bmonthly June 2022

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JUNE 2022


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WHAT’S INSIDE

what’s inside...

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Upfront

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Looking Back: Mickey Mouse Comes to Town

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The Arts: The Art in B‘art’lesville OKM Music Festival Promises Great Entertainment

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From the Heart: Hip Hip Hooray! Boys Becoming Men Through Baseball

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Profile: Brad Doenges Community Leader All About People

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Religion: New Pastor at East Cross

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Summer Fun Woolaroc’s Kidsfest Set for Later This Month

Area Attractions: Old West Comes to Life Western Art Coming to Pawhuska

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Bartlesville’s Own: Pete Netherton

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Feature: Downtown Auto Alley Automobiles — The Early Days

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A Fresh Perspective: On the Road Again Remembering Dad & the Golden Age of Autos

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Feature Sponsor Story: The Early Bird Aviator Remembering the Life of Dewey’s Billy Parker

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Price Tower Gala: Picture Page

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Education: Planning a College Visit? Here are 5 Questions You Should Ask

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Arts & Entertainment: Big Month at the Center June Boasts 3 Shows at The Center

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Environment: What’s In a Lake?

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On the Road: Backseat Brandin’

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Family: Love You, Dad

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Let Freedom Ring: Juneteenth Celebration Dates Back to 1865

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Kids’ Calendar

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Chick-fil-A Events Calendar

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Out & About: Photos from Around Town

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GraceFest: Event Picture Page

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A Good Word: What is My Purpose? You Find it by Living Your Life With Purpose!

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Now You Know: Joseph Bartles... Like Father, Like Son

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UPFRONT

upfront Welcome to June and the beginning of summer, friends! It's a busy month of birthdays for our household. I will be 53 on June 4th, Grace will be 16 on June 12th, and Parker will be 19 on June 21st — the first day of summer for all of us. In this issue, I had Mike Wilt write about “Auto Alley'' in downtown Bartlesville, which at one time had over 13 auto dealerships. Before there was Highway 75 (Washington Boulevard), where currently all of our major car dealerships are located, everything was downtown. I have wanted to do this story for a while. I think it's fascinating when you look at some of the buildings and empty lots downtown today, there were once car dealerships. Every dealership from Ford, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, and even Studebaker was located downtown. When creating the cover for this issue, I wanted the picture to make a statement. After looking at over 300 pictures, this one jumped off the screen at me. The original picture looked nothing like the one on the cover. I made it look just like it would have in the 50’s when Cities Service Company was headquartered here in Bartlesville until 1968. I did leave a little nostalgia to the picture by keeping some of it in black and white. Christy and I want to thank everyone who came to our second annual Gracefest on the Green last month on Mother’s Day weekend. We estimate about 1500 people came out to listen to some great Christian groups and helped raise money for The Journey Home. Because of our generous sponsors, our community helped raise over $11,000 dollars for this incredible home, which is totally free for families whose loved one is passing away. The Journey Home has helped over a thousand families since 2014, and it will always be the charity Gracefest on the Green donates its proceeds to. June 19th is Father’s Day. In this issue, I write a twopage story about my upbringing, my father who walked out on me when I was a week old, and my two stepdads. I also, of course, write about our seven kids and the journey over the last 29 years

of me being a Father but also being a Dad. I hope this story will give you encouragement. Even if your childhood was not good or you failed your kids over and over, you can break the cycle and become the Father…the Dad…all kids deserve. You and I are a part of why these children are here, and they are our legacy. Neither my father nor my first step-dad left me a legacy, but today I have the chance to be that Dad who I always said I wanted to be. I never had the love of a father or a dad. Grasp each moment like it is your last. Never forget to tell your kids that you love them and that they are the most important part of your life. I want to finish this Upfront with a very special birthday wish. I mentioned earlier that Gracie will celebrate her 16th birthday this month. Of all our seven kids' birthdays we have celebrated, this milestone is a little hard to swallow. Grace is the baby and the anchor of the family. She has always kept this family close through some of the darkest times. She is our “little little.” I still can't believe when I look over at her when she is driving me around, that this is really happening. Where did those 16 years go? It brings many tears to my eyes knowing that she is growing up so fast. However, it also makes me the proudest Dad because of the young lady she has become. Happy Birthday, Grace! God Bless, Keith

Volume XIII Issue VI Bartlesville Monthly Magazine is published by

ENGEL PUBLISHING

Offices located in Downtown Bartlesville in the historic Price Tower 510 Dewey Ave, Suite 400, Bartlesville, OK 74003 P.O. Box 603, Bartlesville, OK 74005

www.bartlesvillemonthly.com facebook.com/bartlesvillemonthly Publisher

Brian Engel brian@bartlesvillemonthly.com Art Direction

Copper Cup Images design@coppercupimages.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

Julie Drake Calendar/Social Media

calendar@bartlesvillemonthly.com Contributing Writers Debbie Neece, Kay Little, Kelly Bland, Lori Kroh, Jay Hastings, Sarah Leslie Gagan, Maria Gus, Randy Standridge, Brent Taylor, Lori Roll, Keith McPhail, Lori Just, Debbie Halpin, Abigail Singrey Contributing Photographers Bartlesville Area History Museum Tony Lehmer, Jenna Rulo, Brooke Waller Kids Calendar

Jessica Smith

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied or otherwise, without prior permission of Bartlesville Monthly, Inc. Publisher & Editor of Bartlesville Monthly Magazine reserves the right to reject any content or advertisement in this publication.

ABOUT THE COVER There was once a booming Auto Alley in Downtown Bartlesville!. Creative Concept by Keith and Christy McPhail Design by Copper Cup Images

Keith & Christy McPhail, managing editors JUNE 2022 | bmonthly

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THE ARTS

The Art in B‘art’lesville OKM Music Festival Promises Great Entertainment A few of the well-known artists that have performed for the OKM Music Festival since 1985 include: the late pianist, Robin Sutherland; violinist, Joshua Bell; violinist, Itzhak Perlman; pianist and conductor, Peter Nero; vocalist, Kristen Chinoweth; pianist, Anne-Marie McDermott; band, Wilson Phillips; vocalist, Michael Martin Murphy; quartet, Quartetto Gelato; quartet, Miro; band, Steep Canyon Rangers; pianist, Jon Kimura Parker; floutist, James Galway, and vocalist, Ben Vereen. For many years, OKM Music also hosted its own in house symphony known initially as the Solisti New York Orchestra and later hosted the Amici New York Resident Orchestra. Both orchestras featured musicians from the New York area and Oklahoma. Many OKM Music Patrons formed long lasting friendships with these musicians and hosted them in their homes every summer. This year’s OKM Music Festival is being held June 3-13. The first weeks focuses on the “Especially for Kids” portion, June 3-9. The second half features both daily showcase concerts and main stage evening concerts from June 9-13. This year’s Festival has a little something for everyone. This year kids will enjoy Disney karaoke, Rock Pipestem and the children of the Osage Tribe, a Mad Hatter Tea Party, Disney Song Box Bingo, “Coat of Many Colors” musical instrumentation and story time, “Ferdinand the Bull” musical instrumentation and story time, Mesner Puppet Theater, the Storybook Dancers and a whimsical ballroom dance demonstration complete with feather boas and top hats. At OKM’s Kick-Off guests will step back in time to Hollywood’s Golden Age, dripping in glamour, drive-in movies, and music from the 1930’s and 1940’s that makes you want to dance. The festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. on June 9 at Tower Center at Unity Square. Guests will enjoy performances by the Bartlesville Civic Ballet, Sarah Maud Band, and Tulsa Honors Baroque Orchestra. There will also be a movie showing of one of Hollywood’s most successful and loved musicals, Top Hot paying homage to the unforgettable Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. This night would not be complete without popcorn, food trucks, and shaved ice. Children can also enjoy free activities at the Kick-Off.

Country music is taking over this year’s Woolaroc concert with three boot-stomping artists. As part of OKM’s youth spotlight, Madi McGuire will open the evening at 5:00 p.m. with her sweet southern voice that has a pop twist. The Texas Western Theme Hall of Fame members, Hot Club of Cowtown will get the audience clapping with their down-home melodies. OKM is excited to have the multi-platinum star and MCA Nashville artist, Josh Turner as the finale for the night. For nearly two decades, Turner has been one of country music’s most recognizable voices, selling more than 8.5 million units. Get ready for some smooth jazz and blues on Saturday night. The New York vocalist and Grammy winner Catherine Russell will perform on June 11 at 7:00 p.m. at the Bartlesville Community Center. Russell was featured on the soundtrack of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and has won a multitude of awards including: The German Record Critics’ Award, Prix du Jazz Vocal (Vocal Album of the Year,) and was #1 on JazzWeek and ITunes for her third album, “Hearts of Mine.” Catherine’s unique style and beautiful voice are a crowd pleaser. Hailed as one of the finest bluegrass purists currently on the charts and “one of the most dynamic female bluegrass vocalists and bandleaders of today,” The Amanda Cook Band will perform at the Bartlesville Community Center, on Sunday, June 12 at 4:00 p.m. Don’t miss out on this toe-tappin’ family fun concert. OKM continues its mission to make the arts accessible to all with their FREE Showcase Series, which will run from June 9-13. Join Katie Mahan in Ambler Hall each morning at 9:00 a.m. to enjoy coffee and pastries as you watch Mozart’s music and life come alive. There will also be performances by the Ad Lib Singers, CRUSA Quartet, Opus 76, and the New-Orleans inspired King Cabbage Brass Band. Don’t miss out on the delicious New Orleans style Sunday brunch during the King Cabbage Brass Band concert. Reservations required. For ticket information and a complete list of events, times, and locations, visit okmmusic.org, or call 918-336-9900. Concert prices range from $10 to $100 depending on the performances. For the Showcase Series, seating is limited and is available on a first come first serve basis through reservations on the OKM Music website. JUNE 2022 | bmonthly

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PROFILE

Brad Doenges Community Leader All About People by Sarah Leslie Gagan Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company, once said, “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” President of Bartlesville’s own Doenges Ford, Brad Doenges, manages his business with this principle in mind. His secret to success is that he’s all about the people — be they employees, customers, or community members. Being the spark that lights the fire of someone’s dreams is perhaps one of Brad’s greatest leadership skills. Just as it takes two rocks to strike together to make a spark, it takes wisdom, passion and determination to develop people into their greatest potential. And that is, as Brad readily admits, what drives him, day in and day out. Brad was born in Tulsa, where his father operated the local Ford Dealership at the time. He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1979 and then attended Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado, majoring in English. After graduating college, Brad returned to Tulsa, working for The Tulsa World newspaper for several years as a writer. After his time at The Tulsa World, Brad worked at The Nature Conservancy, where he was instrumental in creating the campaign forming the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. After about three years at The Nature Conservancy, he began his own business consisting of writing and desktop publishing, which included publishing a newsletter for his father’s dealership. By 1995, Brad felt maybe it was time to give the car business a try. His father never pressured him to follow in his footsteps, allowing Brad to make his

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own path, which eventually led him into the family business. Once he became involved with the car business, he fell in love with it. Over time, Ford began actively recruiting Brad to accept an opportunity in Rochester New York. Instead, in January, 2000, Brad decided to go to work at the dealership in Bartlesville, run by his uncle Bob Doenges. He knew Bartlesville well and had many close associates here. Brad and his wife Kimberly, a former schoolteacher, moved to Bartlesville, settled in and began raising their family of two sons. Brad loves the outdoors and has maintained a lifelong passion of skiing. The Doenges family enjoys making memories together while skiing at Crested Butte, Colorado. Loving the outdoors, Brad also enjoys fishing and mountain biking and spends as much time outdoors as he can. The Doenges family began in the car business in the 1920’s, when Brad’s young grandfather and his two brothers worked for a local Ford dealership in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, after the untimely death of their father. In 1929, the same dealership owner who first employed them, helped the brothers purchase their first dealership. Twelve years later, Brad’s grandfather moved to Bartlesville founding Doenges Ford on April 1st, 1941.


PROFILE Brad draws inspiration from many sources, he looks back on the determination of his grandfather, the passion of his father, and inspires to carry on their legacy. But for Brad, it’s all about the people, realizing his business is much more about connunity than cars. His work is never boring, dealing with people all the time keeps his work exciting. He loves being the leader of the ship, creating a fun atmosphere for his employees. Brad feels developing people is his mission, helping them succeed and find their given career path and opportunity. It was an investment in his grandfather nearly 100 years ago that started the Doenges family car business. The leadership of one man set the course of the Doenges family for generations to come and Brad seeks to be the spark that develops or starts something in people the same way. One of the first things Brad’s grandfather did after opening the Bartlesville dealership was to sponsor a sports team. The Doenges dealership has continued to sponsor area sports and is currently in their 82nd year of sponsorship. They have been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the longest corporate sponsor of a sports team. This is part of their mission to invest in people that has made such a positive impact on our community. Brad loves the small-town atmosphere of Bartlesville with big city amenities. He enjoys the people and how they relate to each

other and support the area youth and their interests whether it be sports, agriculture, or the arts. Brad is an active part of the overall community who has served on the Salvation Army board, Woolaroc Youth Advisory Board, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce board, and continues to be active with the Price Tower, serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

The Doenges family business model has always been based on treating people right and supporting the community. “Really, it’s all about the people. None of our success would exist if it wasn’t for the people who’ve been with Doenges all these years, both customers and employees” Brad says. He keeps the ideals of the family legacy while moving and engaging with the ever-changing details of the car industry. THE DOENGES FORD TEAM Brad views his current team as unstoppable moving forward as they stay on the cutting edge of their industry while remaining community focused. “We really want to be a part of things that are positive in Bartlesville and recognize the strength that Bartlesville has given us. We try to take care of people who live and work here. Our business model goes back many years, treat people right, give them great value, support the community, provide opportunities for individuals and families, and get up and do it again tomorrow.” JUNE 2022 | bmonthly

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JUNE 25 & 26, 2022

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1925 Woolaroc Ranch Road | Bartlesville, OK 74003 | woolaroc.org |


SUMMER FUN

Fun For Kids! Woolaroc’s Kidsfest Set for Later This Month by Maria Gus With summer comes fun, and there’s no better place to find it in Bartlesville than Kidsfest at Woolaroc. This year the event takes place June 25 and 26 and marks the 31st anniversary of the annual festival. Not only do guests get to enjoy the regular highlights of Woolaroc, but Kidsfest also includes numerous other activities geared towards the younger Woolaroc visitor. Kidsfest has quickly grown into an annual tradition for families in the area and Woolaroc staff can’t wait to host the event again this year. Chief Marketing Officer Kaci Fouts said the event has something for kids of all ages to enjoy. “Kidsfest has inflatable toys, games, crafts, pony rides, train rides, and much more,” stated Fouts. Guests should also come ready to shop and hungry, as the weekend will include plenty of craft booths and food trucks. There’s always a corndog, freshly-squeezed lemonade or funnel cake to be had during the two-day festival. Events Coordinator Paula Blackwell has played a part in helping Kidsfest be a success for the last 19 years. Blackwell works hard behind the scenes to ensure that everyone is having fun, staying safe, and making lasting memories. The longtime Woolaroc employee said the inflatables and face painting are always

the biggest hits, and they couldn’t make the event happen without their incredible volunteers. “I love seeing the kids happy and enjoying themselves,” said Blackwell. “We could not do what we do without the help of our volunteers.” Blackwell said they still have shifts to fill for Sunday, and anyone interested in volunteering should contact her via email at pblackwell@frankphillips.org. All Woolaroc facilities, including the newly-renovated Welcome Center, are open from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on both days of the festival. There is no extra charge for Kidsfest, with the exception of train rides

and food. Regular Adult Admission is $14, Seniors are $12, and Children 12 and under and Members of Woolaroc are free. Guests do not need to purchase tickets in advance. Executive Director Kevin Hoch is especially excited to welcome people to the event in his first full year as leader of this top Oklahoma attraction. “On June 25th and 26th, Woolaroc will transform into a magical oasis for children,” said Hoch. “It is a favorite amongst our staff, parents, and the community — and a great event for our youth to enjoy some wholesome fun at Uncle Frank’s retreat in the Osage Hills. We hope to see you there!” Woolaroc is open year round and there is always something new to explore! Visit Woolaroc.org for more info and be sure to follow the 3600-acre attraction on social media through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Summer hours for Woolaroc (Memorial day - Labor day) are Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.. Woolaroc is located in beautiful Osage County at 1925 Woolaroc Ranch Rd, Bartlesville. For more information go to www.woolaroc.org or call (918) 336-0307.

