STANDARD
Moore Chamber
ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
23 JUNE 2025 || 7:30AM
HIDDEN TRAILS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
Register
Sponsorships available
THE GOLD STANDARD
A R I A R E A L E S T A T E G R O U
CLEARING THE TRACKS
After Decades of Disruption, Moore Breaks Ground on Railroad Underpass
Long before he was the mayor, Mark Hamm was a teenage driver.
And Moore High School had a no-tolerance policy when it came to delays caused by trains crossing Southeast Fourth Street between Broadway and Turner.
“If you’re ever tardy, being blocked by the train is not an excuse,” he recalled. Hamm developed a foolproof plan.
“Leave for school early and have time,” he said. “I managed to avoid the train delays.”
The stoppages on Southeast Fourth — also known as State Highway 37 have been known to last minutes or hours or even days.
Up to 36 trains per day pass through the area.
“A part of our life in Moore,” Hamm said. “People who live here plan for it. I don’t recall it ever being an issue.”
But over the years, the delays grew longer as the population nearly doubled from 35,000 in 1980 to 64,000 in 2025.
“As the town and its transportation needs have grown, a train cutting through the middle is increasingly challenging to life in Moore,” said Sean Evans, executive pastor at Frontline Church South OKC and a longtime Moore resident.
“For my own family, we’ve felt the challenge for the last 10 years of driving our five kids to Moore High School before the first bell rings, only to realize countless times that we’re about to get the scenic route down to 19th in line with so many others.”
Decades of inconvenience and frustration, however, will soon become a thing of the past.
Seven years after voters approved a $27.9 million general obligation bond to fund a railroad underpass bridge over Southeast Fourth Avenue, construction on the project is underway.
Hamm said the project, which includes a 12-footwide pedestrian bridge, will “transform the way we get from one side of the city to the other.”
“Never again will we need to be worried about the train blocking the tracks for two hours or two days,” he said. “We can get to where we need to go, and it won’t be the inconvenience that it has become.”
Hamm said once the underpass is complete, the city will build a new Old Town Park on Main Street near the train tracks “so people will be able to walk from Central Park via the pedestrian bridge and can go all the way downtown.”
The project, a joint effort between the city of Moore, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and BNSF Railway, is funded in part by a federal grant.
Improved safety and traffic flow are among the primary benefits, according to ODOT construction engineer Matthew Helton.
“The underpass will eliminate the need for vehicles to stop at the tracks, reduce the potential for collisions, and help alleviate congestion, particularly during peak hours,” Helton said.
Fourth Street, a state highway owned by the state of Oklahoma, is closed in both directions until the project is scheduled to be completed in August 2026.
“That’s always confusing to people,” Hamm said. “ODOT does all the maintenance and work
on State Highway 37. What is unique about this project is the City of Moore is paying for it, but ODOT is in charge of it.”
Moore Chamber of Commerce President Kim Brown said the project is necessary because it “addresses a critical issue affecting both the daily commute of residents and the accessibility for local businesses.”
“The 4th Street underpass will reduce traffic delays caused by train stoppages, improving efficiency and convenience for commuters,” she said. “Additionally, by eliminating traffic congestion, businesses will benefit from increased accessibility, potentially leading to higher customer traffic and overall economic growth in the community.”
A designed detour route will guide motorists from Fourth Street to Turner Avenue to Main Street and then to Broadway before returning to Fourth Street, Helton said.
“The detour route adds less than a mile of additional travel around the project area,” he said. “Detour signage has been clearly posted, and we will coordinate with the city and local emergency services to minimize travel disruptions.”
Evans and his wife Jacqui own a printing business on Main Street in the path of the detour. The closure has already sent some new business their way.
“As soon as the road closed on 4th the increased flow of traffic was immediately noticeable,” he said. “This is an opportunity for the smaller Old Town businesses to capitalize on the increased traffic of drivers that will see this as an inconvenience for these months.
“While we hope along with the rest of the town for the project to stay on time and be completed as quickly as possible, there’s an opportunity to make new relationships and meet new customers that will last long beyond this construction project.”
Evans, who serves on the Old Town Park planning and design committee, said the wait will be worth it.
“Lots of dominoes getting lined up but I believe the short-term discomfort will lead to some wonderful long-term benefits,” he said.
