Friday, July 25, 2025
‘Backbone of the family’ ICE
detains OSU alumna’s father, leaving loved ones reeling
BY RAYNEE HOWELL I NEWS AND LIFESTYLE EDITOR
The sound of screaming and crying traveled through the walls of the Saldivar home, breaking through Marilysis Saldivar’s state of unconsciousness.
It was a regular Monday morning
in the summer, and Marilysis was sleeping in. The cries were the first sign of her peaceful morning turning into a nightmare.
Marilysis’ sister burst into the room to relay the news — their father, Celio Saldivar, was detained by Immigration and Customs
Enforcement officers on his way to work.
“I feel like I just went into shock,” Marilysis said. “I woke up with this overwhelming sense of fear that he has for himself, but also we have for him. In that moment, it just felt like everything stopped.”
Marilysis is the oldest of Celio’s four daughters. She graduated with her master’s in clinical mental health counseling from Oklahoma State in May — an achievement she attributes to her upbringing as a child of immigrants.
Before Eskimo Joe’s opened its door as a bar, co-founder Stan Clark walked the hallways of dorms at his alma mater, Oklahoma State. Clark wasn’t taking a sentimental walk weeks after graduation, but instead was sliding flyers — the first advertisements for Eskimo Joe’s — under the dorm room doors. The bar opened shortly after those flyers reached OSU students July 21, 1975.
Fifty years later to the day, Clark pulled out one of the same flyers from a time capsule sealed during the bar’s 25th anniversary. Clark had an audience beyond what anyone receiving that flyer in 1975 could have imagined. Every seat in the house, including the barstools at each bar, was occupied. Those who couldn’t find a seat hovered against the walls, watching several tangible pieces of history pulled from the capsule.
On a summer afternoon at the OSU Museum of Art, children gather around a towering fabric iguana, pointing at the jagged line of its stitched spine.
Just a few feet away, others thread needles and tiny hands at a community quilt-making table — each stitch a tribute to the creatures on display.
The artwork drawing so much
attention is Galápagos Marine Iguana, a dramatic textile piece by Canadian artist Sue Sherman.
“In real life, they’re about 22 inches long and eat mostly algae,” Sherman said. “On two trips to Galápagos, I have been quite close to them many times, and they are not threatening at all. I was surprised to hear viewers speak of this as a beast that could be dangerous.”
Courtesy Marilysis Saldivar
Celio Saldivar (second from left), a husband and father of four, is currently being held in a Texas detention center.
Raynee Howell
Mayor Will Joyce read a proclamation declaring July 21, 2025, as Eskimo Joe’s 50th Anniversary Day in Stillwater. The local institution celebrated its anniversary with events all last week.
MJ Nyamdavaa
The Fur, Fangs, Feathers & Fins exhibit contains artworks from 43 fiber artists from around the globe.
RAYNEE HOWELL NEWS AND LIFESTYLE EDITOR
The entire packed house leaned in to see what came out of the capsule, straining their ears to hear Clark tell sentimental stories while his voice — almost gone from the past week of celebrations — echoed through the microphone.
T-shirts, business cards, an old seat cushion, Joe’s Clothes catalogs, menus and more were found next to the original flyer. Each one told stories of Eskimo Joe’s rise into a staple for Stillwater and beyond.
One particular memory stood out to Clark when he pulled out the original 45 vinyl record for the songs “Last Night at Joe’s” and “Juke Joint Shuffle.” Stan recorded the songs in 1985 for Eskimo Joe’s 10th anniversary. The second song on the record was inspired by the slogan on the back of several Joe’s T-shirts — Stillwater’s Jumpin’ Little Juke Joint.
The slogan came from an Elvin Bishop song titled “Juke Joint Jump.”
“He (Clark’s friend) drops the needle and the opening line of ‘Juke Joint Jump’ is ‘There’s a jumpin’ little juke joint way out in the sticks,’” Clark said. “And I said ‘That’s it, we’re Stillwater’s Jumpin’ Little Juke Joint.’”