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SUTTERFIELD FINANCIAL FEATURE STORY

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SUTTERFIELD FINANCIAL FEATURE STORY

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SUTTERFIELD FINANCIAL FEATURE STORY

It is not known when “Automobile Alley” was first used to identify a particular section of downtown Bartlesville, but the moniker once accurately described parts of Fourth Street and Osage Avenue. Before many retail businesses began a slow migration to Highway 75, downtown was a thriving center of commerce. When Eastland Shopping Center was being built in 1965, one resident was puzzled why anyone would “drive that far just to shop.” After all, everything one might need could be found downtown. And to find a new or used car, Automobile Alley was the place to go.

Automobiles - The Early Days Henry Ford once said, “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” Indeed. At the beginning of the 20th Century, streets were for humans and the equine, not the motorized contraptions that rolled off Ford’s assembly lines in Detroit, Michigan. Nonetheless, many of Ford’s Model T automobiles started showing up in Bartlesville not long after Oklahoma had become a state in 1907. Prospective owners could purchase one of Ford’s automobiles in any color they liked, “as long as it was black.” Generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, the Model T debuted in 1908. World War I came along in the summer of 1914 and the entire country focused on supporting the war effort. When the war ended in the fall of 1918, consumer car manufacturing resumed in earnest.

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The April 27, 1919 edition of The Morning Examiner carried a full-page advertisement for the G.V. Motor Company informing readers how they “could drive a Ford car while paying for it.” Located at 322 Osage Avenue (today, a rental parking lot), the dealership urged people to clip and mail a coupon with their name, address, and city for “literature” and to arrange an “appointment to talk the matter over and have a demonstration.” Better yet, people could place a call by dialing the four-digit telephone listed in the ad. In the same edition of the local newspaper was an ad for insurance agent C.P. Harman. This “special agent” offered a vari-


SUTTERFIELD FINANCIAL FEATURE STORY

ety of policies issued by “standard, conservative companies.” In addition to fire, lightning, and tornado insurance for property, customers could also buy theft, liability, collision, and fire insurance for automobiles. (As an aside, area citizens also had a one day opportunity to swing by the St. Clair Hotel for free exams given by a visiting Kansas City physician who had “treated thousands of patients with electricity and medicine.”) In addition to the buying and selling of automobiles, the robbing of banks and the stealing of autos was rampant in 1919. Newspaper articles chronicled how law enforcement in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri continually battled “organized bank robbers and motor car thieves.” Ironically, many news articles were placed adjacent to ads for “used cars at bargain prices.” With the war over, the number of automobile owners quadrupled. However, 90 percent of the roads in

America were still dirt or paved with loose rocks and gravel. Roads were filled with potholes, and they were muddy during the wet season and dusty during the dry season. Drivers needed to pack a shovel, a tire patch kit, and all sorts of gear because it was truly an adventure getting from place to place. At 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 5, 1919, a gathering of auto owners and curious onlookers assembled about one mile north of Bartlesville to witness the demonstration of an “auto chain pull.” This “light, easy to carry” device was designed to “give your car traction when wheels are slipping.” Enthusiastic salesmen promised all who invested in such a product “need not worry about being stuck in mud, sand, or on high center.” Two years later in 1921, Congress passed the Federal Highway Act, which allocated $1.2 billion in today’s dollars to the building of roads with 60 percent allocated for interstate highJUNE 2022 | bmonthly

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ways. It would be the first step toward connecting cities and towns and establishing a national highway grid. Around the same time, standardized rules of the road were adopted. Safety was pretty much non-existent in the early days as car accidents claimed the lives of 20,000 each year. In October of 1919, two Bartlesville men escaped serious injury when their Ford was struck by another motor car at Keeler Avenue and Fourth Street (near today’s Adams Building). A newspaper account indicated the “Ford was pretty badly smashed,” and the two men were “bruised and shaken up.” The uninjured driver of the other unidentified auto was fined $5 ($84 today) for speeding and “jay driving.” Back in the day, local papers were often filled with reports of automobile-pedestrian accidents, and numerous classified ads were placed seeking eyewitnesses to auto accidents. In 1922, traffic signs of different shapes and colors began being posted along roadways. Arguably, the most important was the octagonal “Stop” sign. It featured black lettering on a yellow background until 1954 when the lettering was changed to white on a red background. Regardless of the color, stop signs significantly reduced accidents, injuries, and deaths.

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In 1926, a numbered highway system was implemented with odd-numbered north-south highways and even-numbered eastwest highways. And that included Route 66, which opened on November 11, 1926. (However, all 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica wouldn’t be paved until 1938.) As time marched on, Henry Ford began offering other models and in other colors. The December 2, 1927 edition of The Morning Examiner contained a large ad heralding “The First Pictures of the New Ford car.” While the ad contained renderings rather than actual photographs, local readers were able to see five different models ranging in price from $380 to $570 ($6,300 to $9,470 today). Car buying and road building would come to a screeching halt two years later when The Great Depression hit.

The World War II Years The automobile business was tough between 1942 and 1945. No cars. No gas. No tires. But many dealers soldiered on. Two men who had been operating a Ford dealership in Tonkawa, OK found themselves in Bartlesville in May of 1941, eight months before the attack on Pearl Harbor. William C. “Bill” Doenges and his business partner, Ralph W. Casey, purchased the Bert Gaddis Motor


SUTTERFIELD FINANCIAL FEATURE STORY

Company. Gaddis had come to Bartlesville in 1915 to be a partner and manager of the aforementioned G.V. Motor Company. He became sole owner of the dealership in 1924. At the time of the sale, Gaddis was considered the “dean of all local auto dealers.” Surely with that in mind, the two new guys on the Osage Avenue block promised “the same efficient service that Ford owners have expected in the past.” The Doenges-Casey Motor Company was the local distributor of Fords, Mercurys, and Lincolns, and it featured a modern repair shop for service “from tire to top.” The 21 employees – some of whom were “factory-trained” – boasted a combined 88 years’ experience. The dealership was located in the heart of Automobile Alley at 310-312 Osage, currently home to Archambo Financial Advisors and Zach’s Garage. Elsewhere in 1941, veteran dealer W.O. Brunsteter celebrated his twenty-first anniversary of purveying Oldsmobiles, and he did so by moving his Standard Motor Co. to a new location at 208210 E. Fourth Street, present home to the Bartlesville Community Foundation, next door to Outpost Coffee. The public was invited to an open house during which Brunsteter offered flowers to the ladies and cigars to the men. Brunsteter’s previous location was 215 E. Second Street, currently occupied by the very popular Crossing Second restaurant.

When Standard Motor Co. moved out, Holbert Motor Co. moved in. Gus Holbert was a seasoned car dealer having purchased the Buick and Packard-Hudson dealership in 1934 from William Fraley Johnson, a “pioneer” of the business having started in 1916. Located at 316 Osage, Bartlesville Motor Co. – “open evenings and Sundays” – offered “a complete stock of used passenger cars” along with Chevrolet trucks and pickups. The property is now a rental parking lot on the south side of Zach’s Garage. But the war years were very trying. Auto dealers were constantly placing help wanted ads and making pleas for used cars. Doenges publicly admitted there was a “crying need” for used automobiles. “We’re trading high. We need your used car.” Down the street, Gus Holbert promised to pay the “highest cash prices” for used autos. It would be a long, arduous four years for dealerships along Bartlesville’s Automobile Alley.

World War II Ends Having survived the war years, car dealerships began to flourish. Roughly 10 million Americans were in the market for new cars. Most manufacturers had launched their 1946 models in the summer and autumn of 1945. However, a shortage of materials and labor strikes hindered production. Nevertheless, by August of 1946, one million post-war JUNE 2022 | bmonthly

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cars had been built. From touring sedans to convertible club coupes to station wagons, Americans had countless makes and models to choose from. Post WW II was a great time for car selling and car buying. In 1946, Bartlesville was home to no less than 11 outlets for new and used “passenger cars,” and eight were located in Automobile Alley. In addition to the four mentioned previously, Bert Gaddis was now serving up Cadillacs and Hudsons at 300 E. Third Street (Frank Phillips Blvd.) where BancFirst currently sits. Just across the street from Gaddis at Third and Osage was Studebaker dealer Van Zandt-Maples Motor Co. Archived photographs seem to indicate the dealership occupied a good chunk of what today are the offices for Hill Dermatology, First Investment Corp., and Stotts, Archambo, Mueggenborg and Barclay, PC.

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Community Motors (Chrysler-Plymouth) was located at 217 E. Second, and Fourth Street Garage (Pontiac) was at 207 E. Fourth, currently Outpost Coffee. Automobile Alley was also the place to go for parts and service. Enterline Auto Supply was a wholesale-retail business that was stocked with everything from bulbs and batteries to wires and wipers. It was located 325-327 Osage, another rental parking lot today. Summers Garage was an official AAA facility complete with wrecker service and auto “repair, washing, storage, and lube service.” The address was 304 Osage, about the middle of today’s accounting and financial planning offices. And Waiss Ignition Co. offered automotive electric service at 214 E. Fourth, presently occupied by Musselman Abstract.


SUTTERFIELD FINANCIAL FEATURE STORY

The 1950s Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected president in 1952, and America was booming with suburbs, babies, technology, and automobiles. In 1945, there were 25 million cars. By 1953, that number had nearly doubled to 46 million. But “Ike” realized that car owners needed good roads to drive on. Thus, road building became an integral part of his administration. He continued the vision of Iowan Thomas MacDonald. The chief of the Federal Bureau of Public Roads during the FDR administration, MacDonald began building roads that allowed people to move and products to be moved anywhere in the country. He correctly believed that funding roads was an investment in the future growth of the U.S. With the help of MacDonald’s protégée, Frank Turner, Eisenhower got Congress to pass the Federal Highway Act in 1956. It called for $1 billion in today’s dollars to be spent every year to eventually construct 40,000 miles of multi-lane divided highways linking all cities with populations of 50,000 or more. A crucial piece of the interstate plan was the building of four coast-to-coast highways including a southern route to replace the iconic Route 66. The plan started in Oklahoma City with Interstate 40 stretching to Raleigh, NC to the east and Barstow, CA to the west. Like Eisenhower (a Republican), Bill Doenges (a Democrat) was a staunch proponent of building roads. He was a major supporter of Johnston Murray (Gov. Alfalfa Bill’s son) during his run for governor in 1950. After Murray was elected, Doenges – who was dubbed “the power behind the throne” – continually pressed

Murray to focus on road construction. The two eventually had a falling out, and Doenges ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1954 and 1958. However, he was successful when it came to getting roads built. During Doenges’ second run for office, another car dealer from western Oklahoma found his way to Bartlesville and Auto-

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SUTTERFIELD FINANCIAL FEATURE STORY

mobile Alley. Cecil Oakley was a rookie in 1941. The former Conoco gas station owner was lured into the business by a Pontiac rep who frequented Oakley’s gas station back when uniformed attendants checked the oil, washed the windshield, and pumped the gas. Having survived the wars as the Pontiac dealer in Cherokee, Oakley was enjoying the Fabulous Fifties. With one successful dealership to his name, Oakley looked to own a second one. In the summer of 1958, he bought what had become Schneider Pontiac at Fourth and Dewey. Outpost Coffee was once Oakley’s lube and car wash area. The Bartlesville Community Foundation was Oakley’s showroom and sales office. Behind the large garage door that faces Fourth Street was a spacious repair and service bay. Also that summer, Lester List opened an Oldsmobile & Cadillac dealership at 300 Osage. 22

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Born in Humansville, MO in 1912, List had served as a lieutenant colonel for the American Air Forces (AAF) 48th Bombardment Squadron during WW II. Van Zandt Motor Co. was now located on the west side of Automobile Alley at 325-327 Osage. While the space is now a rental parking lot, the arched façade still stands. If one squints hard enough, a few letters of “Mercury” can be seen. Across the street, Roy Hughes was promoting the 1959 Chevrolet at 316 Osage. He invited car buyers to “Walk around the car that’s allaround new…then be our guest for a pleasure test.” Speaking of walking around, all of the car dealers along Automobile Alley would annually invite the public downtown in the fall for the unveiling of their new cars. The sidewalks would be packed as people made their way from dealership to dealership eyeballing all of the shiny, new automobiles.


