Boyd Street November 2020

A Lifetime of Music

Irv Wagner

Normanite in the Spotlight

Randy Laffoon

It All Adds Up

Shop Norman

November 2020 • Issue 11 • Volume 19

Creating His Own

LEGACY

Drake Stoops

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Features

NOVEMBER CONTENTS 2020

ISSUE 11– VOLUME 19 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Food and Shelter

Mark Doescher

18

by Rae Lynn Payton

MANAGING EDITOR

Mark Doescher

CONTRIBUTORS

OU professor receives international lifetime achievement recognition.

Shop Norman. It All Adds Up.

28 by Lindsay Cuomo

PHOTOGRAPHY

50 years & counting

24 by Callie Collins

Lindsay Cuomo

Huge hearts support the homeless and hungry throughout the year.

Retailers and restaurants offering specials as well as curbsde and delivery this holiday season.

Roxanne Avery | Callie Collins Lindsay Cuomo | Kathy Hallren Joy Hampton | Shannon Hudzinski Chelsey Kraft | Bill Moakley Rae Lynn Payton | Chris Plank

36

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES

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

In Memory of

RANDY LAFFOON

1960 - 2020

Normanite in the Spotlight:

36 Randy Laffoon

by Lindsay Cuomo The family man, business man and community servant from those who knew him best.

44

Creating His Own Legacy

44 by Chris Plank

Drake Stoops writes his own Sooner history with the game-winning overtime score against Texas.

Caring for the Heart

New program reduces recovery time for patients needing aortic valve replacement.

Christmas Magic on the Farm

78 by Lindsay Cuomo

Wells Family Christmas Tree Farm kicks off another season.

78

Youth Performance trains young athletes.

by Callie Collins Local restaurant, Tiffany’s, supports all things Noble. sportstalk1400.com

by Bill Moakley

Service Spotlight:

by Chelsey Kraft

32

Alyssa Carter

Service Spotlight:

by Joy Hampton

59 during COVID-19

How to celebrate Thanksgiving

Family Business, Community 86 Spirit

Service Spotlight:

14

Justin McCaughey

The X Factor

82 by Roxanne Avery

Spotlights 10 Captain Eric Lehenbauer

Scenes from Norman High against Jenks.

70 by Lindsay Cuomo

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.

Tigers vs. Trojans

52 by Mark Doescher

Boyd Street Magazine 2020 E. Alameda Norman, Oklahoma 73071 Phone: (405) 321-1400 E-mail: editor@boydstreet.com Copyright © Boyd Street Magazine

/boydstreetmagazine

86

@boydstreet

by Shannon Hudzinski - OUFCU

65 by Kathy Hallren - Joe’s Wines & Spirits

Never a Better Time for Wine

Cover photos by: Mark Doescher

THANK YOU NORMAN.

COMM U N I T Y

BY: BILL MOAKLEY

Service Spotlight:

Captain Eric Lehenbauer

N

orman Police Captain Eric Lehenbauer once thought he might like a law enforcement career with a federal agency but it didn’t take much for the Oklahoma native to change his mind.

“After being here just a couple of years, I decided this was the place I really wanted to be,” Lehenbauer said. “I’ve never applied at any federal agency.

Having grown up here, I like the area and wanted to raise my family here. I think it’s a great place to send your kids to school, to go to church, to be a part of the community.”

And Norman has benefitted from that decision. Lehenbauer, a graduate of Noble High School, began his police career as an officer with the University of Oklahoma while working on his degree in law enforcement administration. In 1994, he joined the Norman Police Department.

After six years on patrol, Lehenbauer became the department’s recruiter, returned to patrol, served as a Field Training Officer, was promoted to sergeant (then lieutenant as the department’s rank structure changed). Throw in a stint as a training coordinator for the department and Lehenbauer had touched nearly every aspect of the department. Oh yeah, he also was promoted to captain.

This summer, Lehenbauer started a new job. The veteran officer now oversees Norman’s investigations unit, in-

10 | November 2020

cluding both criminal investigations (CIS) and special investigations (SIS).

“The criminal investigations detectives are kind of those traditional kind of detectives you think of. They respond to homicides and burglaries and stuff like that,” Lehenbauer explained. “The special investigations detectives work narcotics case and vice.”

In addition to overseeing about 13 officers in CIS, six in SIS and three frontline supervisors, Lehenbauer also keeps the doors open.

“I keep the facilities running and pay the bills,” he laughed.

The captain can also claim responsibility for Norman’s rigorous officer training program, which transitioned from an FTO model to a PTO, or Patrol Officer Training, model. Along with Major Jamie Shattuck, Lehenbauer was instrumental in the training shift which emphasizes community policing and adult learning.

During training, officers are immersed in a certain part of the Norman community, and complete a Neighborhood Portfolio Exercise in which they learn everything they can, such as where non-profits, churches, parks and schools are located, who runs them, and what their concerns might be.

“It helps them learn how to be a beat officer, how to get to know a beat and its problems and how to solve those prob-

lems,” Lehenbauer pointed out. “In adult education, you’re given a problem and you solve it. Through solving the problem, you learn how to do the job. It’s not just watch and learn.”

During his time on the Norman force, Lehenbauer has been active in the community. He currently serves on the board of directors of Bridges, which allows high school-aged kids in Norman who are experiencing a disruption in their home lives to pursue their education with fewer obstacles.

Specifically, Lehenbauer is on the Bridges committee that helped put together a program called The Spot. Located along Main Street in downtown Norman, The Spot is a place school-aged youth to go after school to study, play some ping pong or video games and get a snack.

“They have a place to be,” Lehenbauer said about the importance of The Spot.

“They’re not without a place. It’s a great place and a great program.”

As busy as he’s been in his career, Lehenbauer, who is a certified firearms trainer, wasn’t too busy to become one of Norman’s most accomplished pistol shooters. A 15-year member of the department’s competitive pistol team, Lehenbauer has proven to be a great shot.

“I don’t want to get caught stretching anything, but I think it was about 13 times I was able to make the Governor’s 20, which is the top 20 shooters at the Oklahoma state competition.”.– BSM

COMM U N I T Y

BY: CHELSEY KRAF T

J

ustin McCaughey was drawn to a fire service career in part because he wanted to join another brotherhood.

After serving in the United States Marine Corps, on active duty from 200206 then in the reserves from 2007-11, McCaughey missed the brotherhood he experienced and the guys with whom he was deployed.

“When I got in the fire service, it was really similar to what I had in the military,” McCaughey explained. “Another thing about the fire department is everything’s physical and you’ve got to stay in shape. That’s part of what I love. It’s not the Marine Corps, but it’s the closest thing I can get without going back in.”

In July 2019, McCaughey started the Norman Fire Department academy and first went on shift in late October of last year. Currently, McCaughey is part of A Crew at Station 1, located at 411 East Main St. He’s also served at Station 3 and Station 9 so far.

