnson, spoke publicly about her father as a kind, jolly, heavy-set man, who loved his family dearly and was accustomed to cooking for 30 or 40 people at a time. On his bald head, he often wore a fedora. Mrs. Johnson indicated that her father initially wasn’t supposed to be on the last voyage of the Fitzgerald, but the ship’s cook suffered bleeding ulcers that left him unable to go. The back-up cook, who formerly spent a decade on the ship, turned down a chance to make the trip, according to Mrs. Johnson. She takes great comfort in Mr. Lightfoot’s song in the expression, the old cook came on deck and said “fellows it’s too rough to feed you.” She says, that sounds like something her father would say.
In June 1995, a small fleet of ships gathered 20 miles off shore of Whitefish Point with the mission of raising the Edmund Fitzgerald’s bell in order to create a memorial at Whitefish Point. An engraved brass bell with the names of the lost crew members replaced the original
bell as an eternal memorial. Among the men participating in the project was Jack Champeau, younger brother of Oliver “Buck” Champeau, forty-one-year-old, Third Assistant Engineer on the Fitzgerald. He emotionally said, “When our father died, we were very young and my brother took over. He was just thirteen-yearsold but he was the man of the family. He told me the night before I left for Vietnam, that if anything happened to me over there, he would come and get me. I’ve tried now for all these years to bring him home, to come and get him, and this is as close as I can get. I can’t do it anymore. And, I know I won’t be able to bring him home, but I tried and this is the best I could do.”
Janice Armagost, wife of Michael Armagost, said, “Being out there, on that spot, gave me peace of mind. The sun was shining, the sky was clear, the water was beautiful and this filled the void for me.”
As the two Canadian mini-subs reached the Fitzgerald, the video camera searched the dark murky sea water where they
found the wrecked hull and the words “Edmund Fitzgerald.” It was July 4th, when the bell made her way to shore. On July 7th, the Ontario Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs officially presented the Fitzgerald’s retrieved bell “with great pride and great humility, I present this bell on behalf of the people of Ontario to the people of Michigan, and especially to the families of the Edmund Fitzgerald crew.” The bell was placed in the care of the Great Lake Shipwreck Historical Museum at Whitefish Point.
In the upper Midwest and in southern Canada, November 10, 1975, is one of those dates, like November 22, 1963, December 7, 1941, or September 11, 2001. You know the history and, if you were alive, you know exactly where you were on those days. Each and every November 10th since the 1975 sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, the Mariners’ Church of Detroit has chimed the church bell twenty-nine times for the loss of each sailor and one time for the great Gordon Lightfoot.
This loss was personal and we shall not forget. “As we remember the men, as we hear the bell toll, we should grieve, but we should also not forget to celebrate their lives as well. As the bell is in their hearts, so they are in the bell, and in the bell’s tone are the voices of the men and we should listen.” Each name was read and the bell chimed in their memory.
In this article, we also pay tribute to the men who bravely searched for the lost, against all odds in their dedicated search.
I had the opportunity to interview and get to know Captain Hobaugh before his death in 2014. Jimmie was a delightful, gritty and respectful man in telling me about the search for the Edmund Fitzgerald. It was obvious in our many talks that he still felt the pain of not being able to rescue those 29 men. He felt it was his job to find them and bring them to safety. He and all those who braved the elements that November should be proud of their dedicated search.
Travel Notes: If you would like to experience the history of
the Great Lakes and its Maritime history, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a great place to start. The locks at Sault Ste. Marie have a great viewing stand, where you may watch the big freighters go in and out of the locks. You may even take a boat tour through the locks.
Also, in Sault Ste. Marie is the Valley Camp Museum. It is an old freighter that has been converted into a Maritime history museum. One section of the ship is a tribute to the Edmund Fitzgerald, which houses one of the original Fitzgerald lifeboats that was recovered on the Canadian shore. Also, 60 miles to the west, in Paradise, Michigan, is the Whitefish Point Maritime Museum. There you will also find a tribute to the Fitzgerald.
This November marks the 50th Anniversary of the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. From November 7-10, there will be commemorative celebrations across Michigan and especially at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, the Mariners’ Church of Detroit and at Whitefish Point.
Douglassaires Scholarships
by Debbie Neece
Education has been the platform for growth, even more so during some of America’s dimmest times. History has not always been pretty, like the chapter of segregation. However, it offers yet another growth opportunity.
Douglass School opened its doors in 1907, the year of Oklahoma statehood. Beginning with seven students meeting at a Methodist Church on Watson Avenue, it quickly became an anchor for Bartlesville’s African American community. By 1912, there were 45 first to eighth grade students attending in a new building, teaching all twelve grades by 1933. As the student body grew, the school expanded in size and broadened academic offerings to include skilled trades, debate, journalism, domestic science, automotive shop, and more, along with core educational classes.
The Bartlesville community supported Douglass School throughout its existence. Phillips Petroleum Company, and others, donated acreage and helped fund additions to the school building. In 1956, the Bartlesville School system began desegregating its public schools, gradually integrating Douglass students into their schools. Douglass classes were reduced to eighth grade and further, before its eventual closure in 1971.
From humble beginnings, some of the greatest accomplishments transpire. To honor the rich history of Douglass School and bring the community together, a group of alumni formed The Douglassaires Association, named after their spirited glee club. 1976 marked the inaugural “Welcome Home” reunion celebration.
During the first reunion, two scholarships were presented to former-Douglass School students, who eventually graduated from Bartlesville College High School: The Luvenia Brown Memorial Scholarship, established by the Renaissance Club, and The Alice McCreary Scholarship, started by John F. Cronin.
In 2023, the Douglassaires Association took a giant step forward by formalizing a scholarship program to provide
educational opportunities and solidify funding for these awards:
According to Sophia Shoate, “In 2024, the committee voted to make this gift an annual initiative. While we didn’t have the funding collected to award 2024 scholarships, we renewed our commitment in 2025 by retroactively extending eligibility to 2024 graduates who were already attending college; plus awarded one scholarship to a 2025 graduate.”
For nearly five decades and seventeen reunions, Douglassaires have remained committed to the proud legacy of Douglass School and the generations it has shaped. Their goal is to carry the history forward through education, service, and community engagement. One of the most meaningful ways to do this is through the Douglassaires Association Scholarship Program, a growing initiative that invests directly in our community’s youth. In 1950, Phillips Petroleum Company gifted a building that became the first Westside Community Center, a safe haven for former Douglass students and the youth of Bartlesville. Today, Westside Community Center continues to support Douglassaires as the 501(c)(3) channel for the Scholarship Program.
The next Douglassaires Welcome Home Reunion will be July 2027. Will you help rally our community to support this scholarship giving mission? Your support ensures that our youth not only succeed, but also carry the Douglassaires spirit for generations to come, building a future rooted in pride, education and service.
If your heart is open to helping, please visit www. douglassaires1907.com, click the Scholarship dropdown tab, and designate your donation to the DASP (Douglassaires Association Scholarship Program). The timing is perfect for year-end tax benefit and to make offerings easier, you may even schedule repeat donations as monthly, quarterly or yearly.
Thank you for your support.
OCTOBER CALENDAR SPONSORED BY
OKWU Soccer vs Southwestern College
5PM (W); OKWU Soccer Fields
7PM (M); OKWU Soccer Fields
Fall Traders Encampment
10AM; Woolaroc
The event runs every weekend during business hours.
Bruin Volleyball vs Jenks
6:30PM; Bruin Fieldhouse
Cops & Rodders 2025 Car Show
8AM; Washington County Sheriff’s Department
Keepsake Candles Fall Carnival
10AM; 263 County Road 3022
Time Travelers Indoor Market
11AM; Washington Park Mall
OKWU Volleyball vs Tabor College
12PM (W); Mueller Sports Center
Oktoberfest hosted by OKM Music
4PM; Downtown Bartlesville
International Observe the Moon Night
6PM; Unity Square
Bruin Football vs Muskogee
7PM; Custer Stadium
1 2 10 18 22 24 25 29 11 15 18 8 4
OKWU Womens Volleyball vs Friends Univ.
6PM; Mueller Sports Center
The Gathering at the Roc Car Show
8AM; Woolaroc
Bruin 8K and Fun Run
8:30AM; Bartlesville High School
Dewey Western Heritage Weekend
10AM; Downtown Dewey
OKWU Soccer vs McPherson College
2PM (W); OKWU Soccer fields
3:30PM (M); OKWU Soccer fields
Under the Lights – Fall Harvest Festival & Dinner
6:30PM; On the Rock Ministries
OKWU Soccer vs St. Mary’s College
5PM (W); OKWU Soccer Fields
7PM (M); OKWU Soccer Fields
Thurs Oct 16 – Fri Oct 17 Fall Break
All Day; BPS
6th Annual Memories Matter Benefit Car Show
9AM; Green Country Village
OKWU Women’s Volleyball vs Kansas Wesleyan
2PM; OKWU Gym
BSO Presents: Ready, Set, Pops!