SUTTERFIELD FINANCIAL FEATURE STORY

The 1960s The Swinging Sixties marked a time of transition in America. It also marked a time of transition for Automobile Alley. In 1961, three years after buying Schneider Pontiac, Cecil Oakley moved from Fourth Street after purchasing Guy Belt Buick at 201 S. Cherokee. He merged the two dealerships to form Oakley Pontiac-Buick. He eventually moved next door to 322 E. Frank Phillips, catty-corner from today’s Pizza Hut. The two buildings formerly owned by Oakley are currently vacant. In 1967, Holbert Motor Co. had a new address at 231 NE Washington Blvd. (Highway 75) just north of Tuxedo Blvd., current home to Bartlesville Cycle Sports. M & M Automotive supply store moved into the building formerly occupied by Holbert. It remained there for the better part

of three decades. Just south of Tuxedo Blvd. in 1967 was B & C Automotive at 119 SE Washington, presently occupied by a pawn shop. Other dealerships and auto parts stores would eventually emigrate from downtown to the highway. In addition to being closer to streaming traffic, dealerships had much larger properties on which to display many more cars. The Oakley dealership was the last to leave downtown when it moved to 3800 SE Adams Road in 2009.

Epilogue In many ways, car selling and car buying are much different today. And in many ways, car selling and car buying are the same. And while Automobile Alley disappeared many years ago, downtown is again a thriving center of commerce.

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FEATURE SPONSOR STORY

The Early Bird Aviator Remembering the Life of Dewey’s Billy Parker by Debbie Neece, Bartlesville Area History Museum As WWI loomed, the federal government’s foresight created airplane factories and flight schools across America, and Dewey’s Joseph Bartles headed to Washington D.C. to throw his hat in the ring. His offer of land and financial support was accepted, paving the way for the Dewey Airplane Factory, operated with thirty employees, five instructors and Bartles as President. Among the instructors was Billy Parker. Will D. “Billy” Parker was Oklahoma City born in 1899…an aviator at heart. He was destined to fly and positioned himself to accomplish that goal. Between the ages of 12-17, Parker built exhibition airplanes in a small factory in Fort Collins, Colorado. From the dream of a boy came a pioneer in the field of aviation. With “wire, cloth and spruce lumber” he built his first plane with a 50 horsepower French Gnome rotary engine. He was just wise enough to know how to “fly around” the highly protected Wright Brothers patents and at a young age invented a variable-pitch propeller. After a little practice, and a few broken wings, it was up, up and away for young Parker who reportedly replaced the landing gear wheels with snow skis to coast down the snowcovered mountainsides during landings…a brave soul indeed. Spurred by his success, he built as many as ten planes, which he sold to other pilots. By 1916, the U.S. Army caught Parker’s attention and he joined the Signal Corps as a civilian airplane instructor. One of his earliest assignments was “test pilot” with the U.S. Aircraft Corporation at Redwood City, California where he married the love of his life, Eleanor Ruth “CynDy” Reed. It must have been a culture shock for CynDy when Billy Parker transferred to Dewey, Oklahoma to become the manager, chief engineer, test pilot and instructor at the new flying school. However, CynDy became an early aviatrix, learning to fly a monoplane at Bartlesville’s airport. Oklahoma’s first commercially built airplane took a test flight from the Dewey Airplane Factory on Christmas Day 1917 with Billy Parker at the controls and New Year’s Day, he piloted the first public flight. The landing field was Joe Knight’s pasture; however, the landings were not always soft.

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After the war, the government abandoned the airplane factory but Parker continued the flight school on his own until 1919. His intense aviation expertise gained the attention of Frank Phillips, President of the Phillips Petroleum Company, who saw golden opportunities in the form of aviation fuel. Phillips conducted substantial experiments, produced the fuel and sponsored many pioneering flights. Parker joined the company in 1926 as the manager of Phillip’s Aviation Division. He barnstormed across the Midwest in his pusher planes bringing exceptional publicity to Phillips Aviation Fuels. Parker was instrumental in the development of high-octane aviation gasoline for military use during WWII and retired in 1964. In 1928, the Early Birds of Aviation was organized limiting membership to those who piloted gliders, gas balloons or airplanes prior to December 17, 1916; among the 598 qualifying pioneer aviators, Billy Parker was a member. Beyond holding his own patents, Parker was honored by the Colorado and Oklahoma Aviation Hall of Fames and died in Colorado, October 8, 1981.


srussell@mcgrawrealtors.com

Welcome Brennen Bissinger to our team!

918-213-5943

Green Country Pet Cremation Service offers private pet cremation with timely return of ashes in your choice of a decorative wooden urn with an engraved nameplate. If no return of ashes is requested, the ashes will be gently scattered on a beautiful pastoral/garden property. We are located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and gratefully serve pet owners from a wide area surrounding Bartlesville, Dewey, and Northeast Oklahoma. For our fee schedule, please feel free to call us at any time.

918-766-3812 GCPetCremation@aol.com

Like us on

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JEFF HALL REAL ESTATE “My commitment to service is my commitment to you!”

36 Years of Real Estate Knowledge Jeff Hall, Broker/Associate (Licensed Broker in OK and NC)

124 SE Frank Phillips Boulevard, Bartlesville, OK 74003 918.440.9199 jhall@mcgrawrealtors.com


2022 is our 15th year!

Where: Frank Phillips Park, 222 SW Frank Phillips Blvd. (Just South of the train depot) When: Every Saturday, May 7 - Oct 15 • Time: 8-11:30 am

WHETHER YOUR DOG HAS behavioral issues OR JUST NEEDS TO LEARN SOME basic manners YOU OWE IT TO THEM AND YOURSELF TO

UNLOCK YOUR DOG’S POTENTIAL! Located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma Bethany Muncy - Owner/Trainer Phone: 918.928.9815 Email: ohbehavedog@gmail.com Website: https://www.ohbehavedog.com Offering in-home pet sitting

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JUNE CALENDAR SPONSORED BY 3

40th Annual Sunfest Times Vary; Sooner Park Sunfest runs through Sunday, June 5.

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9

5 PM; Sooner Park Band Shell

5

13

6 PM; LIVE on KYFM 100.1 FM

8 AM; OKWU Overnight Campert: $295 per Player. Day Camper: $150 per player. Camp runs through Tuesday, June 8.

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Sizzlin Summer Series Anniversary Celebration

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Kids Baseball Camp I (6yrs-13 yrs)

8:30 AM; Custer Stadium Camp runs through Wednesday, June 6.

Bruin Volleyball Camp

OKWU Soccer Overnight Camp 8 AM; OKWU Overnight Campert: $375 per Player. Camp runs through Tuesday, June 8.

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6 PM; Unity Square

8 AM; OKWU Baseball Stadium Cost: $75.00 per Player. Camp runs through June 22.

Bruin Soccer Camp

9 AM; Madison Middle School Camp runs through June 24.

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Kidsfest 10 AM; Woolaroc Kidsfest runs through June 26.

Kids Baseball Camp I (6yrs-13 yrs) 8 AM; OKWU Baseball Stadium Cost: $75.00 per Player. Camp runs through June 15.

Disney Song Box Bingo and Pizza (OKM Musical Festival) OKWU Basketball Overnight Camp

OKWU Basketball Diaper Dandy Camp 9 AM; OKWU Camp runs through June 10. $65 per player

Mad Hatter Tea Party (OKM Musical Festival) 2 PM; Sare Building 2nd Floor

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11 AM & 3 PM; Bartlesville Public Library

10 AM; Amber Hall Bartlesville

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9 AM; Madison Middle School Camp runs through June 8

Storytime and Art, (OKM Musical Festival)

Disney Karoake (OKM Musical Festival) Rock Pipestem, and the Osage Tribe (OKM Musical Festival)

Bruin Volleyball Camp

Blue Man Group 7:30 PM; Bartlesville Community Center

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Prospect Camp 10 AM; OKWU Baseball Stadium Cost: $50.00 per Player. Camp runs through June 29

Weekdays Food Truck at Tower Center at Unity Square Food trucks will be available every weekday in May, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Tower Center.

Every Saturday Bartlesville Farmers Market Held avery Saturday rom 8 a.m. to noon at Frank Phillips Park.


Enjoy Bartlesville’s favorite magazine online at

bartlesvillemonthly.com

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JUNE EVENTS CALENDAR

Know of an upcoming event you would like to see on our calendar? Visit us at www.bartlesvillemonthly.com to submit a free listing!

Fri, Jun 3

Sat, Jun 4 8 AM

Bartlesville Farmers Market Frank Phillips Park 222 SW Frank Phillips Blvd. The Farmers Market is held every Saturday, from 8 a.m. until noon. 8 PM

History and Haunts at the Dewey Hotel

10 AM

Dewey Hotel Museum 801 N. Delaware St., Dewey

Sunfest Sooner Park 420 SE Madison Blvd. Sunfest is an annual 3 day arts, crafts, and music festival, held at Sooner Park the weekend after Memorial Day. With 3 Stages of Live Entertainment, Youth Activities, and Special Events, there is something for everyone! And did we mention — IT'S ALL FREE to participate in! Sunfest resumes Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. 12 PM

Bartlesville Artisan Market Washington Park Mall 2350 SE Washington Blvd., Ste. 315 This is an indoor market with fresh baked goods, coffee, home decor, clothing, soaps, live succulents, Unique homemade products, local art, and more! It is held every Friday and Saturday, from 12-4 p.m. 7:30 PM

Scooby-Doo and the Lost City of Gold Bartlesville Community Center 300 SE Adams Blvd. Presented by Broadway in Bartlesville! and featuring an original story, new characters, acrobatics, puppets, and stage music, this show is perfect for all ages!

Mon, Jun 6

8:30 PM

5 PM

Bruin Soccer Camp

Washington County GOP Fundraiser

Custer Stadium 1700 SE Hillcrest Dr. The Bruin Soccer Players and Coaches would like to extend an invitation to area girls and boys to attend our 29th Annual Bruin Soccer Camp. There will be a $50 fee for this year's camp. Each camper will receive a camp T-shirt and 4 days of soccer instruction. All proceeds benefit the high school soccer program. The camp is held nightly at 8:30 through June 9.

5 PM

ELL Conversation Class

BAA Art Camp: Week 1 - Drawing

Bartlesville Public Library 600 S Johnstone Ave. These classes are held every Tuesday at 5 p.m. and every Thursday at 10 a.m. These classes are FREE and open to the public.

The camp runs through June 10. Cost is $35 per child. Grades 1&2 from 9-10 a.m.;Grades 3&4 from 10:10-11:10 a.m.; Grades 5&6 from 11:20 a.m.-12:20 p.m.; Grades 7-up from 12:50-2 p.m.; Mixed level from 2:10-3:10 p.m.

Johnstone Irregulars Book Club Meeting

5:30 PM

Bartlesville Public Library 600 S Johnstone Ave.

Free Spanish Classes Bartlesville Public Library 600 S Johnstone Ave. Free Spanish Class every Monday evening at 5:30 p.m. in Meeting Room B on the first floor of the Bartlesville Public Library. This class is free and open to the public. Please contact the Bartlesville Literacy Services office at 918-338-4179 if you have any questions. 7 PM

Disabled American Veterans Chapter 65 Monthly Meeting Washington County Adult Center 300 E Angus Ave., Dewey

A fundraising dinner featuring Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell.

Tue, Jun 7

Times Vary Bartlesville Art Association 500 S Dewey Ave.

Timber Oaks Event Venue 1639 US 60

6 PM 6 PM

The book club meets in the Literary Services Office on the 2nd floor of the library on the first Tuesday of every month.

Thu, Jun 9 9 AM

OKM Music Festival: Mozart Snapshots & Mozart Café Ambler Hall 415 SE Dewey Ave. Join us each morning of the Festival as we sip coffee and eat pastries while watching the history of Mozart and his music come to life in a unique, educational way featuring the beautifully talented Katie Mahan on piano. Admission is free.

OKM Music Festival Kick-Off Tower Center at Unity Square 300 SE Adams Blvd. Join us for a fun evening of live art immersion through dance performances, live music, and food trucks. Listen to the sounds of Billy Holiday performed by Sarah Maud Band. Then sit back and enjoy the Tulsa Honors Baroque Orchestra as they perform classics such as “In The Mood”, “Over the Rainbow”, “Singing in the Rain” and more. Lastly, join us for a screening of the 1935 classic musical film, Top Hat. The ballet begins at 6:30 p.m., Sarah Maud at 7:15 p.m., the orchestra at 8:30 p.m., and the movie showing starts at 9:30 p.m.

THE MOST-READ MAGAZINE IN BARTLESVILLE Advertising Opportunities: 918-214-4968 • keith@bartlesvillemonthly.com

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EVENTS CALENDAR Fri, Jun 10

4 PM

10:30 AM

OKM Music Festival: Opus 76 Quartet

OKM Music Festival: CRUSA String Quartet Ambler Hall 415 SE Dewey Ave. CRUSA String Quartet’s name is the result of its members’ countries of origin: Columbia, Russia, and the USA. Admission is free.

Mon, Jun 13

Wed, Jun 15 Times Vary

Ben Johnson Days

Bartlesville Community Center 300 SE Adams Blvd.

Various Locations Pawhuska

During the Pandemic of 2020, The Opus 76 Quartet performed and recorded all 18 Beethoven String Quartets in front of a live audience over a six-week period. Admission is free.

Event is held in Pawhuska, home of world champion team roper and Oscar winner, Ben "Son" Johnson. It includes the Working Ranch Cowboys Association (WRCA) sanctioned ranch rodeo, junior ranch rodeo and an old-fashioned Cowboy Dance. The events run through June 19.

Thu, Jun 16

7 PM

OKM Music Festival: An Evening of Jazz Bartlesville Community Center 300 SE Adams Blvd.

5 PM

OKM Music Festival: A Night of Country Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve 1925 Woolaroc Ranch Rd. Join us for the sweet sounds of country music at the site Will Rogers called “the most unique place in this country.” Enjoy the cuisine of locally-owned food trucks and take a moment to view the wildlife roaming the Osage Hills. The evening will conclude with a fireworks display that compliments the stars of the night. Madi McGuire performs at 5 p.m., Hot Club of Cowtown at 6 p.m. and Josh Turner at 8 p.m. Students ages 13-20 are $35, general admission is $55, and premium is $100. Children 12-under are free.

Sat, Jun 11 10 AM

OKM Music Festival: Tulsa String Quartet Bartlesville Community Center 300 SE Adams Blvd. The Tulsa String Quartet has a repertoire list of over 600 songs and pieces. Admission is free. 12 PM

OKM Music Festival: Ad Lib Singers Bartlesville Community Center 300 SE Adams Blvd.

Times Vary

10 AM & 6 PM

BAA Art Camp: Week 2 – Clay & Sculpture

Steel Grace, Ladies Only Shooting Group

Bartlesville Art Association 500 S Dewey Ave.