McCaughey began volunteering as a firefighter in 2009 before joining the Spencer Fire Department in 2011. In 2013, he was hired onto the Guthrie Fire Department, where he remained until his move to Norman.

McCaughey wanted to be a part of a 14 | November 2020

bigger department, which is what led him to Norman.

For McCaughey, that move has been a positive one. He said he enjoys the aggressive approach the department uses when it comes to responding to fires and has found that everyone has a good attitude and loves their jobs. He also appreciates the way the city takes care of its firefighters, an example being its response to the COVID-19 pandemic through steps like making sure the firefighters had all the proper protective gear.

Originally from Ohio, McCaughey ended up in Oklahoma when his dad, Toby, a retired member of the United States Navy, was stationed at Tinker Air Force Base. McCaughey went to Midwest City High School, and even though his family had since moved away, he was drawn back to the area after leaving the Marines.

“It felt like home … I grew up in Ohio, but I kind of set my roots here,” McCaughey shared. “Every time I’ve tried to leave, I always end up coming back. This is definitely where I am going to be until the day I die. This is it for me.”

McCaughey and his wife, Wendy, who works as a nurse at The Chil-

dren’s Hospital at OU Medicine, met in 2012 and married in 2013. They are parents to Rhiannon, age 12, and two boys, 4-year-old Colt and 2-yearold Gabriel. Previously, the family did not live in the town where McCaughey worked. McCaughey said he wanted that this time and also wanted to raise his kids in Norman, so the family purchased a house just days after he started the academy.

The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks happened during McCaughey’s senior year of high school, prompting his decision to join the military. While deployed, McCaughey spent time in Africa, Afghanistan and Iraq. Since 2017, McCaughey has been a member of the Air National Guard, working as a firefighter at the Will Rogers Air National Guard Base.

“You get to see completely different aspects,” McCaughey said of his two firefighter roles. “Where here we’re more structural, rural, wildland firefighting and running on EMS calls, military fire is mainly based on aircraft firefighting. That part is good that I get to experience both those sides … On my drill weekends, I’m training for fires, so I get to bring that training back to the Norman Fire Department, and it makes me a better firefighter.” – BSM

Photo by: Mark Doescher

Service Spotlight: Justin McCaughey

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: RAE LYNN PAYTON

Food and Shelter

Huge hearts support the homeless and hungry throughout the year

F

ood & Shelter’s work is centered around two things: food and shelter, and has been for over 30 years.

Countless hours are devoted to the organization by its staff and volunteers.

They have a heart for people and extend an extra hand to those most at risk: the homeless.

April Heiple, the executive director of Food & Shelter, shared that their goal is to eliminate homelessness in Norman while they work at preventing it. The organization attacks the issue at all angles using multiple tiers, working to meet the needs of each individual and family regardless of their circumstances.

“No person can live to the best of their ability if they are having to worry about how they will have access to food,” she said.

They serve nutritious meals to 350400 people daily for both breakfast and lunch. There is also a food pantry available to anyone in need Tuesday-Saturday.

The group works to make sure everyone has safe and stable housing.

“We know some have to choose between paying rent and buying food,” Heiple shared.

18 | November 2020

Multi-faceted types of housing are available including emergency housing for short-term situations, a tiny house village for those that need more time to overcome difficult hurdles and permanent supportive housing for those with significant obstacles.

Food & Shelter has kept its doors open even in the most difficult of times, including during the pandemic.

“When the pandemic first started we made the big decision to not close.

We maintained every service we had available, not because we didn’t understand the impact of the health crisis but because the economic crisis that started at the same time was so significant for our community. We knew that our services would be so important at that time,” Heiple explained.

Food & Shelter pivoted in many ways to continue meeting their citizens’ needs and not allow anyone to fall through the cracks. They increased their efforts, began food deliveries and served meals outside. They sanitize, social distance and incorporate the use of masks to make it as safe as possible for all.

They struggled with the loss of volunteers during the pandemic and

have had to limit their numbers as they come back, but they are still very much needed and appreciated. Volunteers help with cooking, cleaning, serving and food delivery.

They have suffered from the cancellations of events and fundraisers that support their mission financially. However, Heiple assured that their yearly Thanksgiving Day dinner is still on.

“Many would not have a holiday at all if we didn’t hold it,” she added.

Accommodations with three options have already been planned. Many families will be served catered family-style meals that are pre-ordered and can be picked up. Single adults or couples that are housed will have meals delivered to them. Everyone else, homeless or people that are socially isolated, will have an in-person meal at the First Baptist Church in Norman from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Their Christmas Day dinner will likely work similarly, with adjustments made as needed.

How can Normanites help?

First and foremost, Heiple wishes to educate the community about the truth in homelessness.

“People that are homeless are human beings who deserve and need love and support. Each person is someone’s child.”

That truth led Heiple to where she is now and why she is serving at Food & Shelter today and has been for the past 11 years.

Last but not least, the community can donate and/or volunteer. Their program, which is partnered with United Way, is largely community-funded and benefits from financial donations as well as donations of goods to their pantry.

Check out their website, foodandshelterinc.org for links to donate and to sign up for volunteer opportunities, including Thanksgiving Day. If you or your family is in need of food that day call 360-4954 to place your order. – BSM

20 | November 2020

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50 COMM U N I T Y

BY: CALLIE COLLINS

Years & Counting

OU professor receives international lifetime achievement recognition

D

r. Irv Wagner plays the trombone, as a profession. He plays it for our community and for his own personal fulfillment, too. And those facts mark the difference between making a living and making a life.

The recipient of the International Trombone Association’s 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award, Wagner has led an extraordinary career that includes having played for Pope John Paul II and four U.S. presidents. He continues to teach even after more than half a century as a professor at the University of Oklahoma.

Now in academic year 51, his life was always centered on music and academia.

Born in rural Kansas, a kind of creativity was allowed to flourish in the quiet setting. Although Wagner describes his family as musical, the music they made together was mostly singing in the evenings as a quartet and by invitation at local events and gatherings.

“The story goes that we went ... to Christmas shop in 1946 when I was

24 | November 2020

in the middle of the fifth grade. I saw a trombone in the window of a store and was instantly fascinated,” Wagner remembered.

His parents went to his school band director and asked if they could use another trombone player.

“The band director said they could make it work, so (my parents) went back to the store before Christmas morning,” he said.

Wagner returned to class in January, trombone in hand and began practicing at school. That May, the local high school hosted an all-district music performance in which Wagner performed his first solo, just four months after taking up the instrument.

Wagner was also co-captain of his high school football team and was offered football scholarships but decided to stick with music after graduating in 1955. He completed his bachelor’s in music education and trombone at McPherson College before studying under legendary trombone player Emory Remington at the Eastman

School of Music in Rochester, New York.

