19th Street May 2020

Challenging Times Call for

Creative Solutions

Cowboys,Chargers and Eagles add stars

Sooners in the NFL Draft

Vet of the Month

Pat Lee

May 2020 • Issue 5 • Volume 19

Answering the Call Todd Gibson Transitions to Moore Chief of Police

Pandemic Pivot Norman-based company creates COVID-19 testing lab

This inserted material was paid for by the advertiser and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Oklahoman, it’s ownership, management and staff.

WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER.

Features

MAY CONTENTS 2020

ISSUE 5– VOLUME 3 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mark Doescher

Creative Solutions in

10 Challenging Times

MANAGING EDITOR Lindsay Cuomo

by Lindsay Cuomo Area businesses shift sales strategies during pandemic.

Mark Doescher

CONTRIBUTORS

10

Parachuting Old Man River

14

by Bill Moakley

PHOTOGRAPHY

Former Naval Administrator recalls serving during Vietnam.

Sharla Bardin | Lindsay Cuomo Thomas Iscenko | Steve Marshall Bill Moakley | Chris Plank Chat Williams

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Tracie Gray - tracie@sportstalk1400.com Trevor Laffoon - trevor@sportstalk1400.com Perry Spencer - perry@sportstalk1400.com Jess Haralson - jess@sportstalk1400.com

PUBLISHER Randy Laffoon

Pandemic Pivot

18 by Bill Moakley

Norman based company creates COVID-19 testing lab in state.

Answering the Call

24

by Lindsay Cuomo

Todd Gibson leaves post as county sheriff, transitions to Moore chief of police.

24

Helping Healers

28 by Lindsay Cuomo

Boyd Street Magazine 2020 E. Alameda Norman, Oklahoma 73071 Phone: (405) 321-1400 E-mail: editor@boydstreet.com Copyright Š Boyd Street Magazine Any articles, artwork or graphics created by Boyd Street Magazine or its contributors are sole property of Boyd Street Magazine and cannot be reproduced for any reason without permission.

Any opinions expressed in Boyd Street are not necessarily that of Boyd Street management.

Community support helps Norman Regional combat pandemic.

Making Modifications

32 by Sharla Baridin

Business coach offers tips for businesses during pandemic.

Game Off

36 by Steve Marshall

42

Pandemic pauses prep sports.

Sooners in the NFL Draft

42 by Chris Plank

The Cowboys (x2), Chargers and Eagles come calling for former Oklahoma football standouts.

Networking Safety

48

by Thomas Iscenko

Moore fire chief champions mutual aid pact with neighboring fire departments.

sportstalk1400.com

/boydstreetmagazine

@boydstreet

48

Cover photo provided - Inset by: Mark Doescher

B U S I N E SS

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

Crea t ive S o l u t io n s in Ch a lle n g i ng Time s

B

usinesses, large and small, have had to pivot their strategies in a matter of days as executive orders and stay-at-home proclamations shuttered most in-person interactions.

Businesses in the Oklahoma City metro were faced with unprecedented challenges as their customer based was asked to stay home.

have reached out to our older customers and asked how we can help them.

We want to help in any way we can, not just with their car.”

But, in hard times came unique solutions. Restaurants and storefronts quickly shifted to new avenues of doing business, connecting with their customers in new ways.

“We shut our lobby down and posted a phone number on the front door for customers to call when they arrive. We have secure texting and a key drop off and we are cleaning, disinfecting everything we touch to be sure we are not spreading germs.”

Curtis Henning, owner of Christian Brothers Automotive in Norman, said that while the demand for his services are down, he has developed a deeper appreciation for his connection to the community.

“We’ve never gone through anything like this before. Naturally, our business is down dramatically and understandably so,” Henning shared. “We 10 | May 2020

Henning’s business qualifies as essential so he and his staff developed a plan to provide their services in the safest way possible.

Henning reached out on social media and to area hospitals to offer health care workers and first responders a 20 percent discount.

“We will also pick up and drop off their vehicles and offer free rentals for major repairs for first responders,” Henning said.

Kim Brown, director of development with the Moore Chamber of Commerce, said that the pandemic has “re-sparked the community’s pride in supporting local businesses.”

“Moore is different,” she commented.

“We have seen tragedy, and no matter the level of that tragedy, we come together to overcome. This has just brought that all back.”

The chamber created a Facebook page, Moore Curbside, aimed at connecting the community with the businesses that remained open amid widespread closures.

“We began looking for innovative ways to reach the community, letting the people know how to support their local businesses in one centralized location,” Brown said. “We are all in this together and as long as we support each we will come out of it together.”

Area businesses shift sales strategies during pandemic

The group grew to nearly 2,000 followers in a matter of weeks.

“It was a quick project,” Brown said.

“We closed our office on a Wednesday and had the group up on Thursday.”

One of the businesses highlighted by Moore Curbside is Ace Party Supplies & Showtime Concession. Owner Mara English had to close her doors for a few weeks but she found new ways to connect with customers.

out to see how we can help them grow.

We are connecting our services where it fits, making it easy for our customers by networking with other local businesses. I have even thought about a local community loyalty program.”