Guns of Glory 427 S Osage Ave., Dewey

The camp runs through June 17. Cost is $35 per child. Grades 1&2 from 9-10 a.m.;Grades 3&4 from 10:10-11:10 a.m.; Grades 5&6 from 11:20 a.m.-12:20 p.m.; Grades 7-up from 12:50-2 p.m.; Mixed level from 2:10-3:10 p.m.

Each month on the 3rd Thursday, ladies have two choices to attend, either 10a.mnoon or 6-8 p.m.. A variety of training opportunities will be available for both beginners and advanced! Steel Grace meetings/shoots will consist of one hour of class time and one hour of range time.

5:30 PM

Enjoy an evening of jazz with Grammy Award-winning vocalist Catherine Russell, best known for her stunning vocal approach and interpretive works in blues and early jazz. Students ages 13-20 are $50, general admission is $65, and premium seating is $75. Children 12-under are free.

Sun, Jun 12 11 AM

OKM Music Festival: Festival Brunch Bartlesville Community Center 300 SE Adams Blvd. Featuring King Cabbage Brass Band, Oklahoma’s only New Orleans-inspired brass band, performing pop, R&B, hiphop, and more. Admission is free. 4 PM

6 PM

OKM Music Festival Finale: Progressive Classical Concert

Screen Kids with Dr. Gary Chapman

Philbrook Museum of Art 2727 S Rockford Rd.

OKWU Chapel 2201 Silver Lake Rd.

Join us for a progressive classical concert that takes place throughout the beautiful Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa. View the art and sip cocktails on the Terrace while listening to the Tulsa Honors Baroque Orchestra. Then enjoy an intimate concert by the Balourdet String Quartet in the Patti Johnson Wilson Hall. Next, move to the Rotunda for canapés and wine while being serenaded by the musical talents of harpist, Lorelei Barton. Afterwards, return to the Patti Johnson Wilson Hall for the final concert of the season by Verona Quartet. Your night will end with coffee and dessert in the Rotunda.

Tired of screen battles with the kids? Take your kids back from screen enchantment with this presentation from Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages, and Arlene Pellicane host of the Happy Home podcast.

Sat, Jun 18

Tue, Jun 14

OKM Music Festival: Bluegrass in the Afternoon Bartlesville Community Center 300 SE Adams Blvd. Join us for an afternoon of pure joyful bluegrass music performed by an amazing vocalist and old-school bluegrass band, the Amanda Cook Band. Students ages 13-20 are $10, general admission is $35, and premium seating is $50. Children 12-under are free.

6 PM

6 PM

Knit and Crochet Night

Jesus Burger

Bartlesville Public Library 600 S Johnstone Ave.

Get Real Ministries 411 W 14th St.

The free event is held in Meeting Room C on the second Tuesday of each month.

Get Real Ministries is having Jesus Burger every 3rd Saturday of the month. Come be fed spirituality and physically with others that have recovered from ALL kinds of addictions and life struggles that have been healed or are being healed. We will fight the fight with you! Come witness the "Miracles on 14th Street." It's a HOLY SPIRIT REVIVAL! Baptisms, free food, free clothes, and free love — all paid for by Jesus. You WILL leave changed!

The Ad Lib Singers were formed in 1994 after “The Philtones” (which were from Phillips Petroleum Company) dissolved. Several members of the group wanted to continue. Admission is free.

“Friendly dealers, great showroom and vehicles, very accommodating. Really appreciate being called by name.” — Matt from Wichita, KS

Hwy 75 in Bartlesville • (918)333-8010 • gopatriotauto.com

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EVENTS CALENDAR

Wed, Jun 22

Mon, Jun 27

7:30 PM

Times Vary

Blue Man Group

BAA Art Camp: Week 4 - Printmaking

Bartlesville Community Center 300 SE Adams Blvd.

7 PM

Bartlesville Art Association 500 S Dewey Ave.

Presented by Broadway in Bartlesville. It’s everything you know and love about Blue Man Group – signature drumming, colorful moments of creativity and quirky comedy – the men are still blue but the rest is all new!

The camp runs through July 1. Cost is $35 per child. Grades 1&2 from 9-10 a.m.;Grades 3&4 from 10:10-11:10 a.m.; Grades 5&6 from 11:20 a.m.-12:20 p.m.; Grades 7-up from 12:50-2 p.m.; Mixed level from 2:10-3:10 p.m.

Uncork Your Support St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 210 E 9th St.

Fri, Jun 24

Please join us in support of the Lowe Family Young Scholars Program for our annual wine tasting and food sampling event on June 18, 2022 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. We look forward to seeing you there! Please see our Facebook page or contact us for updates on how to purchase tickets.

Ronnie Smith Kennels 1377 County Rd., Pawhuska

Sun, Jun 19

10 AM

Kidsfest Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve 1925 Woolaroc Ranch Rd.

Mon, Jun 20 Times Vary

BAA Art Camp: Week 3 - Painting Bartlesville Art Association 500 S Dewey Ave. The camp runs through June 24. Cost is $35 per child. Grades 1&2 from 9-10 a.m.;Grades 3&4 from 10:10-11:10 a.m.; Grades 5&6 from 11:20 a.m.-12:20 p.m.; Grades 7-up from 12:50-2 p.m.; Mixed level from 2:10-3:10 p.m

1 PM

Prairie Hills Experience

This traditional event features arts and crafts, games, live music, inflatables, and so much more! There is no extra charge for Kidsfest, it is covered under the price of regular admission. Train rides, along with craft and food vendors, are an additional cost. Regular Admission: $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, kids 12 and under are free. The event is held on Friday and Saturday.

A Premier Outdoor Couples' Retreat with bird dog, fly fishing, and shooting instruction. This is a package of unique experiences in the Osage! You will spend a fun-filled weekend combining in-depth coaching on living and hunting with your dog, upland shooting, and fly fishing. Both Ronnie Smith and Susanna Love will be tailoring instruction to help individuals with their dogs in the field. Stephen Haynes, founder of Dog Specialist, will be available to help individuals with home training or obedience needs. Reid Bryant, Endorsed Operations Manager at Orvis, will be giving fly fishing instruction. Shawn Roberts will provide shooting instruction. Joni Nash will be the hostess and event coordinator.

Sat, Jun 25 5:45 PM

Rise Queen and Kings Bartlesville Community Center 300 SE Adams Blvd. Phase the Next Level is sponsoring the event, which features black-owned business in the community. It will be a night of empowerment, networking, and fellowship. Special guest speakers from Houston, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Austin, Texas, and Bartlesville. The VIP guest is Sophia L. Shoate.

Website SEO Services Print Marketing Social Media

OKM Music Festival Especially For Kids June 3: Disney Karaoke in Ambler Hall (10 a.m.) Rock Pipestem and the children of the Osage Tribe performance at the Sooner Park Band Shell (5 p.m.) June 4: Mad Hatter Prince and Princess Tea Party at Johnstone Sare Building. Admission is $15. (2 p.m.) June 5: Disney Songbox Bingo & Pizza on KYFM 100.1 FM. In order to play Songbox, swing by the OKM Office June 1-3 from 9am to 5pm and Saturday, June 4 from 9am to 12pm to pick up your Songbox cards and pizza vouchers. (6 p.m.) June 6: Storytime & Art Project, Coat of Many Colors, at the Bartlesville Public Library. (10 a.m. & 3 p.m.) June 7: Sensational Strings Storytime in Ambler Hall. (10 a.m. & 1 p.m.) June 8: Mesner Puppet Theater at Ambler Hall. (10 a.m. & 1 p.m.) June 9: Storybook Dancers with Mikala & Gianna Curless in Ambler Hall. (10:30 a.m.) Top Hats and Tails, Bows and Ballroom in Ambler Hall. (1 p.m.)

918­337­2781 www.coppercupimages.com

Where Marketing Creates Results JUNE 2022 | bmonthly

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Thank you for participating in SAFE-NOW's Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® event, 2022. Thank you to all our wonderful Sponsors PLATINUM PUMPS SPONSOR $1000

GOLDEN WEDGE HEELS SPONSOR $500

SILVER KITTEN HEELS SPONSOR $250 City Church•Bartlesville Lions Club PRODUCT/PRIZE SPONSORS Pop’s Daylight Donuts •Pizza Hut (S. Washington Blvd) Rib Crib•Mazzio’s Pizza•Massage by Diana Shook Outpost Coffee •Beyond the Blade•Moxie on 2nd Crossing 2nd• Chick-fil-A • Ascension Case Management Ascension St. John Medcare Pharmacy Painted Horse Bar & Grille•Price Tower Arts Center

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Sharl Branch Art & Design •WrightFix Media Amy Nordhues•Reenie Daniel•Dale Willis Mike Moore• Betsy Barnes • Linda Jones Mark & Debbie Haskell • Pam Scott• Earl Sears Melissa Mayes•Chad Englehart Ascension St. John Jane Phillips Hospital Fire Chief Kary Cox •Bartlesville Farmer’s Market Bartlesville Chamber of Commerce Chief Mike McElhaney - Nowata Police Dept. Donors • Volunteers

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• Pro-Life • Pro-Gun

• Pro-Business • Constitutional Conservative

Republican for House District 11 JOHN KANE IS A REAL CONSERVATIVE • PRO-LIFE: “I am pro-life. I believe in the sanctity of life.” • PRO-GUN: “I fully support the 2nd amendment, and I will vigorously defend it.” • PRO-BUSINESS: “I will use my 30 years of experience as a business owner to help grow the Oklahoma economy.” • CONSTITUTIONAL CONSERVATIVE: “I believe in liberty and individual rights. I will be a leader in defending these God-given rights and freedoms for all of Oklahoma.”

cell phone (918) 440-7295 JohnKaneForOK.com facebook.com/JohnKaneForOK Authorized and Paid for by Friends of John B Kane 2022 P.O. Box 729, Bartlesville, OK 74005

“Bartlesville is where I was born, raised and where I choose to worship. It is where I raised my family and my seven grandchildren are being raised here, too.”

“Public office is a sacred trust to be administered on behalf of all the people of Oklahoma without fear or favor of special interests or pressure groups.” John Kane

“As citizens in some states live in mandated lockdowns and their leaders are seeking to infringe on their freedom, conservative leadership matters more than ever before.”

REPUBLICAN • STATE HOUSE


THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT! Alma and Bill Abbitt Rhonda Agosto Candy and Brian Allison Anne and David Anderson Marge and Randy Anderson Elise and Aaron Archambo Cindy Archer Becky and Steve Armstrong Dee and Bob Armstrong Karen and Ben Baker Kelsey and Nathan Barham Betsy Barnes John Barrett Jane and Preston Bartley Susie and Sam Barto Angie and Chris Batchhelder Beth and Steve Beard Bill Beirschmitt Melyn and Edd Bellatti Jamie and Bon Bennett Nancy and David Blakemore Kretia and Austin Bliss Jean Bloomfield Randy Bluhm Denise Bohnsack Barry Bohnsack Terry Bonnell Kris and Glenn Bonner Jan and Marsh Boomer Keri Bostwick Corkie and Charlie Bowerman Roger Box David Brittain Monya and Tommy Brown Gene and Jay Bryngelson MaryBeth and Kevin Buchanan Mike Burris Jessica and J Reed Butler Pam Carter

Lisa and John Cary Caroline Casselberry Ladonna and Tracy Chancellor Peggy and Jim Clark Terri and Craig Cochran Brenda Coderre Joyce and Stephan Colaw Barb Collier Liz and Todd Cone Sue and Ron Courtney Karole Cozby Kourtney and Kyle Craig Jack Cramer Jack Cramer Jr. Carol Creel Kristin and Landon Curd Kacy and Jim Curd Betty Dalrymple Diane and Mike Daniels Sarah and Craig Demuth Kerry and Mark Denyer Judy and Tom DeSalme Kimbely and Brad Doenges Kathleen and John Donoghue Beth and Trevor Dorsey Don Doty Amy and Reid Dreher Melinda and Dan Droege Vanessa and Ford Drummond Shelly and Scott DuCharme Kenneth Duncan Sierra and Jeremy Dunkle AnnMarie and David Dye Whitney and Jay Dyer Michael Earley Shelly and Larry East Blair and Chad Ellis Gerre and Peter Emmott Kathy and Cecil Epperley Jill and Matt Epperson Bruce Evans Grace Farmer Leslie and RD Farr

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OUT & ABOUT

LEGACY HALL OF FAME

HARLEY PARTY

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OUT & ABOUT

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A GOOD WORD

What is My Purpose? You Find It by Living Your Life With Purpose! by Debbie Halpin What is purpose? What is my purpose? This is a question I think so many of us ask ourselves. Oftentimes, we spend our life looking for a purpose, ignoring all the signs and roadblocks that God puts in our lives to help us find our way. Finding our purpose seems to fall into place when we see our experience for what they are, an opportunity to live our life WITH purpose. As a young child, one of my first memories was of my Dad (at 25) lying in a hospital bed after a mastectomy saying to the doctor, “You see those three kids over there, when they can take care of themselves, that’s when I’m going somewhere, so you better figure it out!” He wasn’t angry, just very matter of fact. My grandpa died not too long after that … cancer. My Aunt Mary got breast cancer. My cousin Jerry, at age 12, was diagnosed with leukemia. I remember going to see him in the hospital, my grandmother crying (she never cried), and his funeral. My Uncle was diagnosed with colon cancer and my Aunt with breast cancer. Cancer started to have “fear” attached to it. Dad got cancer again. I remember being angry, rebellious and self destructive. On the outside I was a good student, had a great family, and so many positive things in my life — but I had so many things going on in my head, none of them good. My Mom and I struggled. My Dad was my best friend. Why did it have to be him? I hated cancer. My Dad died at 40 after 3 battles with cancer. Devastated at his passing, all heck broke loose, and I didn’t care about anything or anyone, including myself. I married, had two babies, then divorced after putting up with three years of abuse. Thankfully, I had a great friend who was my rock. Dennis and I married and began raising precious children. Life was good, a beautiful home, wonderful husband, happy and healthy kids, I was spoiled. My purpose was being a wife and a Mom, then that dreaded word reared its ugly head. I found a mass in my breast right after my mammogram. Thank God it was small and easily addressed, but it was terrifying! Life went on, I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease that rocked our world. The drugs weren’t working, and I was going to have to do chemotherapy!! Devastated and in constant pain, a warmer and dryer climate may help, they said…. Let’s talk about God for a moment. My husband ran a large Credit Union in New York and I was working for Walmart. He didn’t even hesitate to start looking for a less demanding job so he could spend time with me, in a warmer, dryer climate. He was overqualified for so many jobs, we were almost ready to accept an offer in Dallas, when 66 Federal Credit Union reached out. My best friend, since I was 6, lived in Norman and told us Bartlesville was a lot like where we grew up. The home we found was the

exact floor plan I was looking at in NY and our home sold in less than 24 hrs. It was meant to be. Chemo worked. I was doing well. I left my job at Walmart and was volunteering when a friend introduced me to Dr. Jennifer McKissick. She had a non-profit that she needed someone to run. NO THANK YOU was my response. She bribed me, and the minute I walked through the doors of Hopestone I knew my life was going to change. It didn’t take me long to figure out that all the experiences I had throughout my life with cancer prepared me for what His true purpose was for my life. I am thankful that I can now see so clearly the signs and roadblocks God sent to guide me to where I am today. I am truly blessed that my purpose is being of service to members of our incredible community as they fight their own cancer battles.