After teaching at Louisiana State University, a position came open at OU and he began on campus in the fall of 1969. The move allowed him to be closer to his aging parents living in Kansas.

“Music education is valuable to every human being. Every major occasion in a human being’s life has some music in it: at a wedding, at a funeral, an important ceremonial event, there’s music,” explained Wagner. “It’s a part of our lives. Being exposed to (music) matters. You just don’t know what kind of interest that sparks.”

Wagner has been involved in orchestras, symphonies and community music performances throughout the past six decades. As a young man, he appeared on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour playing the spoons. He has a separate career conducting and arranging music, in addition to leading multiple professional organizations.

His conducting career spans from Austin to Argentina, Russia, Paraguay and other nations. Currently, he

conducts the Oklahoma Community Orchestra, a group he feels particularly passionate about because it “allows for musical expression from people who are not career musicians and gives them a chance to play with others.”

Wagner helped the International Trombone Association to expand throughout the world. He furthered the establishment of national chapters in multiple countries, which helped musicians to collaborate and promote music both at home and abroad.

Stage fright, said Wagner, is fortunately not something he really worries about.

It is estimated that a quarter of the world’s population has heard Wagner play, which lent him the title “Most Listened to Trombonist in the World.”

A TV appearance in China attracted 600 million viewers while an All India Radio broadcast garnered 500 million listeners, in addition to concerts throughout Europe, Asia, the Americas, Australia and New Zealand.

Music has been an incredible force in his life but also served to unify others.

“I remember being in Hong Kong and

looking out at the variety of musicians gathered. No one thought about there being any differences. There were no dissenting opinions; we were all just one and didn’t even have to think about it,” he recalled.

The history of the trombone also fascinates Wagner and he proudly mentioned that the earliest musical group in American was a trombone group in Pennsylvania, which makes the history of trombone playing in New England older than the country itself.

Wagner chuckled at the idea of naming his favorite song but settled on “Amazing Grace” and “76 Trombones.” He enjoys the crossover aspects of trombone music, from classical to pops and jazz and beyond.

“A trombone can sound so much like a voice,” said Wagner. “It’s really interesting to mix different styles of music and hear how they vary. That’s why I love it.”

The issue of playing in a pandemic has prompted changes at OU this year and for the performance industry as a whole but Wagner remains optimistic.

“The whole music industry around the world is hurting but musicians are creative. We’re finding other ways to do concerts and we’re teaching other ways, six feet apart and still trying to play,” he said. “As long as we have humans, we’ll have music.”

Wagner describes his wife and their three daughters as the true pride of his life, two of whom reside in Norman, one as an orchestra director for Norman North High School and the other as a language coordinator with Norman Public Schools who benefitted from the family’s stay in Austria to prompt her interest in languages. His other daughter is a pastor and also a trombone player.

The role of the Norman community in Wagner’s life is something he appreciates.

“It has been a pleasure to teach at OU for 51 years. I am thankful for the university for letting me teach all these years,” he said. ”I have met wonderful people and I hope to be able to give back the support they have offered me.”– BSM

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: JOY HAMPTON

Service Spotlight:

Alyssa Carter

W

hen account assistant Alyssa Carter was hired on at the Sheriff’s Office in 2017, she was tasked with monitoring the inmate trust account, making sure the fund was managed correctly and that all Oklahoma audit guidelines were followed.

That task is more complicated than it might sound, but Carter welcomed the challenge.

“I was an office manager at my previous job and I have two associate degrees, one in accounting and one in business, and from UCO I have a bachelor’s in business administration,” she said.

Because that trust account deals with inmate funds only, there are seemingly minor adjustments that must be made, but the adjustments add up over time if the account isn’t properly balanced.

“I make sure it’s inmate funds only,” Carter said.

Her success in cleaning up that account led to more responsibilities.

“Chief Deputy Julie Tipton was a captain then and my direct supervisor, and she put a lot of faith in me,” Carter said.

“She enlisted me to do more things as far as accounting and financials go.”

That allowed Carter to grow within her job.

A long-time Cleveland County resident, Carter grew up in Little Axe and graduated from Little Axe High School.

She received her two associate degrees from Rose State College before going on to study at the University of Central Oklahoma. She is still invested in the county and is raising her son in Moore.

“Very friendly, very compassionate people work at the Sheriff’s Office,” she said. “This is probably the best job I’ve ever had from the bottom to the top chain of command.”

Carter is responsible for billing the municipal, state and federal entities who house people at the Cleveland County Detention Center as well as helping maintain the Sheriff Cash Bonds accounts.

“I’m also responsible for making sure records are expunged in our system, once they are ordered by a judge,” she said.

Additionally, Carter maintains all of the jail’s financial records for audit purposes.

“I’m crazy about getting organized and accounting for every penny,” she said.

“It’s not my penny but I have to account for every single one.”

Carter’s diligence in tracking dollars and cents while following strictly state

statue has been a great asset for the agency, said Sheriff Blake Green.

“One of our values is transparency, and it’s vital that we have employees tracking how funds are handled,” Green said. “We hold ourselves accountable for inmate funds and for taxpayer dollars, and we need to be able to account for those pennies. People like Alyssa Carter make that possible.”

Carter also helped with Self Defense Act handgun applications and then took it over for two years after another employee died.

“People here pitch in and help each other,” she said. “I just did it because that’s what we do at the Sheriff’s Office.”

Carter also assists with requisitions for purchasing needed items at the jail, which meant she had to learn another new system, but those challenges are part of why she enjoys the work.

Carter said it’s really the people who make the difference.

“I really love this job,” Carter said.

“The people are happy and compassionate. They care about you as a person, not just as an employee. I’ve never had a job where people cared that much about you and your family.”

This is a continuation of our series on public servants in Norman.

32 | November 2020

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

NORMANITE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Randy Laffoon B

orn in Bethany, Jerry “Randy” Laffoon moved to Norman during his teenage years and graduated from Norman High School in 1978.

After moving several times before, he wasn’t too keen to uproot yet again.

“He was on the baseball team at school in Putnam City and he didn’t want to move,” Kay Laffoon, Randy’s mom, said. “We found a home in Brookhaven and when he found out he could see the football stadium from his bedroom window he changed his mind. OU athletics was always important to Randy.”

Norman quickly became Randy’s home, the community where he would meet his wife, raise a family, cultivate many businesses and help to shape as a civic leader.

With his recent passing, we look back on the legacy and many facets of his life as a family man, businessman and devoted community leader.

THE FAMILY MAN

Despite being new in town, his commitment to the Norman community 36 | November 2020

quickly took hold as he volunteered as a youth baseball coach at age 17.

“Baseball was his love,” Debbie said, his wife of 29 years. “He coached baseball for years even before he had kids.