Andy Gmeiner, owner of Royal Bavaria, said he started making changes to protect his customers and staff back in February.

“We are scheduling curbside pickups and are working on creating party bundles so customers can get everything they need without having to go all around the store,” English shared. “We are still planning for graduations because we think people will want to celebrate their graduates.”

English said that these unprecedented times have opened doors for local businesses to support each other.

“I have learned how much businesses can support other local businesses. It is not a competition. We have reached boydstreet.com

He transitioned to digital menus that can be pulled up on customers’ phones, and replaced condiments and silverware with ones that are pre-packaged for single-use to reduce the number of commonly touched surfaces.

When Gov. Kevin Stitt’s executive orders closed restaurants state wide, Royal Bavaria had to make changes yet again. Gmeiner started offering curbside pickup and even started an online grocery store at safegroceries2go. com.

“Many grocery stores were out of stock on certain items and pick-up times had to be scheduled days in advance. You could order from us and pick up the same day, and get dinner to take home too, all in one stop.”

Party celebrations during the coronavirus pandemic have been impacted and English has helped her customers adapt to that change as well.

“We have helped people plan driveby parades and things like that,” English said. “We are encouraging people to celebrate the everyday things, to celebrate something every day. You don’t have to wait, we need those celebrations more than ever now.”

“We put a lot of things in place to put safety first,” he explained.

They even offer Growlers filled with their inhouse brew to-go.

“I was watching German and other international news sources,” Gmeiner shared. “Many people were looking at me like I was crazy. It was a gamble, but for me, it was a good gamble.”

They made changes to the in-house dining experience by reducing shared surfaces within the restaurant, making changes to how items like condiments and traditional menus were distributed.

When Royal Bavaria reopens May 12, Gmeiner says they will only use about 40 percent of their dining area and thoroughly disinfectant between diners.

“I told the staff to get together and come up with an opening date they felt comfortable with. That was one of our biggest things, I don’t want to put anyone in harm’s way.” -19SM

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 11

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: BILL MOAKLEY

Parachuting Old Man River Former Naval Administrator recalls serving during Vietnam

P

at Lee loved just about everything about the five years she spent in the U.S. Navy. However, there was one notable exception.

“I didn’t like the language,” she laughed recently on a beautiful afternoon in the courtyard of the Norman Veterans Center. “They used some bad language and I was raised differently than that.”

A native of Great Bend, Kansas, Lee grew up in a railroad family and her father’s position with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad took her to towns across Kansas, including Newton, Elwood, Dodge City and Topeka, among others.

As a young lady, Lee was also familiar with Oklahoma. She and her family regularly jumped on the train and traveled south through Oklahoma to Purcell, a busy Santa Fe stop.

From there, they’d pile in Lee’s grandfather’s pickup and head to his farm in Konawa.

Lee was a member of the Newton High School class of 1969 and headed off to train as a Navy Combat Hospital Corpsman. However, Navy personnel noticed her high scores on military tests and placed her in Naval Yeoman school in Bay Ridge, Maryland.

“I was hoping to be a corpsman, but with my scores they trained me to be an administrator of a Naval office.” Lee recalled.

Her first assignment out of school was at Naval Support Activity Mid-South in Millington, Tennessee.

“I processed the paperwork for where people were going,” Lee explained. “I also processed paperwork for ribbons and awards for soldiers coming back from the war.”

14 | May 2020

The “war,” of course was the Vietnam War, by then raging through Southeast Asia. In addition to ensuring soldiers got to where they belonged, or received their hard-earned honors, Lee was in for a bit of surprise in Tennessee. All personnel on a U.S. Naval base were required to learn how to parachute, regardless of what their responsibilities were. So, into the skies she headed.

“I had to go up above 3,500 and jump out and they pushed me off into the Mississippi River,” Lee explained with a laugh. “I was real scared the first time. I jumped four times.

I remember them all. I got my parachute wings for it.”

For all the “fun” of parachuting into Old Man River, Lee recalled the somber side of being associated with what was generally, in the opinions of Americans, an unpopular war.

She saw soldiers mistreated and denigrated. Such treatment even came up upon return to her childhood home.

“When I went back to my hometown, we marched down the street in a parade and we had eggs thrown at us,” Lee recalled. “They didn’t like us at all. If you wore a uniform back then, it was bad. You got treated badly.”

Lee also served at the Navy Outlying Field at Imperial Beach, California.

“That was an extra-nice duty station with the beaches,” Lee remembered. “I got to see the ocean a lot while I was there.”

Lee has one son, Dustin, who was a longtime stage manager for the Oklahoma City-based rock group, The Flaming Lips.

She retired from the Navy after five years. She continued to serve as a ward clerk for the Veterans Administration Hospital in Oklahoma City before retiring. -19SM

B U S I N E SS

BY: BILL MOAKLEY

Pandemic Pivot

Norman-based company creates COVID-19 testing lab in state

Testing. More testing. Better testing.

Faster testing.

Now, thanks to a company based in Norman, the Sooner State is positioned at the forefront of testing.

