Boyd Street Magazine December 2020

Charles Hollingsworth

Community Champion

Prep Basketball

Season Previews

Sooner Theatre Presents

Annie

December 2020 • Issue 12 • Volume 19

The

Oklahoma Impact

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Features

DECEMBER CONTENTS 2020

ISSUE 12– VOLUME 19 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mark Doescher

#LiveUnitedNorman

14

by Heide Brandes

MANAGING EDITOR Lindsay Cuomo

United Way of Norman seeks to raise $1.9 million to fund community programs.

Community Champion

18 by Sharla Bardin

Longtime banker and community volunteer remembered as ‘cheerleader’ for city.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mark Doescher

CONTRIBUTORS

Sharla Bardin | Heide Brandes Callie Collins | Lindsay Cuomo Drake Diacon | Kathy Hallren Joy Hampton | Josh Helmer Shannon Hudzinski | Chelsey Kraft Bill Moakley | Tyler McComas Rae Lynn Payton | Chris Plank

14

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES

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

In Memory of

Holiday Home Tour

24 by Heide Brandes

RANDY LAFFOON

1960 - 2020

Assistance League hosts annual home tour benefiting Operation School Bell.

Hope, Joy & “Annie”

28 by Callie Collins

The sun will come out this December at Sooner Theatre.

Normanite in the Spotlight:

36 Tim Kenney

by Chelsey Kraft After leaving the world of marketing, a local artist finds his niche in painting for charity.

42

Keeping local talent at home and making an impact for the Sooners.

Service Spotlight:

by Lindsay Cuomo & Josh Helmer Memorial tournament honors former player and coach.

72

Holiday Traditions

Norman Regional staff reflects on holidays of yesteryear.

Voice of the Sooners 96 Pens Children’s Book

by Rae Lynn Payton “Unhitch the Wagon” is paving the way for big dreams.

sportstalk1400.com

by Bill Moakley

32

Lt. Bo Ranells

90 by Lindsay Cuomo

Spotlights Service Spotlight:

Joe Lawson 72 Memorial Invitational

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.

10

Brent Barbour

The Oklahoma Impact

42 by Chris Plank

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

/boydstreetmagazine

96

@boydstreet

by Joy Hampton

50

50 Norman High

High School Basketball Previews

by Tyler McComas

54 Norman North

58 Noble

62 Little Axe

66 CCS

by Josh Helmer

by Drake Diacon

by Drake Diacon

by Josh Helmer

78 Intact this Holiday Season

Six Ways to Keep your Finances

by Shannon Hudzinski - OUFCU

84

by Kathy Hallren - Joe’s Wines & Spirits New Twist for End of the Year

Cover photo courtesy OU Athletics : Joshua Gateley

MERRY NORMAN

COMM U N I T Y

BY: BILL MOAKLEY

Service Spotlight: Brent Barbour

G

rowing up, Brent Barbour wanted to be a doctor. Instead, the Norman native now serves his hometown in a different capacity.

lieutenant and an assignment on the afternoon shift.

sibility of helping the department continually evolve, is a passion.

“My lifelong goal ever since I can remember was to go into medicine, cardiology or emergency medicine,” Barbour explained. “During high school, I became involved in the Explorer Post at the Norman Police Department and became really interested in law enforcement. I found it intriguing and thought it was a good way to help people out.”

The division is responsible for a wide variety of activities including public records, purchasing, strategic planning, capital projects, department inventories, fleet management, budgeting, research and development and more.

Beyond COVID-19, Barbour’s division has brought what was disparate operations together to better coordinate various administrative efforts.

Barbour is 19 years into a career with the Norman Police Department. A 1999 graduate of Norman High School, he landed at the University of Oklahoma as a pre-med major.

A couple of years into his time at OU, Barbour felt “the pull” to pursue a police job.

“I applied (with NPD) thinking there was no way they were going to hire a 21-year-old kid and I was surprised,” Barbour said. “And, almost 19 years later, here we are.”

Barbour started with Norman in 2002.

His intent at the time was to serve two or three years with a local department and pursue a move to a federal agency.

“As I got more experience and exposure here, I felt like this was where my calling was and where I wanted to be,” Barbour said.

After graduating from Norman’s police academy, Barbour spent a number of years as a patrol officer before moving to the city’s traffic division. He returned to patrol and spent time on all three shifts before a 2012 promotion to 10 | December 2020

Two years in internal affairs followed before a 2016 promotion to captain and a stint in the animal welfare division.

He was then tapped to head the department’s Planning and Logistics Division, which was created just over two years ago.

“It’s really ensuring our folks have the equipment and tools to perform their mission every day,” Barbour explained.

“We also guide and prepare us for the future as well as we can. One of the draws for me is developing new things and setting the department up for the future.”

Since early spring, Barbour and the department’s Incident Command team have been heavily involved in navigating the world of COVID-19.

“The backbone of what we do with the community is our people being able to serve the public and respond to calls,” Barbour said. “(COVID-19) presents a unique challenge in that it can reduce the people available. Not only from an internal standpoint are we concerned with exposing each other if someone gets ill, but we are concerned about not exposing the public. It’s a challenge on multiple fronts.”

For Barbour, his division’s COVID-19 response, as well as the overall respon-

“I find it a unique challenge personally,” he said. “I enjoy it. I like trying things and seeing if they work and moving things forward on the best path possible. That’s a personal passion. The lessons were learning now will transfer very well into the future.”

“We’re able to be more intentional and focus our resources,” Barbour said.

In addition to his duties with the Planning and Logistics Division, Barbour is the commander of the department’s Fatality Collision Reconstruction team, which is tasked with reconstructing major traffic accidents in Norman.

And circling back to his younger days, Barbour is responsible for the department’s Explorer Post. He also he works with Norman’s developing drone program and as a firearms and bike instructor.

“A lot of places you are not provided the opportunities to grow and develop and do a lot of different things,” Barbour said of his continued desire to stay in Norman. “That’s not the case here.”

Away from work, Barbour spends most of his time with his wife and two children. He is active at St. Thomas More University Catholic Church and with a homeschool community in Norman, as well as the Norman Citizens Advisory Board.– BSM

www.bancfirst.bank

COMM U N I T Y

BY: HEIDE BRANDES

#LiveUnitedNorman

United Way of Norman seeks to raise $1.9 million to fund community programs

W

ith less than a month to reach its goal of $1.9 million, United Way of Norman is betting that once again, Normanites will rise up to meet the needs of its neighbors and friends.

Already, the organization has raised roughly 60 percent of its goal through donations, business support and events like the Celebrity Sing, but this year is especially important, said Jed Dembowski, vice president of marketing & communications for the United Way of Norman.

“The campaign is going good, but it’s hard to compare to previous years because this year has just been so different,” he said. “We are optimistic, though. We’ve had great support, but the needs are greater too.”

14 | December 2020

The United Way of Norman helps fund 42 programs at 29 organizations in the Norman area and provides services to the community through programs and community initiatives like the ABC School Supply Program, Student United Way LEAD and the FamilyWize discount drug cards.

More than 56,100 people receive aid from the United Way of Norman and its organizations every year. This year, however, it may go up exponentially.

“Some of our organizations have seen a 100 percent increase in clients, especially those organizations that offering rent and food assistance. They’ve seen a huge increase,” Dembowski shared. “When COVID really took off earlier this year, we raised additional money for rent assistance.”

Almost 87 cents of every dollar goes directly toward helping people, he added.

“We are still taking donations, and you can give through your company or give online,” he said.

One of the largest fundraisers for the United Way of Norman’s annual campaign is the Celebrity Sing event. This year’s 25th-anniversary event was held on Oct. 23 and raised $95,000.

“Celebrity Sing is our biggest fundraiser each year. People from the community come and sing and do productions, and we do that with Sooner Theatre,” said Dembowski.

“We also have a live and silent auction, but as you can imagine, things were different this year.”

Instead of holding the event - which is usually attended by 600 people - at The Riverwind Casino, the event was moved to an outdoor venue at Legacy Park. The in-person attendance was limited with social distancing measures in place.

“We moved the silent auction online, which turned out great,” Dembowski said. “It allowed people who weren’t at the event to bid, and I think we will stick with the online silent auction for sure.”

Celebrity Sing featured 19 acts that included singing, dancing and full productions, managed by Jennifer Baker of Sooner Theatre.

“It was incredible. It’s a full production with lights, fog machines, you name it. I’m always so impressed with the talent each year,” he said. “We are so appreciative of everyone who donated. We know it’s been a tough year for people, but Norman is always amazing.