7:30PM; The Center
Ghost Walk
6PM; Downtown Bartlesville
OKWU Men’s Soccer vs Bellevue University
7:30PM; OKWU Soccer fields
Bruin Football vs Ponca City
7PM; Custer Stadium
Woolaroc 8K
7AM; Wooaroc
Bark-lesville Haunted Howl-O-Ween party for dogs
3PM; Downtown Bartlesville Trunk or Treat
5PM; Disciples Chrisitan Church
YMCA – Parents Night Out
6PM; YMCA
Spookarama
4PM; Washington Park Mall
Kiddie Park “All Aboard” Campaign Wrap-up
OCTOBER
Every Monday
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
FREE Beginning Spanish Class
Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone Avenue
Every Monday
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
FREE Intermediate Spanish Class
Bartlesville Public Library 600 S. Johnstone Avenue
May 1–July 7
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Bartlesville Area History Museum Presents “Our Culinary Past” BAHM, 401 S. Johnstone Avenue, Bartlesville
Every Tuesday
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Price Tower Exterior and The Center Tour
Every Tuesday
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Bartlesville Public Library ELL
Conversation Class
Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone Avenue, Literacy Office
Every Tuesday through Saturday
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Bartlesville Kiddie Park Open for summer season
EVENTS CALENDAR
Kiddie Park, 205 N. Cherokee Avenue, Bartlesville
Every Tuesday
6:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
Bartlesville Public Library ELL
Conversation Class
Casa Hispana, 3850 Frank Phillips Blvd., Bartlesville
Every Wednesday
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and
Every Thursday
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
FREE Citizenship Classes
Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone Avenue
Every Thursday
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Crossing 2nd Trivia in the Garage
Crossing Second, 215 E 2nd Street, Bartlesville
Every Thursday
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Bartlesville Public Library ELL
Conversation Class
Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone Avenue, Literacy Office
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Tai Chi with Dixie at Unity Square Tower Center at Unity Square, 300 SE Adams Blvd, Bartlesville
Every Saturday
8:00 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Bartlesville Area Farmers Market Frank Phillips Park
Every Saturday
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Price Tower Exterior and The Center Tour
Every Saturday
8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
History and Haunts at the Dewey Hotel
Contact Dewey Hotel Museum, 801 N Delaware St., Dewey
Every Saturday & Sunday
8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Crossing Second Karaoke Dance Party
Crossing 2nd, 215 E. 2nd Street
October 18 - December 31
During Open Days, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Woolaroc Exhibition and Sale Woolaroc, 1925 Woolaroc Ranch Road, Bartlesville
Thurs, Oct 2
Every Friday
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
OSU Alumni Chapter Monthly Meeting - Washington County Scissortail Brewing Company, 623 E Don Tyler Ave., Dewey
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Bartlesville Community Concert
NEW SEASON Starting Soon! The Center, 300 SE Adams Blvd, Bartlesville
Thurs-Sat, Oct 2-3-4
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Fall Traders Encampment at Woolaroc Woolaroc, 1925 Woolaroc Ranch Road, Bartlesville
Fri, Oct 3
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Live Music Night with Wade Daniel: First Friday of the Month Nineteen0Eight, 309 SE Dewey Avenue, Bartlesville
8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Hydramatics at Crossing Second Crossing 2nd, 215 E. 2nd Street, Bartlesville
Sat, Oct 4
TBD
OSU Alumni Chapter - Washington County OSU vs Arizona Watch Party
Scissortail Brewing Company, 623 E Don Tyler Ave., Dewey
8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
11th Annual Cops & Rodders Car Show
Washington County Sheriff’s Office, 611 SW Adams Blvd., Bartlesville
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Lace Embrace
Cherokee Cultural Community Center, 700 East Durham, Dewey
4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
OKM Music Oktoberfest
Dewey Ave. between 4th & 5th St., 415 S. Dewey Ave., Bartlesville
6:30 p.m. – Open
Paddle Party hosted by Bartlesville Civitan Club
Elks Club, 1060 Swan Dr., Bartlesville
Tues, Oct 7
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
In the Kitchen with Susan at the Bartlesville Public Library
Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone Avenue, Meeting Room A
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Johnstone Irregulars Book Club
Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S Johnstone Ave.
7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Make It So: Speculative Fiction Book Club
Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone Avenue, Meeting Room B
Thurs, Oct 9
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Sizzlin’ Summer Series: “Bruin Bash Afterparty”
Unity Square, 300 SE Adams Blvd
Thurs-Sat, Oct 9-10-11
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Fall Traders Encampment at Woolaroc
Woolaroc, 1925 Woolaroc Ranch Road, Bartlesville
Thurs-Sat, Oct 9-10-11
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Keepsake Candles Fall Festival Keepsake Candles, 263 County Road 3022, Bartlesville
Sat, Oct 11
All Day
Visit Dewey Second Saturday Downtown Dewey Merchants
10:00 a.m. – All Day
Dewey Western Heritage Weekend
Longhorn Parade at 5:00 p.m., Wild West Show 6:30 p.m. Downtown Dewey, Don Tyler Avenue, Dewey
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Tallgrass Doll Club Monthly Meeting
Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone Ave., Bartlesville
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Bartlesville & Beyond Boutique
Marketplace
Tuxedo Lions Club Community Center, 2900 Tuxedo Blvd, Bartlesville
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The Gathering at the ROC at Woolaroc
Woolaroc, 1925 Woolaroc Ranch Road, Bartlesville
6:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
Under the Lights on the Rock Ministries Fall Harvest Festival & Dinner
Woolaroc, 1925 Woolaroc Ranch Road, Bartlesville
Mon, Oct 13
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Ghouls Night Out
Marigolds Bookstore, 118 W 2nd St., Bartlesville
Tues, Oct 14
2p.m. – 4p.m. and 6p.m. – 8p.m.
Bartlesville Public Library Adult Craft Class
Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone Avenue, Meeting Room C
Sat, Oct 18
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Monthly Lego Club at the Library
Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone Avenue, Meeting Room A
7:30 p.m. – Open
Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra presents READY, SET, POPS! Featuring Caitlyn Caughell The Center, 300 SE Adams Blvd
Mon, Oct 20
10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Tri County Tech Healthcare Career Fair
Tri County Tech, 6101 Nowata Road
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
College High & Sooner Alumni Club
Bambinos, 101 SE Frank Phillips Blvd.
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Finance For Your Future Truity Credit Union NJCR Basement, 501 S. Johnstone Ave, Bartlesville
Tues, Oct 21
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Bartlesville Public Library 10 Things to Consider
Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone Avenue, Meeting Room C
Wed-Thurs, Oct 22-23
6:00 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Downtown Ghost Walk
Bartlesville Community Center, 300 SE Adams Blvd.
Bartlesville’s VETERAN’S DAY PARADE
SATURDAY, NOV. 8T H
- STARTS 1 1 :00A M -
Hunting or Hunted?
by Greg Wheat
For days, my son and I hunted from the ground in a dense, bear-filled mountainside, always aware that hungry bears could be watching us just as closely as we watched for them. Every rustle of leaves or subtle shift in the woods made us ask the same chilling question: Are we hunting—or being hunted?
The bears had just come out of hibernation—famished and aggressive. Just days earlier, a hunter nearby had been attacked. Another barely escaped after a bear charged him, forcing a point-blank shot just to survive.
Though we were seasoned hunters, we felt the weight of the danger. These woods were dark as evening, even in daylight— rugged, unfamiliar, and unforgiving. Back home in Oklahoma, we’re the predators. But here, it felt like we were the prey.
One evening, I came to a split in the trail. The light was fading fast. I scanned with my flashlight—uncertain, uneasy. I whispered a quiet prayer for guidance. Then something caught my eye: a small, reflective push pin in the bark of a tree. I walked toward it slowly. Then I saw another, and another. Those tiny markers led me steadily through the woods until I saw the clearing ahead and my four-wheeler parked where I’d left it. I had found my way out.
That moment stayed with me.
Life often feels like that—standing at a crossroads, unsure of which way to go. In fear and uncertainty, we rush decisions, desperate to figure things out ourselves. But sometimes the wisest thing we can do is pause, pray, and look for the markers—those subtle signs of guidance, whether it’s a quiet nudge from God or wisdom offered through others. They’re often there, if we’re willing to slow down and notice.
On the final day of our hunt, I changed locations and climbed into a tree stand. The morning was still. The first light crept over the ridge. Then I heard it—crashing, loud, and dangerously close. My heart pounded. A large bear appeared, charging up the mountain, tossing aside logs and brush in its hunger.
I steadied my Remington .30-06, raised it to my shoulder, and looked through the scope. The bear was just 35 yards away—aggressive and intense. I took a deep breath, slowly squeezed the trigger—BOOM.
After tending to the bear, I climbed into another stand, hoping for a second opportunity. Hours passed in silence. Then I heard the distant hum of a four-wheeler and a voice calling, “Dad! Dad, where are you?
It was my son, Kyston.
My heart jumped. Was he okay? I rushed down and raced through the woods, calling back, “I’m here, Son!”
We met halfway. I pulled him into a hug. “Are you alright?” I asked.
