19th Street Magazine July 2019

Referee, Dentist

Larry Leemaster

Veteran of the Month

Lewis Jackson

Brown’s Shoe Fit

Free Shoe Giveaway

July | CONTENTS

2019

08 by Bill Moakley

Annual Fishing Derby

Kids and catfish to face off at Buck Thomas Park.

12 by Bill Moakley

PHOTOGRAPHY

20 by Roxanne Avery Time to Plan

Moore Funeral & Cremation offers helpful guide.

24 by Sharla Bardin Grow and Go

Chip Minty

Vietnam vet declines commendation despite bravery.

Norman’s new indoor tennis courts ready for action.

Mark Doescher

MANAGING EDITOR SENIOR EDITOR

Tennis Anyone

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Humble in Valor

16 by Austin Chandler

ISSUE 7 - VOLUME 2

Lindsay Cuomo Mark Doescher

CONTRIBUTORS

Roxanne Avery | Sharla Bardin Austin Chandler | Lindsay Cuomo Chelsey Kraft | Steve Marshall Bill Moakley | Chris Plank Emily Robinson

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES

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

PUBLISHER Randy Laffoon

Technology center launches leadership development series.

28

by Chelsey Kraft

Where Your Shoes Take You

Brown’s Shoe Fit sponsors third annual photo contest.

30by Emily Robinson

Another World

Moore library opens virtual reality program for kids and adults.

34 by Steve Marshall

Competing Careers Dr. Larry Leemaster talks about his dual careers.

SportsTalk Media 2020 E. Alameda Norman, Oklahoma 73071 Phone: (405) 321-1400 E-mail: editor@boydstreet.com Copyright © SportsTalk Media Any articles, artwork or graphics created by SportsTalk Media or its contributors are sole property of SportsTalk Media and cannot be reproduced for any reason without permission. Any opinions expressed in SportsTalk are not necessarily that of SportsTalk management.

38 by Chris Plank

Jewel on Jenkins

Sooner softball success driving push for new stadium.

44

by Lindsay Cuomo

A Mission of Relief

Local surgeon treats patients in Norman and beyond.

4 | July 2019

Cover photo provided by City of Moore

COM M U N I T Y

BY: BILL MOAKLEY

Annual Fishing Derby

Kids and Catfish to Face Off at Buck Thomas Park

A

ny seasoned fisherman will tell you there are good days and bad days.

But, for kids attending the City of Moore’s annual Fishing Derby at Buck Thomas Park, the day will probably be about as good as they get.

The July 27 event will feature scores of young anglers throwing baited hooks into a fully stocked pond as instructors help with fishing techniques and tips.

The derby is open to kids ages 5 to 15, and all participants need to be accompanied by an adult.

Fishing is only open to children and all participants must bring a fishing pole and bait, such as crawlers, worms, shrimp or liver. There’s a four-fish per family limit, and kids can keep fish they catch. The city stocked the lake with about 1,000 pounds of catfish for the derby.

“We’ll have the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife coming out,” said Geoff 8 | July 2019

Moore, recreation coordinator with the City of Moore. “They send a game warden or official from their fishery and they do clinics. They’ll cover safety, how to tie knots, how to bait a hook, fish identification, cleaning, fixing reels and ethics. They’ll show the kids a lot of different things.”

The formal fishing clinic begins at 8 a.m. Check-in for the event begins at 7:30 a.m.

The derby runs until around 11:30 a.m., when the pond will re-open to the public.

Moore said those attending can access the pond from the dog park entrance, off of NE 12th Street. Wildlife officials will also be handing out information covering a wide variety of animals native to Oklahoma.

“They have a whole education side to it,” Moore said.

Last year’s event attracted 145 young fishermen. The derby is free, but those planning to attend are asked to register online at cityofmoore.com/fun.

Moore said the event is not only a good time for young fishermen, many of whom are casting a line for the first time, but for city and wildlife officials as well.

“It’s definitely fun to see the kids out and to see them smiling,” he said.