“Norman always steps up when help is needed.”

For more information about United Way of Norman’s annual campaign or how to donate, visit unitedwaynorman.org. – BSM

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: SHARLA BARDIN

Community

Champion

Longtime banker and community volunteer remembered as ‘cheerleader’ for city

A

class act, esteemed colleague, kind and considerate friend, a champion for the community. These are some of the many qualities that friends and colleagues said they will celebrate and cherish about the late Charles Hollingsworth, a longtime banker and community leader in Norman who died Oct. 1 at the age of 82.

Friends said Hollingsworth had a heart for helping others, compassion for co-workers and customers and a desire to see the community thrive.

“There was never a better cheerleader for Norman than Charles,” said Scott Martin, a friend and the president and chief executive officer of the Norman Chamber of Commerce.

Martin said Hollingsworth “invested his time and heart” into helping Norman succeed, through his profession and involvement in community organizations. Hollingsworth’s longtime career in banking included working with Security National Bank, Arvest Bank and 1NB Financial Center.

Jason Casey remembers the graciousness and guidance that Hollingsworth offered when he began working at 1NB. Casey, now a senior vice president, said Hollingsworth was always ready with an encouraging word and enjoyed celebrating “important things in your life” be it a birthday or accomplishing goals at work. He was impressed with Hollingsworth’s work ethic and his camaraderie with colleagues and customers.

18 | December 2020

“He took great pride in his work and it showed by his professionalism and the way that he approached conversations and meetings and just the way that he made everybody feel so comfortable,” he said.

Hollingsworth also had “a fantastic sense of humor,” said Vicki Anderson, vice president at 1NB and a longtime friend and neighbor of Hollingsworth. “We had some really, really good laughs.”

She described Hollingsworth as “the true definition of a gentleman,” always well dressed so much so that she referred to him as “Mr. GQ.” He was thoughtful and loved to give gifts to friends, such as tomatoes from his garden or souvenirs from a vacation.

Hollingsworth also was quick with a thank you note and cards to encourage friends. Anderson said he had a servant’s heart and was always thinking about others and how he could give back.

One example of Hollingsworth’s desire to help people was in his dedication to the Christmas Store of Cleveland County.

Hollingsworth oversaw operations and volunteered with the store for more than 30 years.

The Christmas Store is a nonprofit run by volunteers that offers shopping opportunities for families with low incomes to select gifts and food for Christmas.

Justin Davis, executive director of the store, remembers Hollingsworth’s enthusiasm about the work and mission of the store.

“He loved that we were able to give back to people in need,” he shared. “His joy spread to all of us.”

The two became close friends and they kept in touch. Davis said he spoke with Hollingsworth in recent months and Hollingsworth was happy to hear that the store would still be able to help families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hollingsworth’s compassion for others is one of the qualities that Martin said he’ll certainly remember.

“He was one of the kindest, most encouraging and welcoming people you could ever know,” Martin said.

The two got to know one another through Martin’s work with the City of Norman and later through the Norman Chamber of Commerce. Martin said he appreciated Hollingsworth’s thoughtfulness and attentiveness.

“He was always so interested in you as an individual,” he said.

Martin remembers how Hollingsworth would call him regularly to see how he was doing and ask about his family.

“He was so gracious with his compliments and such an encourager. He wanted everybody in the community to succeed together,” Martin said. – BSM boydstreet.com

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: HEIDI BRANDES

Holiday Home Tour Assistance League Hosts Annual Home Tour Benefiting Operation School Bell

M

aureen ‘Mo’ Crook of Norman knows how children feel when they have to wear hand-medowns. As one of five children of a single mother, she was the kid who had the different colored lunch ticket in the school cafeteria.

“I know what it’s like. I grew up with hand-me-downs. My mother had to care for five kids,” she said. “That’s why I’ve lived and breathed Assistance League Norman since 1995.”

As one of the more than 400 members at Assistance League Norman, Crook now gives back by helping with the organization’s numerous programs.

This year, Crook is the chair of the annual Holiday Home Tour.

Assistance League Norman is an allvolunteer, nonprofit organization that helps the community through philanthropic programs in Norman.

“We have so many different programs, but one of the largest is the Operation School Bell,” Crook said. “The Holiday Home Tour benefits that program, and it is one of our largest fundraisers. Everything we do and all our programs are funded through donations and fundraisers like this one.”

This year, the event is planned as a virtual tour that promises to display decorated homes to an even wider audience.

The Assistance League Norman’s Holiday Home Tour is set to begin on Dec. 11. Six homes will be featured in

24 | December 2020

the virtual tour as well as a look at the Assistance League’s philanthropic programs.

Tickets are $20 and homes on this year’s tour are the residences of Suzanne and Alan Cheshier, Mrs. and Dr. Jeff Crook, Mrs. and Dr. Buck Hill, Mrs. and Dr. Jack Beller, Barb and Pat Fitzgerald, and Pat and Melanie Hall.

“When you buy your ticket, you’ll get a link to a virtual tour of all six of the homes. This option helps us reach more people, especially those who are out of town or out of state but still want to participate,” Crook said. “You can do the tour at your leisure by logging on.”

The home tour doesn’t just show off beautifully decorated homes - it helps children in the community too. Proceeds support the Operation School Bell program, which helps provide clothes and shoes to over 1200 students from Norman and Little Axe Public Schools.

Children are referred to the program by their teachers and school counselors, and the number of students clothed depends on the funds raised each year.

“Every Assistance League chapter in the U.S. does an Operation School Bell, but our program is set up like an actual store,” said Crook.

Each child can pick out three tops, two bottoms and a new winter coat. Children also receive five pairs of socks and underwear, a grooming kit, a new book and a backpack to carry their new duds in. Shoe orders are also placed for each child, which are later delivered to the school. Students also select a donated ‘plushie’ toy. These are all donated to the program.

“It’s amazing what happens when kids are given brand-new, trendy clothes to wear to school,” Crook said. “It truly levels the playing field for them. They walk in more confident.

“The reports we get from the schools tell us that the new clothes make a difference - the kids’ confidence goes up, grades go up, attendance goes up and interactions go up.”

Tickets to this year’s virtual Holiday Home Tour are available at assistanceleague.org/norman/holiday-home-tour. – BSM 26 | December 2020

COMM U N I T Y

BY: CALLIE COLLINS

Hope, Joy & “Annie”

The sun will come out this December at Sooner Theatre

A

message of hope is the underlying theme of the hummable show tune “Tomorrow,” one that feels like the perfect fit as 2020 draws to a close.

Sooner Theatre will welcome the public to a special production of the famed musical “Annie” just in time for the holiday season. The show will finish the 2020 season after a significant pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a situation familiar to theatres large and small throughout the country.

“Our stage has been bare far too long.

We are so excited to welcome the public back to Sooner Theatre,” said Jennifer Baker, executive director. “We are thrilled. And we are so fortunate to be in this space with its high ceilings, great ventilation and the ability to social distance.”

The audience will have a choice of purchasing tickets for an in-person performance at 101 E. Main in Nor28 | December 2020

man or a live stream online under permitted copyright.

The show opens Dec. 11, with eight performances including a final show on Dec. 20. Tickets are available at soonertheatre.org/tickets.

“First and foremost, we have taken appropriate measures to protect the safety of everyone involved,” Baker said. “We will follow all public health guidelines and suggestions, skip a row in-between and only seat people together who buy their tickets together. We want everyone to feel safe in both the audience and on-stage.”

The usual cast of “Annie” has been reduced by half to allow for social distancing for the performers as well.

Masks will be required for audience members.

A mix of both in-person and virtual summer camps, studio classes and performances were held during the

summer but no stage performances were offered in the fall out of an abundance of caution. Not even the pandemic, however, can dampen the cast’s enthusiasm, as the #saveourstages hashtag continues to trend to stir support for the performing arts during what has been an extremely difficult year for events.

“We have a whole group of people who cannot wait to do something because it is who they are to embrace this opportunity to share optimism, to share hope and to share our craft,” said Baker. “We had an incredible turnout and wish we could have taken twice as many people, as so many did show up from all over the metro area and several of the colleges. It’s absolutely beautiful to see that enthusiasm, which has characterized our rehearsals throughout these months of preparation. They knocked our socks off.”

Open auditions for adult roles were held in mid-October. Children’s roles were cast from current enrollees of The Studio at Sooner Theatre. All children’s roles are double-cast, with Addison Metcalf and Madi Kellam playing the title character, Annie.