He was—but frustrated. After hunting hard all week, he hadn’t seen a single bear. I told him I’d taken one that morning and that he could have my second shot. We found a quiet spot under tall trees and waited together.
Time passed. Then Kyston asked quietly, “How do you know a bear will show up here?”
I smiled. “Because God gives us the desires of our hearts. I’ve been praying all week I’d be with you when you got your bear. And now, here we are.”
It may be hard to believe—but not long after, a large bear appeared, walking straight toward us. Kyston raised the rifle and looked through the scope as the bear came closer.
I whispered urgently, “Shoot it! Shoot it!”
BOOM. The shot rang out, and the bear dropped instantly— just yards away.
As we stood in the stillness of the woods, I reflected on everything. God hears us. He is not distant, distracted, or indifferent. He’s right there—in the wild, the waiting, and the quiet cries of our hearts.
No matter the mountain you’re climbing or the fear crashing through the brush, don’t give up. Life—like bear hunting— is rarely easy. It’s full of steep climbs, uncertain paths, and moments that stretch us beyond what we think we can handle. But every challenge builds something deeper: resilience, faith, and purpose.
Even when you feel lost or hunted by life’s trials, you are never truly alone. The same God who leads you into the wilderness walks with you through it—and He is faithful to guide you out. Not empty-handed, but with strength in your spirit, courage in your story, and a testimony worth telling.
A Western Legacy Continues
by Debbie Neece
Robert Lee “Bob” Cotton was enthralled with Indian Territory history most of his life. In the sixth grade, his Oklahoma History class at Nowata was tasked with presenting a program about Oklahoma, and Bob’s contribution was “Life of the Early Indians.” His passion for history never waned as he was a historian soul deep. In 1969, Bob submitted a third-place article to the Oklahoma Writer’s Association about the well-known Dewey old timer, Joe DeYong who was a schoolmate with Joe Bartles when the two attended the Missouri Military Academy. DeYong was an Oklahoma cowboy artist at Dewey before going to Hollywood with Tom Mix. DeYong also studied with famed western canvas painter Charles Russell. Well into DeYong’s elder years, Bob Cotton remained one of DeYong’s close friends and visited him often in California.
Bob was born in Nowata in 1925 and attended Nowata schools. After graduation, he worked at several meat markets in Nowata and Bartlesville, among the stores was Landers Brothers, where he worked for 25 years, beginning in 1960 and retiring in 1985. Before he died in 1988, he developed a worldwide reputation for his knowledge of old west history and western movies. He was often called upon to assist other writers and researchers, particularly with a 101 Ranch exhibit at Woolaroc. Plus, he delivered history presentations to local schools and civic organizations. He even assisted with Tulsa’s KOED Public Broadcasting Service shows about the 101 Ranch and his favorite subject, Tom Mix.
Bob’s den was a museum of mementos of the wild west and the walls were lined with
over 108 framed movie star photos…including his Tom Mix collection. Bob once said, “There is a magic about Tom Mix, a magic that attracts real people and holds them to him like a magnet.” So it was with Bob Cotton, too.
Bob was close friends with the cowboys of this area; Sherman Moore of the Moore Ranch, Joe Bartles of the Dewey Roundup fame, Mayor Earl Woodard, Henry Grammer, humorist Will Rogers, Sid Jordan, Joe DeYong and many more. Sid Jordan’s father was John Jordan, an early lawman. That fact gave Sid the opportunity to become a deputy while Tom Mix served as city marshal at Dewey. Sid and Tom had been friends since 1907 when they worked together at the 101 Ranch.
When Tom Mix joined the Selig movie company in Prescott, Arizona, the pair took separate paths. Sid signed a contract to work for the Cudahy Meat Company in South America; however, his ship would not arrive for three weeks, so Sid located Tom and Tom put him to work…an association that lasted over 25 years. They were a western movie team; Tom played the hero while Sid played the villain. There was no script, it was all adlib with dangerous stunt work and trick riding. Some of the fight scenes made for better movies when there were head-popping, direct jaw connections or gun fights with live ammunition.
One of Bob’s favorite tales was when, “Tom once shot through Sid’s hat and the bullet was so close to Sid’s scalp that it pulled hair through the hat on its way out.” Another time, “Sid cut Tom’s necktie off with a .30-.30 Winchester rifle and Tom remarked he was glad he had tied a big knot that morning.”
In 1915, Tom and Sid made 19 films, almost one every two weeks. When the script called for women extras, Tom and Sid’s wives were offered the parts first and the ladies were taught how to do their own stunts without getting hurt. Bob’s collection of Tom Mix and Sid Jordan movie scene photos not only lined his den walls, they became part of the presentations he delivered across Nowata and Washington Counties.
In 1934, Tom Mix with Tony, “the wonder horse of the movies,” established the threering Tom Mix Circus with a menagerie of animal entertainers, approximately 30 clowns and 200 aerial performers. Mix left no detail untouched
and all visitors were thrilled by the performances. Reportedly, by this time, “Old Tony” was 27 years old and seriously spoiled. He had the best accommodations and everyone who visited him, fed him sugar cubes.
On October 12, 1940, the country western movie hero was in full western regalia, traveling from Tucson to Florence, Arizona in his bright yellow 1937 Cord 812-supercharged Phaeton auto, when he miscalculated a sharp curve, lost control of the automobile and crashed. Famed Tom Mix died with his boots on but not with his trusted steed, Tony, at his side. Tony lived his senior years at the Mix Ranch in the San Fernando Valley.
In 1968, the Tom Mix Museum opened in Dewey to keep the flavor of the old west alive. The building had previously served as Bowersock’ Grocery and a laundromat. The Museum was filled with memorabilia including a life-sized replica of Tony, Tom Mix’s wonder horse, pleasantly stuffed and cloaked in horse hide by Mrs. Edgar Weston, who spent many tedious hours perfecting his presence.
Did You Know?
Each fall since 2005, the western red carpet has welcomed visitors from states afar to the annual Tom Mix Festival and Prairie Song, I.T. Wild West Show. Twenty years later, the Western Heritage entertainment continues. On October 11th, from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., the Dewey Western Heritage Roundup Association will bring you a country western celebration in keeping with the spirit of the famed Tom Mix and the early days of Joe Bartles’ Dewey Roundup (1908-1949), celebrating Oklahoma’s best of the best western entertainment with the annual longhorn parade on Dewey’s Don Tyler Avenue and a gun fight at the Dewey Hotel. During the day, some notable personalities walk the streets of Dewey like Gordon Hill, grandson of Tom Mix; John Thomas Wayne, grandson of famed movie actor John Wayne; and our own marshal in residence, Rooster Cogburn, aka Pawnee’s Professor Clarence Benes; also, performers like John Payne, the One-Armed Bandit; longhorn cattle; and more. The evening brings a Wild West Show in the Washington County Fair arena with cowboy stunt actors and daredevil cowboy wrangling events. See you at the Dewey Western Heritage Roundup, October 11th .
Now You Know *
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WASHNGTON COUNTY FAIR
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A Slice of Americana
by Kay Little, Little History Adventures
In a small non-descript redbrick structure on the Wichita State University campus, Dan and Frank Carney began tossing dough to feed university students. Their initial $600 investment was borrowed from their mother; and, the brothers turned a tavern into a pizza restaurant in 1958. From their humble operating foundation, erupted popularity above just feeding fellow students and the brothers became entrepreneurs of the internationally acclaimed Pizza Hut with restaurants in 64 global countries.
Oklahoma has Pizza Hut restaurants in 132 towns with most holding claim to more than one or two such pizzerias: Broken Arrow (3), Edmond (4), Lawton (6), Norman (5), Oklahoma City (12), Tulsa (11).
Bartlesville was introduced to Pizza Hut by Pat Murphy in 1960 at 1211 SE Frank Phillips (1960-1967) and 200 NE Washington Blvd. (1967-1987). However, that was just the beginning. Pizza Hut has now served Bartlesville with in-house dining, pick-up and delivery for 65 years with locations at 3801 SE Adams Blvd. (1978-1979), 300 SE Cherokee Ave. (1979-2025), 830 SE Madison Blvd. (1988-2017), 3850 E. Frank Phillips Blvd. (1998-2001) and 3085 SE Washington Blvd. (2021-present). Also, Dewey had a Pizza Hut at 317 S. Osage (1995-2005).
One of the most famous Pizza Hut managers was Duane Charles “Bill” Parcells. When the Carney brothers began offering franchises, they tried to persuade Parcells into becoming a franchise owner. However, Parcells elected to take an assistant coaching position at Hastings Nebraska…a job that paved the path to becoming a 19-season National Football
League head coach and induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
About 1963, the iconic Pizza Pete joined the Pizza Hut advertising market. The adorable mustache-bearing “PizzaPizza” Italian chef mascot was slowly retired and replace by the iconic red roof in the early 1970s. Through the years, Pizza Hut became recognized for its bright red cups and Tiffany styled stained glass lamps, a design carried to Pizza Hut’s advertising bucket hats.
