Photos by Doug Hoke
Mo’s Carousel a New Permanent Feature for the Gardens
T
he lights are on and the music is playing with the opening of Mo’s Carousel at Myriad Gardens. Dozens of honored guests gathered Wednesday, September 19 to officially dedicate the newest addition to the Gardens while enjoying festive fare and free rides.
THE HISTORY OF MO’S CAROUSEL AT MYRIAD GARDENS
As the donation was finalized, Lee Allan Smith stepped up to raise operating funds by coordinating and securing sponsorship of each of the carousel figurines from private donors. Smith, who has been a champion of the Gardens from its beginning, also facilitated a naming opportunity with LaDonna and Herman Meinders, longtime supporters of the Gardens. They chose to honor their friend and executive administrator, Mo Grotjohn for whom the carousel is named after.
With the closing of Crossroads Mall/Plaza Mayor Mall in south Oklahoma City, Mo’s Carousel includes owners Michael Dillard everything from its and Roddy Bates had previous location, a carousel on their excluding the blue and hands that needed white canopy top. It a new home. When features hand-carved Oklahoman business wooden horses and reporter Steve figurines from the Allan Lackmeyer learned Herschell Company which of the situation, he at one time was the got in touch with most prolific makers of Maureen Heffernan, carousels in the country. executive director of the Gardens, to Carousel donors Roddy Bates and Michael Dillard, The addition of Mo’s suggest the Gardens owners of Crossroads Mall, with Oklahoman reporter Carousel contributes Steve Lackmeyer. as a possible venue to the evolution of the for the carousel. Gardens as Oklahoma City’s award-winning Heffernan reached out to Dillard and Bates green space and urban park. It also will serve who ultimately offered to donate the carousel as a revenue source to help support Myriad to the Gardens because the Gardens had the Gardens Foundation. perfect location – the covered pavilion near the Children’s Garden.
Carousel donor Bob Burke and his family celebrate the inaugural ride of Mo’s Carousel at the donor reception.
DONOR LIST DONORS OF THE CAROUSEL FROM CROSSROADS MALL
Michael Dillard and Roddy Bates
MAJOR GIFT DONORS
LaDonna and Herman Meinders in honor of Mo Grotjohn (Pictured with his wife Jacque) CAROUSEL FIGURINE DONORS
LaDonna and Herman Meinders Ad Astra Foundation American Fidelity Foundation Mo Anderson BancFirst Bob Burke Inasmuch Foundation Josephine Freede Shahnaaz and Ronnie Irani Don Karchmer Sherri and Bill Lance Robert H. Meinders Midtown Renaissance & Hall Capital Oklahoma State Fair, Inc. Lee Allan Smith Becky and Barry Switzer Donna & Blake Wade
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