Mark Hamm encourages residents to visit the city’s website, since there is some misinformation floating around on social media. For construction updates, please visit cityofmoore.com– SMS
Tickets On Sale Tickets On Sale May 31! May 31!
The Sooner Theatre’s Armstrong Bank Studio Series Presents June 19-22 June 19-22
Featuring a cast of 5th-7 Featuring a cast of 5th-7 grade students from The grade students from The Studio of The Sooner Studio of The Sooner Theatre! Theatre! th th
The Coalition extends its sincere appreciation to all Cleveland County elected officials who were able to attend the Inaugural Cleveland County Coalition Legislative Reception. Their legislative work is time-consuming, often keeping them away from their business and family. We recognize and value their sacrifice, but very much appreciate their leadership and commitment to our citizens. We’d also like to thank Andy Sherrer, Regional President of First United Bank, for hosting this vital opportunity to “cross the aisle, network, and collaborate.”
County Chair Rod Cleveland and Moore City Manager Brooks Mitchell
Moore Mayor Mark Hamm and Norman Mayor Larry Heikkila
County Chair Rod Cleveland and Moore Mayor Mark Hamm
Former Commerce CEO Brent Kisling and CCEDC SVP Erica Millar
CCEDC CEO Lawrence McKinney and Norman Transcript Publisher Katherine Miller
AIG CEO Chuck Thompson, Generis SVP Cheryl Hardy, County Assessor Doug Warr, Christine Cleveland, and Chris Appel
District 2 Commissioner Jacob McHughes and State Representative Jared Deck
County Chair Rod Cleveland, First United Regional President Andy Sherrer, and Moore Asst. City Manager Deidre Ebrey
Tammy and District 3 Commissioner Rusty Grissom, Senator Lankford Rep Estelle Hernandez, and Norman Mayor Larry Heikkila
Tammy Grissom and State Senator Lisa Standridge
Norman Mayor Larry Heikkila and District 2 Commissioner Jacob McHughes
OEC CEO Patrick Grace and Moore Asst. City Manager Deidre Ebrey
Generis SVP Cheryl Hardy, First United Regional President Andy Sherrer, ESP CEO Elizabeth Hennen-McKinney, and District 3 Commissioner Rusty Grissom
Moore City Manager Brooks Mitchell and State Representative Cynthia Roe
MOORE LOVE
Students in Moore Public Schools raised more than $320,000 this school year through Moore Love, the district’s student-led philanthropic campaign. All three high schools, along with their respective feeder elementary schools and junior highs, host events and activities to raise funds in what Superintendent Dr. Robert Romines described as “a friendly competition” meant to unite the district.
“We are known for Moore War and our athletic events,” Romines explained. “Moore Love is a play on that but with a focus on our local community.”
In addition to leading fundraising activities, students are also responsible for selecting the beneficiaries each year. They review nonprofit applications, conduct interviews and ultimately decide where the funds will be distributed.
“The kids go through the nonprofits’ applications and conduct interviews,” Romines said. “They have a say in where the money goes, and they manage it from start to finish.”
Moore Love was launched during the 2017-18 school year to address a funding shortfall for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s MPS Backpack for Kids program. The program provides weekend meals for students in need.
“Funding resources were depleting, and we wanted to create a funding source to ensure the program could continue,” Romines explained.
By the second year, students were able to raise more money than what was needed for the food program and began expanding support to additional local nonprofits.
“We more than tripled what we raised that first year,” Romines said.
Since its inception, Moore Love has raised more than $1.5 million. The Backpack for Kids program continues to be one of the annual beneficiaries.
For more information about Moore Love and this year’s nonprofit recipients, visit mooreschools. com/about-us/moore-love.– SMS
•
• $60K for Moore Police Foundation’s Safety Town
• $60K for Moore Faith Medical Clinic’s dental clinic
•
• $25K for Fostering Sweet Dreams
IS WHERE
CHALLENGE: ACCEPTED
Inner Circle Mental Health’s nonprofit, Inner Circle Foundation, is hosting its primary fundraiser of the year this summer on June 28 in the Selah neighborhood of South Norman near Goldsby. Challenge: Accepted will be a day full of events, including a 5K, water balloon battle, car show and drone show, to name a few.
While the event is free to attend, the 5K run and water balloon battle have costs to participate. One hundred percent of the proceeds will support funding for mental healthcare for first responders and veterans.
Inner Circle Foundation was created to help fill gaps in access to necessary mental health care for first responders and veterans.