The songs were aired on 14 radio stations across Oklahoma and Kansas, drawing in a larger crowd for the 10th anniversary. It marked the first time the celebration spilled out onto the street on Elm Avenue, creating an annual street party. This year — after a 32-year hiatus of the street parties beginning in 1993 — the street party returned. The opening of the time capsule finished off the anniversary week, which was full of new and returning traditions.
Clark’s memories of Eskimo Joe’s throughout the years were not the only memories emerging during the week. One attendee sitting front and center, Mayor Will Joyce, remembers several milestones in his childhood having Eskimo Joe’s as the backdrop.
“As a kid, growing up in Stillwater my whole life, Eskimo Joe’s has been the place we come for all the fun stuff, (like) birthdays” Joyce said. “This is such a big part of Stillwater’s life.”
Joyce read a proclamation declaring July 21, 2025, Eskimo Joe’s 50th Anniversary Day in Stillwater. He applauded Stan Clark and the Eskimo Joe’s staff — old and new — for their positive contributions to Stillwater.
“You guys have made a huge impact all over the world, and we appreciate so much what you’ve done for Stillwater over the last 50 years,” he said.
community through hands-on programs such as Second Saturday, where visitors of all ages engage with textile art.
color and pattern not just for beauty, but for narrative.
Through Sherman’s hands, the creature becomes a monumental presence, painted and quilted on tightly woven cotton lawn using thickened dye — each scale rendered with painstaking care over three months of daily work.
“I wanted to make a dramatic impact,” Sherman said. “To spark curiosity, especially about this incredibly unique species and its vulnerability.”
The exhibition, Fur, Fangs, Feathers & Fins, on display through Saturday at the OSU Museum of Art, celebrates the animal kingdom through the eyes — and hands — of 43 fiber artists from around the globe. Visitors will encounter iguanas, marine life, apex predators and many more —all rendered through fabric, dye and thread. It’s a bold reimagining of quilting, one that invites both artistic appreciation and environmental reflection.
Organized by Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA), the global exhibition has traveled from Arizona to Seoul and now to Stillwater.
“There’s just so much to explore,” said Casey Idhe, curator of education at the OSU Museum of Art. “Intricate stitching techniques, vibrant colors, unconventional materials — the artists are doing incredible things in unexpected ways.”
Idhe has helped bring the exhibition to life for the Stillwater
“We’re highlighting sewing as an art form,” she said. “And as a bonus, we’re partnering with Tiny Paws Kitten Rescue, inviting people to come make mini quilts and donate to support kittens in need.”
The museum has also launched Yoga in the Museum to help visitors unwind amid the animal-inspired artworks, and partnered with the Stillwater Public Library to host a children’s field trip that combined art, play and storytelling.
While the exhibition’s mission is global, its impact is deeply local. For Oklahoma City-based painter Lauren Florence, who was invited by the Stillwater Art Guild to the OSUMA to offer a guest artist analysis during a tour, the pieces held personal resonance.
“I wasn’t affiliated with the exhibit,” Florence said. “‘Beauty Queen’ by Kestrel Michaud is one of my favorite pieces in the exhibit.”
That piece features an alligator adorned with delicate butterflies — a juxtaposition Florence has explored in her own best-selling print of a bison surrounded by butterflies.
“It’s the interplay of opposites,” she said. “Something as tough as an alligator paired with something as fragile as a butterfly; that tension tells a story.”
Florence, who grew up visiting Woolaroc and draws heavily from Oklahoma’s visual culture, said she admired the way the quilt artists used
“Color creates focal points,” she said. “It guides the viewer through the piece, even when the medium is fabric.”
The exhibit’s message about conservation resonates even more deeply when paired with public engagement. Idhe said there’s value in multigenerational learning.
