OKCNP hosts Mike Pinnell
Thank you Veterans
Lt. Governor Mike Pinnell was the guest speaker at the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits’ Members Meeting. Page 2
We extend our humble appreciation to all who have served. For photos of Veterans, see Page 14.
OKC FRIDAY Vol. 55 No. 25 • One Section • 14 pages • November 5, 2021
www.okcfriday.com facebook.com/okcfriday OKC’s only locally-owned legal newspaper with all local news Serving Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills, The Village, Quail Creek, The Greens and Gaillardia for 47 years
State of the City The ‘Roaring ‘20s’ could be back By Rose Lane Editor
Jim Farris with his family in front the replica of the plane he flew in Vietnam at Science Museum Oklahoma, from left: Back row, Annie Eastham, Jim Farris, Josh Musgrove, Josh Farris, Jacquelyn Musgrove, Miki Farris, Carly Farris holding Gia Farris, Abbey Payne and Ally Wagner; and front row, Jet Farris, Max Musgrove, Olive Eastham, Levi Box and Luke Box.
Science Museum honors Veteran Jim Farris By Rose Lane Editor Science Museum Oklahoma honored long-time Board of Trustee member Jim Farris with an exhibition in its newly-renovated aviation gallery and Oklahoma Air and Space Hall of Fame. The Aviation Gallery is now home to a newly acquired Cessna 0-2A “Skymaster,” an exact replica of the plane Farris flew in Vietnam. Captain Farris served in the U.S. Air Force for seven years, more than 13 months as a Forward Air Controller in Vietnam with the code name, “JADE.” He described his primary mission as protecting the troops by attracting the attention and firepower of the enemy. “Part of my job was to go low and slow and get shot at,” Farris said. Protecting people on the ground made his mission rewarding, he said. Farris was president of the Stafford Air and Space Museum in Weatherford when someone from Oklahoma City’s Sundance
Jim Farris with his Cessna )-2A “Skymaster” in Vietnam.
Airport contacted that organization to donate a plane. “It was just a bunch of pieces in a hanger,” Farris said. Stafford took the jumbled up plane. But, after being offered another aircraft, the museum had no room for the Cessna. Science Museum Oklahoma had some memorabilia Stafford expressed an interest in so the parties agreed to a trade. “Science Museum was thrilled to get it,” he said. The museum had the plane put all back together. “It fit in perfectly as we were
FRIDAY’s Dog
putting in a new aviation exhibit,” Farris said. To supplement the exhibit, Farris donated items from his personal collection. Items include Farris’ personal USAF Flight Crew Check Lists, a Cessna 0-2A Flight Manual and his survival kit. A reception at the museum honored Farris. He explained to the audience the intricacies of flying the Skymaster and the vital role it played in ensuring the safety of American soldiers. As he is still on the board of the museum, Farris said he spends a lot of time at the facility and called the exhibit “a terrific honor.” “It was just such a special thing,” he said. The Oklahoma Air and Space Hall of Fame has undergone a complete renovation which includes a rotation of artifacts including a thermos once owned by legendary aviator Amelia Earhart. The Hall of Fame now includes interactive digital kiosks which allow guests to search for and read the stories of all 190 inductees.
of the Week
Maggie May came to live in Quail Creek with her humans, Sid and Toni Ellington, after being dumped at the age of about six weeks near a farm in Osage County. Now 2-years-old, she works hard to keep her back yard free of pesky squirrels—even chasing them out of her large Bradford Pear tree when they get too sassy Send Dog, Baby and Cat of the Week nominations with complete descriptions to rose@okcfriday.com.
Sponsored by Paulette and Leo Kingston of WePayFast.com.
History repeats itself and Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said that might be happening. “I’m not the first to say this,” Holt said in his State of the City address to the Greater OKC Chamber. “But the ‘Roaring 20s’ followed the 1918 pandemic and we might be repeating history now. It certainly feels like we’re just getting started.” The last 20 months have been a “doozy,” with a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, the most significant discussion of racial inequality since the 1960s, the worst recession since 2008, the worst ice storm since 2009 and the longest sustained freezing temperatures since anyone can remember, he said. But, through all of that, the residents of OKC have remained optimistic. “ ... Everyone I talk to in town thinks right now is one of the greatest times in the city’s history,” Holt said. That is backed up by data from a city-wide survey that indicated that 75 percent of respondents feel the city is heading in the right direction. COVID-19 took the lives of one out of every 448 people living in the OKC metro. Nationally, one out of every 442 people died. Throughout Oklahoma, one out of every 342 people died. “Here in the OKC metro, we endured dramatically fewer deaths per capita than the rest of Oklahoma even though we’re the most densely populated part of the state,” he said. “If the Oklahoma City metro had endured deaths at the same rate as the rest of Oklahoma, we would have lost at least 849 more residents in our city. “Collectively and individually, we did the right things at the right times and people who needed to lead did so,” Holt said. OKC and Tulsa formed an alliance and worked together. Holt and Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum collaborated on what to do to help stop of the spread of the virus. See CITY, Page 3
Casady School honors alumni Casady School honored three graduates at the annual Alumni Association’s Awards Banquet during Homecoming week. Honorees included: William R. Pape III ’68 as Distinguished Graduate, Dr. Marion Garrett Parke ’00 as Alumni Achievement and Carleigh Berryman ’15 as Young Alumni Achievement. “Casady School takes every opportunity to acknowledge the personal and professional accomplishments of our exemplary alumni,” Head of School Nathan L. Sheldon said. “A highlight of our Homecoming activities is to
PAPE
PARKE
BERRYMAN
honor our alumni awards recipients for their incredible work at local, state, national, or international levels. This year’s honorees truly embody Casady’s ideals and each has an entrepreneurial spirit: William R. Pape III for his business acumen, Dr. Marion Garrett See CASADY, Page 5