His passion was for the kids and for other people. He loved to cookout for the teams, for any reason to have a gathering.”

He continued to coach while attending the University of Oklahoma to study finance.

“He had future lawyers, doctors, businessmen on his teams. Years later, those kids would see him around town and share the important moments in their lives,” Kay said. “That experience was so positive and important to them.”

He poured that passion for others into their two sons, Debbie said, always attending whatever sport or activity his sons, Trevor or Trent, chose to participate in, and often into their teammates and friends.

“He was always there and was super supportive no matter what,” Trevor

Laffoon recalled of his dad’s commitment to family. “He supported us financially, emotionally and was physically there, in literally everything we did. He didn’t miss a game while I was in college; a couple of times he was the only fan we had in the stands.”

Trent Laffoon said that selflessness was just in his dad’s nature, even as he battled cancer.

“With his cancer, as it got worse especially in the last couple of months, he had to go in for a high-risk surgery and there was a chance he wasn’t going to make it,” he shared. “My dad was so worried that he hadn’t done enough for my brother and I. It could have been the end for him and he was worried about us. That was how he was with everyone, not just us.”

Toby Rowland, SportsTalk morning show host and Voice of the Sooners, shared Trent’s sentiments.

“He called me a couple days before he passed,” Rowland shared. “He was asking me about all the stuff in my life

to make sure that everything was in a good place. He was making sure I was okay, that my family was okay. Even in his dying moment, he cared about everyone else.”

As his sons’ interest in the sport of soccer grew, Randy volunteered with the Norman Youth Soccer Association and became known around town as “the soccer guy,” supporting young athletes “whether it was in a soccer role or not,” Trevor shared.

“My dad had a lot on his plate but he always made the time,” Trent remembered. “He was our team manager for years and he was in charge of out of state tournaments. He would bring multiple kids in his car. He always made sure everyone could be there.”

When it came time to make the transition into college athletics, Randy continued to support the young men on those teams.

“Some of my teammates didn’t have much family backing and my dad was the family contact for them. If they weren’t showing up for class or something, the colleges weren’t calling their parents, they were calling my dad,” Trevor said.

Randy welcomed many into his family whether they were related or not.

boydstreet.com

“I met Randy about 18 years ago when I coached his oldest son Trevor,” long time family friend Don Rother said.

“I was the coach and he was the manager of the team. He made the whole experience so amazing for everyone, the kids and the parents, he made sure everyone was a part of it.”

“He was like family,” Rother added.

“We spent the holidays together. (Randy and Debbie) were the godparents to our kids. He was my mentor and always the person I would call on when I needed something.”

Mark and Jen Austin, family friends of more than two decades, echoed Rother’s sentiments.

“Randy was always our family’s go-to person and we’d tell our kids if they ever needed anything to call Mr. Randy,” Jen remembered. “You knew you could count on him.”

“Some said he was a collector of people and he really was,” Debbie confirmed.

THE BUSINESSMAN

Business and family were linked for the Laffoons. Randy and Debbie met while working at a family business.

Fresh out of college with a bachelor’s in Business Administration, Randy managed The Desk Set, an office furniture and supply store, for eight years.

The business expanded into three locations, two in Norman and one in north Oklahoma City.

“His mom hired me to work at The Desk Set, part of it is Copelin’s now,” Debbie said. “His mom said ‘Don’t date the help,’ but he married me and I think it worked out.”

Randy would go on to open two Norman Cellular and three Metro Cellular stores. With the help of his father and brother Todd, he pioneered the cellular telephone industry in the metro through the 1990s as one of the first mobile phone retailers in the area.

“He opened Norman Cellular and it was perfect for him,” Debbie said. “He loved talking so it was fitting he was the phone guy.”

Debbie teased that she was actually the first in the family to have a cellular phone.

“It was one of those bag phones but I had the first cell phone,” she joked.

It was perhaps in this role in the phone industry that best fit his reputation for reliability.

“People would call him all hours of the night but he always answered,” Debbie said. “Sometimes it drove me crazy but they always knew they could call Randy if anything ever happened.”

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 37

Always on the lookout for the next challenge or opportunity, depending on how you look at it, Randy ventured into radio. He purchased the Norman-based KREF SportsTalk1400 station in 2009, a decision Debbie said she questioned at first.

“I thought he was crazy,” she admitted. “SportsTalk didn’t even have air conditioning at the time. I thought he had lost his mind but he had a vision.”

After more than a decade at the helm, the media group has grown adding Boyd Street magazine, Norman oldest community print magazine, and a new publication, 19th Street magazine.

“He absolutely turned the station around,” Rowland said. “We were not headed in a good direction. He invested a lot of capital to renovate the station both on-air and in the building.

The station has a great history in Norman. He shined it up again and made it into something to be proud of.”

The Laffoon family has also collaborated in opening and operating Occasions Fine Stationery, Gifts and Gourmet, Atlas Safe Rooms and Youth Performance, a youth physical training program.

“All of his business endeavors played into each other but they all played into his community involvement and let him get to know so many people,” Trent said.

THE COMMUNITY SERVANT

Community service came naturally to Randy as was evident in his years as a youth sports coach. As the years went on his influence grew. Randy served on a number of community boards and had an immense impact on the city of Norman.

38 | November 2020

He served as the chairperson for the United Way annual campaign four times and was the only person to ever serve two terms as the chairman for Norman Regional Health Foundation.

Additionally, Randy served on boards, committees and in leadership roles for the Norman Chamber of Commerce, Norman Public Schools Foundation and Oklahoma Celtic.

“You knew anything he put his mind to would be successful because he put his heart and soul into,” Rother shared. “He worked hard to make this town a great place for his boys to grow up in and we all benefited from that.”

But these are not accolades you would have heard Randy talk much about.

“He never thought he did enough,” Debbie said. “He wanted to take everyone else with him. Let’s set this goal and do it. Never I, always we, that’s why people liked to join him.”

“I volunteered for the Norman Public School Foundation because he made it sound great,” Jen said. “He just spread it around. You got ‘Laffooned’ every other day and you liked it.”

Randy was awarded the Kathey Hopper Drummond Community Service Award this year, an honor the United Way bestows on “a person who has demonstrated leadership, compassion and dedication to making our community a better place.”

“Randy is a best friend to the Norman community, serving with integrity, graciously with a can-do spirit,” Kathey Drummond said. “He knew the community so well and moved in a lot of circles. Each one was as important as the other, whether it was giving bicycles to a child for perfect attendance

or chairing a major capital campaign.”

“When he realized he got the Kathey Drummond award, he was not happy.

It was so sweet but he did not want to get up there,” Debbie confessed. “I just loved the man that he was. He just cared so much.”