“Sometimes, it’s the first time for a kid catching a fish. They’re able to catch fish left and right because the pond is stocked, and the fish haven’t eaten a lot in a couple of days. Just seeing so many people around the pond is fun.”

Of course, Oklahoma weather in July can be tricky but the derby will be held rain or shine. Like all fishermen, officials are hoping for clear skies and comfortable temperatures.

“We always hope for that cooler weather,” Moore said. “We’d love it to be in the 70s, but we understand it’s in July.

It’s usually somewhat cool in the morning, but it heats up quick.”

Whatever the temperature turns out to be, Moore emphasized a good time is the aim of the day.

“We encourage people to bring the whole family and make it a family fun day,” he said.– 19SM

COM M U N I T Y

BY: BILL MOAKLEY

Humble in Valor

PRESENTED BY

Vietnam Vet Declines Commendation Despite Bravery

S

hot in the head while serving in the highlands of Vietnam, Lewis Jackson never wanted to be recognized for his valor in battle, but, when the fighting was long over, his commendation finally caught up with him.

A native of Tatums, one of Oklahoma’s historically all-black communities, Jackson was raised by his grandmother. After graduating from high school, he moved to Oklahoma City and was hired as a delivery driver for Capital Distributing. Three years later, his draft number came up as the war in Vietnam roared to full strength. He was deployed in the summer of 1967 as part of the 4th Infantry.

“I was a machine gunner with a transportation unit that distributed supplies all over Vietnam,” Jackson said. “I traveled as the lead gunner in the convoy.”

12 | July 2019

In the autumn of 1967, Jackson’s division experienced some of the war’s most intense combat in the mountains surrounding Kon Tum, a hotly contested region throughout the war. He saw combat at Pleiku and Dak To. During a battle that raged for days in Pleiku, Jackson suffered severe burns while operating his machine gun and would eventually be shot in the head.

“I was trying to change the barrel,” he said. “The barrels would heat up and had to be changed. We were being shot at, and I was scared and grabbed the barrel of the gun to change it without putting my gloves on. It burned me good.”

Moments after getting burned by his gun barrel, Jackson felt a warm sensation above his left eye. He had been shot in the head.

“My partner on the gun truck was shot and killed,” Jackson said. “I looked over and he was gone.”

As fighting died down, medics reached Jackson and were able to transport to him to an evacuation hospital nearby.

Almost miraculously, he suffered no major complications from his injuries.

He would return to battle after only a few weeks of recovery. In all, Jackson would fight in five extended battles before returning to the U.S. in July 1968.

Back in Oklahoma, he realized one night he had been missing something he took for granted most of his life.

“I never saw the moon over there,” he recalled. “I never looked up at the sky.

Your eyes were always straight ahead or looking at the ground. If you looked at the sky, you got killed.”

As his time in Vietnam was drawing to an end, Jackson was notified he would be receiving the Purple Heart, awarded by the president to those injured or killed in battle. He refused the com-

mendation when it was first offered.

“I asked if it meant I got to go home faster,” Jackson laughed. “They told me no. So, I told the Army I didn’t want it. I felt embarrassed, taking an award for fighting. Then when I first got back, Vietnam soldiers were not treated well.

We were spit on, had stuff thrown at us.

It was tough.”

However, encouraged by friends to accept the award, Jackson pinned his Purple Heart on chest more than 30 years after fighting his last battle. The attention his award brings him still comes with a little discomfort. However, Jackson says he is proud of his service and recognition for answering his country’s call to duty.

“I’m proud of it,” he said. “I’ve come to accept it. I did something good, and I served, but it’s sometimes still embarrassing.” - 19SM

Thursday Night Buffet

er What’s bett itzel? than a schn

A FREE Schnitze

l!

2 for 1

Pork Schnitzel Mon - Wed

COM M U N I T Y

BY: AUSTIN CHANDLER

Tennis Anyone?