Pizza Hut made history! In 1984, Pizza Hut launched its “Book It” program to incentivize reading with 200,000 elementary children enrolled. Then, in 1989, First Lady Barbara Bush ordered a Pizza Hut delivery to the White House for 200 Washington D.C. children as part of the “Reading is Fundamental” program. But, most notable, in 2001, Pizza Hut delivered a pre-baked 6” salami pizza to the International Space Station. True fact!
Although the most popular pizza toppings are consistently pepperoni and cheese, when ordering your favorite pizza, no matter the crust you select, the most contested add-ons remain pineapple, olives and anchovies.
According to market researchers, global pizza sales for 2024 were approximately $151 billion with U.S. pizza consumption at over $50 billion; and, annually breaking record sales.
The original 500 square foot WSU Pizza Hut building was relocated in 2017 and, although it no longer serves pizza, it serves to tell the history of the 67-year-old company with a $1.2 million museum investment, totally free to the thousands of yearly visitors. “NO ONE OUTPIZZAS THE HUT®!”
B the Light Update: Still Moving Forward
by Miriam Walker
Well friends, Bartlesville might not have seen much of the flannel shirts, hoodies or full length leggings yet, but we’ll always have pumpkin spice! Given that the weather is once again procrastinating without so much as an enticement of cooler temperatures, I guess we’ll just rely on pumpkin spice! No, I don’t like this particular flavor but I’m sure many of our readers do. I’m more of the pecan flavor myself, but enjoy! That will be the extent of your fall for a few more weeks! Lol. WELCOME TO OCTOBER!
The B the Light garage sale was a huge success! THANK YOU to everyone who donated, helped organize, and helped to volunteer during our annual fundraising event. This year’s sale was unlike any other, as we’ve never been this close to being fully operational both upstairs and down before. The timing here was perfect, as many were able to see the Mission for the first time, some even eager to volunteer.
The success of the sale was not only monetary, but in terms of connections this was a huge win for both our homeless neighbors and for us. We love growing our team and sharing with our community what B the Light is really about.
So thank you to everyone who donates throughout the year, as you helped to make our garage sale so unique. If we aren’t using the items at the Mission then they go into the sale. Either way you are making a difference in the lives of our unhoused neighbors.
In addition to our volunteers, we couldn’t have done the garage sale without the OKWU students. These young adults not only bring the muscle and meticulous attention to detail, but they always pray for us! And let me tell you, if you’ve never been prayed over by over 150 college students you’re missing something pretty amazing! The encouragement they bring with them is always on time, so thank you Oklahoma Wesleyan University!
B the Light opened our doors for Bartlesville Crime Stoppers to have their Cornhole fundraiser event last month. This was a very worthwhile event and so much fun! REMEMBER, B the Light is available for your next event too!
Although we have not been open for overnight stays yet, we continue to build relationships with both our regulars, and people who are new to the uncertainty and difficulties that come with being homeless. In addition to the number of showers that have ramped up, our homeless neighbors come in every day for clothing, snacks or hygiene items.
The space between knowing and not knowing can be a very scary place indeed. I have discovered that nobody can ever grow or develop any depth, just by being told they need to change.
To be certain, B the Light helps our homeless neighbors with the changes they need to make, but we don’t start there. We start with love and by gaining their trust. We’re not waiting until we’re open for overnights to embrace these valuable connections with our unhoused neighbors. If we don’t take the opportunities now we’ll miss the moment. We’ve seen some setbacks but also some great successes. We will continue to provide the best resources to fill that uncertain place in between knowing and not knowing what to do.
We’re very appreciative of the other nonprofits in our city that have partnered with us. We truly are better together.
We can’t control the journey they’ve taken, but if they’re willing and ready, we can make the journey more certain moving forward. We’ll always point them towards what they can do, and not so much what they can’t. One step at a time…
We’ve also seen a great harvest this year with our garden! We have homemade soup with our own home grown vegetables, fresh eggs, and our chickens are hatching! Let us know if you’d like to take a tour or if you’re interested in joining our volunteer team!
Until next month, go enjoy some pumpkin spice and hopefully, some cooler weather soon!
11a - 10p
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Bartlesville Health & Rehab Community provides a wide range of quality health care services. Locally owned, BHRC offers 24-hour licensed nursing care, skilled nursing services, long-term care, and in-house physical, speech, and occupational therapy. And now, BHRC offers memory care for those with Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders. This brand-new Memory Care Center (Memory Lane) is a secure 16-room unit with aroundthe-clock nursing care. For more information or to schedule a tour, call (918) 333-9545. 3434 Kentucky Place • 918-333-9545 • www.bartlesvillehealthandrehab.com
A Home to Giants
by Mike Jerry Tupa
Bartlesville has been home to giants.
Giants whose shadows have stretched out from coast-to-coast and spilled over into other nations.
They were towering figures in the enchanting realm we know as sports competition.
Whether born here or transplanted later, the Elysian roll call of athletic elite that called Bartlesville home is monumental.
The list includes Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers, Olympic gold medalists, major league baseball players, NFL All-Pros, college All-Americans, world boxing champions, U.S. Olympic Trials’ qualifiers and dozens of other pro and college sports notables.
Thanks to the Bartlesville Sports Commission (BSC), many of these individuals have been formerly recognized and canonized in the Bartlesville Athletic Hall of Fame (BaHOF).
The BaHOF began in 2008. This year’s inductees — which include Gerald Thompson, Noah Hartsock, Mike Epperson and the 1969 Bartlesville American Legion Baseball team. The induction ceremony and banquet is scheduled for October 3 at the Bartlesville Community Center.
(For more information visit the Bartlesville Sports Commission website.)
This will be the 18th year for BaHOF induction, The total number of inductions is 96. There was no ceremony in 2020 due to the COVID lockdown.
Here are some BaHOF facts:
• Individual inductions, including two married couples: 78.
• Team/organization inductions: 18
• Posthumous inductions: Approximately 12.
• Father and son inductions: Tug Baughn, 2013; Stan Baughn, 2021.
• Brother inductions: Ernie Jackson, 2012, and Ricky Jackson, 2022; Tim Tolin, 2015, and Doug Tolin, 2017; and Dr. Pat Connor, 2010, and Jim Connor, 2016.
• Youngest inductee: Cassie Consedine (2024) from the Bartlesville High Class of 2007.
• Youngest prospective inductee: Noah Hartsock (2025), Bartlesville High Class of 2006.
Here are a few of the outstanding sports achievement by members of the BaHOF roster:
BOB KURLAND (Class of 2008): Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame — Renown as the first seven-footer in
basketball history and the top college basketball player in the nation while at Oklahoma A&M in the mid-1940s. Two-time Olympic Gold Metalist in men’s basketball (1948, 1952), inducted into the basketball HOF in 1961.
DAVID BAKER (Class of 2009): NFL All-Pro (1959) — First-round NFL pick (49ers, 1959); NFL All-Pro (1959; NFL record of four interceptions in a game, a team record 21 career interceptions in three years (1959-61); played in the Pro Bowl; left the NFL due to military duty; graduated from Bartlesville College High (1955).
BOBBY JOE GREEN (Class of 2009): NFL Pro Bowler (1970) — Played 14 NFL seasons (Steelers, 1960-61; Bears, 1962-73) primarily as a punter; Played in the Pro Bowl (1970); two-time NFL punting leader (1960, 1966), selected as one of the 100 greatest Bears of All Time; graduated from College High in 1955.
DALLAS DOBBS (Class of 2008): University of Kansas men’s basketball leading scorer (1956-57) — Averaged nearly 20 points scoring per game his senior year (1956-57) at the University of Kansas; scored 34 points in a Bartlesville Col-Hi football game (1951); tried out when he was 14 for the Pittsburgh Pirates and impressed them.
STEVE HESSER (Class of 2011) and DOUG TOLIN (Class of 2017): Both coached college men’s basketball teams to national championships.
CASSIE CONSEDINE (Class of 2024): Naval Academy women’s basketball legend — A Bartlesville High product that set records and earned major honors at the Naval Academy. Following is a closer look at the incoming Class of 2025:
GERALD THOMPSON : A Bartlesville home grown product that excelled as an athlete, a coach and an educator for Bartlesville Public Schools. Affectionately known as “Coach G,” Thompson has positively impacted the lives of thousands of local studentathletes.
NOAH HARTSOCK : Helped propel Bartlesville to threestraight state tourney appearances in boys basketball. Starred at BYU and play pro ball in Europe.
MIKE EPPERSON : One of the most acclaimed gymnasts to come out of Bartlesville. A two-time NCAA All-American.
1969 AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL TEAM : Only Bartlesville Legion team to win a regional title and qualify for the American Legion World Series. Many of its players also helped power College High to the 1969 high school state title.
Their names will be added to lengthening list of gigantic local sports icons that truly make Bartlesville the City of Legends.
JOEY McNAIR
PITTS & KURLAND
OKM Music’s Oktoberfest
...Bringing Culture, Fun & Community
to Downtown
by Maria Gus
For more than four decades, OKM Music has been a cultural cornerstone in Bartlesville, bringing world-class music, inspiring performances, and community-centered events to Bartlesville. This fall, one of their most festive events returns: the 13th Annual OKM Music Oktoberfest.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. when Dewey Avenue transforms into a lively Bavarian street festival filled with music, food, contests, and family fun.