“First responders do not make much money and often choose high-deductible health plans. They come in and they’re struggling with their mental health, and they feel their only option is not to get help and let mental health issues build,” explained Kate Cooper, owner of Inner Circle Mental Health and event coordinator for Challenge: Accepted. “We wanted to change that and help them get resources to help them afford care.”
One of Inner Circle Foundation’s missions is to provide culturally competent mental health care to first responders and veterans. This means that all clinicians involved in the practice understand the demands of first responder jobs and are highly trained in trauma. Their second mission is to create more culturally competent clinicians. Their third mission is to fund their critical incident stress management team, a team of volunteers that help first responders during and after high-stress events.
“This is the first year (for the event), but we plan to make it an annual thing around the 4th of July. I know that the mental health undertone might seem heavy, but we are going for a full day of family fun where you bring your kids, family, bikes and dogs,” Cooper said. “It’s a time to hang out. You can dive into the deep stuff and read stories about mental health or just be there to have fun. It’s customizable to what you want to do.”
The morning’s events will kick off at 8 a.m. with the Brandon Gray Thin Line Memorial Run 5K, a run dedicated to first responders and veterans who have lost their lives to suicide.
Brandon Gray was a first responder who committed suicide on July 3, 2024.
“It was the first suicide that our agency responded to. I don’t think that we could have responded to a suicide that had more shock waves through the Cleveland County community because Brandon was the person who was there for everyone else. He was excellent at his job and no one suspected,” Cooper said. “I think that is one of the key things to take away. These are the people who help everybody else and who never ask for help themselves.
“We are actively trying to change and bring awareness to this problem. At the end of the day, first responders are more likely to kill themselves than die in the line of duty. It’s the same for all branches of first responder departments.”
The run will take place in the scenic Selah neighborhood, which has gravel terrain and some hills. All fitness levels of runners and walkers are welcome.
Next in the lineup will be the Brake the Stigma Charity Car Show. First responders and veterans get discounts for entering their cars, and there is a special award category for those who have had a mental health crisis and their vehicle has played a role in their path toward healing.
The Water Balloon Battle, sponsored by Country Leisure, will commence following the car show. There will be several different heats of water balloon fights based on age groups, from kids to adults.
Expect to see other water attractions, Touch-A-Truck, and other interactive opportunities for kids. Fire trucks, OBN’s mobile command center and an ambulance will also be on display.
The Norman Children’s Business Fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. across from the main stage area. Evening events will include a DJ, dancing and live performances.
The night will end with a Light Up The Sky Independence Day Drone Show. In an effort to mitigate potential PTSD concerns for some due to fireworks, the drone show will be family-, veteran- and first responder-friendly. Viewers can choose to watch near the stage or from further away. If watching from a car, viewers can stream through a radio station.
“We are trying to make it accessible for everybody, so if you’re not into crowds, there will be different viewing areas to meet different needs,” Cooper explained.
The night’s festivities will conclude around 9:30 p.m.
“There is something for everybody to do,” Cooper invited. “Come out and have so much fun and support an amazing cause because 100 percent goes back to the first responders that help people every single day. It’s a good opportunity for us to show up for them.”
Learn more at innercirclementalhealth.com/ challengeaccepted-2025.– SMS
RIDING RESPONSIBLY
Technology Center Course Helps Motorcyclists Gain Confidence, Learn Safety Practices
On a recent sunny day, a group of motorcyclists were on a journey to learn techniques, sharpen skills and become safer and more confident riders. The riders were part of Moore Norman Technology Center’s basic motorcycle rider course that gives individuals training on safe riding techniques and practices.
The course gives riders “a good safety foundation to grow from,” said Dennis Phillips, a Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructor and RiderCoach trainer.
Other benefits to students taking the class include having the guidance of experienced RiderCoaches with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and using a closedcourse riding range to practice. Riders can also take a written and riding test to complete the class.
Phillips said he’s seen riders of varying ages take the course, from 14-year-olds in the motorcycle class to an
82-year-old man who was taking the three-wheel bike course. He enjoys watching students grow in their confidence and skills.
He’s also a rider himself after starting when he was in high school. He was drawn to “the fun of it and the freedom that you feel riding a motorcycle.”
Along with the fun is the importance of safety and concentration while riding, something Phillips works to impart to the class.