Norman’s New Indoor Tennis Courts Ready for Action

F

or decades, the sport of tennis has offered a fun way to get outside to take advantage of a sunny day. The sport, first played in the 1860s, has been a fixture in not just American culture but worldwide since its inception. Even the most casual tennis observers have heard of the greats, such as Roger Federer and Serena Williams.

In Norman, players can now enjoy the game rain or shine at the Westwood Tennis Center’s two new indoor courts.

The courts have LED lights, and the building is LEED-certified, said James Briggs, a project manager for the Norman Department of Parks and Recreation, who worked on the new addition. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a third-party certification that a building is designed with sustainability in mind.

As a part of the Norman Forward Initiative that voters approved in 2015, city officials broke ground on the two new indoor courts in September 2018. The project finished this May and was recently celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. In addition to the center’s outdoor courts and youth courts, these new indoor courts are sanctioned by the United 16 | July 2019

States Tennis Association (USTA).

Norman hosts a lot of USTA-sanctioned tournaments, so the city’s new courts are a little bigger than non-sanctioned courts, Briggs said.

Since it was founded, the Westwood Tennis Center has continued to evolve. In 1969, it opened with only two courts and now it has plenty of room for everyone, rain or shine.

The center is not just a staple of the Norman community. It’s also a national center, used by players from all over the world, including China, Poland and Bulgaria. In 2007, the USTA recognized the Westwood Tennis Center as a National Outstanding Facility.

Many facilities target a specific demographic – amateur, youth, senior, professional, etc. – but the Norman center is available to all ages and interest levels.

“We’ve got 13 outdoor courts,” said Briggs. “Plus, our youth courts.”

The new addition of the indoor courts is the center’s latest upgrade, ensuring that Norman and Westwood remain a favorite destination for tennis players of all ages and skill levels. – BSM– 19SM

Moore Norman Technology Center

Attend TUITION-FREE by starting a career program before you turn 21 BUSINESS & INDUSTRY TECHNOLOGY CAREERS Accounting Cyber Defense Database Administration Digital Video Production Entrepreneurship Graphic Design

Legal Office Services Network Information Systems Programming & Software Development Virtualization & Cloud Storage Web Design

HEALTH CAREERS Dental Assisting Diagnostic Medical Sonography Medical Assisting Personal Fitness Trainer

Practical Nursing Pre-Nursing Surgical Technology

TECHNICAL CAREERS Automotive Collision Repair & Refinishing Automotive Service Technology Carpentry CNC Machining Computer Aided Design & Drafting Cosmetology Cosmetology Master or Practicing Master Instructor

Electrical Apprentice Esthetician Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC/R) Service Careers Maintenance Welding

Call today or visit us online for more details.

405.801.5000 mntc.edu/tuition-waiver

COM M U N I T Y

BY: ROXANNE AVERY

NONPROFITS WITH HEART PRESENTED BY

Time to Plan

H

Moore Funeral & Cremation Offers Helpful Guide

onoring the life of a loved one can be overwhelming in the midst of grief and sadness. At a funeral or cremation service, family and friends want to know about the person’s childhood, their education, their work, faith and friendships.

Although not a subject most people are eager to discuss, pre-planning a funeral assures the person receives the service at a cost that’s affordable. Pre-planning also removes the burden for family..

Showcasing videos, photographs, music, special readings and other involved elements with family and friends is easier when the person is still alive. They also can determine who will participate in the service.

Moore Funeral & Cremation has created a 60-page planning guide, full of information about making funeral arrangements and addressing necessary issues. This free guide includes information about writing an obituary, cremation authorization and disposition 20 | July 2019

instructions, financial and estate planning, hospice, the Oklahoma do-not-resuscitate consent forms, probate, wills and trusts, advanced directives for health care and more.

The planning guide is filled with partnerships that have been screened based on reputation in the community.

“Our partners are not people who are serving the community for their own benefit,” said Chris Cordell, managing partner of Moore Funeral & Cremation.

“They are people who have a heart to serve others. A large majority of those people are the ones doing a lot of the nonprofit work in our community.”

Bob Gates, full-time caregiver to his mother, said the planning guide is invaluable. Although the financial aspects for his mother were already planned, Gates found information he was not aware of.