In his work with the Norman Regional Health Foundation, Randy led the efforts to raise $3 million for the Highway to Health campaign that funded the construction of the Norman Regional Healthplex. He then helped raise an additional $2 million for renovation work at other health and medical rehabilitation facilities, an effort that garnered him recognition from the Oklahoma Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals as an Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser.

“Randy had a gift to connect with people. He always wanted to know how things were going, what was needed to move forward and how he could help,” said Erin Barnhart, executive director of the foundation. “He was the go-to person for a new project or just advice. Randy didn’t shy away from raising funds or sharing why he believed in a mission or project. The end result is a better Norman community thanks to his leadership.”

From Debbie’s perspective, Randy’s philosophy was simple.

“If you strive to do the right thing and work hard, good things will come,” she said. “He left this world too soon in my opinion but we have had a wonderful life filled with so much good.

And that’s what he has left. The blessings that God gave him overflowed into our lives.”– BSM

THANK YOU, HEALTHCARE WORKERS

We salute our hometown healthcare heroes!

W W W. O KC O O P. O R G

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S P O RT S

Creating His Own

BY: CHRIS PLANK

LEGACY

44 | November 2020

T

he 2020 OU/Texas game is one that will never be forgotten. Amid one of the wildest, most unpredictable and utterly unique matchups between the two rivals, a familiar name stepped up to make one of the biggest plays of the day.

As the Voice of the Sooners Toby Rowland called the eventual game-winning score, the playmaker on the other end was Drake Stoops.

“2nd and 10… Sooners go tempo. Snap to Rattler, straight drop… steps up throws late toward the endzone CAUGHT...IT’S STOOPS… DRAKE STOOPS TOUCHDOWN!! THE KID.” Drake’s score was the most recent in a series of big plays that has solidified the Sooner redshirt sophomore as a significant piece of the Oklahoma offense in 2020 and beyond. But for this game winner, it seemed fitting that the final dagger in the Red River Showdown was delivered by someone with the last name Stoops.

“We had one of our normal tempo calls,” Drake said of the game-winning catch.

“I just ran an under route and took it high over the linebacker, Spencer (Rattler) came through the pocket and hit me and that’s all she wrote.”

“Drake, what can you say?” OU head coach Lincoln Riley said. “I’ll bet his daddy’s pretty happy right now.”

“I love football so unexplainably much,” Drake said as he recalled the childhood dreams of playing in this game. “To be able to make a play like that for this team and a team from my hometown and all that, I mean it’s absolutely unbelievable.

I prayed for times like this.”

But Drake’s rise on the Sooners depth chart goes much deeper than one big play against Texas or even his last name. The non-stop hard work was apparent from day one.

In 2018, he became the first true freshman walk-on to catch a pass in a season opener. With the implementation of new NCAA redshirt rules, the Norman North product was still able to redshirt despite playing in two games. In 2019, Stoops played in all 14 games and averaged just under 12 yards per catch.

But 2020 has been a breakout season for the two-time Big 12 All-Academic performer.

Drake has already surpassed his combined yardage and reception numbers from his first two years combined, even though he missed the season-opener against Missouri State. He made a big impact against Kansas State with three catches for 93 yards and his first career touchdown.

“My confidence is a lot better because I’ve been in the system longer,” he said.

“I know my job and role and when you know what to do on every play it allows you to play faster and you can react to what’s going on.”

“It’s what he’s done on the practice field,” Riley said. “He’s a tough player, really good route-runner, great hands, competitor. Definitely fun to see him have some success and I’m sure it’s just the beginning.”

The path from walk-on to playmaker has not been an easy one for Drake. He has worked hard for the opportunity not only on the field but off the field in both the classroom and the weight room. He was listed as 175 pounds when he stepped boydstreet.com

Photo provided by: The Oklahoman

Riley said he is not surprised, though.

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 45

on campus and has added close to 20 pounds of muscle since becoming a Sooner.

“It has definitely been a long process, not an easy one,” Drake said of his commitment to improving. “In the weight room is where I feel like I’ve made my biggest gains. That’s just translated to a lot of parts of my game.”

Drake made a name for himself on the field well before making the game-winning touchdown catch against Texas.

He had wowed the Oklahoma high school football landscape as a standout with the Norman North Timberwolves. Paired with his twin brother Isaac, Drake amassed over 1,000 yards receiving during both his junior and senior seasons.

Photo by: Mark Doescher

What he was able to accomplish in high school went far beyond just stats and numbers. He embraced the grind and passionately loved football.

“You look at him and you would think, ‘Really?’ There is nothing when you just look at the kid that says, ‘This is going to be an unbelievable wide receiver or athlete,’” his former coach

46 | November 2020

at Norman North High School Brent Barnes said. “But, when you’ve seen him, the way he works and the way he competes and how tough he is both mentally and physically… I just don’t think he’s ever stood on the sideline for anything but it wasn’t because he was 6-5 and naturally gifted. He has something inside that he’s going to go take something from somebody, he’s not going to sit back and wait his turn.

It’s just not in his personality.”

SHe was listed as a three-star prospect by Rivals and had scholarship offers from Iowa, Memphis, Ohio, Western Kentucky, Air Force and others. His final senior season numbers were impressive, catching 67 passes for 1,093 yards and 15 touchdowns.

But he chose another path, one that was paved by heritage and childhood dreams.

“This just felt like the best fit for me, and it felt like home because it is home,” Drake of his decision to walkon at Oklahoma and spurn scholarship offers. “I felt like I had the best chance to flourish as the best player I can be here, under Coach (Riley) and the coaching staff.”

“We knew we wanted him here,” Cale Gundy, who is currently Oklahoma’s inside receivers coach, said. “Growing up here as I did in the state of Oklahoma, being around a program like this that has so much success, why wouldn’t you go here? Obviously, in his situation, he could probably pick a school where he wanted to go.”

Drake Stoops’ performance has continued to add to the “Stoops’” legacy at Oklahoma. But as the redshirt sophomore continues to blaze his own trail, there is a certain sense of what could have been if his father Bob was still the coach. Or maybe more specifically, what might not have been.

“I don’t really know [if the decision would have been the same],” Drake said of his decision to play at Oklahoma. “It’s kind of worked out the way it did. I had a chance to be a player and make a name for myself and choose my own path. [Riley] said he thinks I have the talent to be a player for them, so I took that into account, I always bet on myself and had confidence I could play anywhere in the country.”

Still, the accomplishments of his father at the University of Oklahoma is

a hard shadow to shake. Bob Stoops is the all-time winningest coach in Oklahoma football history and a statue of Coach Stoops is located just outside the south entrance to Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

“I’m reminded every second of every day, trust me, that’s part of living here,” Drake said with a smile. “It is definitely cool, especially given family history and having lived here so long.

But I don’t put too much emphasis on it or think about it too much in the end. To me I’m going out and playing ball with my teammates and trying to get the job done.”