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NOW YOU KNOW

Joseph Bartles... Like Father, Like Son by Debbie Neece, Bartlesville Area History Museum

Joseph Andrew Bartles was born along the banks of Turkey Creek on December 15, 1875 in a clapboard home that served as a trading post and post office on the Black Dog Trail that meandered north towards Kansas. His father, Jacob Bartles, was a notable Indian Territory pioneer and entrepreneur who purchased the Nelson Carr gristmill along the Caney River. After mill-site improvements, Joe and his mother, Nannie Journeycake Bartles, moved to their new living quarters of native black walnut lumber, above the Bartles General Store. Jacob Bartles then moved the Turkey Creek trading post to the mill-site where it served various purposes. Many of the children at the Bartles’ Settlement attended subscription schools. At eleven, Joe attended the private Bacone School near Muskogee and then attended Kirkwood Military Academy in Missouri before returning to Indian Territory to assist in his father’s farming, ranching and merchandising enterprises. Never afraid of a fight, Joe heard there was a hold-up at the Bartles store and he high-tailed across the Caney River to intercept the robbery. The bandits escaped with $300 cash and Joe was in hot pursuit. After a short gun fight, resulting in Joe being shot in the ankle and one robber having his hat shot off, the bandits fled into the Osage with a pocket full of cash. 48

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Jacob Bartles worked to bring the railroad to his settlement on the Caney River horseshoe bend and when defeat was on his doorstep, he pulled his 100’ long, two-story general store north, where he established the town of Dewey. The feat was not without complications and Joe described the adventure as long and arduous. In the meantime, Jacob had commissioned his Dewey Hotel to be built and a limestone-walled basement constructed for his store building to be placed upon. In addition, the Turkey Creek trading post building traveled to Dewey as well. Jacob was known for his elaborate Fourth of July celebrations and in September 1908, he married that excitement with a reunion event for his Civil War Sixth Kansas Cavalry comrades. The town was festively decorated to welcome the visitors and, as entertainment, Joe gathered his cowboy friends for a Riding and Roping contest with western stunts in the Bartles’ backyard. The Dewey visionary, Jacob Bartles, died one month later and in his honor, Joe carried the cowboy exhibition forward annually as the Dewey Roundup. After Joe’s June 18, 1913 marriage to Edith Ross of Oklahoma City, he had the lifeless Bartles’ mill dismantled and the black walnut lumber transferred to Dewey where it was stored in a barn until he could construct a home for his new


NOW YOU KNOW bride. Unfortunately, lightning struck the barn and burned the lumber before the Bartles’ dream home could be built. In June 1915, the Oklahoma legislature passed the Free Fair Law and the Dewey Roundup event was not held that year in preparation of the Washington County Free Fair. Joe Bartles owned much Dewey city and farmland property. He served on the Fair Committee and Dewey became the location of the Washington County Free Fair when Joe and Nannie Bartles donated forty acres of land to support the fairgrounds. The City of Dewey invested more than $30,000 and construction was rapid with the first Washington County Free Fair held October 7-8-9, 1915. From that time, the Dewey Roundup took place during Fourth of July and the Free Fair in the fall. Joe was dedicated to the community of Dewey. Beyond farming, real estate, and oil and gas interests, he served as the Mayor, Dewey School Board and Washington County Election Board, Delaware-Cherokee Oil Company President, Bartles Oil Company Treasurer, Dewey First National Bank and Bartlesville Interurban stockholder, and Dewey Gas Company President. He was a Republican candidate as delegate to the State Constitutional Convention; however, he lost by seventy-two votes. And, in the heated 1924 Senate election, Bartles lost to George VanDall by a mere 245 votes. Joe Bartles was the grandson of Delaware Chief and Reverend Charles Journeycake. In 1948, sporting his Delaware regalia ing. The two-story building collapsed upon the stone-lined of “feathered war bonnet with beaded moccasins and leggings,” basement where all of the Bartles’ family photos and Joe’s he was the Indian Centennial prized taxidermy collection were Joe sat tall on his “Old Paint” horse with the disparade marshal at Muskogee, stored. All lost! tinction of few men, wearing a ten-gallon hat, and joined by 60 Oklahoma Indian often followed by 12-15 greyhounds who were tribes and dignitaries from across Although much alike, but never extreme coyote and jack rabbit hunters. the federal government and southovershadowed by his father, Joe Barern states. tles lived a venturous life, well documented in history. His death came February 3, 1956 at Memorial Hospital in Bartlesville and Over the years, some of the best cowboy talent in the world he was laid to rest in the Bartles family mausoleum in the Dewey exhibited their skills at the Dewey Roundup. Even after Joe BarCemetery where his parents and two infant daughters, Nancy tles ceased to manage the event, others took the reins and and Mary, awaited him. At that time, only his adopted daughter, carried the rodeo extravaganza to 1949; when a week of heavy Betsy Ross Bartles Tarwater, survived him. rain preceded the event, creating a soggy arena and a collapsed grandstand…ending one of the world’s greatest rodeo events, rivaled by Calgary, Cheyenne and Pendleton.

Did You Know?

The old Bartles store stood at the southwest corner of Dewey’s Don Tyler Avenue and Delaware Street and served as home to various local businesses, including the office of Washington County’s first attorney, John H. Kane. Referred to as the Pioneer Building, it was home of Fritz Montgomery’s Pioneer Café when, during the early morning of December 6, 1950, fire fully engulfed and destroyed the build-

As WWI erupted in 1917, Joe Bartles established the Dewey Airplane Factory and Flying School where famed aviator Billy Parker was an instructor. Their relationship greatly benefited Bartlesville, Dewey, Washington County and the war effort. Now You Know* JUNE 2022 | bmonthly

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announcement as a couple on the 3rd floor, greeting your waiting guests. 8:00 am to midnight under the happy gaze of friends and family. Saturday or Friday night over night in our Bridal suite included, an extra night is $250.00. Sunday: Pick up your own decor and minor cleaning, no big messes left, and you are leisurely out of the space, 8:00 am to noon. Some prefer to do this Saturday evening. Let us know. Total Price: $5,000.00 Additional guest rooms available on-site through your AirBnB App destination Bartlesville, The Jewel Box Hotel Apartments 1-4. Approximately $140.00 per night. Additional party space available for showers, Bridesmaids luncheons, Anniversaries and other celebrations.

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LOOKING BACK

Mickey Mouse Comes to Town Bartlesville Won Disney Contest to Host a Parade by Kay Little, Little History Adventures In 1999, Disney and Wal-Mart teamed together to sponsor a contest for four communities to be able to host a Mickey Mouse parade in their hometowns. Kane Elementary School decided to enter. Beth Cook, the principal at the time, submitted letters written by students, photos, and a video. She worked with high school band director Ron Lewis to configure where the 500 students, 63 faculty, and 40 parents from Kane School stood on the football field to spell, “Bartlesville Loves Mickey.” Local pilot Barbara Eck flew over the field and took several photos. All of this, especially the aerial photo, really impressed the Disney people. Disney awarded the grand prize to Bartlesville. They looked at 130,000 entries, looking for towns that showed Mickey’s enthusiasm and “can-do spirit.” Principal Cook received the call on Monday, May 17, that the school had won the grand prize, but they told her to wait until Thursday, the 20th, to tell the students. She really had a hard time keeping the secret.

Of course, once she told the students, excitement was everywhere! The city had only six weeks to get ready for the July 3rd parade. Joan Sehested and Jan Sanders put together a committee to work out all the logistics. The fun started on Friday, July 2, with a Mickey Mouse mobile museum in front of City Hall that was also open on Saturday in the Wal-Mart parking lot. About 65 people from Disney came to set up everything. Bartlesville more than doubled its population that weekend. People from all over the country came to see the parade, with many of them camping out downtown the night before the parade. Local hotels were booked solid. Several Bartlesville businesses got into the Mickey Mouse spirit by offering special hours and activities. Shuttles were operating for fifty cents per ride from 6:30 a.m. to midnight, between Washington Park Mall, Eastland Shopping Center, United Supermarket, Tri-County Tech, and the former Wal-Mart building. No matter where you went in the city that weekend, Mickey mania was there.

JUNE 2022 | bmonthly

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FROM THE HEART

Hip Hip Hooray! Boys Becoming Men Through the Sport of Baseball by Lori Kroh I never knew that hearing the crack of a bat could bring such joy. I have been a baseball mom these few past years and now a softball mom. I may not know much about the game, yet what I do know is that the fields look beautiful fresh with dew and the sun pouring over them. The teams in their caps and uniforms look cohesive and bring a spirit of harmony to me as I watch them warm up. The parents are ready with coolers and pulling loaded wagons seem like they know more than me. I sit by them to learn and cheer. I love the popcorn, the sunflower seeds, and even the hotdog a freckled-face girl sells me. She shows me the mustard bottle and I grab some napkins and sit back and enjoy. I cheer the team on and notice all the blankets or the sunscreen because one never knows in Oklahoma. We are excited to sit and watch the team learn to work together. I guess that’s why I love it so much. One can be a standout on the field, yet it does not bring wins unless all the players work together. I remember my son was nine and he had been doing gymnastics for three years. He was really good and then one day he said, “Mom, I want to be on a team where they yell, Hip Hip Hooray! You know … how they did it on Snoopy?” I laughed so hard at that and then asked him, “Do you want to play baseball like Charlie Brown and the gang?” He nodded and smiled. I thought to myself about my hometown team and that began his love for baseball. I think deep down we all just want to cheer in unison for the underdog becoming a champion as fireworks burst in the sky and know that all is right in the world. I now can see the real love of baseball and how for brief moments in time the axis of the world pauses and we remain in place as memories of being young and carefree linger in our hearts. There is such a thrill of a home run as everyone leaps to cheer and the team runs out to congratulate the one. The team and the one. The one and the team. The spectators sit straighter because no one wants to miss a thing. The thrill of winning cannot be beat and yes, that is when they really should yell. “ Hip Hip Hooray!” Because it takes all of them to win. I was connected with Coach Pannell only a few weeks ago and we just so happened to talk about my son and his love for baseball. Coach encouraged him to try out for the American Legion and I was thrilled. He had an opportunity to grow as a person and a player. I knew it was a huge tradition, and reading about it only instilled why I love this hometown so much. Coach Pannell came back to manage and coach the teams that play for the American Legion, not because of the love of the game, but truly the love of something bigger than recognition. It was the idea of legacy. His leadership develops lives bigger than they may have ever known. I am looking forward to the American Legion summer league baseball for us, the town, and everyone who needs just a moment to remember that if we can all just work together as a team we will have more wins in our hearts and even our homes. All of my reading led me to some interesting facts and I learned that this tradition is more than a game, it’s about the

development of youth into men that will contribute to society. In 1925, American Legion Baseball was born as the first program in the world to provide a national baseball tournament for teenagers. Each year, boys from ages 13 to 19 participate and they hold the honor of a reputation as participating in one of the most successful and tradition-rich amateur athletic leagues. Since the beginning, the league has had millions of players, including countless who have gone on to play in college and professional baseball — with 82 inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. American Legion Baseball is a national institution, having thrived through a world war, several national tragedies, and times of great prosperity as well as great despair. The program registers teams in all 50 states plus Canada and teaches the importance of sportsmanship, good health, and active citizenship. Only a few changes have been made to the format over the years. The tournament still has a similar setup: 64 teams play at eight regional sites, with eight teams going on to the World Series. The winning team receives a trip to Major League Baseball's World Series, a tradition dating back to 1926. The program is also a promoter of equality, making teammates out of young athletes regardless of their income levels or social standings. I love how it brings us together for America. The first American Legion Baseball World Series was held in Philadelphia in 1926. Yonkers, N.Y, Post 321 beat a team from Pocatello, Idaho and that started it all. The beginning of the legacy, the love for a tradition; where lives are changed all by the crack of a bat, friends are made because they learned to play catch and boys become men as they run the bases at last. Hip Hip Hooray! JUNE 2022 | bmonthly

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RELIGION

New Pastor at East Cross Chad Perceful Replacing Church’s Retiring Preacher by Lori Just East Cross Methodist Church is excited to announce their associate minister, Chad Perceful, has accepted the role of senior pastor. Pastor Jeff Burress, who has been in ministry for 44 years, is retiring and leading his final worship service on June 12th. During Pastor Burress’ 11-year leadership, East Cross has changed considerably. There was a remodel phase of the worship spaces in the sanctuary and children’s area and a full glass wall developed. He led the church through the pandemic, when they adapted their way the congregation worshiped together by moving services online and remains a convenient option to many who are not able to come to in-person services. “Pastor Jeff and I have been working hard over the last six months to make the passing of the baton of leadership as smooth as possible,” said Perceful. “During this time, we have seen a renewed energy in the life of the church. This renewed energy gets me excited for this next part of the journey, not only for myself, but also for East Cross. After being here for 16 years, I could not imagine serving anywhere else. I am grateful for the opportunity.” Perceful graduated from Oklahoma State University (OSU) with his bachelors and continued to Phillips Theological and received a master’s in divinity. He was commissioned in 2006 and ordained in 2009. And he was a student pastor at Ochelata United Methodist Church for four years. He is married to Lesli and has two children, Riley and Cameron. He has coached both his children’s basketball teams and often volunteers with the many ministries through the church. He is an avid fan of OSU, Chicago Cubs, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has led church mission

teams on trips to Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, and guided tours of Israel. “Every Sunday we ask the question, ‘Why are we here?’ to which the congregation responds, ‘We are learning to follow Jesus and inviting others to join the journey,’” said Perceful. “This reminds us that we are all still on the journey to become more and more like Jesus. By no means are we perfect, but we do want to reflect the perfect love of God to all so that we can impact this community in a way that brings hope and life.” East Cross Methodist Church is hosting a welcome Pprty for their new senior pastor on July 31st that is open to the public. This will give community members a chance to meet him and his family. There will be music, food, games, and activities for kids. “Missions work, being the hands and feet of God, has long been a part of the framework of East Cross,” added Perceful. “As we take our next steps, we will look to be even more involved in serving the local communities, serving on a national level and even serving on an international level.” East Cross Methodist Church offers two worship times on Sundays: traditional service at 8:30 a.m. that includes choir-led worship with liturgy followed by a pastoral message and a contemporary worship at 11:00 a.m. that is an energized time of worship led by the East Cross Praise Band followed by a pastoral message. Infant and toddler care is available during each service and Sunday School Class. Sunday School is available for kids K – 5th grade and Children’s Church for K-3rd during the contemporary service. Sixth through 12th Graders gather for fellowship, discipleship and worship on Sunday evenings from 5:30 – 7 p.m. On Wednesday nights during the school year, East Cross offers Connections; a small group time were friends can meet to grow both personally and spiritually. Vacation Bible School, Make Waves, is offered July 18-21 to all Kindergarten through 5th graders. Sign up online at eastcross.org.