“I learned about the death certificate, how the remains actually get to the

funeral home, which is different if the person passes away at the hospital or at home,” Gates said. “I learned a lot and, as a result, I’ve gone back to my attorney, who is looking into some of those details.”

Unless a person has been through the process before, there is a learning curve, Gates said.

“There’s a section on veterans, how to write an obituary, things that affect Oklahoma like cremation and several glossaries of terms for financial and estate planning and also probate and the court system, wills and trusts.

They know their stuff and they’re not just providing a service. They look at it from the client perspective which is very helpful.”

Paying ahead of time can also help ease a future financial burden because clients pay the price of the service today, not years from now when the price inevitably increases, and payment plans are available.

Licensed staff members are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to discuss funeral services and options. They offer personal private family rooms, a concession area with a kitchen, a fully adaptable state-of-the-art chapel and a convenient on-site fellowship center.

For your complimentary copy of “It’s Time Planning Guide”, stop by Moore Funeral & Cremation at 400 SE 19th Street in Moore or download the PDF at www.moorefuneralcremation.com/ planning-guide-1. – 19SM

START YOUR JOURNEY TO

MORE LIFE

Join the one-hour, science-backed, technology-tracked, coach-inspired group workout designed to maximize results.

TRY US FOR FREE*!

405.703.5259

Orangetheory Fitness 825 SW 19th St • Moore, OK 73160 orangetheory.com

*First-time visitors and local residents only. Certain restrictions apply. $28 minimum value. At participating studios only. Orangetheory® and other Orangetheory® marks are registered trademarks of Ultimate Fitness Group LLC. © Copyright 2019 Ultimate Fitness Group LLC and its affiliates.

COM M U N I T Y

BY: SHARLA BARDIN

Technology Center Launches Leadership Development Series

M

oore Norman Technology Center is hosting a new summer series where participants can snack on lunch while soaking up knowledge about effective leadership.

The new “Grow and Go” professional development series, offered by the Business Development Center, features a variety of topics to aid in leadership training. Subjects include the role of feedback in the workplace and identifying leadership behaviors.

Upcoming sessions are set for July 18 and Aug. 15, and the sessions are offered from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the center’s South Penn campus at 13301 S Pennsylvania Ave. The cost is $19, which includes lunch.

The “Grow and Go” series was developed from feedback received in April at the “Grow Your Business” summit.

Participants submitted surveys that expressed a need for more leadership training in the region.

“Developing leadership capacity is monumental right now,” said Gina Bertoletti, coordinator of the Business Development Center.

The idea with the “Grow and Go” series is to offer sessions that are creative and convenient and can help connect employees with knowledge and strategies that can enhance their leadership.

“We wanted to do something fun and special for our community,” Bertoletti said.

24 | July 2019

The July 18 session is titled “Feedback is another F word”. In this session, leaders can learn how to deliver feedback with minimum delay or drama. The session also will feature a discussion about using feedback to move toward improvements in processes and innovation.

The Aug. 15 session topic is “Jekyll and Hyde. What’s your leadership personality?” and is designed to help participants identify their leadership behaviors and discover how they can positively or negatively impact colleagues and productivity.

The South Oklahoma City, Moore and Norman chambers of commerce have partnered with the technology center on the summer series and books about each session’s topics will be available for check out from the Pioneer Library System.

Bertoletti said the center hopes to host the “Grow and Go” sessions each year to offer more professional development opportunities for area companies and to help equip and empower leaders.

“This is our way of being in tune with what the businesses want in the community,” she said.

To register for the sessions, visit mntc. edu/GrowAndGo or call 801-5000. – 19SM

Money

Market

1.92%

Annual Percentage Yield*

*$250,000 minimum deposit. Rate effective as of 5/24/2019. Rate subject to change. Limited number of monthly withdrawals. $500-49,999=1.51%APY | $50,000-99,999=1.56%APY | $100,000-249,999=1.61%APY

For more information, please contact our New Account Team at newaccts@frontier-ok.com or call Johnetta at 405.672.7831.