The event promises a mix of tradition and local flair. Get down in your dirndl with the sounds of Blaskapelle, enjoy the smooth saxophone of Grady Nichols, and dance to the electrifying King Cabbage Brass Band. Whether you prefer authentic oompah or contemporary brass, the music lineup alone is worth celebrating.
But Oktoberfest is more than music. It’s a full-on cultural celebration that brings people together in the heart of downtown Bartlesville. Guests can test their strength in a beer stein holding contest, race with friends in a relay competition, or try their hand at axe throwing and glow-in-the-dark putt-putt. Of course, there will be plenty of Bavarian treats to enjoy like bratwurst sizzling on the grill, warm pretzels, and sweet apple strudel.
Food trucks and local favorites like Price’s Meat Market, The Wild Wandering Whisk (with gluten-free options), and
Sugar Plum Café will keep every appetite satisfied. Local breweries including Scissortail Brewing Company and Fat Toad Brewing Company will be pouring seasonal favorites alongside the Palace Rooms Mobile Bar, ensuring the perfect pairing for your meal.
For families, OKM makes sure kids (and even pets) are part of the fun. Young festival-goers can enjoy puppet shows, story time, pumpkin painting, cookie decorating, and crafts. Special Schultüte treat bags will add an extra touch of Bavarian tradition, and don’t miss the ever-popular dog costume contest, where furry friends get to show off their Oktoberfest style.
Admission is free for all children 18 and under, making this one of the most affordable, family-friendly events of the season. Adult tickets begin at $10 each and are available now at www. okmmusic.org.
“Oktoberfest has become a fall favorite for Bartlesville and beyond,” says Mary Lynn Mihm, OKM’s Executive & Artistic Director.
“It’s the perfect mix of culture, community, and celebration with something for everyone.”
Since its founding in 1983, OKM Music has enriched the cultural fabric of Bartlesville through concerts, festivals, and education programs. Oktoberfest is just one more way this nonprofit organization delivers on its mission: making the arts accessible, enjoyable, and unforgettable for all.
So dust off your lederhosen, bring the kids (and the dog), and raise a stein to OKM Music. This is more than a festival — it’s a celebration of community, culture, and the joy of living in Bartlesville.
OKM Music’s 13th Annual Oktoberfest
Dewey Ave. Between 4th & 5th St., Downtown Bartlesville Saturday, October 4, 2025 | 4:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Tickets & Info: okmmusic.org/oktoberfest-2025
Carl Edwards ... And His Air Corps Service After Pearl Harbor
by Joe Todd
Carl D. Edwards was born 4 April 1924 in Copan, Oklahoma. His father was a cable tool driller and a welder. Carl went to school in Copan and once or twice in the summer would travel to Bartlesville’s Lyric Theater to see a Tom Mix or Bob Steele movie. After graduation, he worked for Superior Welding in Bartlesville. In July 1941, he went to California with a man who had a job for him delivering new cars in Los Angeles. He lived with his aunt and uncle there while delivering cars for BrokerBower Chevrolet.
Sunday, December 7, 1941, he was delivering a car when he heard about the attack on Pearl Harbor. Everyone expected the Japanese to invade California so blackouts were enforced at night and searchlights were in the sky looking for Japanese airplanes. He returned to Copan in the spring of 1942. His father worked at the Douglas Plant in Tulsa and he worked at a service station at Admiral and Lewis.
days with gunfire all around them. Then, the Germans disappeared.
He was drafted 3 February 1943, but volunteered for the Air Corps to help the British defeat the Germans and was sent to Keesler Field, Mississippi for Basic Training. He was then sent to Las Vegas, where he was assigned as the Ball Turret Gunner on the B-24 and trained in the Sperry Ball Turret. He shot skeet; then, fired at targets from a pickup and had air-to-air gunnery in the AT-6. Next, he was sent to Lowery Field in Denver and to Clovis, New Mexico. He was then assigned to the crew of a B-24 and sent to Charleston, South Carolina on 30 October.
He was assigned to the 739th Squadron, 739th Bomb Group at Mitchell Field, New York and picked up a new H Model B-24 and named her Miss America in 1944. He left New York and flew to Brazil then to Dakar, Africa. Flew to Italy and was based at Cerignola; then, flew his first mission on 8 February 1945 to Orvieta, Italy. The main targets were Marshalling Yards and bombed the Abbey on Monte Cassino on 3 March and bombed the oil refineries at Ploesti in Romania three times. There were five oil refineries built at
Ploesti by U.S. oil companies before the war.
German ME-109 fighters gave the altitude of the bombers and the flak guns would open up. Carl was asked to fly a mission with another crew and flew as a waist gunner on 17 August 1944. That mission was hit by flak in the right inboard engine and the plane was going down. The crew bailed out over Romania and was captured by Romanian solders in the German army. They were held in an old barn and fed corn mush that reminded Carl of the slop they fed the hogs in Copan. They were in the barn a few
A Romanian and Armenian group came in and said the Russians were invading and they needed to leave. Two of the men had broken legs and the group took turns carrying them. The Russians offered to fly them to Italy; however, secretly they were actually flying the Americans to Moscow. Luckily, they refused the Russian help. A Romanian farmer had a truck and offered to drive them to Bucharest if they protected him from the Russians. B-17s were flown to Bucharest to pick up the 11,000 U.S. and British prisoners to take them to Italy.
Carl was sent home by ship, arriving in New York before being sent to Enid, Oklahoma and discharged 30 August 1945. He was a prisoner of war only thirteen days.
Dr. David W. Campbell...
Bringing a Wealth of Experience to Bartlesville
by Abigail Singrey
A new family practice doctor is now accepting patients at Ascension Medical Group in Bartlesville. With an office conveniently located on the Ascension St. John Jane Phillips Medical Center campus, Dr. David W. Campbell is eager to begin building lasting relationships with patients in the community.
Dr. Campbell brings both professional expertise and a unique life journey to his practice. After graduating from Oklahoma State University’s Center for Health Sciences in 2005, he performed his residency at OSU Family Medicine Residency and his internship at St. Anthony Hospital. Afterwards, he worked as both a family practice physician and an emergency room doctor. But his path to medicine wasn’t straightforward.
Originally from Ardmore, Dr. Campbell had always dreamed of becoming a doctor, but his life took an unexpected turn. After a few years at East Central University, he stepped away from school for 17 years to help his father grow the family business. What began as a single service station soon evolved into a wholesale fuel distribution company, and Campbell played a key role in making that transition possible. However, he still dreamed of being a doctor, and eventually, he went back to college at the University of Oklahoma to finish his degree. He was then accepted into medical school, and the rest is history.
Now, Dr. Campbell is looking forward to returning to family medicine after a stint as an emergency room doctor. He provides primary care for minor illness and injuries, preventive health screenings, routine check-ups and vaccinations. With his broad experience and patient-first
approach, Dr. Campbell is ready to be a trusted partner in helping families stay healthy at every stage of life.
“The best part of practicing family medicine is working with patients and seeing great results,” Dr. Campbell said. “When you’re working in an emergency room, you help a patient and then may never see them again. Family practice medicine allows you to build relationships and see the good that you’re doing.”
For Dr. Campbell, family medicine is a 24/7 endeavor. He starts by listening to understand his patients and their health concerns. He takes the time to get to know each person and their family’s health history. Then, Dr. Campbell works with them to create a personalized care plan for their long-term health needs.
“I know how important it is to have a doctor who listens,” Dr. Campbell said. “Everyone wants to feel heard.”
Dr. Campbell and his wife are proud parents of five adult children, now ages 33 to 40. Outside of medicine, he enjoys woodworking and recently built a custom table designed to meet the unique needs of his daughter with special needs. His craftsmanship reflects the same care and dedication he brings to his patients.
Whether you have new symptoms or just want to talk to a doctor about your health and wellness, Dr. Campbell is here for you. He can help you and your family stay healthy by providing preventive care, finding health concerns early and managing chronic conditions.
Make an appointment by calling 918-338-3740 or visiting healthcare.ascension.org
Change My Mind
by Kelly Hurd
Thirty-something year old women should not be weeping over their husband’s casket. Thirty-one-yearold men should not be the target of assassins. Today I wept as I spent a little time on Erika Kirk’s Instagram page.
It’s 9.15.25 as I’m writing this. It all happened just five days ago.
Now, John Hurd is quite the reel-er on social media. He’s always bringing me something to watch that he’s found thought-provoking or inspiring. Charlie Kirk was one he followed and enjoyed.
My reel feeds consist of home décor mostly, so I wasn’t a Kirk follower, but I’ve pulled up some of his college campus events on YouTube recently, and I was so impressed –with his ability to communicate unwaveringly, genuinely, intelligently, convincingly, and compassionately.
You have to admire a young man who puts out a sign that says, “Change My Mind,” in an attempt to engage in meaningful and possibly life changing conversations, engaging culture where it’s at, with a rescue mission mentality.
Give.Me.Some.Of.That.
Hey, just sayin’.