“I’ve got pictures of him as a baby waddling around the field when Carole brought him out to our first media day so it’s neat when he’s out there fulfilling his dream making plays,” Bob Stoops said. “I’m just wanting him to let go and be like any other guy out there.”

While the history of his last name is

boydstreet.com

special and its legacy undeniable, what Drake has been able to do on the field has continued to create a special role for him on this team.

quarterback Spencer Rattler. The chemistry between the two was developed through a unique and challenging offseason.

“He’s been huge. It was definitely a spark to get him back,” Riley said of Drake’s return after missing the opener. “That’s been one of the positions that we’ve been hit hardest. We’re playing without a lot of people there.

And he’s done a great job. Stepped in, made some big plays for us, played a lot of snaps.

“That chemistry happens over the offseason,” Drake said. “Being around each other, working out, grinding hard with the guy next to you… it’s not just Spencer but it’s everyone. You see a guy working his butt off, you’re working just as hard, you develop a bond.”

Despite only being a redshirt sophomore, he has already shown a leadership gene that is part of his DNA. “I think he’s a young leader. I do,” Riley said. “Not crazy vocal, but one of those guys that more leads by example in the way he does things.”

As the Sooners’ season progresses, so will the role of Drake. As an inside receiver, he has already become a trusted target of redshirt freshman

Drake has already become a household name among Oklahoma Sooner fans. Every play that Drake makes is met with a roar of, “STOOOOOOOPS” from the fans in the stands. While his last name is legendary, Drake doesn’t allow himself to spend too much time thinking about those who have paved the trail before him. He is firmly focused on one thing: winning. And being the best teammate, inside receiver and Oklahoma Sooner he can possibly be. – BSM

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 47

S P O RT S

Tigers vs. Trojans

52 | November 2020

BY: MARK DOESCHER

boydstreet.com

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 53

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How to Celebrate Thanksgiving During COVID-19

t’s turkey season! But this year, due to the COVID-19 environment we’re experiencing, the holiday festivities will look a bit different than before. With some precautionary measures and careful planning, though, you can celebrate Thanksgiving in the era of the coronavirus without compromising on your health or safety. Here’s how:

PLANNING A THANKSGIVING DINNER

If you plan to host an in-person Thanksgiving dinner this year, it’s best to take steps to ensure your day is as safe as possible.

First, consider hosting your dinner outside. If the weather is still relatively mild in your part of the country and you have the space for it, moving a Thanksgiving dinner outdoors greatly reduces the risk of spreading coronavirus, according to the CDC. If an outdoor dinner isn’t possible, make sure your home is well-ventilated during your Thanksgiving dinner by opening some windows and doors.

Second, try to limit the number of attendees. The CDC currently does not impose a limit on the number of attendees at any indoor gathering, but cautions that larger gatherings, by default, pose a greater risk of spread.

It’s also important to consider your guests’ hometowns when drawing up an invite list. The CDC recommends keeping this year’s Thanksgiving dinners to local guests only. The risk of infection increases when there are guests in attendance who are coming from areas currently experiencing an outbreak.

Finally, while traditional Thanksgiving dinners can last for hours, the CDC cautions that longer gatherings pose a greater risk than shorter dinners. You can cut down on the hours your guests linger around the table by adding a finish time to your invitations.

ATTENDING AND HOSTING A DINNER

Whether attending a Thanksgiving dinner or welcoming dinner guests into your own home, follow the CDC’s general guidelines for reducing the risk of contagion: • Set up a sanitizing station for guests to use upon arrival or offer to bring one to your host’s home. Include an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes for guests’ personal items that may land on the dinner table, such as phones and purses.

• If possible, space the seating so there are several feet between each chair.

• It can also be a good idea to serve individualized portions instead of passing around a large platter for the entire table to share.

• Finally, don’t forget to follow basic hygiene practices boydstreet.com

at Thanksgiving dinner, such as covering your coughs and sneezes with your elbow and scrubbing your hands with soap and water before eating or preparing food.

GOING VIRTUAL

Here’s how to keep the holiday festive with a virtual celebration: • Plan a shared dinner experience in advance. The nextbest thing to sitting around a Thanksgiving dinner table together with your loved ones is sharing the same dinner experience on Thanksgiving Day. Sync your dinner plans with the plans of the people with whom you’d be sharing the dinner in non-COVID times. This can include a shared menu or even lighting the same scented candles.

• Prep together. Video chat with your virtual guest list as you all prep your Thanksgiving dinners in your own homes.

• Send care packages. If you usually host a dinner, you can drop off a basket of Thanksgiving treats at each of your virtual guests’ doorsteps.

• Video chat your “shared” Thanksgiving dinners. Eat your Thanksgiving dinners at the same time as your virtual guests. To make it special, you can create a program for the evening with highlights, like opening and closing remarks, a shared song and a short slideshow of family pictures.

No matter how you decide to celebrate, stay safe this season!

According to the CDC, anyone who’s been diagnosed with COVID-19 and has not met the criteria for when it is safe to be near others, currently has symptoms of COVID-19, is waiting for COVID-19 test results, may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days or is considered high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should not attend any in-person holiday celebrations.

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 59

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BY: KATHY HALLREN | JOE’S WINES & SPIRITS

Never a Better Time for Wine

T

he holidays are here, and it is time for some cheer!

Usually, this column is about entertaining large groups and hosting big dinners, but it looks like things may be different this year.

Let’s celebrate the waning months of 2020 by trying something new!

There has never been a better time to splurge on sparkling and premium wine. The good news is that many sparkling wines are available in splits, half bottle and single servings like Veuve Clicqué, Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante, Chandon, Korbel and more.

Shoppers are often hesitant to buy a bottle of Champagne because part of it might be wasted, which is a tragedy in my opinion. There are a couple of simple solutions. If you will finish the bottle in a day or two, a champagne clamp will keep it fresh. Or, buy smaller bottles of the many premium and popular sparkling wines available.

Look to this list of trusted items to splurge on:

Reds: Cakebread Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon, Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon, Rombauer Cabernet, Titus Zinfandel, Cyrus Red Blend or Cabernet Sauvignon, Robert Mondavi Maesto, Siduri Pinot Noir, Chateau Neuf de Pape, Italian Borolo.

Spanish Rioja Reservas and Italian Chianti Reservas offer a premium wine at a more economical price.

White Wine: Rombauer Chardonnay, Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay, Burgess Chardonnay.

Finally for a sweet dessert, try Eiswein, premium Madeira or Port including Miles, Sandeman or Grahams.

If you would like a selection, Meomi & The Prisoner have three packs featuring 375ml bottles of their products, Meiomi Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and the new Cabernet Sauvignon or The Prisoner Chardonnay, Red Blend and Cabernet Sauvignon.

So have fun, be safe.

