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Vol. 52 No. 9 • Six Sections 68 Pages June 28, 2019
50 Most Powerful Oklahomans
1. BILL ANOATUBBY Governor, Chickasaw Nation
2. CLAY BENNETT OKC Thunder Chairman, CEO, Dorchester Capital
3. TRICIA EVEREST Attorney, Philanthropist, Community Volunteer
4. LARRY NICHOLS Chairman Emeritus, Devon Energy
Tricia Everest skyrockets to #3 By Vicki Clark OKC FRIDAY Publisher Criminal Justice activist Tricia Everest vaulted into the #3 position in OKC FRIDAY’s “Most Powerful Oklahomans” poll for 2019. Governor Kevin Stitt garnered 4 votes in 2018, but as expected received over 200 this year and ranked #7. The Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby wins the #1 position again in the voting, as the Chickasaws continue to support almost every charitable and worthy cause across the state. Under his leadership, the Chickasaw Nation continues to thrive financially, offering opportunities and facilities to tribe members, employment to thousands, and significant support of nonprofits across the state. Owner of the OKC Thunder Clay Bennett remains the #2 most respected person in the state. The NBA team and Bennett united the state, formerly divided between OU and OSU, behind one team. Generous charitable donations of the team’s time and money to worthy causes further deepened fan loyalty. Tricia Everest, who vaulted from #19 to #3 this year, inherited the spirit of her great aunt, Edith Kinney Gaylord, journalist, and philanthropist. Her passion
for stopping abuse against women and over incarceration guides her to volunteer almost full time at Palomar, the Family Justice Center. A former assistant attorney general, Everest was recently tapped to serve as chair of the newly created Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority, created by the Oklahoma County commissioners to provide oversight of finances and operations of the jail. Larry Nichols, co-founder and Chairman Emeritus of Devon Energy, is a perennial top five. His experience and influence are sought continuously by the chamber, politicians, and arts organizations. His family’s multi-million dollar contributions to arts groups such as Lyric Theatre and OKC Ballet carries on a tradition established by his late parents Mary and John Nichols. He ranked #4 in the voting this year. David Rainbolt is also following a family practice of generously funding medical research, civil justice, criminal justice, and common and higher education issues, the arts, and social service nonprofits. He is the Executive Chairman of BancFirst Corporation. Mayor David Holt is another rising young star breaking into the Top Ten. The son of a teacher and a social worker, he has risen to the See POWERFUL, Page 2
5. DAVID RAINBOLT Executive Chairman, BancFirst Corp.
6. DAVID HOLT Mayor, Oklahoma City
7. KEVIN STITT Governor, Oklahoma
8. TOM COLE U.S. Representative, 4th District
9. SUE ANN ARNALL President, Arnall Family Foundation
10. WILLIAM ‘BOB’ ROSS President & CEO, Inasmuch Foundation
INSIDE
Nonprofits, Pages 13-20; Attractions, Page 21-22 Next Generation of Most Powerful, Pages B1-8 OK Humane, Pages C1-6; Economy, Pages D1-6
Concerts, parades, fireworks slated for Fourth of July By Sara Schlecht Student Intern The Fourth of July nears, and with it come some of the summer’s most exciting events. Oklahoma City certainly knows how to celebrate. These are just a few
of the numerous parades and other festivities occurring around the metro to mark the holiday. The Oklahoma City Philharmonic will play its annual Red, White and Boom concert at the State Fair Park on Wednesday,
July 3. Parking and entry to the event are free. Entrance to the park will be available through gates five and six, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The 75-minute concert will begin at 8:30 with a fireworks display to follow at 10:00. Bring the whole fam-
ily — and lawn chairs — to enjoy the patriotic show. Rain or shine, on Thursday, July 4, Nichols Hills will host its 61st annual parade, starting at 9 a.m. Participants in the parade will begin at the intersection of Bedford and
Huntington and then proceed along a child-friendly route to Kite Park. The parade will follow fire trucks and police-escorted classic cars as the Nichols Hills band plays classic See FOURTH, Page 5