JUNE 2022 | bmonthly

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• Retaining Walls • Custom Planting • Landscaping • Irrigation • Garden Gifts • Much More

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AREA ATTRACTIONS

Old West Comes to Life Western Art Coming to Pawhuska’s Constantine Theater by Lori Roll Nothing brings the old West to life more than a leather-skinned cowboy riding high in the saddle in dusty boots, sweat-stained cowboy hat, and jangling spurs. We’re not talking about the Marlboro Man of yore, but present-day cowboys scoured by dirt and sun who still “ride herd” on ranches throughout the American West. And nothing represents the American cowboy better than the traditional cowboy arts of rawhide braiding, bit and spur making, saddlemaking, and silversmithing. Sixteen renowned master artisans will present a 35-piece collection of traditional cowboy arts at the Ben Johnson Days Artisans of the West Exhibition and Sale June 16-19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at the Constantine Theater in Pawhuska. A dozen of the presenting master artisans are members of the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association (TCAA), a select group of some of the world’s finest craftsmen practicing traditional western arts. The Ben Johnson Days is a Father’s Day weekend celebration of the western way of life with rodeos, ranch tours, western parties, a trade show, and the first annual Artisans of the West Exhibition and Sale. The fundraiser exhibition and sale begins with a Preview Party June 15th, at 6 p.m. at the Constantine Theater. Event coordinators include Barbara Jacques, Marlene Mosley and Pawhuska’s own TCAA member Jay Adcock, rawhide braider. Jacques said, “We are very excited that these world-class artisans want to be part of Ben Johnson Days and exhibit their art for sale in a benefit for Pawhuska’s historic Constantine Theater. Most people never see this caliber of work in person, and this is a first time event for Pawhuska.”

born In the spring of 1998 when a group of Western craftsmen gathered to ensure the preservation of their crafts and “to grow public awareness and education of the art.” The TCAA partnered with the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum of Oklahoma City to host its inaugural annual group exhibition and sale in 1999. Since that time, the TCAA has added many other events to their calendar including seminars, professional workshops, mentorships and scholarships to expand the TCAA’s mission. Saddlemaker John Willemsma created the Mom’s Scholarship in honor of his late mother to help emerging craftswomen develop into full-time artists in the cowboy arts. Jacques said, “This first annual exhibition and sale will be a memorable evening for patrons who will get to see and purchase the incredible work of these artisans. They don’t exhibit at just any event and that is why this is so special to have them in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.” Tickets to the Preview Party June 15 th are $25 per person and include a gourmet beef board, hors d’oeuvres, and beverages. Tickets for the exhibition and sale June 16-19 are $5 per person, and free for children 12 and under. More information about TCAA can be found at www.tcowboyarts.org and more information about the Ben Johnson Days can be found on social media at www.facebook.com/benjohnsondays, and the Artisans of the West Exhibition and Sale at www.constantinetheater.com.

TCAA Director J. Kent McCorkle and member Wilson Capron will welcome guests to the Preview, which will showcase bit and spur making as well as the other cowboy arts. TCAA member and silversmith Scott Hardy will show intricate engraved steel, silver and gold belt buckles and master silversmith Matt Litz will show an engraved 3-piece sterling shave set. A lively live auction presented by The Buckin’ Flamingo’s Cody Garnett will highlight four memorable events at area venues. TCAA artisans are members by invitation only, a select group of 12 men from Texas, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, Arizona, Canada, Argentina, and Oklahoma. The TCAA was JUNE 2022 | bmonthly

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Hey high school grads— let’s talk college! Stay local and earn a degree.

OKWU offers a Christ-centered education to a global community of nearly 1,100 on-campus and online students with more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

800-468-6292 admissions@okwu.edu

CHRIST • SCRIPTURE • TRUTH • WISDOM

CATHY COWAN

Bringing You Home

direct | 918-331-8152 office | 918-766-0001 email | cathycowan@kw.com web | cathycowan.pro

I am so honored to be the recipient of the 2021 Best of the Best Real Estate Agent. Thank you Bartlesville!

BARTLESVILLE REALTY

Extraordinary Reach. Extraordinary Results. 58

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BARTLESVILLE’S OWN

Pete Netherton Success in Wrestling Led to Success in Life by Randy Standrige In 1967 at Madison Junior High, I met some boys that would go on to be successful in life in so many different ways. One of those was Pete Netherton. We became close friends in the 7th grade, played football and wrestled all three years except for football in the 8th, but that’s another story. Don Burt was our wrestling coach and he did a great job in teaching us new moves to use and in conditioning. Coach Burt took us to the Perry Junior High tournament, where we wrestled some of the best teams in the state, including Sand Springs, Blackwell, Ponca City, and Stillwater. We also had Coach Kirksey, a WWII veteran and Marine, as our P.E. and varsity football coach. When he barked orders like a Marine drill sergeant, you automatically did whatever he told you to do. In those three years of junior high I was also able to introduce Pete to bobcat and raccoon hunting with trips on Friday nights with my dad. We often would climb the tree to push the animal to jump from the tree so that the dogs could continue the chase. Those were fun times and after the 9th grade his dad, who worked for Phillips, was transferred to Amarillo, Texas. But here is Pete’s story. While still in Bartlesville, as a freshman at Madison, Pete was the first ever junior high state champion wrestler at the first ever Junior High State Championships in Bartlesville in 1970. That same year, he was also a Junior Olympics champion. He started in the YMCA wrestling program back in elementary school under Coach Derry Ebert, another WWII veteran and former Marine. That program included the Breece brothers: Jim, Gary, Steve, David, and Mark, who came over from Pawhuska, where they lived to join the Y practices. Those boys would go on to become state champions at various Tulsa schools as well as Gary being crowned an NCAA champion while at Oklahoma University. After his father’s transfer and moving to Amarillo, Pete was the first three-time Texas state wrestling champion. He was undefeated his junior and senior years, with just two losses his sophomore year. He won the Outstanding Wrestler award at the State Tournamant his junior year and fastest pin award at the State Tournament his senior year. In 1997, he was elected to the Texas High School Interscholastic Wrestling Association Circle of Champions (Hall of Fame). He attended Oklahoma University on a

wrestling scholarship and was a member of the NCAA Championship team of 1974. As an aside, that is the last OU national wrestling championship team. While at Oklahoma, he had an average career, wrestling against the best in the US. Upon graduation, he was hired by Arthur Young, a huge accounting firm now merged with Ernst & Whinney, to form Ernst and Young. After several years as a CPA at Arthur Young, he went to work for one of his clients, an axle manufacturer in Seminole, Oklahoma, as chief financial officer. The axle manufacturer's holding company-owner had several other manufacturing companies. He eventually moved to Spartanburg, South Carolina to become the CFO for an automotive stamping company. Their largest customer was BMW Manufacturing, in Spartanburg. He spent a lot of time in Munich, Germany working with his BMW counterparts on costing/pricing product issues and other international accounting regulation issues. After several more years, he went on to become CFO and Treasurer for a spring manufacturing company in Spartanburg. He was at the spring company for 19 years and retired in 2019. He remains as an active Board Director for the parent of the spring company. Pete and his wife, Pam, still reside in Moore, SC. JUNE 2022 | bmonthly

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of Exceptional Senior Living Green Country Village has helped seniors in Bartlesville enjoy private, maintenance-free residences with exceptional services and great hospitality for the last 30 years. Whether you or someone you love is considering independent living, assisted living or memory care, Green Country Village is the place to live, connect, grow.

Call (918) 335-2086 to schedule an appointment. GreenCountryVillage.com 1025 Swan Drive • Bartlesville, OK 74006

Spring has sprung at GCV! Come visit us!

Not-For-Pro昀t Organization

Project Tribute supports our First Responders and Law Enforcement and Regent Bank supports Project Tribute with free non-profit checking.

422 S. Dewey Ave • (918) 907-3580 www.regent.bank

“Our Purpose: To show God’s love to our employees, clients and communities.” — Regent Bank CEO Sean Kouplen 60

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A FRESH PERSPECTIVE

On the Road Again Remembering Dad and the Golden Age of Automobiles by Brent Taylor This is a story about the golden age of cars and basketball, and how my dad loved them both. Not many people know this about my dad, but he could do two things really well. He could do a headstand on the dining room table and he could shoot free throws with uncanny accuracy. He played tailback on the Bluejacket High basketball team that lost 26 consecutive games. He played tailback because his coach was always telling him to get his tailback on the bench. And then a sublime moment happened in game 27, when the coach put Terrel Taylor into the game after a starter fouled out, and he sank four free throws to seal the win. He also played baseball against Mickey Mantle’s brothers, who were from Commerce, Oklahoma. Playing the Mantle boys and losing 26 consecutive basketball games makes you humble and perhaps hungry to do better. Dad once told me that he had few regrets in life. Although he did drop out of Central Christian College in Bartlesville in 1954 to get married and start his career, he said, “My only regret is that I didn’t drop out of a more prestigious college.” When you don’t have many regrets, it means that you’ve probably tried nothing or tried everything. My Dad was in the latter camp, always trying things while venturing into many businesses, including the car business. Dad started trading cars early in life. He bought a Ford Model A for $75 and sold it the next day for $150. His career started at a Phillips 66 filling station that dad referred to as old #1, at the corner of Frank Phillips and Keeler. Dad worked for Cab Renik at that station, which is now a gathering place just south of the Chamber train depot. Mr. Renik was our neighbor and he played basketball for Hank Iba at Oklahoma A&M, where he was an All-American in 1939 and 1940. Mr. Renik later played alongside Bob Kurland for the Phillips 66ers, winners of the 1948 AAU championship and the 1948 Olympic Gold medalists. I held that gold medal in my hand one evening when Mr. Renick came to dinner at our house and pulled the gold medal out of his pocket to show me.

round and round on the track just north of Tuxedo boulevard. My dad pointed him out and told me that Boots once gave him a dollar tip for changing a flat at the Phillips station. Terrel’s love affair with cars started with a license plate collection. He did not own a car dealership until late in his career, when he finally took the plunge with Cars for America. He bought my first car, a 1953 Oldsmobile with a 454 Rocket V-8 engine and an electronic scope that dimmed the headlights automatically. I took my friends to Mr. Swiss on 14th street for a burger in that Olds. We drove along the old streets, Jennings & Johnstone, that had wellcrowned intersections. That Oldsmobile had worn out shocks, making it drive not unlike a boat in a gale. Driving through those intersections in that swaying Oldsmobile launched the back seat riders up into the ceiling upholstery. It was a badge of courage to bang your head against the ceiling on those rides for burgers. Dad flew over quite a few bumps in his life also. He loved cars and the open highway. He knew how to fold a road map with one hand and took the curves up Pikes Peak on two wheels. He loved the feel of the road beneath him, even in his final days, as caregivers eased him into his wheelchair with great effort, he would sing Willie Nelson’s iconic song, On the Road Again. Maybe the driverless car is the way of the future. But I bet dad has found a car to drive in Heaven. I’m sure he got a great deal that he couldn’t pass up. Drive friendly Pop, we miss you!

Sometime in 1952, another 66er, K.S. Boots Adams, came into old #1 to get a flat tire repaired. I remember seeing Mr. Adams at the micro-midget race track watching the loud little race cars go JUNE 2022 | bmonthly

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The Choice is Yours! Choose the team that provides physical, emotional, and spiritual support to you and your loved ones.

Locally owned and operated. Serving the Bartlesville area for 15 years. www.comfortinghandshospice.com 918-331-0003

Sandra Brown, Administrator

Affordable apartments where you can enjoy new friends and feel right at home!

We have independent living apartments available to rent for those ages 55 or older. All apartments are unfurnished, 1 bedroom, $850 per month and include: • • • • •

All utilities paid; including basic cable 24-hour emergency response Fully equipped kitchen Patio with sliding glass door Restaurant-style dining or you can have meals delivered directly to your apartment • Planned activities; to include regularly scheduled happy hour • Scheduled transportation for shopping

• • • • • • •

Housekeeping On-site laundry On-site beauty shop Daily exercise classes offered Year-round building & grounds maintenance Interior maintenance Pet-friendly

3434 Kentucky Place • 918-333-9545 • www.bartlesvillehealthandrehab.com 62

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Tickets

$75

Uncork Your Support The Lowe Family Young Scholars Program

Saturday June 18th, 2022 Get your Tickets by June 10 Silent Auction

St. Luke's Episcopal Church Annual wine tasting and food sampling event to support local students prepare for college through mentoring and life skills classes. Doors open at 6:30, start 7pm 4 wines, 4 chef-prepared small plates Wine pull, Silent Auction, Tables seat 8

Buy Tickets: bit.ly/Uncork2022 Contact: michael.youngscholars@gmail.com 918-766-6675 www.loweyoungscholar.org

Presenting Sponsor

Sponsors ConocoPhillips, Phillips 66, Truity, Arvest

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BIG EVENTS

Price Tower Gala

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Free furnace allowance

With the purchase of a qualifying Trane outdoor unit and Nexia thermostat, homeowners are eligible to receive an entry-level indoor unit at a discount based on the dealer’s regular retail price.

Offer valid June 1 through September 30, 2022. See your local participating independent Trane dealer for complete program eligibility, dates, details and restrictions. Valid on qualifying products only. Void where prohibited.

TRUSTED SINCE 1968

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Painted Horse Bar & Grill, together with Wolf Creek Ranch owners, Mark and Kelly Spencer, are proud to offer our locally raised, guaranteed all natural Angus beef products.