“As a museum that serves the whole community, we are always striving to be accessible,” she said. “We aim to scaffold activities so there are multiple entry points. We also offer a number of supplies so participants can self-select what suits their needs.”
And they are connecting. Idhe recounted how surprised some visitors were that quilts could look like this — bold, sculptural.
“I’ve watched children spend hours with our sewing projects,” she said. “And I’ve seen deep, friendly debates about the art. That’s incredibly rewarding.”
The goal isn’t just to showcase craftsmanship — it’s to get people thinking. Whether through Sherman’s environmental message, Florence’s narrative lens or Idhe’s community-based interpretation, Fur, Fangs, Feathers & Fins invites a different kind of reflection.
“I hope that this exhibition helps visitors to open their minds to the unexpected or nontraditional,” Idhe said. “And maybe reflect on their relationship with their environment.”
Raynee Howell
An Eskimo Joe’s customer touches Joe’s Clothes catalog and void paycheck from Eskimo Joe’s 25th anniversary time capsule.
MJ Nyamdavaa
“Beauty Queen” by Kestrel Michaud, which features an alligator adorned with butterflies, is part of the Fur, Fangs, Feathers & Fins exhibit
Saturday at the OSU Museum of Art. Oklahoma City-based artist Lauren Florence called
mom’s making dinner, but she’s not making it for all of us anymore.”
Block 34 opening soon; park rules, regulations approved
Steve and Becky Irby began the week with a standing ovation at Monday’s city council meeting.
The Irbys will end the week watching their multimillion-dollar donation come to fruition in the form of Block 34.
Steve is the owner of Kicker, and alongside Simmons Bank, was a major donor for the project, donating more than $8 million. Located in the middle of downtown Stillwater, Block 34 will be a unique community park with space for open-air performances, festivals and art presentations.
Mayor Will Joyce recognizes the impact the Irbys had in creating a new space for the community to come together. In a proclamation presented at the city council meeting, Joyce declared the section of Duncan Street between 8th and 9th avenues as “Irby Lane.”
“That is again just a very small token of our appreciation to the Irbys — the Irby family — to Kicker and to all the folks who have made Block 34 a reality for this community,” Joyce said.
for the next 10 years, beginning with the first event to be held at the new space — The Dancing Turtle Arts Festival, which will begin Friday.
The event will feature live music, arts and crafts vendors, hands-on exhibits and several other family friendly activities the entire weekend. There will be an official opening ceremony for the park Saturday at 7 p.m. Joyce encouraged the community to attend and welcome the new addition to downtown.
The park rules and regulations were also approved at the city council meeting, signaling how close the park is to opening to the public. A few of the most pressing rules are below:
• Park hours are 6 a.m.-11 p.m.
• Pets must be on a leash and cleaned up after
• Do not move any landscape elements
• Do not litter
• No smoking or vaping
• No glass containers
• No soliciting
Part of that upbringing balances on the values of resilience and hard work, which the Saldivar family is founded upon. Celio was once a kid who immigrated from Mexico to California with his mother and siblings. When his mother died, he and his siblings had to fend for themselves. Celio had no one to help him secure citizenship as a child.
Celio’s wife — Marilysis’ mother — was also an immigrant from Mexico but has been a U.S. citizen since Marilysis was a child. Marilysis’ father was able to graduate high school, but her mother did not. Their sacrifices made her realize how important it is to pursue education.
“From a young age, my parents really taught us the importance of being very independent as well,” Marilysis said. “And so they were like ‘It’s super important to have your education…,’ to have all these things because they weren’t able to have that.”
Her parents’ stories inspired Marilysis’ worldview, not only helping her achieve a master’s as a firstgeneration student, but also giving her a good foundation.
“It impacts the way that I go through the world and view the world,” she said. “I’m like ‘Oh, my parents have sacrificed so much, but yet they’re still so hard working.’ They still see the world through a lens that a lot of people don’t see the world in.”