5100 SOUTH I-35 SERVICE RD | OKLAHOMA CITY , OK 73129 405.672.7831 | FRONTIER-OK.COM

I-35, EXIT 123A

B U S I N E SS

BY: CHELSEY KRAFT

Where Your Shoes Take You

Brown’s Shoe Fit Sponsors Third Annual Photo Contest

O

ur shoes take us to a lot of places and this summer Brown’s Shoe Fit customers have a chance to get a little more back in return. Those who share pictures of their summer adventures from the vantage point of their shoes could win a free pair from the Norman store.

The idea for the contest came to owner Steve Woodin after having so many conversations with people who were looking for a pair of shoes for a specific trip or outing. Woodin and his employees help customers pick out the right shoes to fit the climate of where they’re headed or activities they’ll be doing.

But they usually don’t get to hear an update after the trip.

“It’s rare that we hear those after stories, so we thought this picture contest would kind of tie in to us,” Woodin said. “We thought that would tie it all together and be a fun way to give away a pair of shoes at the end to whoever can turn in a cool, fun, weird, unique picture.”

Woodin said the picture can be from anywhere, whether it’s a nearby trip to Lake Thunderbird, a vacation out of the country or camping in the mountains.

They just want to see fun pictures that stand out.

28 | July 2019

“It doesn’t have to be elaborate,” Woodin said. “It can be just a picture of your foot up in the air with a cool background, just someplace fun, a cool picture with a pair of shoes.”

This marks the third year of the “Where Your Shoes Take You” contest, and people can enter by posting a picture of their shoes on the store’s Facebook page, Brown’s Shoe Fit Co. Norman, OK, with the hashtags #BrownsShoeFitNorman and #ShoeSelfie. The contest will run throughout July and August, with a winner announced at the end of each month.

Brown’s Shoe Fit, located at 2427 W Main St., has been in Norman for more than 50 years, with Woodin as the owner for the past 20 years. Woodin said the store is an old-fashioned family shoe store that carries a variety of lines to fit people of all ages, but most specifically the needs of Norman residents.

“We’ve got baby shoes, kid’s shoes, men’s, women’s, we try to get all age categories,” Woodin said. “We’ve got the hot brands, but we’ve got shoes for people that need more stability and need a little help. We just try have a little bit of everything.” – 19SM

COM M U N I T Y

BY: EMILY ROBINSON

Another World

Moore Library Opens Virtual Reality Program for Kids and Adults

W

alk on the moon. Explore the ocean floor. Save the world from zombies. The possibilities are endless with virtual reality technology, and gamers and educators are embracing these immersive experiences.

Thanks to a grant from the Pioneer Library System Foundation, the public can now enjoy virtual reality at the Pioneer Library in Moore, which has used the grant money to open the world of virtual reality to patrons young and old.

Tanilla McDaniel, a librarian who works in Teen & Adult Information Services at the Moore library, is excited about the new technology. Her interest was first sparked at a conference, where she met an ambassador for CoSpaces, a free web-based virtual reality engine system used in schools and libraries, McDaniel said.

Participants in Moore’s Girls Who Code program were able to use CoSpaces to create and explore their own 3D worlds, 30 | July 2019

and “it was such a hit with the girls that we applied for a grant to try to receive this technology for the general public,” she said.

While each library in Pioneer’s System has some form of this virtual reality technology, the Moore Library will have a class for both teens and adults, beginning in July. The summer theme is space exploration, so teens, ages 12-17, can learn coding skills that will enable them to design and build a 3D lunar space station, after which, they will be able to explore and interact in the virtual world they’ve created, using Google Cardboard and Oculus Go devices.

The adult class, whose theme is “Share Your Life Story,” will build a family history museum by importing personal photos into the program and they will also use the VR headsets to walk through their virtual exhibits.

McDaniel insists that the coding method used “makes it less intimidating for

young coders,” and is a lot of fun.