110 SW Frank Phillips Blvd. 918-336-1100 painted-horse.com Dine In and Carry Out Available!

New dine in hours! Restaurant: Mon - Sat 11a - 9p Bar: 11a - 10p 66

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EDUCATION

Planning a College Visit? Here are 5 Questions You Should Ask by OKWU Admissions Team The college-choice process can be a lot. We get it. To help, we asked our Admissions Team to share five of the best questions they receive from students and parents on OKWU’s campus. No matter where you end up attending, be sure to ask these questions the next time you’re on a college visit. A college is more than buildings — it’s more than dorms, classrooms, and student centers. Done right, college is an immersive community where you’ll spend years of your life forming lasting relationships. For a high school student preparing to branch out on their own for the first time, the college-choice process can be overwhelming. There are tests to take, research to do, and campuses to be visited. So, we want to help! We asked our Admissions Team to come up with five of the best questions they receive from students and parents on OKWU’s campus. No matter where you end up attending, be sure to ask these questions the next time you’re on a college tour to figure out what works for you. 1. WHAT DOES THE SCHOOL BELIEVE, AND HOW DOES THAT FIT INTO THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE? At OKWU, our Christian faith is central to the academic experience. A university of The Wesleyan Church, we believe strongly in integrating faith into the academic curriculum, sending our students out into the world with the Grace and Truth of Jesus Christ. It’s pivotal to every aspect of life at OKWU, from the classroom to our chapel services to life within the dorms. Want to know more? Ask a student when you’re on campus! 2. WHAT’S LIFE LIKE FOR STUDENTS ON CAMPUS? Our hope for students is that OKWU becomes more than a place to learn — we hope that it becomes home. We offer five

male residence halls and four female residence halls, each with thoughtfully appointed resident assistants to mentor you as you dive into college life. With clubs and student organizations to join, plus an exciting slate of activities organized by our Student Development team, there’s always something to do! Check out life on campus at OKWU. 3. WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP STUDENTS SUCCEED ACADEMICALLY? OKWU is proud to offer all students the services of the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE), which exists to help students reach their full potential in the classroom. Whether you need help studying for that tough final exam or assistance with writing a term paper, you’ll find tutors and editors at the ACE who can assist you. Find it on the second floor of the library! 4. HOW DOES THE SCHOOL HELP STUDENTS SECURE INTERNSHIPS AND JOBS AFTER GRADUATION? The point of a college education is to get a job after graduation. That’s why we’re so proud of our recent Zippia ranking as the best college in Oklahoma for job placement! Our business students have secured internships from world-class companies like ChickFil-A, Arvest Bank, Hobby Lobby, and our well-known NASCAR partnership, while students from other majors are provided opportunities for practical experience in local schools, hospitals, and ministries. No matter what career you’re aiming for, our goal is for you to graduate connected to your field of study and ready to change the world! Plus, our graduate’s average salary after completion is over $65K (US Dept. of Education Scorecard). 5. HOW CAN I AFFORD THIS EDUCATION? There’s no way around it; college can be expensive. At OKWU, we believe your education is an investment in your future — and it’s one worth making! First, be sure to complete the FAFSA as early as possible, which opens federal aid like grants, loans, and work–study openings. We also have academic scholarships available for Eagles, including the Presidential Leadership Scholarship and Dean’s Scholarship — each worth over $10,000 annually and designed to reward students committed to success both inside and outside the classroom. Our Ministry Dependent scholarships make it easy for those from missionminded families to afford school. JUNE 2022 | bmonthly

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918.333.8225 1501 SE Bison Rd, Bartlesville bisontrails-ok.com Now Leasing: 1, 2, & 3 Bedroom apartments

Call us at (918) 876-3360 or visit us at 2517 SE Washington Blvd Making life work is our life’s work. • Skilled nursing

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Free consultations, call 918.333.8500 68

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Check out our Facebook page! You can order our food with Doordash! Go to Facebook and search @litosmexicanrestaurant


T H E

RIGHT GUY TO F I G H T B A C K BIDEN’S AT TACK O N O U R

OIL & GAS

INDUSTRY “Fighting in昀ation starts with restoring our oil and gas industry. I’ve worked the oil 昀elds and I’ve met a payroll. I know what it takes to fuel our energy industry and put Oklahoma families back on a path to prosperity” - GUY

Petroleum Engineer

Small Business Owner

SEND A PETROLEUM ENGINEER TO CONGRESS.

NOT ANOTHER POLITICIAN.

VOTE ON TUESDAY, JUNE 28TH! BarkerForCongress.com

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EXPLO R E HAN DS- O N LEARN I N G

FLEXIBLE PROGRAMS Flexible Schedule We offer hands-on training in a real-world setting to get you certified and career ready. We offer daytime, morning, afternoon, and evening classes to best fit your schedule. Choose a program style that works for you!

Financial Assistance Last year, 100% of our students graduated with zero student debt. Our simple in-house financial assistance helps you cover your tuition to get the education you deserve. Our assistance consists of grants, scholarships, and work-study.

Our Programs Accounting, Automotive Collision, Automotive Service, Basic Phlebotomy, CMA, CNA, Construction, EMT, Computer & Networking Technology, Machining, Medical Office, Practical Nursing, and Welding.

Learn more and enroll today at TriCountyTech.edu. 6101 Nowata Road, Bartlesville, OK 74006 | 918.331.3333 | EnrichingLives@TriCountyTech.edu There will be no discrimination in the technology center because of race, color, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender expression or identity, national origin, religion, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, age, or genetic information in its programs, services, activities and employment. The following individual is designated to handle inquiries regarding the technology center’s non-discrimination policies, including Title IX: Tara Stevens, Director of HR & Compliance Officer | 6101 Nowata Road, Bartlesville, OK 74006 | 918-331-3248 | Tara.Stevens@TriCountyTech.edu. According to the State of Oklahoma Sex Offenders Registration Act, registered sex offenders must self-disclose their status before admissions. View our privacy policy: TriCountyTech.edu/Privacy-Policy. View our full non-discrimination policy: Bit.ly/NonDiscrimination-Policy. Title IX Training provided by: OSSBA Workshop Resources: Bit.ly/TitleIX-Policy.


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Friday June 3 7:30 pm

Wednesday June 22 7:30pm

BARTLESVILLECOMMUNITYCENTER.COM 918-337-2787 | 800-618-2787 PRESENTED BY Broadway in Bartlesville!

Sizzlin’ Summer Series 2022 The Center’s 40th Birthday Celebration Featuring the Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra Friday | June 17 | 6-9p

Wild, Wild West Featuring the Red Dirt Rangers Friday | July 8 | 6-9p

Back to School Bash Featuring Weston Horn and the Hush Friday | August 19 | 6-9p

Call 918-337-2787 for series sponsorship opportunities. Visit bartlesvillecommunitycenter.com & unitysquarebville.com for more information. 72

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Big Month at The Center June Boasts 3 Shows at The Center for Arts, Events & Community June is a big month at the Bartlesville Community Center, with the final two Broadway in Bartlesville shows and the return of the Sizzlin’ Summer Series at Unity Square.

Scooby-Doo Ruh-roh, Shaggy! The Gang’s together and heading off to Broadway in Bartlesville! Will we see you there? Tickets for the national tour of Scooby Doo are currently on sale at the Bartlesville Community Center box office. The show, which is part of the current Broadway in Bartlesville! series, stops in Bartlesville on Friday, June 3rd at 7:30pm. Scooby-Doo! and The Lost City of Gold brings your favorite Great Dane to life! Scooby-Doo is a 6-foot, 4-inch animatronic and puppeteer-operated Great Dane, created by 12 designers over 1,600 hours. With new music, new characters, acrobatics, and puppets, Scooby-Doo! and The Lost City of Gold is a live stage spectacular perfect for all ages! Come and see ScoobyDoo and the rest of the Gang in person!

Blue Man Group Tickets for the national tour of Blue Man Group are currently on sale at the Bartlesville Community Center box office. The show, is an add on show to the popular Broadway in Bartlesville! series. This smash hit phenomenon comes to Bartlesville on Wednesday, June 22nd at 7:30 p.m. More than 35 million people around the world have experienced the smash hit phenomenon that is Blue Man Group and now it’s your turn! It’s everything you know and love about Blue Man Group — signature drumming, colorful moments of creativity and quirky comedy — the men are still blue but the rest is all new! Featuring pulsing, original music, custom-made instruments, surprise audience interaction and hilarious absurdity, join the Blue Men in a joyful experience that unites audiences of all ages. Tickets for both Scooby Doo and Blue Man Group are available by phone at 918-337-2787 and in person at the Community Center box office from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For 24/7 ticket sales, visit bartlesvillecommunitycenter.com. Special thanks goes to The National Endowment for the Arts, the Oklahoma Arts Council, and the following local sponsors who have made the Broadway in Bartlesville! 2021-2022 series possible: Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Adams • American Heritage Bank • Arvest Wealth Management • Bartlesville Convention and Visitors Bureau • ConocoPhillips • Copper Cup Images • Mr. and Mrs. Paul Crawford • Diversified Systems Resources • Examiner-Enterprise • Green Country Village • Keleher Outdoor Advertising • KGGFAM KGGF-FM KUSN KQQR • KRIG KYFM KWON KPGM •

Nowata Road Liquor • Phillips 66 • Price Tower Arts Center • Robinett/King • Dr. and Mrs. Richard Rutledge • Dr. and Mrs. William D. Smith • Sparklight • Stumpff Funeral Home & Crematory • Truity Credit Union • United Linen.

Sizzlin’ Summer Series “We are excited to announce the third season of Sizzlin’ Summer Series at Unity Square,” said BCC and Unity Square Managing Director Val Callaghan. This year’s lineup features Oklahoma bands and our community’s own Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra. “The great news,” added Callaghan, “is the entertainment is not just for one weekend, but with one concert a month, the fun will last from June until August!” On Friday, June 17th celebrate The Center’s 40th Birthday Celebration, featuring local, crowd-favorite, Michael Colaw, followed by the Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra. Attendees can listen to the sounds of their hometown symphony while visiting Price Tower Plaza and local food trucks for food and drinks. There will be plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained and the 2022 Sizzlin’ Summer Series T-shirts will be unveiled this evening. Friday, July 8th will take us to the Wild, Wild West featuring Oklahoma-based band, The Red Dirt Rangers. Music will play as you ride a mechanical bull, enjoy classic lawn games, and participate in a cornhole competition. The littles can beat the July heat with a firetruck for water play and other fun kid’s activities. Dine on classic Oklahoma barbeque and quench your thirst with a beverages from the Price Tower Plaza. It’s a party you don’t want to miss! Make your transition back to the school year with our final summer concert, Back to School Bash. Leave the textbooks behind and dance the night away! Party band, Weston Horn & The Hush will close out the series on Friday, August 19th. Enjoy classic American fare with burgers, hots dogs, and brats from food trucks and delicious drinks from Price Tower Plaza. Local vendors will be on-site with local school swag to help you start the semester off looking good. Be sure to bring extra school supplies for a chance to win a BHS Football Pass. A Bruins-themed scavenger hunt, crafts hosted by NHS, lawn games, volleyball, and more will provide fun for the entire family. “Add these three, free, family friendly outdoor concerts to your calendar now!” said Callaghan. All events are free to the public and family friendly! The events will each be held from 6-9 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs or picnic blanket and come party with US all summer long! For more information on the series, you can visit unitysquarebville.com or call 918-337-2787.

40th Anniversary

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Pregnant and Postpartum Women, Infants and Children up to age 5 who receive SoonerCare automatically qualify. Participants DO NOT have to be Native American to recieve benefits! Spread the word! Call 1-800-460-1006 for more information!

Pregnant and Postpartum Women, Infants and Children up to age 5 who receive SoonerCare automatically qualify. Participants DO NOT have to be Native American to receive benefits! Spread the word! Call 1-800-460-1006 for more information. Clinic locations in Pawhuska, Skiatook, Hominy, Bartlesville, Tulsa, Fairfax, McCord and Ponca City! WIC MOBILE COMING SOON!! This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

HOME LOANS WITH PERSONAL SERVICE arvest.com/home4me Member FDIC

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Jill Carse NMLS# 564167 Sonya Reed NMLS# 2160866 Jack Nickel NMLS# 2156390 Julia May NMLS# 1089585 74

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ENVIRONMENT

What’s In a Lake? The Purpose Behind Bartlesville’s Local Reservoirs by Abigail Singrey The lakes surrounding Bartlesville contain depths of purpose that may elude boaters skimming the surface of the waters. Treasures of the community, Copan, Hulah, and Hudson provide more than a scenic escape. These lakes are instrumental to the water supply and flood control for the city of Bartlesville and the surrounding areas, a purpose that makes them key to local residents’ quality of life.

Boulevard completely underwater. The Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise reported that “raging rivers sent rooftop high water churning across Northeastern Oklahoma.” Thanks to early warnings, the homes in the flooded areas were evacuated to avoid any injuries to people. However, the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise reported that when it was all over, 1,500 homes and 200 businesses suffered damage with a total cost of millions of dollars.

LAKE HUDSON

When flood control goes awry, the results can be disastrous. Most long-time residents remember the legendary flood of Oct ober 1986, when record rainfall forced the Corp of Engineers to open the gates of Hulah and Copan dams. This released building pressure on the dams, protecting the structures, but flooded portions of Bartlesville downstream. The town became nearly impassible, with Tuxedo Boulevard, Frank Phillips Boulevard and Adams

In fact, Bartlesville residents owe the development of several of their lakes to flooding. After Oklahoma suffered a series of floods in the1920s and 1930s, the Army Corp of Engineers developed a plan to build a series of lakes to dam Oklahoma rivers and protect Oklahoma residents and their property. Imagine how much worse the 1986 flood could have been without these improvements! The lakes also provide a steady supply of water to Bartlesville and the surrounding areas. Water is both an expensive and limited resource. In the early days, the city of Bartlesville pumped water straight from the Caney River. However, as the town grew, that was no longer sustainable. Luckily, the city was able to utilize some of the same lakes that provided flood management for drinking water. As Bartlesville continues to grow, new solutions are also being utilized, such as reusing wastewater.