“I am so proud of our team because they could write the book on safely social distancing patrons as well as performers,” said Baker. “Taking everything very seriously we know people are ready to get back and do some things but only if we can do it safely.”

The message of “Annie” is, of course, fitting for this particular year.

“That idea, that the sun will come out tomorrow, that there are better days ahead, just feels perfect,” Baker commented. “It’s really such an incredible message that we all need, with everything we’ve been through this year.

Our community has come together, safely, to make it happen and remember that being positive is possible, being safe is possible and feeling better is possible, too.”

Director Brandon Adams agreed. He serves as house operations manager and director in residence for Sooner Theatre after more than a decade of involvement in various capacities with the local fixture.

“Just as a general overarching message, hope is something desperately needed in today’s world. At times, I think circumstances have felt devoid of positivity and just as people with human nature being what it is, we are longing for the creative to show itself in this world,” said Adams. “So many people feel quarantine fatigue and pandemic fatigue overall and it can be hard to see anything positive right now. ‘Annie’ is all that and more.”

The spirit of joy at the holidays may not be the same this year but it can certainly draw upon time-honored traditions that foster a sense of normalcy.

“There’s a sense of familiarity and comfort with hearing those songs everyone knows from this production,” said Adams. “There’s something about being able to come see a show

you’ve seen countless times or at least are familiar with the music, as a little dose of normal in an otherwise totally abnormal time and year. That shared experience of seeing live theatre is just irreplaceable. It’s not like watching TV or even seeing a movie in the same cinema. There have been studies done that show similar heart syncopes among audience members and the cast and it’s just a much more immersive way of being entertained.”

Adams considers “Annie” a welcome break to current COVID routines.

“It just seems like we need this right now,” he shared. “Those concepts of ‘it’s always darkest before the dawn,’ well, that’s what we cling to and there’s a message so sorely needed and I think people are just receptive right now, with open ears to hear that message. It is a unifying experience.”

At a time when unity is rare, may we all find ways, through creativity and with safety in mind, to find holiday spirit. “Annie” is one of those ways and tickets are on sale now. – BSM

The Sooner Theatre Presents

Book by THOMAS MEEHAN

Music by CHARLES STROUSE

Original Broadway Production Directed by MARTIN CHARNIN

Lyrics by MARTIN CHARNIN Based on “Little Orphan Annie”®

By Permission of Tribune Content Agency, LLC

December 11-13 & 18-20

Livestream & In-person* Tickets On Sale Now! *Audience members attending in-person must wear a mask and socially distance seating in the auditorium will be required.

101 E Main St • Downtown Norman (405) 321-9600

www.soonertheatre.com

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COMM U N I T Y

F

BY: JOY HAMPTON

Service Spotlight: Lt. Bo Ranells

ollowing his father’s footsteps to work in corrections seemed a natural choice to Bo Ranells when he started his career in criminal justice. In 1999, Ranells was living in Pottawatomie County and needed a job. The closest job with benefits was the Lexington Assessment and Reception Center, a maximum-security state prison for men.

time position at the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office.

In 2010, Ranells signed up to be a reserve deputy for the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office. It’s an unpaid, volunteer job, but he was excited for the opportunity to learn new skills and serve people in the community.

“Lt. Ranells extensive experience with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections has given him the opportunity to be a successful leader for the Cleveland County Detention Center,” Chief Deputy Julie Tipton said. “He has a can-do attitude that sets a great example for our detention officers.”

“My dad worked at Lexington,” Ranells said. “He retired from there. I was hired and worked there for nearly 18 years.”

“I wanted to see what that side of criminal justice was about,” Ranells said. “I quickly realized I enjoyed helping people in the community on what is sometimes their worst day.”

Reserve deputies go through a shorter version of the same CLEET training as full-time law enforcement, and, while they often work community events, they also drive patrol or help out in other divisions throughout the agency, serving as force multipliers.

Ranells said his experience as a reserve and the values adopted by the agency in 2017 prompted him to seek a full32 | December 2020

“I was ready for a change, and I felt like I could impact people’s lives more directly working at the Sheriff’s Office,” he said.

He started full time in December 2019, working in patrol. When a vacancy in leadership at the Cleveland County Detention Center created an opportunity, Ranells was tapped for a lieutenant position at the jail.

Ranells had been a captain at the prison for an extensive time, so he was experienced and ready to serve.

“I’m the day shift supervisor,” he said.

“I have 26 detention officers on my shift and three sergeants under our new organizational structure. Those sergeants are the frontline leaders, and I enjoy mentoring them.”

The mission, vision and values of the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office are put into daily action especially at the de-

tention center where emotions can run high among the inmates, Ranells said.

“Most of the detention officers we hire are 18- or 19-years-old, and they want to be in law enforcement. This is their introduction to law enforcement and the ethics and conduct required to do the job,” he said. “For me, it’s a chance to give them the training they need to succeed while emphasizing the importance of making good choices. That’s the power of our mission, vision and values. We have that guideline in front of us at all times.”

Working at the jail is also rewarding in the ability to help transform the lives of inmates.

“At the jail, they have a better chance to turn their lives around,” he said. “We try to give them opportunities to start that positive trajectory.”

Ranells said there is a stark difference between jail and prison. In prison, inmates know the daily routine and what their sentences are. In jail, there are court dates and uncertainty. This can spark fear or anger, he said.

“In here we don’t carry guns,” Ranells said. “I teach the young officers that inmates are people and our communication skills are the most important skills we have in dealing with them.”

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

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: CHELSEY KRAF T

A

NORMANITE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Tim Kenney 36 | December 2020

t 52 years old, after 30-years in marketing, Tim Kenney decided it was time for a change.

For a more flexible schedule, Kenney began working as a full-time paint contractor when his mom moved in with the family for her last years of life. But, a new career was on the horizon.

This new dream would be prompted by a phone call.

Kenney’s nephew Bobby Beals, an art dealer living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, called and asked him to deliver some paintings to Dallas.

Among these paintings, one of an aspen tree stood out to Kenney. It reminded him of the trips his family has taken the past 65 years to fly fish in Colorado and New Mexico, surrounded by the same trees. While driving back to Norman after the 9-plus hour drive from Santa Fe to Dallas, Kenney started to wonder if maybe he could become an artist, too.

For six weeks, Kenney kept thinking about the possibility. Eventually, he called his nephew and shared his vision before signing up for lessons and giving this dream a go.

“I’d wake up thinking about it. I’d go to bed thinking about it. I’d daydream about it while I was working, painting houses, listening to the radio or whatever,” Kenney recalled. “One day I just said, ‘I’m going to do it.’”

Twelve years later, Kenney has a thriving art career as an abstract impressionist, painting primarily aspen trees but also flowers and other colorful subjects – ones that are about “the joy and the colors and the beauty” – by using oil on canvas and predominately palette knives.

Kenney, originally from Virginia, moved to Norman with his family in the summer of 1970 when he was 14 years old. The next year, Debbie McAuley and her family, also from Virginia, moved to Norman. Kenney and Debbie started dating when they were 15 years old and married on May 27, 1978. The couple has four kids – Tim, William, Kathleen and Suzy – and six grandsons. Both Kenney and McAuley graduated from the University of Oklahoma. He went into sales and marketing and she became a teacher.

Once Kenney decided to pursue art, he took lessons with Carol Armstrong at Firehouse Art Center. He walked into his first class armed with a bunch of palette knives, oil paint and a picture of an aspen painting. Despite still having not practiced, Kenney wanted to jump past the basics to learning the techniques for the works he knew he wanted to create.

“Carol read me right away,” Kenney said. “She didn’t force me to learn shading. She didn’t force me to learn color. She didn’t force me to do anything. She can read people really well, so she just said ‘Tim, get over there, squirt that paint out, and we’ll get started in just a minute.’”

Kenney’s first gallery was in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and he is currently showing in Oklahoma City, Edmond, Santa Fe and Breckenridge, Colorado.

In addition to creating pieces for galleries and festivals, Kenney is passionate about donating his artwork to a range of causes. One organization Kenney consistently supports is the Nicole Jarvis Parkinson’s Research Foundation. In May 2014, Kenney traveled the United States to paint 50 paintings in 50 states in 50 days. He donated 20 percent of his proceeds to this foundation, and in 2017, he gave the same amount following his trip to paint 77 paintings in 77 days in 77 Oklahoma counties.