While most of us just walk on by, look the other direction, and deny the situation, Charlie Kirk walked right up into the middle of the mess, looked it in the eye and engaged itwith the hope of saving it.
There is a verse somewhere in the Bible that says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” Well, it’s about time we did because there’s a world out there who needs a Saviour, and truth, and authenticity, and lifestyles that look like we live what we profess…
What you tolerate will multiply.
What you ignore will magnify.
Love speaks truth. Love points someone in the right direction. Love leads and encourages, rather than cowers and hides. Love goes after those headed for destruction to save them from what awaits.
I’ve had a friend who was once hooked on meth and deep steeped in a homosexual lifestyle, and she tells the story of her daddy kicking in the door of the crack house, finding her, and carrying her out – because he loved her enough to rescue her. Love will move you out of complacency and give you courage to confront demons.
There’s a song we sing in church called Reckless Love that says, “… Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God. It chases me down, fights ‘til I’m found, leaves the 99.
I couldn’t earn it, and I don’t deserve it, still You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God.”
I believe that’s what Charlie Kirk was walking in –Reckless Love – that gave him the courage to confront spiritually demonic influences set on taking culture captive. His weapon was the Truth. His motto was Never Surrender. He lived his life All In.
Maybe it’s time we do the same. Maybe it’s past time and long overdue.
The future of our country is hanging in the balance. It’s time to let the redeemed of the Lord say so – with passion, conviction, and love like Charlie Kirk modeled which looked a whole lot like Jesus…
This is me over here in Osage County, just saying so, and calling to the good in you to do the same.
And if you don’t think so, then feel free to reach out and maybe you can “Change My Mind.”
TECH TALK TRI COUNTY TECH
ALL THE TALK HAPPENING AT TECH
OCTOBER CNA APPLICATIONS
Start your healthcare career with our Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) program! Whether you’re looking to work in nursing homes, hospitals, or other healthcare settings, our program gives you the skills and confidence to make a real difference. With flexible evening classes designed for busy schedules and hands-on training in local facilities, you’ll gain practical experience that prepares you for success. Spots fill fast! Enroll today!
CELEBRATE MANUFACTURING
Join us this October to honor the innovative world of manufacturing. From bioengineers to machinists, there’s a career for everyone! Manufacturing careers provide safety, security, and strengthen our economy, offering long-lasting opportunities. Interested in a manufacturing career? Check out our upcoming programs using the QR code below!
UPCOMING TRAININGS
Explore our FREE training sessions on essential topics like Volunteer Firefighter Grant Funding, or take the next step with one of our CPR courses. Looking for something specific? We also offer customized training tailored to your unique needs!
JOIN THE FIRST ROBOTICS TEAM 2165
There’s still time to join the Tri County Tech Team. You’ll learn first-hand about science, math, engineering, and technology while getting hands-on experience and working as a team to resolve problems. The program is open to all Tri County Tech students and students enrolled in a Project Lead the Way (PLTW) program.
DENTAL OPPORTUNITIES APPLY HERE!
Did you know that Tri County Tech is more than just a school? We also offer low-cost quality care in a state-of-the-art dental clinic, in partnership with the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. You receive a FREE screening appointment to identify any service you need. Treatments are provided by students and are supervised by our faculty and a licensed dentist. Use the QR code or call 918.331.3218 to learn more and schedule your FREE screening today!
Summer break is over, and our salon is back open and ready to serve you! Whether you’re looking for a fresh haircut or a relaxing manicure, our talented students—under the supervision of licensed instructors—are here to provide top-notch services. Call 918.331.3236 or scan the QR code below to book your appointment today! MAKE A SALON APPOINTMENT
UPCOMING ADULT PROGRAMS
Tri County Tech offers affordable adult programs to get you into a higher-paying career fast! With our flexible evening programs, you can get certified in under a year! In-house financial assistance is available, and 90% of students qualify.
Looking to gain a skill and head to college? Most of our programs have continuing college credits that can be applied to a degree! Choose from courses in healthcare, computer, trade skills, and more! APPLY HERE!
We live, work, and play in Bartlesville, and we’re proud to serve our neighbors with integrity
Experienced, Honest, Local
by Jay Webster
I’ll admit upfront that I am weird.
But occasionally, when I am getting dressed, I think, “If High School-Me saw a snapshot of Today-Me, he would have no idea what year it was or how far into the future we are. I mean, aside from seeing my phone, there’s no fashion clue that reveals we are three plus decades into the future. Things haven’t changed that much.”
Think about it. If you graduated high school in, say, 1935, and then saw a snapshot of yourself in your fifties in the 1960s (or worse, the 70s)… your mind would be blown.
Seeing my own snapshot, I would likely have a few thoughts:
(A) Apparently, this must be a Saturday or I’m unemployed because I’m not wearing a suit, like all working people do. (B) Why is someone in their very early fifties wearing tennis shoes on the daily? And (C) Is this what fifty looks like? Don’t fiftyyear-olds look like our founding fathers with bigger bellies?
Of all things, it might be the shoes that draw the most concern. I mean, not at first. My initial reaction would be, “Hey, look, I’m still youthful and punchy enough to wear ‘kid’ shoes.” But then it might dawn on me that this is actually part of my middle-aged uniform. Men of a certain age are required to wear shoes like this. They say, “Yes, I’m a grown-up, but I’m still holding onto my youth inside. You call it fashion regression, I
call it ‘forever young.’ I can still jam. I can shred. So what if I look like I belong in a retro garage band in a Cialis commercial? If I throw on a blazer, it’ll look “Hipster-Chic” (and hopefully, not like a MegaChurch Youth Pastor).
Imagine my disappointment when High School-Me sees Today-Me, sneaker-clad, wearing jeans and earrings, with a little soul patch on my chin, and a generationally appropriate concert shirt (reprint) and realizes I never was in a band, my highest aspiration as a kid. Talk about a bait and switch.
Hopefully, the snapshot will show me smiling, maybe even with other people. I spend much more time with people now than I did when I was younger. If anything, that has made me look and feel younger. It turns out, humans are the new super drug. The more we are around people who make us laugh, lift our spirits, make us think, or show concern or affection for us... the more alive we feel.
My wife, Ann-Janette (one of the most people-y people I know), and I were talking about some friends recently. She was concerned over someone to the point of frustration (which is kind of when your desire for someone’s well-being boils over). Why doesn’t this person just do this…or that? They know what they need to do—and it would help! Why don’t they just do it?
It turns out, most humans have a gravitational pull to “same.” As in repeated patterns. We have predictable behaviors. Those behaviors make it hard for us to get off the couch or have the hard conversation or get rid of piles of stuff in our homes or maintain relationships after a couple of months or not blame others instead of looking inside.
Most of us struggle to “make ourselves” do the right thing (like facing health issues, stopping the hermit lifestyle, or turning off Netflix).
At the Frontier Splash Pad on the west side of town, they have a whirlpool. It’s probably ten feet across and spins in such a way that if you wanted to, you could just get caught in the current and float in circles indefinitely. I’ve seen kids do it. It creates a pretty tremendous centrifugal force. When my daughter was younger, I sometimes had to reach in from the outside, grab her hand, and use the momentum to pull her back into the open water.
That’s the power of people in our lives.
Left to myself, I might never leave the house again. On my own, there’s a good chance I wouldn’t finish anything I start. I would neglect my health because what’s the point? There would be no one to force me to socialize, try something new, encourage me in the good, or pull me out of the bad. Without a hand to help, most days I would just be stuck spinning.
You make it easier for me to do the right thing.
I need that.
We need that.
A few years ago, I read a book (that’s right). The book’s goal
was, of course, to help people do more, accomplish more, be more… or some such more stuff like that. I lost interest after a while. But there was one principle in the book I found incredibly useful. The author suggested that in moments like these—when we are struck by what we wish we could or should do—we should create an inciting incident. That means doing something that helps hold you committed to a choice you’ve made (or want to make). It usually involves other people.
So, for example: You need/want to exercise more. An inciting incident could be asking a friend to join you or enrolling in a class at the Y today, before you can talk yourself out of it. Your daily life has stalled. An inciting incident might involve emailing your boss for a five-minute meeting to explore available options. You want to see family before it’s too late. An inciting incident could be to go ahead and book the airfare, even if you have to adjust the dates later.
Inciting incidents often involve accountability. As creatures of habit and comfort, most of us need the emotional or physical hand to help us escape the whirlpool trap. We can’t do it on our own…or we would have. We get stuck in thought cycles and options and emotional risk factors, and potential discomforts. And so weeks, months, or even years later… very little has changed. You look at the snapshot of yourself, and there’s no sign of how many years have passed because everything around you—the surroundings, expressions, and values—remains unchanged.
What is something that has been months (or years) in the waiting? Think about it for a moment. A conversation. A resolution. A trip. A quitting or starting. Now, what’s an inciting incident you can take to move forward with that? Maybe your inciting incident will set you on the path to your goal. Or maybe it will help you realize you really don’t want that thing after all. Either way - closure, freedom, or a better place.