In March, Immuno-Mycologics, IMMY for short, which manufactures, markets and distributes innovative lines of diagnostic tests and reagents for infectious diseases, created a private COVID-19 testing facility in the span of 10 days.

As a result, some of the country’s most accurate and quickest testing can be done at a building that sits just northwest of the runaways at Max Westheimer Airport on the northern edge of Norman.

“Over the course of 10 days, we literally went from ‘this is an idea’ to performing our first clinical results,” explained 18 | May 2020

Dr. Sean Bauman, owner of IMMY. IMMY moved the needle forward for testing that can be done in Oklahoma.

They were one of the first companies to conduct testing in the state. Most COVID-19 tests were being handled by the Oklahoma State Health Department, hospital labs or out-of-state facilities.

“We were one of the very first labs that was not the state department of health to bring testing online,” Bauman said. “We’re able to provide the results to our testing partners in a matter of hours, not days or weeks.”

Testing conducted on Oklahomans and sent for out-of-state diagnostics was taking as much as 10 or 11 days for results to be confirmed.

IMMY, traditionally a provider of testing kits for infectious diseases, managed to turn itself into a testing lab in part due to its unique positioning and talented staff. A history of operating in the space regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and other oversight agencies, lent itself to IMMY’s quick metamorphosis.

“We decided we had the capabilities and equipment to do it and dove in,” Bauman said. “A lot of things were in place already that we needed. It was pulling together the resources and my team is just awesome at how capable they are at doing a wide variety of things.”

Testing conducted by IMMY to identify COVID-19 infection is structured around the virus’s unique genetic material.

“The testing looks for a piece of the virus’s genetic material,” Bauman explained. “We’re able to identify that it’s from COVID-19 and not other corona viruses, or other viruses in general like flu.

It’s a very specific and sensitive test.”

In late April, IMMY added a second test to compliment the diagnostic testing they were doing with patient swabs and launched a blood test for COVID-19 that reveals if a person has recovered from an infection.

Bauman said IMMY developed the antibody test in-house and with a strict emphasis on accuracy. Inaccurate testing for antibodies has been a problem nationally, and across the globe.

Photo by: Mark Doescher

A

s the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cast a long shadow over the world, one single factor has been discussed more than any other as a critical key in controlling the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“We wanted to ensure we had a test that was reliable like all of our other tests,” Bauman said.

Antibodies present in the blood can mean a lower risk of re-infection. Antibody testing is particularly important for medical facilities.

“Health care workers who are antibody positive can volunteer to be put on the front lines to deal with COVID patients,” Bauman pointed out. “You have to have an antibody test from a reputable supplier and manufacturer. We’ve been in this business for 40 years and we are not going to tarnish it by putting out a bad test.”

Bauman credited working partnerships with the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the Oklahoma Blood Institute, the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. He pointed to a number of areas in which all entities worked together to ensure accurate testing came in a timely manner, including the aforementioned status as a high-complexity testing lab.

IMMY also collaborated with the University of Oklahoma to ramp up the number of swab tests available, including the ability to quickly secure needed equipment the university was willing to share.

20 | May 2020

“I reached out to their vice president of research and they said yes, we’ll bring it to you tomorrow,” Bauman said. “There was no barrier there. It was truly remarkable. OU has been a great partner to help us get up and running as fast as we did.

“The state department of health and the Oklahoma Blood Institute have been great in helping us validate our tests. They shared samples with us so we could be confident in the results we were sending out. OSU did the same thing.”

Bauman said antibody testing will continue to impact the fight against COVID-19 as convalescent therapy, which dates back to the 1800s, will be aided by being able to identify those who carry antibodies.

“That’s why our antibody test is so important in all of this,” Bauman said. “It helps identify who has been infected and potential plasma donors who can save a life with their blood.”

boydstreet.com

Bauman said one of the most satisfying aspects of the work IMMY has been doing is the breaking down of barriers that have existed in terms of work being conducted in silos and stymied by sometime inflexible regulatory layering. At the end of the day, Bauman says public-private partnership will advance the fight in this pandemic.

“I’m hopeful we can invigorate this entrepreneurial, innovative spirit across our country,” Bauman said. “I think there are pockets of that, but there are so many more people who can contribute. I think removing the barriers is so important.”

Bauman said he’s proud of what IMMY has been able to contribute to the fight against COVID-19.

“It’s with great pride that we are helping fellow Oklahomans,” He noted.

“We’re doing it first and foremost for our neighbors, our friends and our families.”

So, what lies ahead as the state and country begin to collectively reopen the economy and social interaction?

“I’m optimistic,” Bauman said. “I think it will be hard. There’s not going to be a vaccine for a while. I’ve heard drugs to treat this won’t come until probably next year. So, what are we going to do for the next seven or eight months until those things become available?

“It will be different until we get a vaccine. I’m hopeful for a vaccine. I think that’s the long-term solution.”

In the meantime, Bauman said IMMY will continue to utilize its expertise to bring the accurate testing needed to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

“I never doubted we could achieve this,” he said. “I am blessed beyond measure to get to work with the folks that I get to work with every day. There is nobody I would choose other than them to go into these types of situations with. They deserve all the credit.” -19SM

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 21

COMM U N I T Y

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

Answering the Call Todd Gibson leaves post as county sheriff, transitions to Moore chief of police

T

odd Gibson has spent his professional career as a civil servant, working at various levels of law enforcement, ranging from positions as patrol officer, detective, first line supervision, command level leadership to, most recently, Cleveland County Sheriff.