Chris Moses took the class in 2023 and said he was impressed with the instructors and their commitment to safety, “making sure every student understood the principles and techniques needed to become a better, safer rider,” Moses said.
“Even as an experienced rider myself, I found the class valuable,” he explained. “They helped me recognize and correct some bad habits I had developed over the years. Overall, it was a positive and enriching experience that reinforced the importance of ongoing rider education.”
Moses said the class and the dedication of the instructors motivated him to complete training to earn RiderCoach certification.
“Becoming an instructor myself has allowed me to share my passion for motorcycling, while promoting safety and skill development in new riders,” he shared.
Moses encourages riders, regardless of their experience level, to take the basic rider course “but also seek out additional training whenever possible.”
“As riders, we are ultimately the only ones who can take a truly proactive role in protecting ourselves on the road,” he said. “Continuing education is one of the best ways to stay sharp, stay safe and enjoy motorcycling to its fullest.”
For more information about the Basic Motorcycle Rider Course, visit mntc.edu – SMS
Motorcycle
BY: SHARLA BARDIN
CLASSES FOCUS ON LIFE-SAVING TECHNIQUES
Moore Norman Technology Center offers individuals a variety of classes to learn life-saving measures, including first aid and CPR. The American Heart Association courses include CPR and Basic Life Support for those in the healthcare field and those individuals who want to gain knowledge and skills to be prepared for emergency situations.
Courses help students learn such techniques as performing chest compressions and rescue breaths, using an Automated External Defibrillator and basic first aid knowledge, said Tiffany Herndon, CPR coordinator and health instructor at the technology center.
Herndon said the classes are a way to help individuals “gain confidence and stay calm in high-pressure situations.”
Having those skills are pivotal when it comes to helping someone in need.
“In an emergency, the few minutes before professional help arrives can mean the difference between life and death,” she said.
Rose Rock Habitat for Humanity Opens Doors at New Location NEW LOCATION, SAME MISSION
Rose Rock Habitat for Humanity has relocated its operations to a new facility at 831 Sonoma Park Drive in Norman, continuing its mission to provide affordable housing, foster opportunities and support families in need across the region.
Formerly based on Main Street, the nonprofit organization is inviting the community to visit its new location and shop at its ReStore, a resale outlet that funds Habitat’s housing initiatives.
“We look forward to welcoming the community at our new location,” invited Randy Gardner, president and CEO of Rose Rock Habitat for Humanity. “Come shop in our ReStore and tell a friend. Nothing resonates like word of mouth, and we want the community to know how much of an impact their support has through purchases and donations.”
The ReStore features a variety of donated home goods, including gently used furniture, appliances, building materials and more. Proceeds directly support the organization’s efforts to build and improve homes in the community.
In addition to constructing new homes, Habitat for Humanity renovates and repairs existing properties to help make homeownership attainable for individuals and families who complete an intensive selection process.
“We are helping address affordable housing, which is one of the biggest disparities in our state and across the nation,” said Gardner. “Homes are sold to families who would not otherwise qualify for a traditional mortgage at a price that becomes manageable for them, which is determined as an intermediary point between the build cost and the appraised cost.
“We meet somewhere in the middle with a price that works for them.”
Rose Rock Habitat for Humanity serves Cleveland and Pottawatomie counties. In 2024, the organization completed five homes. Its family selection process is comprehensive, requiring applicants to meet eligibility standards that include financial screening, background checks and participation in a homeowner orientation class. Buyers also contribute a down payment and make monthly payments on a 0% interest loan.
According to Gardner, stable housing can have longterm benefits, such as higher earning potential, improved health outcomes and stronger civic engagement.
“A new world opens up to people when housing instability is no longer an issue,” Gardner said.
For more information about volunteer opportunities, donation guidelines or to schedule a donation pickup, visit roserockhabitat.org. – SMS
HEY COA CH!
Q/A with the Newest High School Coaches in Moore
Several new coaches have been hired for next season at the three Moore high schools. The following questions were sent out to them to get a small glimpse into who they are and what type of coach they may be.