Lake Hudson The oldest and smallest of the three lakes, Lake Hudson is located five miles north of Bartlesville. It was built by the city of Bartlesville in 1949 as a water supply. It still serves that purpose today. Water Utilities Director Terry Lauritsen stated that Bartlesville typically uses 6 to 7 million gallons of water a day, with 2 million a day being pumped from Lake Hudson and four million from the Caney River. Lake Hudson is critical to maintaining Bartlesville’s water supply, but it also enriches the community in other ways. The development of public lakes provided additional opportunities for recreational fun in the Bartlesville area. Lake Hudson is situated on 1,430 acres, and its eight miles of shoreline feature ample boating and fishing opportunities. Lake 76

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ENVIRONMENT Hudson also has public hunting access, and the city of Bartlesville holds a drawing every fall for the use of 10 duck blinds. New amenities are being developed at Lake Hudson as well. In March, the Bartlesville City Council gave a group of citizens permission to develop a 1.2 mile mountain bike trail on the land surrounding the lake. The group of volunteers, who have private funding, hope to have the trail complete by the end of 2024. The city’s maintenance of Hudson Lake ensures that Bartlesville residents have both a steady water supply and beautiful outdoor spaces to enjoy for years to come.

Hulah Lake Named after the Osage Indian word for eagle, Hulah Lake is nestled in the heart of the Osage Hills. The land that the lake now sits on was sold by the Cherokee Nation to the government for 70 cents an acre. Later, the land was used to build Hulah Lake by damming the Caney River, which is a tributary of the Verdigris. Hulah serves multiple purposes. In the 1940s, the City of Bartlesville was seeking additional water sources to meet the growing demand, and the Army Corp of Engineers was working on a flood control plan for the Arkansas and Verdigris Rivers. Both goals were met through Hulah Lake, as its dam provides protection for 45,000 acres downstream. Hulah also served as an additional source of water for the City of Bartlesville, primarily as a backup. In the summer months, peak water usage in Bartlesville can rise to 13 million gallons a day, Lauritsen said, necessitating an additional source beyond Lake Hudson and the Caney River. However, in 2001,

COPAN LAKE

a drought reduced Hulah Lake’s water reserves to only a six-month supply for the City of Bartlesville, encouraging the city to look at other options for increase the supply, including tapping into Copan Lake and reusing water. As the largest of the lakes in the Bartlesville area, Hulah provides the most recreational options. With 62 miles of shoreline, Hulah’s expansive waters provide great opportunities for boating and fishing. For day trippers, Hulah provides beaches for swimming and hiking and picnicking facilities. For those who want to stay longer, Hulah offers amenities for overnight camping guests, including bathrooms and running water. Hulah Lake is a hunter’s paradise, offering 6,900 acres of public hunting land with an abundance of deer. Morning dove, bobwhite quail, squirrel, and waterfowl can also be found.

Copan Lake The newest of the area lakes, Copan wasn’t completed until 1983 and was named for the nearby town. The lake provided flood protection for the Caney River and Bird Creek Basins, securing the area directly below the dam and providing flood control for the Caney River downstream into Bartlesville. The addition of Copan Dam and the controlled water flow provided another safeguard against the Caney River raging out of control. While Copan Lake provides water for some rural water districts, it is not currently utilized by the City of Bartlesville. An agreement was signed in 2020 giving the city access, but officials are still looking into the feasibility of the proposal, Lauritsen said. “With the addition of water reuse to our arsenal, we are confident our current water resources can provide ample supply for our water customers for the next 50-75 years,“ Lauritsen said. While Copan Lake may be needed someday for the local water supply, it remains an untapped resource for now. However, Copan Lake serves as a focal point of outdoor fun for Oklahoma families. It is popular with local boaters who want to take advantage of its 4,850 acres of water. It also features a swimming beach, hiking trails, camping facilities, and public hunting lands. Copan Lake remains a favorite of local fishing experts as well. “I grew up fishing Copan with my papa and family,” Lance Lutke, of Lance’s Guide Service, who offers local fishing tours, said. “It offers good blue catfish and crappie. It also has pretty good largemouth bass fishing at times.” Thanks to the dedication of the Army Corp of Engineers and local governments, Oklahoma’s lakes continue to evolve with the times, providing recreation, wildlife conservation, water resources, and flood relief. In addition to appreciating the beauty of the local lakes, residents can admire the planning and energy that went into creating them to better the lives of the local communities. JUNE 2022 | bmonthly

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ON THE ROAD

Backseat Brandin’ Making an Intentional Investment in the next Generation by Kelly Bland Down south of the Red back in the day, our chamber of commerce brainstorming meetings came to be known as “Chumber Parties.” They would go into the late nights and be filled with lots of laughter and fun — like a slumber party; thus Chumber party. Those in attendance consisted mostly the two “Kelly B’s,” meaning my good friend, Kelli Brown, and me (Kelly Bland). We would dream up amazing events, advertising slogans, and endless possibilities for the Capital of Cow Country… One event we always wanted to put together was “When It’s Branding Time in Cow Country,” where we pictured agritourism at its best with access to the pens during a cow working, chuck wagon meals, and a western street-dance in the evening all served up with heaping helpings of hospitality. I still think that’s a do-able idea — for Throckmorton and for Osage County (hint, hint). If you ask me, there’s just something good about getting to experience life and not just read about it or watch it on TV. While America is binging on Yellowstone and overdosing on 1883, just a little west of Pawhuska, western lives on in living color without the twisted plot and dark music. Pull up a chair and let me tell you about a man leaving a legacy in legendary fashion in Osage County, Oklahoma. You’d ‘a found him last week out in the pasture cooking breakfast for what looked like a remake of the John Wayne classic The Cowboys. I was lucky enough to have been invited to tag along for the day and was on deck in the pasture when the next generation of punchers began peeking heads out of their tee-pees as the sun was coming up over the treetops. The branding crew for the day consisted of a few top hands and their many sons ranging in age from about 4 – 15, I’m guessing. Now y’all, down in Texas, once the cattle were in the pens and the calves sorted off, dragging rights typically belonged to the older generation with the younger expected to be the “ground crew” — better known as “the flankers.” Today though, in the Osage it wasn’t about pride or the right of passage — it was about an intentional investment in the next generation by a man who knew the value of doing so. It was the young punchers who were “the draggers” for the day — bringing the calves to the fire — and loving every minute of

it. That was the way Mr. John Hurd ran the crew — like it was an #investment opportunity. Known for his cowboying skills, ability with a horse, his opinions, and the twinkle in his eyes, I watched the man who (rightfully so) could have been leading the drive and giving the orders from the saddle — purposely take a back seat. Now, I’ll tell you, I’ve been to many a branding pen in my life — and there is usually a pecking order in no short form. However, what I watched take place on this day created a greater sense of respect for the man behind the twinkle than any pecking order protocol display ever could have. I saw servant leadership. You know, that’s almost getting to be as rare as the cowboy in our world today and is seemingly looked upon as a relic remnant of the past. If you ask me, servant leadership is personified in letting confidence rest upon kindness rather than pride, giving preference to the lesser rather than the greater, and watching attitude carry more weight than aptitude. And, it left one heck of an impression on me — as well as everyone else at the branding pen that day. It also got me to thinking… How’s your #investment portfolio looking these days in the area of servant leadership? Mine could use a little work. I think I’m going to follow John Hurd around a little more, and see if I can’t pick up a few more tips on confident kindness, intentional investments, and servant leadership. 😉 Stay tuned… JUNE 2022 | bmonthly

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FAMILY

Love You, Dad Always Let Your Children Know How Much They are Loved by Keith McPhail Anne Geddes, I believe said it the best… “Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a Dad” Father’s Day is Sunday, June 19th, a day where we celebrate our Dads. Before my kids were born, I always said to myself that I would be a different Dad … I would be the best Dad possible … I would never quit or abandon my kids. Growing up, I had a father who walked out on me and my older brother, Kevin, when I was a week old. It would be 34 years later when I met him face to face. It was Christy’s idea to go to New Mexico, so she could meet the man I got my DNA from. It was important to do this before we got married. Christy knew that I needed this to happen in order to close that chapter in my life. It was a meeting where it was hard to keep my emotions in check. At this point in my life, I was divorced, dating Christy, and had three kids. Blake was 10, Madison was five, and Parker was two. I remember as we drove out west to see and meet the man who was part of why I was here on this Earth, I was feeling anger, sadness, bitterness, and confusion. I didn’t understand why he would just leave and never make contact with me — his child. I really didn't know how to feel because I was meeting the man who made me but didn't care or love me growing up. During this meeting, he actually denied that I was his son and made me take a DNA test. We waited for the results, and when they came back, he was 99.9% my father. That didn't take away the void that I still carry today. We never built a relationship, and ironically he died in April of 2015 — the same year my mom died. My first step-dad was a raging alcoholic. I was physically and 80

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mentally abused for over seven years, beginning at the age of four. Through all those years of the horrific physical and mental abuse I endured, I thought he was my father. My mom married him before I turned one, after my father walked out. For whatever reason, she never told me the truth. I'm going to believe that in her mind she was trying to protect me. I can honestly say that my father and my two step-dads NEVER told me that they loved me. Not having those three powerful words spoken to me was so damaging as a young child and a teenager. I never celebrated Father’s Day until I had my own kids. Today you can ask any of our six kids and Tyler, who's in Heaven, “does your dad ever tell you he loves you?” I believe with all I have that they would say he always says “Love You” everytime we see or talk to him. For me, that is the most important thing you can tell your kids. Tell them that they are loved — and no matter what. Tell them that love


FAMILY will never waiver … never end … and will always be spoken. Even when I'm no longer on this earth, know without hesitation, you were LOVED!

LLOYD HICKMAN (FATHER) & KEITH McPHAIL

My mom got remarried to my second step-dad, and we moved here to Bartlesville. I had just turned 16. One day, my stepdad, Kenneth McPhail, had four kids from the age of eight to 20 years old. I was a rebel and really didn't give him a chance to be a dad. I had a wall built up from all the pain I had suffered. Our relationship suffered because of it. Before he took his own life when I was 19 years old, we started to mend our differences. He legally gave me his last name, which today I proudly carry. If he could see me now, he would be so proud of the man and father I have become. I believe I would hear the words that were never spoken to me … I love you, son! Being a divorced father for almost two years is not easy, but now Christy and I were going to bring these two families together. I had to become a Dad for Christy’s kids after we were married. Tyler was 12, James was eight, and Mary was six. With my three kids, our brand new family became one of six kids in 2005. We had no idea what kind of Hell the next 15 months were to bring to this family. Being a new Dad of six was amazin,g and three months after we were married, we found out there was going to be a seventh with the birth of our daughter, Grace. Soon after we were married, I fell back into a place that I thought I had conquered 12 years before … my cocaine addiction! I really don't understand what happened, but one thing's for sure…the Enemy was here to steal, kill, and destroy my family. I was the bullseye. I can not tell you that the kids understood what was going on at first. They knew it was not good. As the months went on, and I kept getting worse, Christy did what any wife and mother would do. She kicked me out. Her Husband and the Dad of the family couldn't keep a needle out of his arm and kept relapsing month after month. She kicked me out of the house, and my ex-wife took me to court and took full custody of my kids.

heartaches, the letdowns, then I’m sorry, and the tears, our family is closer today than ever. There are a few times during the year that we all can be together as one, and it is the happiest time for us. Our family now has grown. Four of our kids are now married, and we have one granddaughter, Scottie. Mary is pregnant with our second granddaughter who will be here in August. Being a Dad will never be easy, but I know this for sure…if you ask any of our kids what is the last thing you hear from Keith (Dad )... they would say … he will always say … Love you!

Most of the family knew that there was a serious problem that could be devastating and life-changing for everyone. All I can say is that God moved mountains, and by His Grace and Mercy, He kept me here to be the Father, Dad, and Husband that I have worked so hard to become today. Maybe I'm trying to make up for all the pain and lost time that can never be brought back. When we lost our oldest son, Tyler, in 2009 just 2 years after becoming free and clean of addiction, our lives changed. Our kids were lost, confused, sad, and hurt. They didn’t understand what was going on at that moment but knew that Tyler was not coming back home. For all the times I have failed these kids in the past, this was the time that God said move … be the Dad and Father whom I have made you be. His words and actions put ME in the spotlight. God has this and we. as a family, are going to trust and believe His plan. Over the last 29 years of being a Father and, most importantly, being a Dad has been the highlight of my life. I look back at the moments where life and death were front and center, and through the

Kevin, Kenneth, Kris, and Keith McPhail. JUNE 2022 | bmonthly

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LET FREEDOM RING

Juneteenth Celebration Dates Back to 1865 by Jay Hastings Juneteenth is the celebration of June 19, 1865, the date Union Army General Gordon Granger presented Order No. 3 at Galveston, formally advising that slavery had ended, thereby liberating all remaining enslaved people, including those in Texas. President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, issued two and a half years earlier on January 1, 1863, had freed the enslaved people in Texas and all the other Southern secessionist states of the Confederacy, but the information was slow to make its way to Texas. Enforcement of the Proclamation generally relied upon the advancement of Union troops. Texas, as the most remote state of the former Confederacy, had seen an expansion of slavery and had a low presence of Union troops as the American Civil War ended. More isolated geographically, planters and other slaveholders had migrated into Texas from eastern states to escape the fighting. Many had brought enslaved people with them, increasing by the thousands the enslaved population in the state of Texas by the end of the Civil War. Most planters lived in the rural areas of the state; however, even large cities like Galveston and Houston held many enslaved people. By 1860, there were an estimated 250,000 enslaved people in Texas. Enforcement of the Proclamation there had been slow and inconsistent prior to Granger's announcement. On June 19, 1866, just one year after the announcement, freedmen in Texas organized the first of what would become an annual celebration of Jubilee Day. The earliest celebrations included such things as church-centered community gatherings. In the 1890s the celebration became known as Juneteenth, short for “June Nineteenth,” replacing Jubilee Day. Eventually, celebrations spread across the South, becoming more commercialized in the 1920s and 1930s, often centering around large festivals. Participants in the Great Migration out of the South later carried these celebrations to other parts of the country. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, celebrations were eclipsed by the nonviolent determination to achieve civil rights. The celebrations grew again in popularity by the 1970s with a focus on AfricanAmerican arts, freedom, and liberation. Beginning with Texas by proclamation in 1938, and by legislation in 1979, 49 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have formally recognized the holiday in a variety of ways. 82

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In 1996, the first federal legislation to recognize "Juneteenth Independence Day" was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. On June 17, 2021, just one year ago, the day was finally recognized as a federal holiday, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. Juneteenth is considered the longest-running African-American holiday, usually celebrated the third Saturday in June, and has been called “America's Second Independence Day.” Tulsa’s Juneteenth festival is widely attended, celebrated and recognized. This year’s event will be held June 16-18, and will include a block party, music, arts, and wellness activities. For more information about the festival, visit tulsajuneteenth.org.


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