He has worked as the commander of the Criminal Investigations Division, Norman SWAT Team and the East Patrol Division for the Norman Police Department.

“I honestly believe that for most law enforcement professionals the job is a calling,” Gibson shared. “The calling is based off of a desire to serve others and to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

“I feel like I have always been called to this line of work, even from a young age.”

Gibson’s father was a Norman police officer and worked for both the Norman Police Department and Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office. Despite his familial connection to law enforcement, Gibson never thought he would one day become sheriff.

24 | May 2020

“Becoming the Cleveland County Sheriff is a role that I thought I never would have been able to attain,” he shared, considering it an honor to serve the people of Cleveland County. “I have met so many wonderful and caring people. I have developed friendships with people that I would have never met and now will have a lifelong friendship with.”

During his two-year tenure as sheriff, Gibson worked to enhance the sheriff office’s persona, working to increase transparency, leadership and training.

He pointed to an overall philosophical change as the driving force behind reaching the goals he set for the agency.

“We instituted a strong mission, vision, values based philosophy to all levels of the sheriff’s office,” Gibson said. “It is everyone’s permission slip to do good, to do the right thing.”

Working in accordance with those ideals, Gibson said he made changes at every level.

“We have made a host of equipment upgrades, facility upgrades and employment pay upgrades. There is not an area

of the sheriff’s office that we have not touched. The Cleveland County jail has become the top jail in the state of Oklahoma, a model that others follow. We are the first jail in the nation to have a Department of Justice Citizens Advisory Board.”

Programs like PACT Police Community Trust Initiative were established to increase communication with the community. He also championed a community outreach program called Handle with Care, a partnership with area schools designed to help students who have experienced emotional trauma.

“One of the best things about being sheriff is that you have so many opportunities to touch people’s lives,” Gibson said. “There is always an opportunity to do good and to lift people up. I have been fortunate enough to work with other community leaders to help people during some of their most difficult times.”

Gibson said he plans to bring many of the same goals to the Moore Police Department.

“The Moore Police Department is a great agency with tremendous city and

community support. However, they have experienced quite a bit of change at the executive leadership level over the last 12 to 18 months. Leadership drives culture in any organization.

“My desire is to infuse strong leadership and stabilize the culture so that we can get moving forward into the future.

I want to be transparent and be a close part of the community at all levels of the department, always working to build trust and legitimacy within the community to make sure that we are all unified, heading in the same direction.”

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In the midst of a global pandemic, Gibson finds himself once again taking the lead in uncertain times. When he was first selected as interim sheriff, former sheriff Joe Lester unexpectedly retired a few months into his most-recently elected term.

“This is a very unique time in history, like something I have never seen before,” Gibson said. “We are making adjustments, but want to make sure that the public knows we are still here to protect them and serve them. I think that one day we will look back and reminisce about this time, laugh a little and tell the next generation how we survived the COVID-19 times.”

Gibson said that Cleveland County is in good hands under interim Sheriff Blake Green.

“They will continue to move forward in a positive, upward trajectory.”

But, he encourages voters to do their part to ensure that continues.

“At the end of the day the future of the sheriff’s office is in the hands of the people of Cleveland County. This is a complex office with a lot of moving parts.

It is important to have the right person overseeing and being a good steward of the people’s money.” -19SM

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HE A LT H

Helping Healers

Community support helps Norman Regional combat pandemic

The businesses and citizens of the Norman and Moore communities have been doing just that as they rally around the healthcare providers of the Norman Regional Health System.

“The community response has been incredible,” Erin Barnhart said, the executive director of the Norman Regional Foundation. “We have so many people to thank for this outpouring of support.”

Barnhart said. “Now we are down to eight items thanks to our surrounding communities who helped fill these gaps.”

Individuals, businesses, organizations and more have donated meals for hospital staff, personal protective equipment (PPE), disinfectant products and hand-sewn masks, to name a few.

Community partners like the Norman Chamber of Commerce and Cleveland County Fair Grounds helped coordinate a donation drop off location.

Area schools delivered vehicles filled with hand sanitizer, goggles, gloves, surgical masks and disinfectants.

“Our list of priority needs to fight this pandemic started with 15 items,”

“Surrounding schools donated 40,000 ounces of hand sanitizer, over 1400

Photo by: Mark Doescher

A

s a state, we have faced our share of hard times and our resiliency has become known as the Oklahoma Standard. Now we are confronted with another crisis, one unprecedented in more than a lifetime, but, from our common perspectives, we know to weather any storm we must come together.

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

disinfectant wipes and almost 200 cans of disinfectant spray plus medical supplies from their school nurses,” Barnhart shared. “That made a huge difference. It’s those types of partnerships that are so valuable. They saw the need and gave back.”