1. Go-to activity in your free time?
2. Goal for your team?
3. Who is your role model and why?
4. Salty or sweet snacks?
WESTMOORE
5. What was your high school mascot?
6. If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you tell them?
7. Standout moment in your career?
8. What made you get into coaching?
These are their answers.- SMS
Emma Andrews, Girls Basketball
JAGUARS
1. Hiking, I love to be in the outdoors with the dogs and kids on new adventures.
2. To create a winning atmosphere where it allows the team to develop habits to become successful on the floor, in the classroom and in the community
3. Without a doubt my Dad. He never misses a game or event, even with him living in Australia.
4. Sweet, every time, specifically peanut M&Ms
5. I went to high school in Australia and was a unicorn.
6. Don’t be afraid to fail. Sometimes rebuilding brings better things you didn’t know you needed.
7. Winning four college WAC conference championships at Fresno State
8. My college coaches had such an impact on my life and growth, and still to this day encourage me to pass that along to younger students and athletes.
Brett Jones, Football
1. Golf, walking and reading
2. To help athletes reach their potential in life
3. Jesus Christ
4. Salty
5. Savages (Broken Bow)
6. It’s not about you
7. Coaching my team in Bristow when they beat Wagoner, 3-0, on a last-second, 47-yard field goal. I pulled my hamstring celebrating.
8. When I was younger, it was to fill a void that was missing in my life. Now as I grow older, it’s to fill a void that we see in society. I want to use football as a platform to raise up great men.
BY: TJ TURNER
MOORE LIONS
Cameron Bennett, Football
1. Being with and hanging out with family
2. To be the toughest, hardest working, most competitive and best disciplined team in the state
3. My dad for always being there and helping me be the man I am today
4. Sweet & Sour
5. Panther
6. Life is too short. Take time to enjoy the moments.
7. Watching student athletes succeed, reaching their goals and dreams
8. The love of the game and the coaches that coached me
Steven Peeler, Fast Pitch
1. Golf or mowing
2. Do things the right way, be fundamentally sound and efficient.
3. Right now, it’s my brother and my best friend. They both work hard and put their families first and find ways to have time to themselves as well.
4. Start with salty, finish with sweet
5. I’m a Lion!
6. Don’t worry about what others think as much. Be true to yourself.
7. Knowing that I have prepared our players for the next step in their lives.
8. I have never wanted to leave the game. I love being a student of the game.
Bradley Rathburn, Slow Pitch
1. My go-to, free time activities include golfing, fishing and spending time with my family.
2. Create a unity from freshman to senior. If we can get everyone going in the same direction, the rest takes care of itself.
3. My dad has always been a role model of mine since coaching me when I was young. He was always the type to take on kids that just wanted to play ball even if they weren’t the best athletes. It said a lot about him.
4. Salty for sure
5. Once a lion, always a lion
6. Quit finding reasons not to do something and just do it.
7. I’ve been blessed to get to coach in multiple state championships.
8. Being such a fan of softball and baseball. My entire life coaching was a way to be around it daily.
MARCUM’S NURSERY 50TH ANNIVERSARY
50 years ago Cherie and Bill Marcum built greenhouses behind their home and grew tomatoes to sell to local grocers. Later, they added hanging baskets and realized their greenhouse operation could grow into something much bigger.
With an increased demand for their plant products, Cherie and Bill opened the brick-and-mortar Marcum’s Nursery in Goldsby in 1982 where it remains the company headquarters today. In 1994, they expanded their services to the Oklahoma City metro, opening a second nursery at Southwest 119th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.
Despite Cherie and Bill’s retirement in 2013, Marcum’s continues as a family owned and operated business with their sons, Monty and Kelly, at the helm. Beginning their work at the nursery in 1982, you can find them there every day continuing their parents’ legacy.
The Marcum’s granddaughter, Crystal Bacon, has worked at the Goldsby location for 11 years and says her official title is “sales manager” but in the world of small business, family members do a little bit of everything.
“This has always been a family business,” Bacon said. “Even my baby sister worked here until she passed in 2012.”
Bacon’s parents have four children, three of which work at Marcum’s.
“We’d make my sister work here too, but she lives in Texas,” Bacon laughs. “My mom works here. My aunt worked here, and a bunch of my cousins have worked here.”
Marcum’s expanded their operations again in 2017, buying K & K Nursery in Norman at 17550 South Sooner Rd, and Wilkinson’s Nursery in Ardmore.
“We are just so fortunate,” Bacon said. “There’s a lot of pressure that goes along with owning your own business, but we all work hard and I’m so grateful for my co-workers.”
Bacon said employees at Marcum’s are knowledgeable, friendly and help each other out.