The teen class is every Monday in July from 2 to 3 p.m. The adult program is on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sign-up is required, and space is limited.

“It’s a more fun way to step into learning how to code, how to design, troubleshoot and problem solve. It’s gamification of learning,” McDaniel said. “If you’re competitive, it gives you a way to harness that competitiveness to motivate you to learn something that might seem scary or difficult. In the middle of that curiosity and inspiration, you are learning coding and design skills.”

For those unable to join either class, the Southwest Oklahoma City Library, as well as the Norman libraries have VR equipment, with many fun game options. There will also be a VR station at Moore’s Summer Nights concert series, weather permitting. In addition, the Moore library has the license to the pro-

gram for at least one full year, so look for more opportunities to join another class.

For more information, contact the Pioneer Library System or visit their website at www.pioneerlibrarysystem.org.– 19SM

It’s all fun and games until someone loses a wiener! (dog)

TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE, MENTION THIS AD FOR $5 OFF OF A MICROCHIP IMPLANT. OFFER VALID FOR CATS TOO. CALL FOR DETAILS. EXP 7/31/19

321-3361

400 24th Ave. N.W. roserockvethospital.com

S P O RT S

BY: STEVE MARSHALL

Competing Careers

PRESENTED BY

Dr. Larry Leemaster Talks About His Dual Careers

F

or many years, Dr. Larry Leemaster has been known as “Official Dentist” because of his diligent pursuit of two passions, dentistry and calling high school football games. After 30-years in both fields, Leemaster has many fans, and most of them come from his dental chair.

As a veteran ref, Leemaster’s goal was not to please fans, but to call a good, fair game, and for him, it’s best when fans walk away talking about anything but the officiating. Kind of like dentistry, he wants his patients to walk away thinking about anything but that aching tooth.

Leemaster sat down with us recently for a brief Q&A to talk about officiating and his dental practice at Moore Smiles. Below is an edited transcript of that conversation.

34 | July 2019

Q) When did you become a football official?

A) I was in dental school when a friend asked me if I would come to a rules meeting for football officials. I went, loved it and officiated 32 years with the final 30 years as the lead referee of a crew. It was all for the participating kids. My crew mates made it enjoyable every weekw. Especially Bill, my umpire for those 30 years I was lead referee.

Q) Are there any new rules that fans should know about as they look ahead to next season?

A) The first new rule is about having more consistent time periods between downs. The new rule defines when 40 seconds will be placed on the play clock or when 25 seconds will be placed on the play clock, similar to college timing rules.

The second new rule was established

to decrease risks, tripping the runner is now prohibited. It is now a foul to intentionally use the lower leg or foot to obstruct a runner below the knees.

Q) What are some of the most common calls that fans don’t know or always get wrong?

A) On Saturday and Sunday, the term “off-sides” is used. In high school, we call it encroachment. Many play by play folks miss that terminology as well as saying lateral instead of a backward pass.

Q) What should prospective officials know before getting involved in officiating?

A) I became a better official when I realized you will only make 50 percent of a crowd happy. And it may or may not be the side that is winning. New officials also need to understand it’s a process of moving up the ladder. The first year will be filled mainly with sub-varsity work and an occasional fill-in role

at a smaller class varsity game. As they get noticed by leaders of the officiating organization, the opportunities open for potential crew placement.

Q) Why did you become a dentist?

A) I was always interested in a medical career. After several applications to the OU College of Medicine, my wife just hinted on applying to their dental school, too. The next year, my interview was on a Tuesday in December and that same Friday, the acceptance letter was received. The rest is history.

Q) You operated your dental practice for many years under a different name before changing the name. Why? A) Eight years ago, my current building was completed, and we thought a new name was in order. Moore Smiles was created, and we haven’t looked back.

36 | July 2019

Q) What do you like to do most as a dentist?

A) As a general dentist, I legally can do all procedures I feel comfortable doing. I participate in a group that helps low-income individuals. I have created new smiles for some of them, and the tears and hugs after completion of the case are priceless.

Q) As an avid fisherman, do you have any great fishing stories?