“When you give for the right reasons, it always seems to come back in a great way,” shared Kenney, who said his wife has a giving spirit and encourages him to give. “In the last few years, I have given over 20 paintings a year to different charities in Norman, Oklahoma City and other states. It’s always great to be able to donate to charities boydstreet.com

that help people in need. I have taken my wife’s lead when it comes to giving. When she was a schoolteacher, she was always giving to her students and to our family members that ever needed anything. She has been a great inspiration for me.”

In 2019, Kenney sold 40 paintings between the Oklahoma City Arts Festival and the Edmond Arts Festival. With those shows canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kenney pivoted to Facebook as a way to both make some income and support local charities in Norman and Oklahoma City.

Starting in March, Kenney auctioned off at least one painting for a different nonprofit each week, including the Mary Abbott Children’s House, Meals on Wheels, WildCare Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters, just to name a few.

Every Tuesday for 26 weeks, Kenney started his day at 8 a.m. with a video announcing the charity. He’d then provide updates of the progress every two hours before hosting a Facebook Live at 7 p.m. for final bidding. For the

first painting sold, Kenney would give 100% of the proceeds to that charity, an average of $1,000 each, then would split the proceeds for any additional ones sold.

For Kenney, there are three people in his life who made this all possible.

First, his wife, who when told of his new plans said, “It sounds good to me, Tim. I know you can do it if you put your mind to it.” The second is his nephew, who asked him to deliver the paintings that sparked his interest. And the third is Armstrong who, “saw my dreams and said, ‘OK, let’s go. Let’s see what we can do’” and has encouraged Kenney and become a good friend.

“The first year I didn’t make a dollar, and the second year I made $3,000. I told my wife, ‘Look at that graph from zero to $3,000, we are on our way to millions.’ I think she rolled her eyes,” Kenney quipped. “I’m not making millions yet, but I’m having a blast and I love what I’m doing, so it’s pretty special.” – BSM

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 37

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S P O RT S

The

Oklahoma Impact

42 November | November December2020 2020

BY: CHRIS PLANK

“It’s hard to have a great college football program if you don’t have really strong football players in your state and keep them home.”

boydstreet.com

IT JUST MEANS MORE

Tre Brown was 17 years old when he attended a Junior Day in Norman. The hope was to catch enough of an eye to get a scholarship offer from Oklahoma. It did not take long for Brown to draw the attention of the coaching staff and get what he had wanted, an opportunity to play for Oklahoma. The scholarship offer to play for the Sooners made the dream come true.

“This is the one I’ve been waiting for,” an emotional Brown recalls telling his father.

Despite not committing that day, Brown eventually made his commitment to Oklahoma.

“Those tears were probably as good of a commitment as any,” His father Prince said. “I always knew since he was 2 years old, he would go to Oklahoma.”

“Growing up, I always wanted to be an OU player. I grew up an OU fan and this is where I wanted to be,” Brown said.

Brown has been the hero, wrapping up a win over Texas twice in his career, including the game-ending interception in the fourth overtime to beat Texas this season. But his story is one that can be repeated in some fashion for most of the Oklahoma-born Sooners on the roster.

They always wanted to be a Sooner and once they got the opportunity there was no turning back.

Sooner defensive lineman and Tulsan LaRon Stokes still remembers that first interaction with Defensive Line Coach Calvin Thibodeaux.

Photo by: Mark Doescher

A

s the Sooners roll through the 2020 football season, improvement and progress are obvious in every aspect on the field. What might go unnoticed though is the impact that in-state talent has had in helping the Sooners find its footing this season.

The Sooner Born, Sooner Bred mentality has made a major difference this season.

Both Sooner captains played high school football in Oklahoma and 23 players on the current roster are in-state players. Of those 23, currently 13 are listed on the two-deep.

Oklahoma high school football might not be considered a hotbed for college talent, but, this year, Oklahomans have made an impact for the Sooners.

“It’s hard to have a great college football program if you don’t have really strong football players in your state and keep them home,” said Sooner head coach Lincoln Riley.

“The football in this state, in the few short years I’ve been here, I see it getting better and better.”

Isiah Thomas, from Memorial High School in Tulsa, has been described by Defensive Coordinator Alex Grinch as the team’s MVP. Shawnee-product Creed Humphrey and Tulsa Union grad Pat Fields are co-captains, both playing virtually every snap. Fields former high school teammate Jordan Kelly is having a breakout season while Union-product Tre Brown has been one of the best secondary players on the Sooner roster this season.

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 43

Photo by: Mark Doescher

“When he DM’ed me on Twitter, I looked at it and then I looked at my roommate at NEO,” Stokes said. “I said, if any school offers me, I will go to OU over any of them. When he started that (dialogue), that was a big deal. I called my mom and said, he ain’t offered me yet, but I hope so. I was just so happy.”

For some, it is a part of their DNA. Drake Stoops turned down several scholarship offers to walk-on at Oklahoma.

“He’s just a kid that’s grown up watching OU football his whole life, being a kid here in Norman — playing at OU just means so much to him,” Stoops’ high school coach Brent Barnes said. “You can see all of it.”

For others, it may have taken a little bit of time but the desire to be a Sooner was never truly in doubt. When Creed Humphrey was rolling through his junior season at Shawnee, the Oklahoma offer was one that had not yet materialized.

Humphrey had initially committed to Texas A&M but eventually ended up signing with the Sooners.

“Ever since a little kid, I’ve always dreamed of playing OU football and being a leader on the team,” Humphrey said.

“Seeing all that materialize has been awesome.”

Humphrey doubled down on his commitment to the Sooners when he decided after his redshirt sophomore season to return to the college game instead of turning pro.

“My dream has always been to be one of the best players at OU,” Humphrey said. “I have so much love for this program and I want to be able to give it my all.”

Humphrey was named a captain alongside another Oklahoma product, senior safety Pat Fields. It marks the first

44 | December 2020

time since 2009 that a pair of Oklahomans served as captains for the Sooners. Sam Bradford and Gerald McCoy were captains along with Brody Eldridge and Ryan Reynolds for the ‘09 campaign.

“It already meant a lot to me just being an Oklahoma guy and a guy from Tulsa playing here,” said Fields about being selected as a captain. “I kind of already took a lot much more pride in it, but it’s huge for me because I know it’s a huge honor and a privilege to be a captain of the Oklahoma Sooners. Not too many guys will ever be able to say that, but I know with that responsibility, I have a high expectation to live up to.”

“When we recruited him and got to know him, we could envision that this kid could come in here and potentially be a captain one day or be a leader in this program,” Riley said of Fields. “You could tell that he had some of those skills.”

Beyond just the success on the field, being a leader and setting a standard is important to this group of Oklahomans.

THE TALENT IN OKLAHOMA

With all the incredible stories surrounding a passion for Oklahoma football, the reality is that in-state numbers of Sooner Born gridiron standouts pale in comparison to states like Texas, Ohio and California. According to Sports Talk Network host and recruiting guru James Hale, it isn’t a matter of the talent level, it is more a matter of numbers.

“Actually, Oklahoma’s talent level is pretty high, but because of the population you only have a few players that are nationally ranked,” Hale said. “They just don’t have the overall volume because of the population numbers.”

Hale has covered recruiting for 40 years with a heavy focus on Oklahoma athletics specifically football and talks

recruiting from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays on Sports Talk 99.3FM and 1400AM. “Oklahoma only recruits the elite of the elite across the country. A few players every year will leave the state of Oklahoma. Sometimes they will lose a player or two like Dax Hill or a player to Ohio State. It happens that players might not want to stay in state at all and that breaks down,” Hale said. “But the players like Creed who committed to A&M but came back to Oklahoma… look how great he’s been at OU. Tre Brown came to camp and Mike Stoops coached him up to the point he eventually got a scholarship and he’s been a two- or three-year starter. You can go on and on. Isiah Thomas was running track and Oklahoma noticed this big guy running and they offered him. He’s turned out to be an outstanding player.”

The state of Oklahoma has been littered with great high school football programs for as long as anyone can remember. From the powerhouse that was Midwest City in the early 90s to what Jenks, Union and Owasso have been able to accomplish in Green Country, add to that list the never-ending power that is Ada football and places like Carl Albert and Clinton, high school football has been played at an elite level in Oklahoma for years.

Now it seems as if the number of possible high-level prospects has grown as well.

boydstreet.com

“I think that because the coaching in Oklahoma is really top notch, you’re seeing more and more great coaches coming to Oklahoma,” Hale added. “More and more kids know how to train in the offseason now and that’s a big deal. They go to personal trainers... running back gurus and quarterback gurus... they are getting better and better because of the personal training year-round.”