“We’ve had great support from the Oklahoma Chinese community and Share & Grow Association. They have donated hundreds of masks, gloves and protective eyewear, because many have loved ones in China who have gone through this.” boydstreet.com

Individuals and sewing clubs have contributed more than 3,500 cloth masks for Norman Regional Health System. Area businesses are reaching out with support – Harbor Freight in Norman donated 75,000 nitrile gloves and Hitachi Computer Products donated 6,000 surgical masks and made a financial contribution earmarked for PPE. The University of Oklahoma football coaches and their families showed their support by providing snack bags and hosting a Praise Parade.

The foundation has also tried to have a little fun, lifting spirits with an important message and a challenge called #WashYourHandsOK. Participants are encouraged to make a music video singing a song while washing their hands for the recommended minimum of 20 seconds and then post the video to social media using the hashtag.

“It’s been a fun way to make people smile but we also want to share an important message about hand hygiene,” Barnhart explained. “Some of the videos have been quite creative.”

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 29

The list of challengers is quite impressive including actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth, Coach Sherri Coale, Coach Ryan Hybl, OU Drum Major Paxton Leaf and Mayor Breea Clark.

Norman Regional doctors and nurses have also joined in.

As the staff at Norman Regional works to fight the coronavirus pandemic, Barnhart said that community support has meant a lot.

“One of our very first donations was containers with coffee on which the employees wrote inspirational notes. We delivered to the night shift and it really touched their hearts. We knew then these donations would lift up our healers. If it’s with a warm cup of coffee, a cupcake or meal, we are going to deliver on behalf of our generous community donors.”

The foundation has a list of needs on their website at www. nrhfoundation.org/Care2020.

PAPR hooded masks and N95 masks remain a top need.

Since so many of the much needed medical grade items are in short supply across the country, Barnhart said that financial contributions allow the health system to address those needs specifically. They are also requesting additional cloth masks. -19SM

30 | May 2020

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: SHARLA BARDIN

Making Modifications Business coach offers tips for businesses during pandemic

U

nprecedented times can bring about worry and difficult questions. Business owners are trying to determine their next steps as changes due to the coronavirus pandemic affect operations and the economy.

But Henry Dumas, a certified business coach, said companies can navigate through uncertain times by modifying plans, reassessing strategies and staying up-to-date on initiatives and programs now available to businesses.

Dumas is the small business management coordinator at Moore Norman Technology Center. He’s recently talked with business owners who worry about their employees and customers and are looking for resources to help.

“The best way to stay proactive and not knee-jerk react to economic changes is to conduct a strategic planning session,” Dumas said. “Revisit your purpose as a company, what has made you successful, conduct current marketing research to examine the market and determine what changes to your business model are necessary to ‘survive’ this current crisis.”

Here are more tips Dumas offers to businesses:

REASSESS Dumas said business owners should look at the current state of their business to determine what is working and what no longer works, making tweaks 32 | May 2020

to their current business model that will work in this environment. Dumas cautioned businesses owners to monitor their cash flow.

Cash “is oxygen for your business.

Treat it as such.”

COMMUNICATION Dumas advises business representatives to communicate with their customers.

“Let them know what changes you have made to keep them safe as you take care of their needs.”

It’s also important to provide customers with an easy way to communicate with the business about their questions or concerns. This can include social media posts, website updates or direct email campaigns.

Communication with employees also is key. Dumas recommends that owners keep employees updated about changes and provide avenues where they can ask questions or express concerns.

One tool that has become popular among organizations to stay connected is Zoom, an online platform for video and audio conferencing, chat and webinars.

RESOURCES Dumas recommends that business owners keep current on the resources available such as the government’s stimulus measures. In addition, there

are free webinars and online resources available through the U.S. Small Business Administration at www.sba.gov, and guidance for workplaces and employees from the U.S. Department of Labor at www.dol.gov. Also, the Internal Revenue Service provides updates about economic impact payments at www.irs.gov/coronavirus.

SELF-CARE Dumas said it’s important for business owners to gain clarity about what they can and cannot control.

“This helps you to focus and make changes where you can and to stay away from needless worry/depression/freezing in place caused by ‘what if’ thinking about what you cannot control, which destroys your mindset and saps your energy,” he said.

TALK WITH OTHERS Dumas suggests that business owners consider a business coach or mentor “who can be a sounding board and help you navigate necessary changes.” He offers free business coaching services to businesses within the technology center’s district, and is accepting new clients. He is a professional certified business coach, one of only a few in the state with the designation from the International Coach Federation.

For more information about the service, email Henry.Dumas@mntc.edu. -19SM

34 | May 2020

boydstreet.com

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 35

S P O RT S

GAME OFF

BY: STEVE MARSHALL

PRESENTED BY

Pandemic pauses prep sports T he coronavirus has changed the way that we view the world and has caused many of us to evaluate and prioritize what matters most in our lives.

My guess is that 2020 will be the year we look back on and describe to our children and grandchildren as noteworthy to say the least, but for many high school athletes it has been a year of disappointment, change and adaptation.

Senior athletes were hoping to put that final stamp on their high school careers with All-District and All-State honors as well as D-1 recruit recognition to earn that elusive college scholarship at one of the top universities in the country.

tion, has never been through anything like what the athletes, coaches and administrators are going through now.