A) I’m just your average angler but have been fortunate to catch eight largemouth bass that were 10 pounds or greater. About five years ago at Lake Fork in Texas, at the end of June, 98 degrees at 2 p.m.; I caught a 10-pound bass on consecutive casts. Fishing is my relaxing hobby. Like they say, a bad day of fishing is better than working a lifetime. My brother and I are looking forward to a trip to Upper Michigan in July for bass and pike.– 19SM

S P O RT S

SOONER REVIEW

BY: CHRIS PLANK

PRESENTED BY

McIntyre Law is a proud supporter of OU athletics.

Contact McIntyre Law for all your personal injury needs

Jewel on Jenkins Sooner Softball Success Driving Push for New Stadium

C

ollege softball is in the midst of unparalleled growth. From attendance and TV ratings to revenue, the popularity gains are unlike any other sport, and in Oklahoma, the sport is flourishing.

Ratings from the ESPN broadcasts of the 2019 Women’s College World Series were up 15 percent from last season, with Oklahoma City and Tulsa as two of the highest-rated markets. The first-ever Bedlam battle in the WCWS was the most watched WCWS game in the history of the Friday night winners bracket games.

“People love the fast pace,” Sooner hitting coach JT Gasso said. “The field is condensed and there is a lot of action.

38 | July 2019

It’s only seven innings, so it’s constantly moving. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard people say, ‘I watched it one time and I fell in love.’ I think more people are feeling that, and it’s cool to think it’s going to keep growing.”

Game two of the WCWS Championship Series between Oklahoma and UCLA had almost two million viewers and ended up as the most watched game of the tournament, eighth highest rated of all time. Despite the first game of the series being so lopsided, the total viewers of that Monday night game doubled that of the normal Monday Night Baseball broadcast on ESPN in the same time slot.

Sooner Associate Athletic Director Kenny Mossman has been with the Sooner softball program since he stepped on campus in 2001. The growth and popularity has been exciting, Mossman said.

Field. In June of 2018, OU announced plans for a new $22 million softball facility. The new softball home will be on the northwest corner of Jenkins Avenue and Imhoff Road, a half mile south of the current facility.

“TV is undeniable, what ESPN has done to promote the sport has had a very measurable outcome,” Mossman said. “I think it was a sport that was confined to the West Coast. It’s a national game now. Teams from all over the country are fielding outstanding teams and building programs.”

“Look across the country, just like college football and seemingly every sport, it has been an arms race of who can have the best facilities. You look at college softball and more and more universities are investing,” JT Gasso said. “People love coming to our games. To put up even more seating and more space, it’s going to separate us from everyone else. Kids are going to come here, and they never are going to want to leave. Fans are going to want to keep coming. We’re so excited and grateful to be in the position that we’re in.”

As the sport has increased in popularity, the Oklahoma Sooner Softball program has contributed to the sport’s success.

The Sooners have been consistently selling out games. The regional and super regional contests sold out in minutes.

The highest-attended sessions during the Women’s College World Series were all games that included Oklahoma, and, during the season, the Sooners had four consecutive sold-out road games.

Attendance has been so strong that the Sooners have outgrown Marita Hynes

Sooner softball diehard Allen Moody from Ft. Worth, Texas has dubbed OU’s new stadium as the “Jewel on Jenkins.”

In terms of fan amenities, plans include three concessions stands, six restrooms and increased capacity of more than 3,000.

It also will feature a 10,000-square-foot indoor facility with several team spaces, in-

19th STREET MAGAZINE | 39

cluding a training room, locker room and a classroom.

‘Many people think of a seating bowl and a playing field and let’s go”, Mossman said, “but there’s more to it. The plan includes one of the best hitting facilities in the country. Meanwhile, plans are evolving as additional needs arise.”

“There is definitely a different momentum for our project, now. Our fundraising numbers have taken a definite turn in a good direction and some substantial gifts have come in for this project,” Mossman said.