Celio’s detainment flipped their world upside down in more ways than one. Her father was the main provider for the family, Marilysis said. They never had to worry about mowing the lawn, taking out the trash or fixing the car.
“My dad was the backbone of the family,” Marilysis said. “... These little things really do impact us, but it goes beyond that too, because every day when we get home from work, we know he’s not coming home. There’s an empty chair at the table, and my
The Saldivars’ chosen community of friends continue to bring over dinner, mow the lawn, take out the trash and help where they can. Along with their support, the family has been able to create fundraisers to help pay for legal fees and communication with Celio.
Marilysis’ mother makes tamales and mini tres leches cakes to sell for profit. A GoFundMe is also available for donations. Celio was recently transferred to a detention center in Texas and is awaiting a bail hearing. The family is hoping bail will be granted and money from the fundraisers can assist in bringing him home.
“Coming from a culture that we are, in the family that we are, it wasn’t easy asking for help, but people have been super supportive,” Marilysis said. “It really feels like they’re kind of saying ‘We see you and we care.’”
The feeling of sadness for her father fades into anger at times for Marilysis. Celio has no criminal record and works hard for his family, she said. More than 71.5% held in ICE detention centers as of this month have no criminal conviction according to TRAC Immigration.
“They’re (ICE) like, ‘Oh, we’re only going to target criminals. We’re only going to get like the bad guys,’ but then it’s like they’re actually coming into communities and tearing families within the community apart,” Marilysis said.
The Saldivar family is not giving up on reuniting with Celio. Marilysis said she hopes people will begin to see people who are detained like her father as human beings — mothers, fathers, kids and people who are a part of the communities.
“I’m not a politician; I’m not an immigration lawyer or anything like that,” Marilysis said. “I’m literally just a daughter who wants her dad home.”
To donate to the Saldivar family on GoFundMe, search for the title: “Bring Celio Home: Support the Saldivar Family.”
Becky and Steve were presented with a street sign that will soon be up for all who visit the park to see. Steve thanked the partners present in the room and said he was excited to see how far this project will go. A portion of his donation will contribute to programming and operations support
• Bicycles and motorized scooters are only allowed on the perimeter sidewalks or on bike racks
Block 34 will also hold a market called Market 34 of only Oklahoman vendors. The market will be open Saturdays in August through October. It will open at 8 a.m. and close at 1 p.m.
Courtesy Marilysis Saldivar
OSU alumna Marilysis Saldivar (center) is dealing with ICE’s detention of her father Celio (right).
Bryson Thadhani
Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce spoke at the groundbreaking of Block 34 on Feb. 7.
News Eskimo Joe’s street party
TRUST THE LORD! (Part #1)
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (Jn.14:1 NIV)
Jesus had just told his disciples of his betrayal. He also told to them of his leaving and they could not go with him. I am sure that it seemed to the disciples that everything was “caving in, falling apart.” The future seemed so uncertain. Then Jesus speaks these words; DON’T BE TROUBLED; TRUST ME!
Jesus tells them that he is going to the Father (God) and in his house there is plenty of room. He tells them that he is going to make a place for them all and he will return to take them there. As we look around us there is much uncertainty about this planet that we live on; safety is a premium, and what about when death comes? What is going to happen to you and me? Many are betting on losing consciousness and never
awakening. They live on that assumption. However, Jesus tells us all are going to experience a resurrection from the dead; some to everlasting life and others to be condemned . (Jn.5:28-29, Dan.12:2)
Again, the Lord Jesus makes things clear to his followers: “I am going to my Father’s house to prepare a place for you. I will return to get you and take you to be with me.” when asked about the way to this wonderful place, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one
Eskimo Joe’s hosts its first street party since 1993.
audience cheers on Oklahoma-based Red Dirt band The Smokin’ Oaks.
Eskimo Joe’s brings together old friends to catch up and enjoy the festivities.
Colton Blake, frontman of The Smokin’ Oaks, performs for the 50th anniversary.