THE MVP

Of all the stories that have taken center stage for Oklahoma football throughout the 2020 season, the development of Oklahoma born defensive end Isiah Thomas may be the most impressive.

“Isaiah Thomas is a great example for us. He’s having a tremendous year,” Riley said. “That’s an example of a young guy that maybe could’ve got discouraged when it wasn’t the fairy tale start and this guy’s hung in there kept working and turned himself into a heck of a player.”

During his first two seasons, Thomas amassed a combined 11 tackles with just two total sacks. Thomas was not playing much and, with opportunities other places, could have easily transferred.

“A quote that I stick to every day is adversity defines a man’s true character,” Thomas said. “I knew that if I wanted to see how well I could really be and how good I could

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 45

Photo courtesy OU Athletics: Joshua Gateley

actually play, I would have to play through this adversity.

I stuck it out and the outcome is working out pretty well for me.”

Thomas has emerged as one of the most consistent defensive linemen for the Sooners and has tripled the number of tackles for losses in his first two years combined and doubled his number of sacks.

But you don’t hear much about Memorial High School when talking about legendary football programs in Oklahoma. In fact, Memorial had not had an OU recruit since Randy Hughes in the early 1970s. Thomas takes pride in representing Memorial and has served as an example that it’s not always about where you play.

“A lot of student-athletes that play football don’t believe that you can go Division I out of Tulsa Memorial. They think that you’d probably have to play basketball,” Thomas said. “I’m a walking example that if you believe in yourself and you apply the work … you could end up at a school like this or any Division I program.”

THE FUTURE

The importance of recruiting the best talent in Oklahoma is not lost on Lincoln Riley. In fact, the Sooner head coach has already locked up two of the best in-state prospects for the 2021 class and has secured a commitment from the top in-state receiver prospect for 2022.

The Sooners won the 2000 National Championship with over 60 percent of its starters from in-state and the 2020

46 | December 2020

campaign has been fueled by in-state players leading the way through a challenging and turbulent year. For those who are Sooner born and Sooner bred, it just means more to don the crimson and cream and represent the interlocking OU. “Kids that come from Oklahoma that play at OU they say it was the dream of their life,” Hale said. “Whether they were a big-time player or not, they got a chance to play for the Sooners. The state of Oklahoma’s talent level, I brag on it, the players that go to OU or OSU or somewhere else usually turn out to be pretty good players.” –BSM

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S P O RT S

BY: TYLER MCCOMAS

I

f you’re making a preseason poll in 6A-1, you have to start your rankings at the top with the Norman Tigers. For starters, NHS is still technically the reigning champs, since last year’s state tournament was canceled due to COVID-19. More importantly, the Tigers are the favorite to repeat, because of a stellar roster that features six players with at least one D-1 offer.

“I return all of my starters,” said head coach Michael Neal. “That’s probably the biggest blessing a coach can have.”

Those five starters include Myka Perry, Mikayla Parks, Kelbie Washington, Chantae Embry and Aaliyah Henderson. You won’t find a more fearsome starting five in all of Oklahoma high school basketball this season. In fact, there has been probably only been a

I

handful of times where an entire starting lineup was being recruited by major colleges across the country. It’s just another reason why the Tiger’s expectation is to hoist the Gold Ball at the end of the season.

NHS is talented, but they’re also driven to succeed, which was proven during quarantine when the school’s facilities were shut down. The team still found ways to get the work done in the offseason.

What’s scary for everyone else across the state is the fact Norman High will probably be even better than it was a year ago. That’s because the Tigers have added more depth, including freshman Zya Vann, who will likely be the first player off the bench.

“I never thought about how it would get done, I just knew that it would,” said Neal. “I was proud they found ways when most things were shut down.”–BSM

“We recently had a scrimmage and Zya did extremely well at the guard position,” said Neal. “With her and some of the other girls off the bench, we tackle some of the depth we didn’t have last year.”

Tigers

f you like fast-paced, action-packed basketball with a ton of athleticism, Norman High just might be your team to watch this year.

young, many people think it won’t take long for Tramble to assert himself as one of the best point guards in the state.

Head coach Rodney Dindy doesn’t bring back a ton of experience, but what he lacks in returning starters he makes up with promising freshmen that are poised to make an immediate impact for the Tigers.

Tramble would be well-served to learn from Connor Goodson, who’s been a starter since his freshman his season.

Now a junior, Goodson will be counted on to be one of the leaders of a team that will need to be brought up to speed quickly. Once football is done, Dindy will be awaiting the arrival of seniors Jayven Jackson and Jaden Bray. An OSU commit for football, Bray is still deciding if he wants to play basketball this season. If he does, he’ll return as one of the five starters for the Tigers.

“We’ll be young and talented,” said Dindy. “That’s a really good mix. Hopefully we can reach our full potential.”

One of the freshmen that has Dindy so excited is Chiante Tramble. Considered as one of the top players in the region for his class, Tramble will make an immediate impact for the Tigers and has a great chance to be the starting point guard. Even though he’s 50 | December 2020

“I like our athleticism,” said Dindy.

“It’s something that we’ve lacked over the years. It’s going to really help our style of play. It’s going to help us

against other teams who are also really athletic.”

Growing pains are common for a team as young as the Tigers, but once NHS figures things out, watch out. They might just turn into the biggest sleeper in 6A.–BSM

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S P O RT S

N

orman North boys basketball enters the 2020-21 season optimistic. The Timberwolves compiled a 17-7 record last spring before its season ended in a 59-55 loss to Northwest Classen at Regionals.

The T-Wolves’ two leading scorers from last season are back: seniors Caelin Hearne (6’4) and Jaylon White (6’3). Fellow senior Aiden Walker (6’3) returns as well.

“Having a player as talented as Jaylon White, he’s going to be able to do a whole lot for us offensively and make some plays for himself and for other players,” Norman North head boys basketball coach Kellen McCoy said.

Another reason for excitement is a healthy Kayden Carter. The 6-foot4 senior broke his leg in the second game of last season.

“Getting Kayden Carter back will be big. He looked like he was going to

BY: JOSH HELMER have a promising year. He’s ready to go and having a great preseason,” McCoy said.

In Carter’s absence, juniors Gavin Frakes and Duncan Parham got valuable experience. North also missed senior point guard Jacob Yohn early last season when he was out with a broken collarbone. That meant sophomore Nathan Lancaster played plenty as a freshman.

“What we have right now is some depth and some options with different lineups. We really like what we’ve got going right now. We’re excited for the year,” McCoy said.

The third-year North head coach said creating offense via its defense is another priority for his Timberwolves.

“Our identity that we work to be every day is we want to defend in the half court. We want to create some turnovers … and be aggressive,” Mc-

Coy said.

When North does have to slow down in the half court, McCoy loves the size his team has across the board.

“It’s good to be able to play in different modes. We’ve got some guys that can post up, some big guards, some posts that can score down low,” McCoy said.

North’s season starts off fast with a challenging opening game versus Edmond North before the Joe Lawson Invitational.

“It’s going to be a bloodbath. We really just want to take it one game at a time and focus on getting better and winning our next game. As a whole, I would love to be in the conversation to win the conference, set ourselves up with a good seed for playoffs. From there, obviously, making the state tournament and then winning that Gold Ball,” McCoy said.–BSM

TIMBERWOLVES N

orman North girls basketball finished the 2019-20 season with a 17-9 record a year after advancing to the 6A state championship game.

The Timberwolves’ season closed with a 42-36 loss against Putnam City West in Area play.

With three returning senior starters, North is poised to make another run at a state tournament appearance this season. Point guard Kennedy Cummings (5’7), forward Fatima Black (6’) and center Shamica Smith (6’1) make an experienced trio.

“We’ve had a nice four, five year run where we’ve had tremendous leadership. All that does, if you have a great senior group like we have this year, it lays the foundation for the new kids in our program on how things need to be done. This year’s senior group is no different, setting the example every

54 | December 2020

day,” Norman North head girls basketball coach Rory Hamilton said.

All three of North’s senior starters have signed to play college basketball.

Cummings signed with East Central University, Black with Morgan State University and Smith with Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

“Kennedy has been a three-year starter. She’s our point guard… kind of our engine. She does a little bit of everything,” Hamilton said. “Fatima Black is kind of an inside-outside player. She can shoot it, she can post. She’s pretty versatile on the offensive end. Shamica is just a dominant post player… and has a tremendous basketball IQ.” Another pair of seniors to keep an eye on for North are Keely Hunt and Jordan Wright.