But there’s still work to be done. In the case of the “Jewel on Jenkins,” it may require a little more patience than your typical five-inning, run-rule win.

“We are trying to run a department as fiscally responsible as we can, so it takes some time to pull those resources together. Donors have really stepped up to help us out. We need to attract some more substantial gifts, but I like the way it’s trending. We’re feeling very good about it.”

The popularity of college softball continues to grow, and Sooner softball has been a major player in the success of the sport on a national stage. Along with the vision and foundation laid by head coach Patty Gasso and the investment being made into the new stadium, the Sooner program is positioned for sustained success.

– 19SM

NOW OPEN! Visit Our New Location At SW 104th & I-44!

The 5-Day Clean Car Guarantee Is Now Available In South Oklahoma City!

Okie Express Auto Wash is pleased to announce that our newest location at SW 104th & I-44 in front of Walmart is NOW OPEN! Our drive through automatic tunnel means you never have to get out of your vehicle to get it sparkling clean. We can wash and wax your car in about 3 minutes and our vacuums are always FREE with any wash purchase. Come see why we are the metro’s best!

MOORE

•

MUSTANG

•

EDMOND

•

WARR ACRES

•

DEL

CITY

•

NORMAN

•

CHOCTAW

•

YUKON

•

SOUTH

OKC

HEA LT H

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

A Mission of Relief Local Surgeon Treats Patients in Norman and Beyond

G

rowing up in Oklahoma, watching her father care for animals as a veterinarian, Dr. Emily Benham always knew that she wanted to work in the medical field. Building off that interest in science and a motivation to make a difference, Benham went to medical school at the University of Oklahoma, where she prepared to be a surgeon.

“I was drawn to the immediate impact a surgeon can provide and the fast pace of the surgical room,” Benham remembered.

She traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina and Columbus, Ohio for general surgery training and a fellowship but her passion to make a difference would eventually take her even farther. For a decade now, Benham has participated in surgical outreaches in Central and South America, where she has traveled to the Dominican Republic, Haiti 44 | July 2019

and, most recently, El Salvador.

“I was fortunate enough to grow up where I always had food on the table and could go to the doctor when I needed to,” Benham shared. But, on these outreach missions, she has been witness to a different reality.

This past spring, as part of a program called Surgical Outreach for the Americas (SOFA), Benham spent a week working with a team of medical professionals, providing services for the treatment of hernias, a surgical specialty of hers.

“We did more than 60 surgeries in one week,” she said. “The range of patients we saw was anywhere from young children all the way to the elderly. Most of the patients we saw were day laborers. They work hard to provide for their families but a hernia can

really limit the amount of physical work they can do. (The surgery) can make a huge difference.”

A lack of hospitals and resources in the area often means this very treatable condition is left untreated and worsens, further affecting their ability to work and quality of life.

“There are not as many hospitals and travel can be difficult to access treatment,” Benham said. “We saw everything from very small, reasonable hernias to very large hernias which we don’t see very often in the United States.”

“I connected a lot with the fisherman who came in,” she added. “They were out on the water in the morning and then they came in to see me in the afternoon. They were so grateful. They are working so hard to provide for their families and they are dealing with something that can be fixed. It is amazing to be able to provide some relief. It was really inspiring and I am so lucky to be a part of it.”

The program also allows Benham to offer educational opportunities to medical professionals in the area so that the work can continue after the week-long outreach is complete. She is also getting involved in helping to open a third SOFA site.

When Benham isn’t traveling the world, she spends her time helping patients in the Norman community. She joined the surgical team at Norman Regional about a year ago.

In addition to treating hernias, she specializes in general and bariatric surgery.

“I really love doing bariatric surgery to help people live a healthier and longer life,” Benham said. “I also treat people with serious heartburn. Heartburn is extremely common in the US but it can be very severe, even causing pre-cancerous growth.”

She also enjoys cooking, running and cycling. To learn more about Dr. Benham and the treatment options she is involved in, visit www.normanregional.com/doctors/.

For more information on SOFA, visit www. surgicaloutreach.org. – 19SM