“It’s good to know that I get to do something that I love, and I get to work for a family who works with its people.”
Bacon said there are at least five employees who have worked at Marcum’s for over 30 years and several more who have worked there over 20 years.
“We have a lot of long-term employees,” Bacon said. “Our employees are just like family because I’ve known them most of my life.”
A 50th anniversary celebration is not on the books yet, but Bacon said there probably will be later this year.
“We are so busy in the spring that it’s hard to sell plants and throw a party at the same time,” she said.
Bacon said when fall planting begins and people start planting trees, pansies and decorating with pumpkins, it’s less busy.
Marcum’s has always been a local business that gives back to communities.
“One of my cousins is a contractor for us and she helps school organizations with fundraisers,” Bacon said. “The bulk of our giving back is local schools and helping people who have mental or physical
Left to right - Rosie Benson, Crystal (Marcum) Bacon, Kelly Marcum, Jennifer Marcum, Monty Marcum, Carol Marcum, Monty Glenn Marcum, Madelyn Marcum, Candace (Marcum) Benson.
disabilities, living in assisted living centers who are planting gardens.”
Marcum’s helps by providing soil, plants, and garden knowledge.
The Marcum’s Moonlight Madness “sale of the season” is a popular event, usually held at the beginning of June but due to all the rain, it will probably be postponed this year to the end of June. That big sale has been going on for more than 30 years and features all merchandise at least 20% off, as well as other specials.
Bacon said Marcum’s is open year-round.
“People still have pests afflicting their plants and they still have watering questions,” Bacon said.
Marcum’s customers come from all walks of life and Bacon said she learns from them every day.
“There’s no way I could become a specialist in the ways some of these people are,” she shared. “I learn so much from them and I ask for their advice too. People love to show us their pictures because they are proud of what they do in their garden and in their yard. We get inspired by our customers as much as they are inspired by us.”– BSM
Photos by: Mark Doescher
Sam Landry Leads the Sooners Staff
BY: CHRIS PLANK
Dynastic, unstoppable, dominant — the Oklahoma Sooners softball team has long been synonymous with greatness. Leading into the 2025 season, they secured four consecutive National Championships. With expectations for their dominance to wane, many anticipated a rebuilding year for this iconic program.
However, Sam Landry in the pitching circle has defied all such predictions, cementing the Sooners’ place as a relentless force in collegiate softball.
In what was supposed to be a year filled with challenges and rebuilding, the emergence of the Louisiana transfer pitcher helped the Sooners remain among the elite in the sport. In the Sooners’ first season in the vaunted SEC, Landry was a major reason why the Sooners earned both the regular-season and conference tournament championships.
But whatever you do, don’t refer to Landry as the Sooners’ ace.
“I think the term ace just kind of sets one person apart, and I don’t think that’s what softball is about,” Landry said. “It is a team sport. So, I’m here for the entire staff, and I think we have a very deep staff.”
In a year when Landry was named the 2025 SEC Newcomer of the Year, earned first-team All-SEC honors, and was selected to the SEC All-Defensive Team, she isn’t interested in talking about individual awards. Instead, she focuses on the success of a team of fresh faces that thrived thanks to a team-first mentality. With eight incoming freshmen and five additions from the transfer portal, including Landry, there was plenty of new in 2025.
“I think at the beginning of the fall, it was kind of challenging, because you have so many different people from different backgrounds,” Landry said. “Everybody was coming from different places.
“After all the practices, always being around each other, you slowly start mingling. That’s helped us get to know each other and want to be there for each other. Everyone is everybody’s biggest cheerleader on that field, so it’s super exciting to watch.”
Landry comes from a large family as one of six siblings. Her family has been a driving force behind her consistency, commitment and success.
“I definitely wouldn’t be where I am without any of them, especially my siblings,” Landry said of her family. “You know they’ve always pushed me to be who I truly am. My parents are my rock. They have sacrificed so much for me to be where I am, and I’m trying to repay them in every way I can.”
Her parents were there for Landry through everything, including success, disappointment, adversity and even injury. But sometimes, it takes more than family, which Landry discovered after an injury during her freshman season of high school. Landry tore her ACL playing basketball. Some schools moved on from Landry in the recruitment process, but one stayed strong.