“You feel so much for our athletes obviously, but for our coaches as well,” said Bice. “They put a lot into this too. I know they are so disappointed.

Our coaches have handled it well and supported the kids, but you can’t get it back. We are where we are.”

The baseball team under first-year head coach Andrew McGuire had gotten off to a 4-0 with great expectations for the remainder of the season, led by players like Jace Bohrofen, a University of Oklahoma commit who would have had dozens of scouts at games to watch him take batting practice.

clare them State Champs,” Bice said.

The Westmoore girls softball team is always in contention for the state championship and this year was no different, according to head coach Steve Schwarz.

“We felt like we had another good team with players like Mattie Lee, a D-1 recruit at third base, Kailey Gamble, a North Texas recruit and Janelle Marwitz, a recruit headed to Lamar University,” Schwarz said.

This was to be the season of achievement. But, the spring sports season ended abruptly.

Brent Teel, Zane Chavez, Brandon Gomez, to name a few, had gotten the Jags off to a great start early in the season.

Big things were also expected from the girls soccer team who had gotten off to a 2-1 start with their only loss to one of the top-ranked teams in Norman North. Head Coach Robert Williams returned a talented squad that went 14-2-1 last year, losing to eventual state champs Norman North in the quarterfinals and to Jenks, a team that made it all the way to the semi-finals.

Zach Bice, athletic director at Westmoore, like so many others in his posi-

“I think our baseball team was undefeated so I’ll just go ahead and de-

“Kylie Munson signed to play at Oklahoma State. She’s a great de-

36 | May 2020

boydstreet.com

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 37

fender, a leader on a defense that gave up only eight goals all of last year and can put it away on some of the freekick opportunities.”

center-mid and is an important piece in controlling the midfield, setting up scoring opportunities,” according to Williams.

Williams also talked about some of the other girls he was counting on to be leaders on this year’s team.

Celeste Ceballos was the scoring leader for the team last year but wasn’t completely healthy at the end of the year. She was a major contributor this year and continued to improve. Senior Jadynn Daggs was another experienced contributor.

“Jocelyn Glitzke is a senior that missed her freshman year after an injury and has gotten better each year since her return. She’s a girl that controlled the

38 | May 2020

While it’s true that the playing season was cut short, the time, effort and commitment by these athletes should not be overlooked. Due to circumstances beyond their control, the chance to finish their high school career was unceremoniously taken away from them.

There is a little comfort that many others are in the same boat. For athletes and coaches, moms and dads, fans and friends, 2020 is most assuredly a year no one will soon forget. -19SM

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S P O RT S

Sooners in the NFL Draft

Photos by: Mark Doescher

BY: CHRIS PLANK

42 | May 2020

T

he sports world has been essentially shut down since March 11. After Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus, the NBA postponed its season. The NCAA basketball tournaments were called off, and spring college sports were canceled completely.

Iconic events in nearly every sport have been pushed back including baseball’s Opening Day, hockey’s Stanley Cup playoffs and golf’s Masters Tournament. Even NASCAR has been unable to race amid the current pandemic.

Despite all the unknowns, cancellations and postponements, one event maintained its regular spot on the sports calendar.

Despite outspoken concerns from around the league, the NFL decided to forge ahead with its annual draft.

While embracing the unique nature of a virtual draft, the three-day event provided the sports world its first feeling of normalcy in weeks. It was different but still entertaining.

Adjusted from a live event in Las Vegas, with thousands of fans attending, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the picks from his home while drafted players celebrated with their families in their homes. The typical dress of fancy suits and jaw dropping outfits and shoes were replaced by everything from t-shirts and blue jeans to, in the instance of one player, a robe.

This year’s NFL Draft was different, but when all was said and done, it was all too familiar for Sooner fans. As a mark of consistency, The University of Oklahoma became the only school to produce at least four draft picks in each of the last 13 seasons.

The Dallas Cowboys selected CeeDee Lamb as the 17th pick in the first round and the Chargers drafted Kenneth Murray six spots later, increasing OU’s historical total of first round draft picks to 45.

The Philadelphia Eagles selected Jalen Hurts in the second round, making Oklahoma the first school ever to have a quarterback taken in the first two rounds in three straight drafts.

The Sooners draft class wrapped up with Neville Gallimore going in the third round to Dallas Cowboys to join Lamb.

CEEDEE IS A COWBOY Leading up to the NFL Draft, many believed this class of wide receivers was one of the deepest and most impressive in years and Lamb was at the top of that list. The Richmond, Texas product punctuated his Sooner career with an incredible senior season that included consensus first-team All-American honors. Lamb was also a Biletnikoff Award finalist and caught 62 passes for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns.

But, as the draft reached the spot where many thought Lamb would be selected, something unexpected happened. He started to slide down the board.

The Raiders held the 11th pick in the first round and many thought it was a slam-dunk that the Raiders would take Lamb.

But Vegas decided to go in a different direction as did other projected receiver-needy teams like the Broncos and 49ers.