Smokin’ Oaks fans wear wigs to match frontman Colton Blake.
attendee wearing a brand-new 50th anniversary T-shirt.
Slaid Cross, lead guitarist of The Smokin’ Oaks, sings to the crowd.
Eskimo Joe’s employees create custom hats for attendees.
The inside of Eskimo Joe’s bustling with people
Photos by payton little
Friday, July 25, 2025
Road to the Emmys
How Joshua Cleary traded sneakers for stories
Joshua Cleary put down his basketball shoes and picked up a camera in 2018; little did he know that decision would lead him to an Emmy award seven years later.
Cleary received his first Emmy last Saturday at the 2025 Heartland Regional Emmy Awards in Oklahoma City. The award celebrated work on the two-part documentary “Barry Sanders: Out of Nowhere,” produced by OSU Max, the athletic department’s original-content online network.
While the final product is inevitably the greatest piece to
BY KENZIE KRAICH I EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Cleary’s story, there is a past that helped define his present, and he believes it has been an integral part in the way he’s experienced success.
The past
Entering his junior year of high school, Cleary knew two things: One, he loved basketball, and two, he was 5-foot-4 and probably wouldn’t make varsity. But after some conversation, Cleary would find himself traveling with the team anyway — he just switched the sneakers for a camera.
“I followed the team around to all their events and slowly started
to pick it up and really enjoyed doing it,” Cleary said. “I was staying up late at night watching tutorials and learning, so I say YouTube university is where I got my degree.”
As a junior, Cleary started getting direct messages from other athletes in the area, asking him to come take photos and videos for them too.
“I probably accidentally lowballed a lot of other photographers in the area because I’d never been paid to do something like that before,” Cleary said.
As one photoshoot led to another and highlight reels became second
nature, Cleary began taking off on his social media pages, shining light onto his talent almost immediately. As a rising senior, he caught the attention of The O’Colly’s former adviser, John Helsley.
“I felt really invested in by (Helsley),” Cleary said.
The conversations between the two would encompass sports, careers and the opportunity for Cleary to become The O’Colly’s photo editor in just the second semester of his freshman year — something Helsley hadn’t seen before.
See CLEARY on page 8
Kenzie Kraich
Joshua Cleary, a former photo editor at The O’Colly, won an Emmy for his work on the OSU Max documentary “Barry Sanders: Out of Nowhere.”
Canady named men’s, women’s
Big 12 Athlete of the Year winners
Heisman Trophy winner
Travis Hunter of the Colorado football team and Texas Tech softball pitching ace Nijaree Canady were named Thursday as the men’s and women’s Big 12 Conference Athlete of the Year.
The two toppled challengers from every Big 12 school, including contenders from Oklahoma State.
From defeating an Olympic gold medalist to shattering school records that stood for 20 years, OSU’s Wyatt Hendrickson and Emma Robbins had standout performances during the 2024-25 athletic year to earn nominations.
Hendrickson’s lone season in the orange and black was impressive. The heavyweight wrestler — a transfer from the Air Force Academy who holds the title of Second Lieutenant — went 27-0 record, which included an individual national championship.
He became the third OSU wrestler to win the Dan Hodge Trophy, defeating nine All-Americans in his final collegiate season.
The highlight of Hendrickson’s season was taking down Olympic gold medalist and two-time national champion Gable Stevenson in the heavyweight national championship.
Hendrickson was one of four nominees for the ESPY for Best Collegiate Male Athlete, losing to Duke basketball’s Cooper Flagg. Throughout the season, Robbins continued to leave
her mark in the OSU track and field record books.
Five times in the season, the Anaheim, California, native broke school records for hammer and weight throws that had stood for 20 years.
Robbins climbed to the top of OSU’s leaderboard with a hammer throw of 70.02 meters and a weight throw of 21.65 meters.
She was the Big 12 runnerup in both events. Robbins
finished her season earning First Team All-American honors on her way to a fourth-place finish in the hammer throw at the NCAA championships.