“It was definitely a mental struggle, hearing coaches that you had fallen in love with their school, with their program, with them as people and they would just say, we’re going to wait till you’re back to see how you are,” Landry said of the ACL injury. “That’s where Coach Gerry Glasco stepped in for me because he was saying you’re going to be fine when you come back. He never stopped supporting and recruiting me. He is a father figure, grandfather figure, whatever you want to call him, but I love him.”
Glasco, then the coach at Louisiana Lafayette, stayed committed to Landry. She played her first three years of college softball in Lafayette, excelling in the circle.
“Sam is really special, she can really spin it,” Glasco said of the Sooner standout. “She became family to me and my wife and all of us. I remember her calling when she got to Oklahoma and was letting us know she wasn’t going to be able to wear 12 in honor of Geri Ann, which shows you how special of a kid she is.”
The number 12 was something Landry had always worn in tribute to the Glasco’s youngest daughter, who tragically died in a traffic accident in 2019.
Landry carried that number with an incredible threeyear run at Louisiana-Lafayette, but after her third season, she and her coach decided it was time for a change. As Landry entered the transfer portal, Glasco took the head coach’s job at Texas Tech. While Tech was definitely an option for Landry and her pitching future, Glasco had garnered a commitment from NiJaree Canady, and he knew Landry was destined for more than the opportunity she could have in Lubbock. And in the end, so did Landry.
“I think it was my time to kind of separate and be able to watch him coach from the outside and live his dream,” Landry said. “He’s coaching with one of his daughters right now, and I think it’s absolutely beautiful to see.”
LANDRY CHOSE OKLAHOMA
Her impact at both Louisiana and now Oklahoma has truly transcended the numbers. Her ability to inspire and
elevate the players around her has been just as critical as her dominance in the circle. Coaches and teammates alike have praised her dedication, work ethic and unwavering commitment to the team’s success. Her leadership has helped the Sooners stay united and focused during a season many expected to be challenging. Most impressive might be how she has rewritten some challenging chapters in her story against old foes.
The 2024 season and Landry’s career with the Rajin Cajuns ended at the hands of Baylor. She faced Baylor four times during the 2024 season and lost three of the four appearances despite only giving up four earned runs in 13 2/3 innings. Baylor beat the Rajin Cajuns to end the season in a winner-takes-all game in Regionals.
Against the Bears in a Sooner uniform this season, Landry threw a perfect game, needing only 56 pitches (42 strikes) to shut out Baylor.
“It was very rewarding in itself with how our season last year ended, to lose to them and then being able to come out with this team and throw my game, throw what I’m capable of, and rely on my teammates,” Landry said. “That perfect game would not have been possible without an amazing defense behind me.”
Landry also rewrote her personal story against the LSU Tigers. During her time at Louisiana, Landry went 2-3 against the Tigers and, in 16 2/3 innings, gave up
18 hits and 15 runs, 10 of which were earned. In the SEC Tournament opener, Landry pitched an absolute masterpiece, shutting down the Tigers with a complete game, allowing just one run while striking out seven.
“I am such a different pitcher than I have been in the past, and I think Coach (Jen) Rocha knows me better than almost anybody now,” Landry said of her pitching coach. “She knows what she’s doing.”
Sooner pitching coach Jen Rocha has been a major part of not only Landry’s journey but for the Sooners as a whole. In her 7th season at Oklahoma, Rocha has been the architect of the Sooner pitching staff, which helped lead the Sooners to four straight national titles.
“She absolutely cares about anybody, and she is the first one to tell you that this sport does not define who you are as a person,” Landry said of Rocha. “She has empowered me so much in that realm.
“After a recent tough game, I was having trouble getting over it mentally. She sent me a Bible verse, and I think that speaks so much to her as a person and how it is always the person before the game every day.”
It has been an incredible season for Landry, filled with success and deserved accolades. In addition to being named All-Conference and the SEC Newcomer of the Year, Landry has been honored as the pitcher of the week on three different occasions and was on the list of 25 finalists for the National Play of the Year. But it hasn’t come without adversity. An injury knocked Landry out of the first weekend of conference play, forcing her to watch from the sidelines.
“It was definitely a very frustrating time, because I thought I was going to be released right before that first SEC weekend,” Landry said of the injury. “But that wasn’t in God’s plans, and he had me sit out a little bit longer. I think it was good for our pitching staff as a whole. I think everybody got really good work that weekend, and I think it built our pitching staff.”