“Keely can play the point, she can play the two or three. She’s pretty versatile and Jordan Wright can play the three, four or five,” Hamilton said.

Without any juniors in the program, North is counting on a group of sophomores to provide depth and meaningful minutes from players like Hannah Fields, Brooklyn Horton, Avery Robinson and Audrey Tucker.–BSM

S P O RT S

BY: DRAKE DIACON

T

he 2019-20 season for the Noble Bears’ boys basketball team ended in a fashion no one had hoped.

The Bears finished the year 9-15, while losing six of their final seven games and falling in the first round of Regionals to Southeast.

Following the end of the season, Noble and head coach Chad Byrd parted ways after three seasons. The Bears replace Byrd with a proven head coach Dewayne Bradley who has coached basketball at Broken Bow, Calumet, Chickasha and--most recently--Midwest City, where he went 22-3 in the 2019-20 season.

“I like a smaller school, so I had been looking for a couple of years for the right opportunity to present itself,” the new Bear coach said. “Then the Noble job came open, which of course is a single high school community and

F

“I know Noble basketball isn’t Midwest City basketball, but what’s going to be great is if we can get Noble basketball to an elite level, what a great adventure and great challenge.”

Coach Bradley’s guard-heavy attack is loaded with underclassmen as the Bears ramp up their preseason scrimmages and feature a starting lineup of sophomores Jake Williams (6’2), Carter Golish (5’11), Dalton Haley (6’6), and Trey Hartzog along with freshman Luke Maxey (5’6).

The first-year coach expects reinforcements to take shape in two different ways this season, with sophomore

Landon Miller (6’6) due back after Christmas from a foot injury he sustained during AAU league games.

Football athletes Gabe Hudson (senior, 6’1), Seth Wall (senior, 6’3), Trevor “Chilli” Lorenz (junior, 6’3), Brandon Harper (sophomore, 5’9), L.T. Taylor (sophomore, 5’8) and Collin Fisher (sophomore, 6’2) are in the early stages of getting into basketball shape.

“Those kids, along with the ones I have in the gym right now, will be filling out our top 10 rotation guys when we get into the full throws of the season, but a lot of those guys are still in what I call ‘football shape’ and need to get into basketball shape,” Bradley laughed. “We know they work out hard in football, but it’s different when it comes to running up and down the court all night, so those guys have some work to do.”–BSM

BEARS

ollowing a season under .500, head coach Lindsey Vanderburg is hopeful for a chance for her Lady Bears to take strides towards a push for state and feels like the challenges COVID-19 has presented may give her team a leg up.

“In summer, we usually have all-girl athletes from every sport lifting and working out together, but this year because of social distancing and number limitations it was just me with my basketball team,” the nine-year Noble coach said. “It was a smaller group and a group that will be together all season so we are hoping that helps bring our girls together this year.”

The Lady Bears will be led by leading scorer sophomore Landry George, who was named to the All-Transcript second team by the Norman Transcript.

“She’s gotten a lot better and I don’t think that you’ll see much of a soph-

58 | December 2020

the people here from an administration--down to athletic director to principal--all were fantastic as we were going through the hiring process and made it easy for me.

omore slump with her,” Vanderburg glowed. “She’s the type of girl that when she puts up a shot, you think it is going in and she just keeps getting better every day.”

Vanderburg looks to another sophomore, Jacy Vinson, to be their energy difference maker as she steps into a starting role for the 2020-21 season.

“She’s just one of those kids who gives 100 percent all the time,” she said.

“She’s very coachable, does the little things and really gets us going by her determination to play the game hard all the time.”

In the post, you have identical twin sisters, senior duo Ciera and Jade Wright, who transferred into Noble last season and just joined basketball workouts after being part of 5A’s state runner-up in cross country.

“They definitely both make us longer and more athletic and those two girls

just work every day to be better players,” Vanderburg said. “They are even getting more comfortable playing guard type of roles, so they will help our offensive looks be even more versatile.”

Another member of the state runner-up, cross-country team, the Lady Bears will count on sophomore move-in from Blanchard Kenzie Heeke. Meanwhile, the senior leader of the team will be point guard Chelsea Lindsey.

“My expectations are that we will compete in every game with the senior leadership and overall work ethic of this group,” Vanderburg said. “The mixture of young and more veteran girls on this team meshes well.”

Noble boys and girls basketball are scheduled to begin their seasons Dec. 1 at Chickasha and will host their second annual Dental Lodge Basketball Tournament at Noble High School Jan. 7-9. –BSM

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S P O RT S

BY: DRAKE DIACON

INDIANS T

he 2019-20 season ended in a way that was less than savory to head coach Blake Pittman, who now enters his second year in his position.

The Indians finished the season without a win and, in the 2020-21 season, Coach Pittman and his boys basketball team look to get more than a few wins and be generally more competitive.

The freshest obstacle to that goal is the same goal every coach regardless of level is faced with, the current COVID-19 pandemic and how he as a coach can help prevent the spread of the virus.

“The preparation and making sure everything is clean is just a new level,” the second-year coach said. “More than anything it is about me and my staff keeping these kids and their families safe. You just focus more on the things everyone stresses: staying six-feet apart, sanitizing like crazy and wearing masks whenever possible. Like I said, it’s about keeping these kids safe from this virus if it’s within our power.”

Coach Pittman will count on senior Kolby Shuck to provide a spark on both sides of the ball and help bring his Indians’ boys squad some victories in the upcoming season. Shuck, who will be the starting shooting guard for the varsity team, had his 2019-20 season cut short when he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.

“He was pretty quiet the first half of the year, but in the second half of the season, he was the momentum changer for us,” Pittman said. “We started

62 | December 2020

running a 1-3-1 defense and he was a game-changer for us defensively, but then he broke his collarbone that ended his season so we are excited to see what he can do in his final and hopefully full season.”

Returning at point guard for the Indians this season will be senior Augustin Lopez, who is only entering his second season of playing organized basketball. Coach Pittman says he’s excited about what his raw, athletic point guard could be capable of this year.

“It was his first year of playing and throughout the season he continued to get better and better,” he said. “I know he’s also been working really hard during the offseason to continue to make himself grow as a player, which is what you want out of a kid like him.”

In addition to his two returning senior starters, Coach Pittman will look to get big minutes out of sophomore power forward Michael Carter.

“Michael came in and played quite a bit for us as a freshman showing us quite a bit,” he said. “He’s continued to get better like you want to see him do and he will likely be one of our starters. I am expecting big things from Michael this year.”

Perhaps the biggest question looming into the start of the season for Pittman will be how the rest of his roster will be filled out by football athletes now that their athletic season is done.

“I actually held a meeting the other day with about 20 football kids, who were all interested in coming to play basketball this season,” he said. “So it’s exciting to have that many kids ready to play for us and now all we have to do is see how many of them can get into basketball shape and help us win some games.”

The Little Axe Indians are slated to start the season Dec. 1 at Mount St. Mary’s, will compete in the 2nd annual Dental Lodge Basketball Tournament at Noble High School Jan. 7-9 and are also scheduled to host the annual Little Axe Basketball Tournament Jan. 21-23. –BSM

Don’t Medical Distance The COVID-19 pandemic has many people worried about their health. Please don’t be afraid to seek essential medical treatment. It’s important to still: • Call 911 or visit the Emergency Room if you experience chest pain, stroke symptoms or other urgent medical needs • See your physician for wellness visits and routine exams • Take your child to the doctor for well child checks and stay up to date on immunizations • Talk to a provider about your mental health and seek help if you experience troubling signs of depression, anxiety or thoughts of harming yourself Norman Regional’s team is taking extra precautions to ensure your safety including masking, enhanced disinfection measures and staggered appointment times. We also offer several options to see a provider virtually through your phone, tablet or computer.

Call us today at 405.515.5000 to be matched with the perfect physician for you.

Getting Us All to a Healthier Place NormanRegional.com

S P O RT S

BY: JOSH HELMER

L

ast season, the Community Christian boys basketball team came a game away from advancing to its first state tournament since joining the OSSAA. Instead, they were dealt a difficult hand when top-ranked Millwood was upset in the playoffs. Ultimately, the curtains closed on a 24-5 Royals’ season when Millwood bounced CCS in the Area championship game, 56-44.

With four of its top five scorers back, the Royals have their eyes squarely focused on breaking through with their first state tournament appearance.