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Caring for the Heart

TAVR Providers: Archana Gautam, MD, Muhammad Salim, MD, Katy Walsh, APRN-CNS, and Kyle Toal, MD

New program reduces recovery time for patients needing aortic valve replacement

T

he FDA recently changed its approval of the use a minimally invasive procedure called Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, or TAVR. Once reserved for high-risk and immediate-risk surgery patients, the procedure is now approved for low-risk surgery patients as well.

Previously, patients needing an aortic valve replacement had to undergo open-heart surgery, followed by a lengthy hospital stay and months of recovery, said Sarah “Katy” Walsh, a certified nurse practitioner and the coordinator of the new program at Norman Regional.

TAVR is a minimally invasive proce-

70 | November 2020

dure with a recovery time of only 24 to 48 hours in the hospital then typically one week of recovery at home with some additional activity restrictions for two weeks.

However, Walsh said that patients often feel better the following day after the procedure.

“I often see instant improvement for patients,” Walsh shared. “They typically feel 50 to 75 percent better than the day they walked in.”

The health system performed its first procedures this summer, one of whom was on Randall Madden of Norman. Madden had a heart murmur and was referred to Dr. Archana

Gautam, an interventional cardiologist with Norman Heart and Vascular Associates.

After testing, Madden was told he was a candidate for the TAVR procedure and would be one of the first at Norman Regional.

“I wasn’t nervous at all,” he shared.

“I probably should have been since it’s my heart, but I really wasn’t because the team made me feel so comfortable. As crazy as it sounds, it was a great experience and I’d do again if I had to.”

Madden added that the recovery was much quicker than he expected and was up walking the next day.

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BY: LINDSAY CUOMO Madden said he is doing great and doesn’t have any more chest pain or aches. He’s been able to go shopping and do yard work, and feels like he can breathe again – a luxury he didn’t have before the TAVR procedure.

“It can progress quickly and once patients are experiencing symptoms. It can be fatal which is why screening is important,” Walsh said. “Some patients are fine and then the next day they are passing out.”

Walsh said that patients needing a valve replacement can have severe symptoms because the aortic valve keeps oxygenated blood flowing in the right direction into the body.

“If you have been told you have a heart murmur, take that seriously and don’t miss your echocardiograms,” she advised.

“The valves in the heart are like doors that keep blood flowing one way,” Walsh explained. “If you have a narrowing or build up, that means blood is not getting through, resulting in a poor perfusion of blood throughout the body.”

Patients can experience fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness and even fainting. If left untreated, the condition can lead to serious heart problems.

72 | November 2020

Walsh also encourages patients to be honest and aware of their symptoms and to be an advocate for their own health because age and other health conditions are risk factors do play a role in the buildup of calcium in the aortic valve.

“A lot of patients think they are feeling this way just because they are getting older,” she explained. “For some, they can curtail the progression with lifestyle changes but for others, that is just not the case.”

Walsh has previously served the same role as she does now at a different health system but said she was excited to start this new program at Norman Regional.

“A multidisciplinary approach is very important in building a successful TAVR program,” she said.

Before a patient can be approved for the TAVR procedure, they must have multiple tests and be seen by Walsh, their primary cardiologist, an interventional cardiologist and Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Kyle Toal.

“Our team approach protects our patients and helps ensure they get the best care,” Walsh said.

To learn more about TAVR program at the Norman Regional HealthPlex Heart Hospital, visit normanheart. com. – BSM

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Chr istm a s M a g ic o n the Fa r m

Wells Family Christmas tree farm kicks off another season 78 | November 2020

T

he Wells Family is gearing up for another Christmas season on their tree farm. Now in their fourth year, Jesse and Katy Wells are excited to offer choose-and-cut Virginia Pine trees.

“This is our first year that people can cut their own trees,” Jesse said.

Back in 2014, just as the idea of their Christmas tree farm was taking shape, this was exactly the experience they envisioned offering families.

“We visited a tree farm in town and we got to cut our tree down ourselves,” Katy remembered. “From the moment I stepped foot on that farm and got a whiff of that mesmerizing pine fragrance, memories from my childhood Christmases came flooding back. Walking around that tree farm, I had this insane thought: we could totally do this.

On the way home, Jesse looked at me and said, ‘We could do that.’”

“That is the reason we started this whole thing, for families to be able to come out and build traditions with their families and friends to pass down from generation to generation,” Jesse added.

The spacious 12-acre farm has plenty of wide-open space to spread out and hunt for the perfect tree, whether you’re looking to do the cutting yourself or if you prefer to select a fresh-cut option. They offer a wide selection of fresh-cut varieties including Fraser, Douglas, Blue Spruce, Noble, Nordmann, Cook and Pine.

Opening day is Nov. 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the Wells have special activities planned.

“We want people to come out and make memories,” Jesse invited. “Relax by a fire pit, play some corn hole, sip hot cocoa or cider and enjoy some Christmas cookies.”

Christmas Vacation under the Stars on Nov. 7.

“Bring the family out to watch a Christmas favorite under the stars,” Jesse shared. “Before the movie begins at 6:30 p.m., we’ll have music and trivia with giveaways.”

Tickets are $6 and can be purchase online via Eventbrite or at the event. Gates open at 4 p.m. and a selection of food trucks will be serving food and drinks.

For more information about their hours, private photography sessions, Christmas trees and events, visit wellschristmastrees.com or check out their social media pages on Instagram and Facebook. The Wells Family Christmas Tree Farm is located at 4091 E Franklin Rd in east Norman. – BSM

Upcoming Events • Nov. 7 - National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Under the Stars • Nov. 27 - Opening Day • Dec. 5 - Santa visits the farm

Photo by: Shevaun Williams

There will also be live Christmas music from Whiskey and Wine from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and the non-profit Young Life will provide additional entertainment. The farm also has plenty of opportunities to capture sweet photo moments and several food trucks will be at the farm all weekend. They have a gift shop with festive apparel, ornaments, unique gifts, Ugly Sweater masks and more.

“We don’t want to rush people in and out,” Jesse said. “It’s all about the experience, that Hallmark Christmas feel.”

Building the excitement to opening day, the farm is bringing back an annual tradition of their own, National Lampoon’s boydstreet.com

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 79

B U S I N E SS

BY: ROXANNE AVERY

The X Factor Youth Performance trains young athletes

W

hen it comes to motivating and enhancing the physical performance of young athletes, Chat Williams, personal trainer and owner of Youth Performance says consistency is key. Williams should know; he has been in the strength and conditioning business for over 20 years.

With a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma in Exercise Science and several certifications through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Williams was named the NSCA Personal Trainer of the Year in 2012.

Formerly a trainer at the Health Club, operated by Norman Regional Health System, he met long-time Norman resident Randy Laffoon in his role as a physical trainer.