Beyond Hendrickson, some of Hunter’s top competitors for the Big 12 award included James Corrigan (BYU cross country), Cam Skattebo (Arizona State football) and J’Wan Roberts (Houston basketball).
But Hunter’s season was too much to overcome. In addition to winning the Heisman, he was the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Hunter was named the best defender and receiver and most versatile player in the nation during his stellar season for the Buffaloes.
Canady’s competitors for the award included some of the Big 12’s most talented female athletes in Ceili McCabe (West Virginia cross country), Hailey
Van Lith (TCU basketball) and Carla Bernat (Kansas State golf). Canady led her Red Raider team to their first conference title and an appearance in the Women’s College World Series championship. The Stanford transfer was also named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and the Most Outstanding Player of the conference tournament.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Carriers Needed
The O’Colly has carrier positions open for the new school year. These positions are each Friday from 5 a.m. to approximately 7 a.m. Carriers deliver approximately 1000 papers each to newspaper racks all over campus. We also have a position open to deliver to several hotels in the Stillwater community. Campus carriers are required to have a backup carrier in the event you are not able to deliver papers.
If you are an early riser and are dependable we urge you to apply. Position starts August 15, 2025.
Please send resume to Lori@ocolly.com
Charles White
Wyatt Hendrickson was an OSU nominee for Big 12 Athlete of the Year after a dominant 27-0 performance on the mat this season.
OSU Roundnet hopes for spike in sport’s growth
TIMOTHY CHRISTENSEN STAFF REPORTER
Growing up in Mansfield, Texas, Gibb Layton arrived on campus at Oklahoma State wanting to grow the sport of roundnet.
Roundnet, also known as spikeball, is a two-on-two sport in which teams have up to three touches to bounce a ball off a circular net parallel with the ground. The game forces players to utilize athleticism, technique and strategy to prevent the ball from touching the ground while in their team’s possession.
Layton fell in love with the sport — more prevalent in Texas than Oklahoma — in his sophomore year of high school when he first played it with his neighbors’ house. But when he arrived on campus in 2022, he learned the OSU Roundnet Club had dissipated.
That didn’t stop Layton from continuing to play the sport.
Layton set up pickup games with some of his friends in the OSU drumline, and by the spring of 2023, Layton was a founder and president of a revitalized OSU Roundnet Club.
The club has continued to grow on campus since its reemergence. What once consisted of a couple of friends now includes people from all different backgrounds. The diversity of majors ranges from finance to chemical engineering to music performance.
The sport is relatively novel in the public eye, which is part of the appeal for the club’s treasurer, Connor Wescott.
“One of the best things about roundnet for me was that it was fresh, and I hadn’t played it before,” Wescott
said. “So, it’s just been fun to develop new skills that I haven’t had to use previously.”
Ask what makes roundnet enjoyable, and you’ll get a range of responses, but one that comes up the most often: the community.
“I think it’s the best part about it,” secretary Jacob Robinson said. “It is so hard to find someone who plays competitive roundnet that
isn’t a nice person.”
“I’m playing with someone in a month that’s from Washington State, and he’s flying here because he met us in Florida and thought we were nice people. The connections are just crazy.”
Throughout the past couple of years, OSU Roundnet has been competing more and more, traveling across the country, including
tournament sites in Kansas, Texas and Florida.
The growth of roundnet has gone beyond just the confines of OSU. Starting in August, there will be an official Pro Roundnet League consisting of teams from the United States and Canada.
Layton and other OSU Roundnet members will be the founding members of the Oklahoma Outlaws, based in Stillwater. Layton hopes that roundnet can continue to grow and improve its perception in Oklahoma.
“Everybody here in Oklahoma sees (roundnet) as a backyard sport,” Layton said. “In my eyes, when I grew up in Texas, it’s very competitive, and you do tournaments. That’s what I’m trying to bring here.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
Courtesy OSU Roundnet Club
Gibb Layton (left) has served as OSU Roundnet Club’s president and founder since 2023, taking the team to tournaments across the country.