Landry has developed into one of the best pitchers in college softball. While she does not like to be referred to as the ace, there is no doubt that Landry has showcased “ace like” abilities. But don’t mistake her low-key, almost laid-back approach for someone without fire. Normally, Landry can be viewed as fairly mild-mannered in the circle, but when she gets fired up, it leaves an impression.
“When the lion starts coming out, there’s no controlling it,” Landry said. “So if the scream comes out, it comes out and there was no explanation or reason behind it.”
In the world of sports, moments of transition often are loaded with uncertainty, but for the Oklahoma Sooners, the transition into the SEC has been seamless, thanks in part to the remarkable presence of Sam Landry. While the final chapter is yet to be written, this season’s story is one of confronting and embracing greatness.– BSM
Photos provided by Shevaun Williams
Breast cancer doesn’t just affect patients—it changes families. For Kari Jo Podany, a routine mammogram for her mother in 2016 turned into a life-changing experience that would eventually guide her to a new career—and a powerful sense of purpose.
In 2016, Podany’s mother went in for her annual mammogram, something she never skipped. It was supposed to be just another screening—but a few days later, she got a call to come back for additional images. That second appointment led to a biopsy and then the diagnosis: breast cancer.
Podany, like many daughters would, felt overwhelmed.
“Everywhere I turned, I saw that pink ribbon,” she said. “I didn’t want to see it, and yet it was everywhere.”
But the moment they sat down with Dr. Rable and her team at the Oklahoma Breast Center, something shifted. The fear didn’t disappear—but it was met with compassion, reassurance and a clear plan of care.
how a MAMMOGRAM turned FEAR into a CALLING
BREAST CANCER TREATMENT: A JOURNEY OF STRENGTH AND SUPPORT
Podany’s mother underwent a lumpectomy, followed by chemotherapy and radiation.
“She’s a trooper,” Podany said. “She didn’t miss a beat, not one minute of anything.”
That unshakable mindset helped carry her through treatment and made a deep impression on her daughter.
Dr. Rable and her team provided not just medical expertise, but emotional support for the entire family.
“They didn’t just see my mom as a patient,” Podany said. “They saw her as a person. And they saw us as a family that needed support.”
Dr. Rable
CELEBRATING SURVIVORSHIP: RINGING THE BELL
After completing treatment, Podany’s mother did what so many breast cancer survivors dream of. She rang the bell, a celebratory moment marking the end of active cancer treatment.
Her hair started to grow back. Her energy returned. Her future looked bright again and for Podany, something else began to take root: a desire to give back, to be the one providing care and comfort.
COMING FULL CIRCLE: A NEW ROLE AT THE OKLAHOMA BREAST CENTER
When her children started school, Podany wasn’t actively seeking work, but what happened next, she described as nothing short of divine.
“It was a God thing,” she said. “He took my fear and anxiety and turned it into my calling.”
Today, Podany works as a mammographer at the very same place that treated her mother, side-by-side with Dr. Rable and the team that once guided her family through one of their toughest challenges.
Podany brings more than medical training to her roles, she brings empathy. She understands the nerves, the worry, the fear many women feel as they walk through the doors for their screening mammograms.
“I get to comfort patients during their mammograms,” she said. “I can share my mom’s story and remind them they’re not alone.”
She sees her mom in the women who walk into her screening room. And now, she proudly wears the pink ribbon she once dreaded—because it symbolizes hope, early detection and survivorship.
THE POWER OF EARLY DETECTION
Podany’s message is clear and urgent: don’t put off your mammogram.
“It only takes 30 minutes,” she said. “If my mom had missed hers, her breast cancer might have been found at a later stage. Her journey could have been so different.”
Early detection saves lives.
SCHEDULE YOUR MAMMOGRAM TODAY
If you’re due—or overdue—for a breast cancer screening, don’t wait. Call the Oklahoma Breast Center at 405-307-2623 to schedule or visit normanregional. com/breast to learn more. – SMS
Kari Jo Podnay
Norman
has
. Norman Regional is at the heart of advanced cardiovascular care in southern Oklahoma. We proudly o er $50 heart scans with no referral required, plus a full range of heart services, including ablations, pacemakers and treatment for AFIB. We deliver award-winning care. With a cardiac catheterization lab and life-saving expertise nearby you’ll find compassionate, leading-edge heart care right down the road.
Bruce Cannon, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgeon
More than 30 years of experience
Schedule your $50 heart scan today.