“We like what we’ve got,” CCS head boys basketball coach Tim Price said. “We’ve got a good combination of ball-handling and shooters and good size inside. Thankfully, the experience that we had and the success that we had from last year is going

T

“Just that experience and getting that deep into the playoffs, I really believe our guys are hungry to get back at it and go even further. I think there is a real excitement about basketball season with CCS. A lot of people are waiting on basketball again because of what we were able to do.”

Community Christian’s backcourt features junior point guard Jed Fuller (5’9), senior guard Jack Cole (6’3) and junior guard Cade Bond (6’1).

“We’re really excited to have Jed running the point for us this year,” Price said. “(He is a) good, quick athlete that can really break down defenses with his ball-handling and quickness. Jack’s just a really skilled offen-

sive player. He can score the ball and could end up being our leading scorer. Cade is a good shooter, tough competitor, good ball handler, really smart, high basketball IQ.” In the frontcourt, senior Josh Martin (6’6) returns as a two-year starter alongside sophomore Bai Jobe (6’4). Jobe is originally from Senegal and played last season as a freshman. “(Jobe) is still learning the game of basketball. He has transitioned into our program really well,” Price said. “The talent of somebody with that size and that much athletic ability, it just changes a lot of things on both ends of the floor that you’re able to do. We stuck him out at the top of a 1-2-2 and a 1-3-1 zone and he causes a lot of problems with his athletic ability and wingspan out there.”–BSM

ROYALS

he CCS girls basketball program is looking to build upon a 10-15 finish last season and to advance beyond Regionals play where their season ended with a loss to Blackwell.

“Goal-wise, we want to support each other, but as far as the season is concerned, we’d really like to make a push for Area,” CCS head girls basketball coach Michelle McNear said.

A trio of seniors will play key roles for the Royals. Seniors Eposi Lambe, Kaegan McDuffey and Shelby McHughes all return.

Lambe averaged 10.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while McDuffey added 9.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last season.

Junior point guard Adysen Hoselton averaged eight points per game and shot 34 percent from three-point range a year ago.

Junior Channing Apel also returns after 66 | December 2020

to carry over and hopefully, these guys are hungry to make a run into March.

suffering an ACL tear in the team’s second scrimmage in 2019-20.

Fellow juniors Amariah Edwards and Makenzie Kinnard will be in the rotation as well. McNear is excited about freshman Landry Braziel being an early-impact underclassman, too.

“I really like to run and gun and go. With this year and just being a year older, you’re going to see a lot more confidence and a lot more get up and go for us. Our kids have always been really aggressive,” McNear said.

McNear was pleased with how her team handled the summer when COVID-19 concerns meant less time together as a team.

“It was really hard in the summer knowing what you could do or couldn’t do. A lot of things were last minute,” she said. “I

hated that a lot of our seniors missed out on their summer as far as basketball camps and things like that. Our kids have been committed and a lot of them have done a lot of things one-on-one in the summer which is going to help propel us.

“It’s just good to be back on the court. It’s good to see your kids and to see them thriving and excited about doing something right now.”–BSM

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S P O RT S

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

Memorial Tournament Honors Former Player and Coach

T

he second annual Joe B. Lawson Memorial Invitational, presented by Agility Medical Group, tips off Dec. 10 - 12 as Norman High and Norman North jointly host the tournament.

“The teams participating vary from year to year but we feel that our field is even stronger this year,” said T.D. O’Hara, athletic director for Norman Public Schools. “We feel that the quality of players coming with the teams is at a high level and that will provide a high level of entertainment for our community.”

In addition to the two Norman high schools, the boys tournament bracket includes Lawton MacArthur, Ardmore, Heritage Hall, Putnam City West, Tulsa Memorial and Del City High Schools.

The girls bracket will showcase Owasso, Lawton MacArthur, Enid, Midwest City, Putnam City North and Putnam City West High Schools.

“What’s so unique about this tournament is that it’s co-hosted by both high schools and that is really important to this tournament,” O’Hara said. “This tournament lets us grow closer together as a district.

“Championship games will be played at Norman high school but that rotates from year to year. The icing on the cake has been the opportunity to recognize Joe Lawson… and the impact that he had at both of these schools.”

Joe Lawson tragically passed away in 2017 at the age of 27.

He was a member of Norman High’s basketball program as

72 | December 2020

a player and served as a varsity assistant and head coach of the Norman North freshmen boys team.

To honor his legacy, the Lawson family established the Joe B. Lawson Foundation, with the mission to provide scholarships and other benefits to the NPS athletic department and the Norman community. The foundation has been instrumental in putting the tournament together.

There are significant costs that go into putting on a tournament including staffing as well as making trophies and feeding the players and coaches. The Joe B. Lawson Memorial Invitational wouldn’t be possible without the support of the title sponsor Agility Medical Group and several other community sponsors.

“It’s very important to have their support and we are very thankful for their sponsorship which allows this tournament to be a success,” O’Hara said.

The tournament will look a little different from last year, as COVID policies and guidelines will influence certain aspects including a reduced capacity in the stands.

“Obviously we have our guidelines that we will follow and things will of course look a little different,” O’Hara shared.

“We are focusing on the safety of our student-athletes and making sure they can participate safely and that is a win for everybody.”

Tickets are $5 for adults and students. – BSM

O U FC U

BY: SHANNON HUDZINSKI | PRESIDENT/CEO OU FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

6 WAYS

to Keep Your Finances Intact this Holiday Season

T

is the season to shop until you drop-or until you go broke. But you don’t have to overspend.

There’s no need to rack up a huge credit card bill or go into debt just to cover your holiday expenses. Enjoy a stress-free season by keeping your spending in check with these six tips:

1. CREATE A DETAILED LIST OF ALL YOUR EXPENSES Don’t leap into your holiday shopping armed with nothing but a credit card. Before you hit the mall or start browsing, sit down and draw up a complete list of every holiday expense you can anticipate. Include all gifts, holiday décor, travel expenses, charitable donations and food costs. Try to keep this list as trim as possible by cutting out any non-essentials and using stuff you may already have in storage from previous years.

Bonus points for any homemade gifts!

2. DETERMINE HOW MUCH MONEY YOU CAN SPEND Once you have all of your expenses written out, work on finding a magic number that will cover everything on your list that you can realistically afford. Ideally, this money should come from funds you’ve set aside just for this purpose.

78 | December 2020

3. DIVIDE AND CONQUER Next, assign specific amounts of money in your budget for each expense category and for every person on your gift list. For example, you can decide to spend $300 on your preteen daughter’s gifts and to donate $100 to charity this season. Again, make sure your numbers will work from both a financial and practical perspective.

4. TRACK AS YOU SHOP You’re ready to hit the mall! As you shop, keep a careful account of exactly how much money you’ve spent on each person and in each expense category. It’s best to use cash or a debit card when shopping and to review your budget often to make sure you’re staying on track. This way, you’ll know how much you’re spending and you won’t be hit by awful “Santa shock” come January.

To make this job easier, use an app designed for this purpose. A common favorite is one called Santa’s Bag. The app allows you to set a budget for each person on your list and then makes tracking the amount you spend super simple. It will even warn you when you’re nearing your preset spending limit or when you’ve gone over budget.

5. SHOP SMARTLY AND SPEND LESS

6. LET OUFCU HELP

Keep your spending to a minimum by following these hacks:

If you’re having trouble covering your holiday expenses, or you want to get a head start on next year’s costs, let OU FCU help! Here are three ways we can take the financial stress out of the holiday season:

• Use shopping apps, like the Coupons App and Shopular, to get your favorite retailers’ best deals and coupons delivered right to your phone.

• Follow the 24-hour rule. Before purchasing anything on the expensive side, wait 24 hours. Sometimes, after sleeping on it, you’ll find that you don’t need to buy that pricey gift after all. Or, you might find the same item somewhere else at a lower price.

• Shop online on Tuesday morning. Research shows this time of the week is when you’ll find the hottest online deals.

• Shop with a friend. Take advantage of BOGO sales by splitting the cost of a single item with a friend.

• Shop late. Everyone likes to get an early start on holiday shopping, but prices actually drop in the weeks leading up to Christmas as retailers seek to clear out their holiday inventory.

• Skip-a-Payment. We get it. The holidays are crazy expensive. That’s why we allow qualifying members to skip one payment on a loan or credit card this time of year without hurting their credit or defaulting on their loan. It’s extra breathing room, just when you need it most!

• If you can’t come up with the funds you need for the holidays, consider taking out an OU FCU personal loan. Our fantastic terms and affordable rates make it a no-brainer!