“Lamb was never once there at 17 when we would put together our mocks,” new head coach Mike McCarthy said. “We’re boydstreet.com

very blessed, incredibly happy to have him. It’s a great example of staying true to our board. The staff did an incredible job of being disciplined and drafting the best player.”

Lamb became the 10th member of the Sooners’ 2017 offense to be drafted in the first four rounds of an NFL Draft. He also became the first Sooner drafted in the first round by the Dallas Cowboys since Roy Williams in 2002.

“I was very surprised,” Lamb said afterwards. “Honestly, I could not see this coming but I’m glad it did. I did not really have many conversations with them. I met with them in February at the combine. Other than that, there was not really much going on between us.”

The Cowboys had Lamb rated as the sixth-best player on their board, which made for an easy decision when he was available with half the first round already in the books. The Cowboys were so enthralled with Lamb that they shrugged off multiple trade offers that would’ve gained them more picks.

Instead they decided that extra picks in later rounds wouldn’t have the immediate impact that Lamb would.

“We had as many as three different trades that we could have done,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said.

Lamb joins Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup at wide receiver for the Cowboys and despite lacking a need for a wideout the Cowboys made one of the more universally praised picks in the entire draft.

“Lamb prevailed,” Jones said. “We just didn’t want to miss him. Those trades ultimately are supposed to add another player to be valuable, but we could not trump him. He was just there. He’s a football player. He’s a playmaker. He just earned it.”

“I’m very thrilled for CeeDee and his family,” said Sooner Head Coach Lincoln Riley, who has produced five first-round picks in his three years at the Sooners helm. “Been there with him since day one and remember watching him when he was a sophomore in high school. The progression he’s made since then and the impact he made on the OU program and our university is just absolutely tremendous. I think he’s got a great chance to have a long and very prosperous career.”

Lamb will wear the number 10 for the Cowboys and was the third receiver taken in what will go down as an historic class for wideouts. 13 wide receivers were taken in the first two rounds, a record total, while 36 total wideouts were taken over the course of the seven-round draft which tied the mark for the most.

“The right thing to do is always pick the best football player,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “That’s what we did today.”

MOVING UP FOR MURRAY Many thought Sooner linebacker Kenneth Murray was destined for Baltimore. The Ravens have a roster already loaded with Sooners and it just seemed like a match made in football heaven. But the Los Angeles Chargers and head coach Anthony Lynn had different plans.

The Patriots were on the clock with the 23rd pick in the first BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 43

round. The Chargers had already drafted its quarterback of the future in Justin Herbert at sixth overall and did not pick again until the second round. But, the Chargers could not wait to find a player they felt could have the same impact as Murray, so they made a move and traded back into the first round to draft the Sooner.

“As a personnel staff, you like to hold on to your picks, but he’s a player that was just a premium player for us, someone we had rated very high, and we just think he fits our defense to a T,” Chargers General Manager Tom Telesco said. “We felt like when it got to a certain point, it gave us that opportunity to go up and be aggressive and get him, fully knowing that we gave up a third-round pick to do it, but we felt like he was worth that.”

Murray became the first Oklahoma defender to go in the first round since Gerald McCoy went third overall to Tampa Bay in 2010. Murray played nearly 91% of the Sooner defensive snaps over the last three years. The two-year captain recorded 100 or more tackles over the last two seasons and had 9.5 sacks and 37 tackles for loss during his Sooner career.

“I’m emotional,” Murray told SoonerSports.com after he was selected. “Obviously, this is a huge goal that I’ve wanted to accomplish since I was a kid. Coming to Oklahoma, I wanted to leave a mark on the defensive side of the ball and was able to do that. I’m just happy that I was able to do it, but honestly this is just the beginning.”

“This is a run-hit linebacker,” Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn said. “He can do the things we need him to do in coverage and also in the run game. He can play in the box. He can play in space.

But this man’s intangibles, his presence when he walks into a room… he’s a natural-born leader and I love that he’s passionate about this game.”

Murray joins a defense that includes Pro Bowlers Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Derwin James and Chris Harris Jr. but has a hole at linebacker. Thomas Davis was released during the offseason while Denzel Perryman has yet to play all 16 games in his five-year career.

“I had a meeting with them at the combine and I thought it went well. Obviously, it went pretty well because they 44 | May 2020

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decided to come get me,” Murray said. “I feel like it’s the perfect situation for me.

It says a lot to the fact that they believe in me that much to trade up and get me.”

Murray will wear 56 in Los Angeles and while he leaves a void at linebacker for the Sooners on the field, his presence off the field will be missed just as much.

“Kenneth has been a great leader for us, a starter from day one,” Riley said. “He was one of the most influential and active players we’ve ever had in terms of offthe-field activities and has been a great all-around Sooner. He’s also a tremendous example of the progress of ‘Speed D’ and we look forward to him having a great career and becoming an instant-impact player with the Chargers.”

46 | May 2020

A SURPRISE IN PHILLY Questions have surrounded Jalen Hurts his entire career. Is he accurate enough as a passer? Does he read and react quickly? Is his physical running style going to lead to injury problems? It should come as no surprise that those questions would not only follow Hurts through the NFL draft process but even into the draft itself. Hurts was not expected to be taken in the first round of the draft, with many projecting the former Sooner to be taken in the second or third round.