“I met Randy in 1999 and he asked me to work with his older son Trevor, a soccer player. Soon after that, Trevor and three of his buddies started train-

82 | November 2020

ing with me,” he shared.

Three or four years went by and Williams found himself working with about 30 kids at the Health Club.

During the seven years he trained kids at the Health Club, he saw his programs making a difference in the lives of Norman youth.

“Trent started working out with me as well as Trevor and the cool thing about that was that they both won state soccer championships,” he remembered.

“Trevor won in 2010 and Trent in 2012.

Obviously, they had great soccer programs and coaches but it felt good to be a part of their strength and conditioning training and helping them get ahead of other kids.”

About the time Trevor was starting college, Randy had the vision for a youth-only training facility and asked Williams if he was interested in creating a business.

“In 2011, Randy and I opened Youth Performance in a 1,500 square foot building,” he said. “Six years ago we moved to our current 5,400-squarefeet location at 500 W Main St. The demand just kept getting bigger. We needed more space and more equipment and had to invest more money to provide more services.”

The business mission is simple. Youth Performance is devoted to enhancing performance through a scientifically based, practical approach, improving strength, conditioning and self-esteem.

A semi-private facility, Youth Performance is open from 2:30 - 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Fridays 2:30 - 6 p.m.

“It’s basically an after-school facility,” Williams said. “There are a lot of places that offer classes for kids like the YMCA, but it may only be an hour class a couple times a week.

“A mom just called inquiring about training for her son to just get fit,” Williams said. “We work with boys and girls, athletes and non-athletes and kids of all fitness levels.”

A typical program consists of attendance twice a week for a monthly fee of $115.

“Paying for personal training can cost $45-$50 a session,” Williams said.

“This is a less expensive way for parents to get their kids in. It’s more like $15 per session.”

Chat Williams, MS, CSCS*D, NSCA-CPT*D, CSPS*D, FNSCA

We focus solely on youth during the youth training. Our age range is 8- to 18-year-olds. “ The majority of members at Youth Performance are athletes but there are also kids who just want to work out for fitness.

The benefits of Youth Performance include enhancing athletic performance, improving self-confidence, developing fitness skills that lead to lifelong health, total body strength training, speed/ agility, flexibility, recovery, year-round training and performance evaluations.

William’s mantra is consistency.

“I’ve been doing this for over 20 years and the kids who consistently come here and follow the long-term athletic development model are the ones with the most success.”

He said when parents trust him with their kids’ training, he and his staff will figure out how to motivate and enhance performance.

“Not every kid is on the same timeline.

Some take longer,” he admitted. “Some are ready to really grasp the concept at 9 years of age while others don’t get it until they’re older. It’s our job to figure out what makes each kid click. I’ve had kids train with me for five or six years and suddenly they get it.

“Parents need to know the kids aren’t going to necessarily get better in one month. Consistency is key and is big in maintaining a year-round program.

Even if the kid is busy and needs to cut back to once a week for a while, that’s fine. I have a lot of kids who played college sports and high-level high school sports. I know this program works.”

For more information about youth training and the programs available, go to youthperformance.net – BSM

B U S I N E SS

BY: CALLIE COLLINS

Family Business, Community Spirit

Local restaurant, Tiffany’s, supports all things Noble

O

klahoma’s small but proud town of Noble, with just under 7,000 residents, features people and places that stand out in hearts and minds. Hometowns and the places we call home have a way of endearing themselves to us because of the way they make us feel. People feel happy and they feel comfortable at Tiffany’s.

The restaurant, at 101 Main St., is locally owned and operated. Co-owners Gary and Donnie Hicks are wellknown around town for menu items like omelets and French toast, halfpound burgers and chicken fried steak but also for the way they treat people like veterans and student-athletes.

“The owners of Tiffany’s are 100 percent committed to any program associated with Noble’s schools from

86 | November 2020

clubs and activities to our staff and students,” said Frank Solomon, superintendent of Noble Public Schools.

“They support anybody and everybody, with meals and prizes and they help advertise school activities. Those two go above and beyond with overall support. They do everything we ask them to do but they also do a lot on their own. Our defensive linemen have a tradition of going in for breakfast every Friday morning during football season.”

Noble High School cheerleaders frequently breakfast at Tiffany’s, too.

For the past 20 years, Tiffany’s has been a staple of the community.

Gary Hicks purchased an existing restaurant then known as Hazel’s in 2000, along with his mother, Phyl-

lis Fulcher. They went into business together as a mother-son venture and decided to go with a name that would capitalize on the popularity of Truman Capote novella that inspired the 1961 classic film of the same name starring Audrey Hepburn.

The venture capitalized on Fulcher’s first-hand experience. She had worked in the restaurant business for nearly 20 years in Norman and Edmond.

“My Mother had been in that line of work all her life. Owning a restaurant was her dream. She was single and she raised us to work hard,” explained Gary Hicks, who was working for a convenience store chain at the time. “She had the restaurant background and I had the finance management background.”

Noble cheer The restaurant was originally open seven days a week. Fulcher ran the dining room while Gary cooked. Although neither took a paycheck for the first few years, being able to pay their bills was enough. After the second year, brother Donnie joined the business as well.

Photos now line the walls of the restaurant, along with movie posters that restaurant regulars have brought to add to the display. Thank you notes, restaurant t-shirts and a collection of other mementos collected through the years show how people feel about Tiffany’s.

Tiffany’s is currently open Tuesday through Friday for breakfast and lunch; Saturday is only for breakfast.

“We support hidden gems on our days off,” Gary said of his support for other small businesses. He considers Tiffany’s a hidden gem of its own. “We still get a ton of first-time customers, which always surprises me since we’re five minutes away from Norman.”

He is proud of the restaurant’s reputation, its pancakes and the ways they’ve been able to help.

“We love our community and our school system. We’ve spent 20 years doing this and we haven’t gotten rich boydstreet.com

team enjoys breakfast to celebrate recent birthdays. and we’ll never get rich but we live for an outstanding member of Noble’s a decent life and give back where we graduating class. Her legacy lives on can,” he said. in the restaurant, her family and the The restaurant is also known for host- community. ing an annual breakfast for veterans “We live in a time when so much since 2012. Athletic Director Joe Casti- happens behind the scenes and so glione recently co-hosted the T-Row in many small things people do in supthe Morning Show from Tiffany’s for a port of our kids add up. We live in a special broadcast in September. time when supporting, enabling and Fulcher survived lung cancer but a enhancing their life is something the heart attack took her life in December owners of Tiffany’s do,” said Solomon.

2019. A scholarship is now given in “There’s no better partner — we have her honor that her sons make possible equals but no better.” – BSM

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 87

DOWNTOWN NORMAN • BROOKHAVEN • LINDSEY

a Norman staple since 1920 AND WE’RE GONNA BE HERE FOR THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS

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