Can’t come up with an inciting incident? Email me. Maybe just announcing it to another human will be the start. I can be a part of that. (Here’s my email: jw@pioneerdream.com)
This is your chance to make your future snapshot—whether six months or five years from now—look different from how it does today. Distinguishable from this moment. I hope you will take a risk and reach out to someone for help in escaping the whirlpool.
Either way, I’m proud of you.
Who knows, maybe next month when we meet here, your snapshot will look a little different, and maybe mine will too.
Cheers, my friends.
Stories in Stones
by Brent Taylor
Karen and I went to the movie theater to see Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. The concession guy apparently decanted my Pepsi into a small cup with a straw—not unlike Carson the Butler filtering wine through cheesecloth—before telling me with a tinge of embarrassment, “That’ll be $7.” I was so shocked that I left without a word of recognition for the robbery that had just occurred. The good news was that my sensible wife smuggled a baggie of contraband pretzels and chips. I scarfed down the salty snacks to justify the refreshing Downton-priced drink.
Seventy-five commercials later, sipping Pepsi from “the south of France,” Karen said, “You are the only man in the theater.” She was not referring to my manliness, but to my singular presence in a theater filled with women. I slumped until a guy in cargo shorts showed up with his wife. My self-confidence and identity were salvaged by solidarity with the guy in cargo shorts, although identity can be a complicated notion. I am a registered member of the Cherokee Nation. Yet my roots also stretch toward France, Holland, and England. That leaves me conflicted. What team am I on? As a boy, I was a cowboy with fingers that shot imaginary bullets—my ignorance was bliss. Later, in high school, I became a College High Wildcat, fighting the cross-town rivals, the Sooner Spartans. Then I fought Baptists and Methodists, because they were not the home team. My edges are softer now. I pull for the visiting team more often than the home team. I despise labels. But labels still cling, like lint to an alpaca sweater. This leads me, improbably, back to Downton Abbey, a story that spans 1912–1930, which is positively built on labels.
I watched the Downton movie with a surprising sense of loss. Perhaps that world—where service meant a life rung by bells, and women were barred from voting or running businesses—should not be mourned. Sidesaddle riding is the perfect metaphor: patriarchal tradition turning a woman’s natural seat into an awkward posture. Some cultural touchstones deserve their burial. Yet I confess to longing for what is gone: the sense of community, of belonging, of shared labor and play. The Downton characters aged before our eyes, once bright faces softening into wrinkles, smiles tempered
by pain, eyes deepened by living.
Time does not erase; it layers. Each generation leaves its traces like strata in rock. Edinburgh, Scotland offers a vivid case in point. The Old Town rises in medieval density, with servants tucked into upper floors, tradesmen in the middle, and the elite anchored to the street. The New Town, built in the 19th century, spread out with broad avenues and Georgian order, born from Enlightenment ideals. Together, the two halves tell a story of continuity and change.
This same tension animates Downton Abbey. Women who once deferred to fathers and husbands suddenly found themselves voting, inheriting, making decisions. Servants who once lived by the bell glimpsed other futures. Just as Edinburgh’s New Town did not erase the Old but stood alongside it, the Crawleys’ world straddles the fault line between honor-bound custom and the demands of modernity.
And yet, the irony endures: even as we embrace progress, we ache for what is gone. We long for civility, for communal ties, for a sense of place—even knowing the old ways were flawed, sometimes cruel. The Old Town’s narrow quarters carried disease and hardship, yet they pulsed with shared life. The New Town’s rational squares promised progress, but also introduced isolation. Downton Abbey evokes the same bittersweet nostalgia, reminding us that polished silver and fine china were purchased at invisible costs, yet still stirring our wistfulness for continuity and honor.
In a poignant final scene, Robert Crawley, pauses at the great estate’s exterior. He lays his hand upon the cornerstone, its weathered surface alive with memory. In that gesture, he blesses what is passing—not only a house, but a way of life, with its duties, its values, its flaws.
Time changes us. It rearranges floors, regrades streets, rewrites roles, and reshapes families. Yet it leaves echoes in the stones— stories, photographs, farewells. I live with layers: Cherokee and English, Christian and skeptic, cowboy and Wildcat. I reach with fingers outstretched, touching the walls of my own abbey. The
No More Tomorrows
by Keith McPhail
When is the first time you’ll never see someone again? For us, it was October 8, 2009…we lost him. Christy’s firstborn child, my stepson Tyler, who had just turned 17 on September 2, 2009. It was just a little over 30 days since his 17th birthday when our whole world was thrown into darkness and chaos. Tyler’s friends and family would wake up on October 9th without their friend, brother, or son. A mother’s heart was shattered to pieces, and all the concrete in the world could not fill that brokenness. Christy did not sleep that night and probably most of the city didn’t sleep well either. I will never forget when we returned to the house from the emergency room where we learned Tyler would not be coming home that night, the first thing Christy did was she went straight to our bedroom. In our living room, there were over 70 kids, our family, and close friends. She started writing ALL the things she was thankful for in Tyler’s life. I have never seen more courage, strength, and boldness than I did when I walked into our bedroom. Christy was devastated. Unless you have walked in that valley of losing a child, you do not know this kind of pain. But here she was praising our Father for HIS goodness. She would have stood in front of that shell that hit Tyler directly in his heart, but she knew Tyler was with Jesus in a blink. She continued to write and write like her hand could not stop. Maybe there are parents reading this right now who know what I’m saying and what pain I’m feeling. I truly believe that God stood in that room and held her hand as she poured out the thankfulness in her heart for her son, Tyler. Is that normal? I believe it’s not normal.
You have to look back and see what our family and Christy did to get through that day. You all know, if you have read any of my stories, that I was just over two years clean from my cocaine addiction. The same person who was writing that night was the same woman who did not give up on me or the Lord. God told her to give me one more chance. With those words she did. Then a little over two years later, she had to bury her firstborn child.
I have to be honest, I have been coming back to this story for the last
three days. What can I, as a husband, say or do for my wife who has lost someone she loved beyond love? What is beyond love? It’s Jesus. He who gave everything to us. He said…you know, you have done a lot of bad things, Keith, but here’s what I HAVE for you…my life for yours! He said..I will go to the cross for you, be beaten, be thorned with his meat coming off his back, be spit on, and be stabbed in the ribs - just to make sure HE was dead. But what happened in 3 days? HE ROSE! We can rest in peace knowing Tyler walks with Jesus.
Christy has always taught all of our kids the importance of having a relationship with our Lord and Savior…Jesus! I have lived 56 years and experienced many things in my life, meeting many people, both good and bad. I have never known a stronger woman, mother, daughter, sister and wife than the beautiful heart I see in Christy every day. She pours so much into me, our family, and everyone who calls her a friend.
I leave you tonight on September 16th at 1:15 in the morning with many tear stains on this keyboard, so you may know and believe there is a Heaven and a Hell. All I know today is that when your wife, your husband, or your kids leave you, PLEASE make sure they hear the words I LOVE YOU. For Christy, those were the last words she spoke to Tyler. As you read this story, those words were spoken 190 months and two weeks ago. Sixteen years ago, which was 5821 days and two weeks later, when I saw his face, my last words were “see you, Tyler, “ and he said back to me,” see you, Keith!”. I know he heard Christy’s “I love you.” So when your child leaves you to go to school, to go play with friends, or just to go down the street, make sure they hear the words “I love you!” I know for a fact that all of our kids hear “I love you” when we leave them, because those might be the last words they ever hear. So my question to you is When is the first time you will never see someone again? ”
God bless, Keith
Get Ready for a New Season
Start the Holidays on November 20 at The Center!
The new Broadway in Bartlesville! season is here, and it’s bringing the magic of live theater to The Center with a lineup of spectacular shows! The season kicks off with Cirque Dreams Holidaze. Bartlesville has the honor of hosting the entire creative team for ten days as they prepare for their show’s grand opening.
“It’s thrilling that The Center was selected to host the entire cast and creative team of Cirque Dreams during their 10-day rehearsal process.” said Caitlyn Kraemer, Managing Director of The Center. “Bartlesville is the perfect place for new shows to practice and perform before taking their show on the road. Broadway in Bartlesville! patrons have the privilege of being the first audience to experience the magic of Cirque Dreams Holidaze right here in our hometown.”
Cirque Dreams Holidaze
Thursday, November 20 at 7:30 PM
Start your holidays with this critically acclaimed show! Cirque Dreams Holidaze is a dazzling mix of a Broadway musical and a Christmas spectacular. Imagine snowmen, penguins, angels, and even Santa himself performing incredible acrobatics, gravitydefying stunts, and illusions. It’s the perfect holiday gift for the whole family!
The Choir of Man
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Back by popular demand, The Choir of Man returns to Bartlesville! These talented blokes from across the pond are known for their powerful vocals and foot-stomping choreography. With everything from classic rock to pub tunes, this show is a feelgood spectacle you won’t want to miss.
The Music Man
Monday, March 23, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Step back in time with the beloved musical comedy, The Music Man. Follow the fast-talking salesman, Harold Hill, as he convinces a small town in Iowa to start a boys’ band. This six-time Tony Award-winning musical is a heartwarming, family-friendly story that’s been entertaining audiences since 1957.