• Spread the cost of the holidays across the year with an account created just for that purpose. You’ll set aside a little bit of money each month into your Holiday Club Account, and next year, when the holiday season rolls around, you’ll have all the funds you need on hand.

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L I FEST Y L E

BY: KATHY HALLREN | JOE’S WINES & SPIRITS

New Twist for End of the Year I

t’s time to celebrate the end of 2020, which most of us will be glad to see in the rearview mirror. Last month, we talked about strategies for individual or small serving size wines. Now we look to trending alternatives: cocktails, spritzers, seltzers, apéritifs and liqueurs that all offer small serving sizes and flexibility between those who like it sweet and those who don’t.

Seltzers come in three varieties: wine based, malt (beer) based and fermented sugar based. The earliest entries, such as Truly and White Claw, were sugar based with both sweetness and calories. More recent entries in the market and there are far too many to name, are reducing calories, sweetness and carbs. Your liquor store clerk can help direct you towards a solution in this department and the prevalence of variety packs with 8- and 12-can options easily facilitates trying different flavors.

Here are a couple of recipes to get you started: OLD FASHIONED • • • •

2 oz. Bourbon or rye whiskey ¼ oz Simple syrup or 1½ tsp sugar 2 dashes Angostura bitters Garnish orange twist

Add all the ingredients except garnish to a mixing glass. Add ice and stir until combined and chilled. Strain into an old-fashioned glass. Gently add a large ice cube to the glass (optional). Express the orange twist and drop into the glass

Spritzers are traditionally wine based but some in the market are beer based. Beer-based spritzers are generally slightly higher in alcohol and sugar content than other seltzers.

Cocktails, liquor (of course) apéritifs, liqueurs and bitters go hand in hand, as most cocktails contain not only liquor but one or more of the others. Apéritifs, including Campari and Aperol, are proprietary blends and one is not easily substituted for another. Liqueurs vary in price. Higher priced liqueurs are usually available in pints and half pints, aperitifs are generally only available in 750ml bottles.

Bitters, although produced by infusing herbs in alcohol, are not generally classified as an alcoholic beverage, probably because it is unlikely more than a drop or two would be consumed by itself. Bitters are expensive proprietary blends but a small bottle will last a long time.

Premixed cocktails have been around for a long time, but recently the market has surged with more selections and higher quality. With these products, there is no need to have the whole bar set up.

Local restaurant Scratch has teamed up with Oklahoma Distilling Co. to produce a ready to drink Scratch Old Fashioned. You simply add the ice. On The Rocks has a whole line up of cocktails, offering a variety pack and individual 100ml bottles.

So have fun, be safe.

Kathy Hallren 84 | December 2020

LAST WORD • • • •

¾ oz Gin ¾ oz Green Chartreuse ¾ oz Maraschino liqueur ¾ oz Fresh lime juice

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled coupe/martini glass.

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HE A LT H

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

Holiday Traditions

Norman Regional staff reflects on holidays of yesteryear

I

n a year marked by hardship and stress, reminiscing the sweet and special moments of holidays gone by provides a much-needed dose of cheer.

Doctors, nurses and staff at Norman Regional reflect on their favorite memories and traditions. – BSM

“My dad is a minister, and we would always have to be home for Christmas Eve services. We would load up the car early on Christmas morning to travel to see family. My mom would entice us to sleep in the car by making us wait until we crossed the state line to open our stockings.” Dr. Kate Cook, pediatric hospitalist at Norman Regional

“My favorite holiday memories are road trips with my family.” Dr. Sumit Som, Primary Care – South Oklahoma City

“Some of my favorite memories are Christmases in Colorado.” Dr. Jason Taylor, Norman Regional – Same Day Clinic 90 | December 2020

“When my grandmother was alive, we would spend days making candy to give out to people. My mom, sister and I have carried that tradition on,” Dr. Shannon Haenel, oncologist at Norman Regional Oncology

“Our favorite holiday tradition is Christmas bowling. Each year after we open gifts the whole family goes bowling. I mean the whole family – great grands, grands moms, dads, kids and grandkids. We also have a yearly cookie day where all my daughters all come to my house and bring two cookie recipes. We make cookies for hours and each is sent home with a plate of yummies!” Tamara Manning, Norman Regional – Same Day Clinic

“Every Christmas I like to build gingerbread houses and go look at Christmas lights.” Amber Wilburn, Care for Women – Moore

“My favorite holiday tradition is hanging Christmas ornaments that my grandmother made on the Christmas tree.” Dr. Emily Benham, general and bariatric surgeon for Oklahoma Surgical Associates and Journey Clinic

“I love holidays and have most fond memories of Christmastime. As far as holiday traditions, it all goes back to crafts. We construct intricate gingerbread houses at Christmas and Halloween, and create spring scenes with sugar eggs at Easter.” Christin Zitzow, occupational therapist at Norman Regional Moore Physical Therapy

“I make sure that in hiding gifts for my loved ones, I don’t hide them from myself! I also make a checklist to ensure all toys are assembled and have batteries prior to being wrapped.” Dr. Kendral Knight, nephrologist with Norman Regional Nephrology Associates

“I love Christmas decorations, foods, desserts and watching Christmas movies in front of the fireplace.” Julia Jones, speech language pathologist at the Physical Performance Center boydstreet.com

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 91

B U S I N E SS

BY: RAE LYNN PAYTON

Voice of the Sooners Pens Children’s Book

“Unhitch the Wagon” is paving the way for big dreams

S

ooner fans of all ages will delight in the rhyming, creative work of art that is “Unhitch the Wagon - The Story of Boomer and Sooner” by author Toby Rowland, also known as the Emmy Award winning Voice of the Sooners. Rowland’s new children’s book features Boomer and Sooner, two ponies from the prairie, daring to chase their dreams of being chosen to pull the Sooner Schooner at OU football games.

While overcoming hurdles with hard work and determination, the ponies achieve success as their dreams become their reality.

“The heart of the story is that it’s okay to dream an extraordinary dream and then go chase it. And that really is my story,” shared Rowland.

Rowland knew that if he wanted to do a story about OU, Boomer and Sooner

96 | December 2020

had to be involved, and he crafted the idea around that. This unique project combined his passions of creative writing and OU football.

with vibrant colors, and his work jumped out,” he explained. “He did a really great job bringing the book to life.”

The book’s title was the perfect tie-in with the theme of the book and also for the catchphrase he is best known for in Sooner Nation: “Unhitch the wagon, put the ponies in the barn!”

Peters has illustrated many sports-related books, including for the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs and Kansas Jayhawks.

The publishing world was a new venture for Rowland. OU’s licensing department helped him find his publisher, Ascend Books, who helped him as a first-time author. The process took about a year and a half, from start to finish.

When selecting an illustrator, Rowland says Rob Peters was a perfect match.

“I loved the whimsical nature of his illustrations. I wanted something fun

Rowland’s appreciation of children’s books and writing dates back to his childhood, where his home was filled with literature to read. Dr. Seuss’ “Hop on Pop” was a favorite. Later in life, he became a sports editor of the student newspaper in college.

Since he has always tried to find creative ways to write, whether through television features or the beloved “Scenesetters” played before OU football games.

“I always had it in the back of my

brain that someday it might be a fun project to write a children’s book,” Rowland said.

Inspiration, as it often does, struck him without warning while on a late night, sleepless flight back from an NCAA basketball tournament a couple years ago. One rhyming paragraph led to another until the seed of an idea grew into the now much-loved children’s book.

Fans are thrilled and Rowland is incredibly gracious and grateful. He poured his heart into its creation, hoping readers would enjoy it. The verdict is in, and it’s a hit! “Unhitch the Wagon” is already on its second printing.

When asked if another book might be seen in the future, Rowland said, “Absolutely. If they’ll have me. I would definitely love to do another book. The process has been so enjoyable that I can’t imagine not trying to do it again.”

Rowland gives powerful advice to young readers who might find their own journalistic inspirations growing.

“Now more than ever, it is possible for you to get published, because of the Internet and growing technology. Be encouraged to be a writer or a broadcaster in 2020. There are so many platforms and opportunities for your creativity to be seen,” he shared.

“Unhitch the Wagon” is the perfect gift for Sooner fans, young and old alike. It can be found online at Amazon and

Barnes and Noble. Locally, you can purchase it at several Norman locations including Balfour, Campus Corner Store, Occasions, Jimmy Austin Golf Club, Riverwind Casino, Sooner Shop, Tulips, Two Hip Chicks and Wells Family Christmas Tree Farm. It’s also available throughout the Tulsa and OKC metro areas. – BSM

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