Most of the projections had Hurts landing with either the Patriots or Raiders in the third round while some thought there was a chance that maybe the Saints or Packers would bring Hurts in to serve as a back-up quarterback.

But nobody had Hurts landing in Philadelphia and joining the Eagles as the 53rd pick in the second round. Hurts joins Carson Wentz and Nate Sudfield, who was recently re-signed to a oneyear deal, in the quarterback room.

“There’s a lot of knowledge in the quarterback room and a lot of knowledge in the organization itself, and for me to have the opportunity to learn and take steps as a quarterback and grow, I’m looking forward to it all,” Hurts said.

“I’m ready to go to work.”

While the Eagles appear to be set at quarterback, Head Coach Doug Pederson is excited about the potential in what Hurts can provide in Philadelphia.

“He has a unique skill set,” Head Coach Doug Pederson said. “You see what Taysom Hill has done in New Orleans and how he and Drew Brees have a connection there and a bond there.

And you look at [Joe] Flacco and Lamar [Jackson] in Baltimore for the short period of time, how they gelled together. It’s just something we’re going to explore.”

“Jalen had a great influence on our program in such a short amount of time,” Riley said. “He had an unparalleled journey through college football and we’re happy and feel thankful the last year of that journey was with us. He’s really progressed as a leader, a player and a technician, and I certainly think his best years are ahead of him.”

THE DALLAS SOONERS As the third round of the draft started to wind down, the Sooners made yet another impact on the 2020 NFL Draft.

boydstreet.com

Neville Gallimore became the second sooner drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in this year’s draft. In the third round, Dallas used the 82nd overall pick to select Gallimore.

The 6-2, 305-pound Gallimore is OU’s first defensive tackle drafted since the Miami Dolphins picked Jordan Phillips in the second round (52nd overall) in 2015. Gallimore started 38 of 52 career games at OU and finished with 148 tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. He was a 2019 firstteam All-Big 12 selection by the media after making 30 tackles and posting career highs of 7.5 TFLs and 4.0 sacks.

In addition to joining Lamb in Dallas, he is now teammates with Sooner Gerald McCoy who signed a free agent deal with the Cowboys during the offseason.

“When you go to the University of Oklahoma and you want to play defensive

line, that’s one of the main guys that gets brought up in terms of who you want to compare yourself to,” Gallimore said.

McCoy reached out to his new teammate moments after he was selected.

“He just let me know how proud he was, but that there is a lot of work to be done,” Gallimore revealed. “He just let me know that he’s someone that I could look up to and pick his brain. So, I’m looking forward to that.”

As the curtain closed on the 2020 NFL Draft, it brought a moment of normalcy back to the sports world.

It also allowed the Sooners to continue to flex its pro-producing muscles. The Sooners have now had a player drafted in 83 of the 85 NFL Drafts and 99 Sooners have been selected since 2000, lapping the rest of the Big 12 during that stretch. -19SM

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 47

COMM U N I T Y

BY: THOMAS ISCENKO

Networking Safety

Moore fire chief champions mutual aid pact with neighboring fire departments

T

hanks to voter-approved sales tax increases, Moore has four strategically placed fire stations, all newly constructed. However, Moore’s very own Fire Chief Greg Herbster strives for even higher standards, not just for his department but for those he protects.

An ambition equally shared amongst Oklahoma City and Norman fire departments.

For several years, the three cities have benefitted from a mutual aid agreement between their neighboring fire departments. Meaning, Moore’s fire department can ask for assistance from Oklahoma City and Norman and vice versa.

48 | May 2020

By themselves, Moore’s four fire stations have a quick response time, but the departments in both Norman and Oklahoma City possess even more resources. Together, the trio provides the best assistance possible in times of emergencies.

With the additional resources, firefighters can respond quickly to quench flames and provide aid, especially during large-scale disasters.

To make this partnership even more beneficial, the three fire departments want to switch from a mutual aid agreement to an automatic aid pact.

On top of the benefits already realized by the agreement, the automatic

aid pact will allow the various departments to engage in training protocols together to better serve their sectors in unity. With improved foundations for teamwork and allocation of resources, Moore, Norman and Oklahoma City will be able to reduce response times even more.

“So what we are looking at doing, if they have a working structure fire, they will automatically dispatch us so we can get there quickly and give the best chances for survivability and structure conservation.”

Something, Herbster says is extremely important.

“Today, all of our furnishings are petroleum-based, synthetic materials that burn up to ten times faster than older, traditional furnishings.”

Herbster, who is helping shape the pact, revealed, that this has been “several years in the making.”

“We just want what’s best for citizens and that’s a quick response time. There’s still a few things that need to be finalized like radio frequencies and the handling of dispatch, but the shift to an automatic aid pact will likely happen in the near future.”

Moore will provide help to their citizens first but won’t hesitate to provide assistance outside their jurisdiction when asked. Once in place, the pact will result in better coordination between the firehouses and more resources available to help those in their time of need, both in the form of tools and in personnel, depending on the call.

“We are looking forward to working together… to build a stronger network of protective services,” Herbster said. -19SM

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