TINA: The Tina Turner Musical
Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Experience the powerful journey of a music icon in TINA: The Tina Turner Musical. Featuring her most iconic songs like “Proud Mary” and “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” this hit show is a celebration of Tina Turner’s unstoppable fire and voice.
Dinosaur World Live
Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Embark on a prehistoric adventure with the interactive family show, Dinosaur World Live! Journey across uncharted territories to discover astonishingly lifelike dinosaurs, including the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex. After the show, brave explorers will get a special chance to meet a new dinosaur friend!
Thank you, local sponsors!
Broadway in Bartlesville! is made possible by generous support from these local sponsors: Arvest Wealth Management; bMonthly; C&M Plumbing; ConocoPhillips; Cortney McClure Design; Mr. & Mrs. Paul Crawford; Examiner-Enterprise; Fourstone Wealth Management; Green Country Village; Jane Phillips Medical Center; Keleher Architects; KGGF KUSN KQQF; KRIG KYFM KWON KPGM; Kool Kreations; Melody’s Creative Cuisine; Nowata Road Liquor; Osage Casino Hotel; Phillips 66; Robinett/King; Dr. and Mrs. Richard Rutledge; Sparklight; Dr. & Mrs. William D. Smith; Truity Credit Union; and Visit Bartlesville.
We want to thank the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Oklahoma Arts Council whose assistance helps to bring these amazing shows to our community.
Get Your Tickets!
Season subscriptions and single tickets for all shows are on sale now. For more information or to purchase your tickets, call The Center box office at 918-337-2787 or visit www.bartlesvillecenter. com. We can’t wait to see you at The Center this season!
Country Bumpkin Pumpkin Patch
...Where Families Disconnect to Reconnect
by Abigail Singrey
Tucked just inside Washington County, down a quiet road east of town sits a place where families can slow down, unplug, and savor the simple joys of country life. The Country Bumpkin Pumpkin Patch, founded by Jeff and Ashley Fesler in 2017, is more than just a fall attraction—it’s a labor of love rooted in faith, family, and a desire to bring people back to the basics.
The inspiration for the patch began years ago, when the Feslers’ oldest daughter was just three. A trip to visit family in Ohio introduced them to a small farm that sparked an idea.
“We both grew up in the country and just love that way of life,” Ashley recalls. “We thought, we could totally do something like this.”
Years passed, children grew, and life stayed busy. But eventually, the timing was right. With land available and a passion to create a space where families could reconnect, the Feslers turned their dream into reality.
“We’ve both seen how much kids are tied to screens, how families are constantly rushing from one thing to the next,” Ashley says. “We wanted a place where people could unplug—sit down, laugh together, play a game, or just enjoy the countryside. God gave us a beautiful spot, and we wanted to share it.”
That beauty is undeniable. The patch is surrounded by open prairie, woodlands, and sunsets that paint the horizon in gold and rose.
As Jeff puts it: “It’s far enough off the highway that you don’t hear the world; you hear nature. You can shut out the chaos.”
True to its name, the Country Bumpkin Pumpkin Patch offers old-fashioned fun rather than carnival-style attractions. “We don’t want bounce houses or fair rides,” Jeff explains. “We want people to feel like they’ve come to an old farm.”
Visitors will find pumpkins and gourds of all kinds, along with a corn maze and a cedar panel maze. Families can enjoy hayrides that wind past the creek and prairie, barrel train rides, slides, corn-filled tractor tires, and even duck races powered by old-fashioned water pumps. A restored Alice Chalmers tractor that has been in Jeff’s family for generations serves as both a photo backdrop and a connection to the past.
The Feslers have also created hands-on play spaces: a miniature garden shed where children can “plant” crops, a country kitchen play area, Lego and sandbox tables, and a giant rope spider web for climbing.
Inside the Country Store, visitors will find jams, jellies, soaps, jewelry, and more—all handmade by members of the Fesler family. Ashley has even written two children’s books inspired by
the patch, available exclusively there. And thanks to a partnership with beekeeper Craig Williams, the store also carries local honey harvested from hives on the property.
Running the pumpkin patch is not without its challenges. Oklahoma weather, insect infestations, and deer all threaten crops each year.
“Every season is different,” Jeff says. “One year it’s drought, the next it’s too much rain. But God always provides.”
Even with the work and worry, the reward comes in moments that remind the Feslers why they do it. “Every year, when we’re exhausted from working fulltime jobs and getting the patch ready, that first day we hear kids giggling, we look at each other and say, this is our why,” Ashley says.
Jeff agrees, adding that one of his favorite memories came on a hayride during monarch butterfly migration.
“It was like confetti in the air, just beautiful,” he recalls. “Everyone on the wagon gasped at the same time—it was pure joy.”
For the 2025 season, visitors will notice some exciting additions. A brand-new Snack Shack allows for more elbow room—and more menu items. In addition to favorites like funnel cakes, caramel apple rings, walking tacos, and pulled pork sandwiches, guests can now enjoy hand-dipped corn dogs, twisted “Tater Native” potatoes on a stick and specialty coffees.
Game areas are also expanding, with new life-size versions of Jenga and Left-Right-Center joining the lineup of oversized checkers, Connect Four and Uno.
The Feslers see the Country Bumpkin Pumpkin Patch as more than entertainment. It’s a ministry of sorts, a place where families can connect with each other and with God. Their guiding verse, 1 Corinthians 3:7, reminds them that while they may plant and water, it is God who makes things grow.
“We want people to come out here and feel His presence,” Ashley says. “This is a safe, fun place where families can slow down, laugh together, and make memories. That’s what it’s all about.”
The Country Bumpkin Pumpkin Patch opened September 27 and runs through the first Saturday in November. Hours are Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (or dark) and Sundays from 1 to 7 p.m. They will also be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 1617 for fall break. Private bookings are available on weekdays for field trips or birthday parties. For updates on weather or special events, follow Country Bumpkin Pumpkin Patch on Facebook
Liberty Enlightening the World
by Jay Hastings
The statue was a gift from France to the United States to commemorate friendship between the two nations. The idea was originally conceived in 1865, when the French historian and abolitionist Édouard de Laboulaye proposed a monument to commemorate the upcoming centennial of U.S. independence (1876), the perseverance of American democracy, and the liberation of the nation’s slaves. Laboulaye was the president of the French Anti-Slavery Society, and a prominent and important political thinker of his time.
The idea is traced to earlier conversation between Laboulaye and Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, a sculptor. In after-dinner conversation at his home near Versailles, Laboulaye, an ardent supporter of the Union in the American Civil War, is supposed to have said: “If a monument should rise in the United States, as a memorial to their independence, I should think it only natural if it were built by united effort—a common work of both our nations.”
With the abolition of slavery and the Union’s victory in the Civil War in 1865, Laboulaye’s wishes of freedom and democracy were turning into a reality in the United States. In order to honor these achievements, Laboulaye proposed a gift be built for the United States on behalf of France. Laboulaye hoped that by calling attention to the recent shift in the United States, the French people would be inspired to call for their own democracy, away from monarchy.
The Franco-Prussian War delayed progress until 1875, when Laboulaye proposed the people of France finance the statue and the United States provide the site and build the pedestal. The design was created by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. Once Bartholdi completed the head and the torch-bearing arm, the pieces were shown at international expositions. The arm was displayed at the Centennial Expo in Philadelphia in 1876, and in Madison Square Park in Manhattan from 1876 to 1882.
Fundraising proved difficult, especially for the Americans, and by 1885, work on the pedestal was threatened by lack of funds. Publisher Joseph
Pulitzer, of the New York World, started fundraising in effort to finish the project, engaging more than 120,000 contributors, most of whom gave less than a dollar (equivalent to $35 in 2024).
Construction started in 1876, with the metal work done by Gustave Eiffel. The statue was shipped in pieces overseas in crates, then assembled on the completed pedestal on what was then called Bedloe’s Island. The statue’s completion was marked by New York’s first ticker-tape parade and with President Grover Cleveland leading its dedication.
The broken chains at the feet of the copper-clad statue represent the end of oppression, freedom from the shackles of tyranny. The seven spikes on its crown are believed to represent the seven continents and seven seas of the world. The date on the tablet reads July 4, 1776, in Roman numerals, marking the date of the Declaration of Independence. The torch represents the light of liberty and the woman portrayed represents Libertas, the Roman Goddess of Freedom, in its final construction known as Lady Liberty.
Following its dedication on October 28, 1886, standing on what would become known as Liberty Island, the statue became a symbol of freedom and was considered a welcome to immigrants arriving by sea.
When the torch was lit on the evening of the dedication, it produced only a faint glow, barely visible from Manhattan. Bartholdi suggested gilding the statue to increase its ability to reflect light, but this proved too expensive. In 1887, the United States Lighthouse Board installed equipment intended to enhance the torch’s effect, but it remained largely invisible at night.
In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt ordered the statue’s transfer to the War Department, as it had proven useless as a lighthouse. From that time, a unit of the Army Signal Corps was stationed on Bedloe’s Island until 1923, after which military police remained there while the island was under military jurisdiction.