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced on Monday that five players from the Oklahoma State women’s tennis team were selected as 2025 ITA Scholar Athletes. This brings the overall number of ITA Scholar Athletes to 75 in program history.
Kylie Collins finished her fifth season of college tennis and first with the Cowgirls after being at Texas her freshman and sophomore year and LSU her junior and senior year, earning the honor for the third straight season. She went 3-3 against conference opponents in singles this year and was 9-5 overall (6-2 Big 12) in doubles with Marcela Lopez.
Redshirt junior Amber Hochstatter received the recognition for the second time in her career, while fellow redshirt junior Anastasiya Komar received it for the first time. Hochstatter boasted a 2-0 overall record in singles this year, while Komar had an 18-7 overall record in singles along with a 10-2 record against the Big 12.
Three Cowgirl freshmen were recognized as scholar athletes: Melisa Ercan, Rose Nijkamp and Alian Zack. All three have been named scholar athletes for the first time in their careers. Ercan put up a 4-3 record in conference play in singles and a 7-2 conference record in doubles with Gracie Epps. Nijkamp posted a 19-2 overall record in singles and a 22-3 overall record (11-0 Big 12) in doubles with Komar. Zack had a 3-0 overall record in doubles with Kylie Collins this season.
The Cowgirls were also honored as an All-American team for the fourth consecutive season and 10th time in program history.
Continued from 5
While Cleary would take the position in the spring of 2021, COVID put a wrench in how things would look. He wasn’t able to get to the sidelines for any Oklahoma State basketball games, with the exception of Bedlam in Norman that year.
“It didn’t really go to plan how me and John had envisioned it, but I still learned so much from that time,” Cleary said. “That atmosphere of hardworking people, people who really cared and wanted to tell good stories started to change my mindset to… taking the storytelling side of things and bringing it to my video production to start telling stories that way.”
As one of the youngest editors in The O’Colly’s history, Cleary made a name for himself at OSU early on, but his freelance work began to take him places he never thought possible. After an accomplished freshman year, Cleary decided he wanted to take a gap year to pursue his photography and videography work on a larger scale.
One DM made those dreams skip from big to bigger in a matter of minutes.
“At the end of my freshman year, Buddy Hield… reached out to me one night — it’s literally 11 p.m. — and he said, ‘Yo, can you be in Dallas at 10 a.m. tomorrow? I’m going to work out all day, and I want you to come make videos of it,” Cleary said. “I just said yes.”
Without hesitation, Cleary charged up his camera batteries, packed a bag and left Stillwater at 5 a.m. After filming the NBA guard’s workouts that day, Cleary met up with the former OU basketball star several more times before getting hired to do it full time for the next two summers.
In between the jam-packed summers following Hield, Cleary found himself working part-time for the Oklahoma Baptist men’s basketball team. He also
continued his freelance work, shooting AAU basketball tournaments and other small projects along the way.
The present
After completing his second summer producing content for Hield, Cleary decided it was time he took a leap forward.
“My boss, Jason Carroll, hired me full time when I was 20 years old without a college degree to come back to the university I only spent one year at as a student, which doesn’t happen often,” Cleary said. “I hadn’t done what OSU Max does, but he saw something in me.”
Just like Helsley, Carroll took a chance on Cleary, and he saw the fruit of that decision Saturday when he walked the Emmy’s stage alongside him.
“It was really something I wanted to take with humility,” Cleary said. “Yeah I was 20 years old, but they obviously saw a reason for why they would hire me, so now I need to go do the job I was hired to do.”
Flash forward three years later, and it seems like Cleary did exactly what he set out to do when joining OSU in 2022. Not only did he see one of his documentaries get nominated for an Emmy, but two.
The “Resillience” documentary highlighting OSU’s 2023 football team was another nominee in the same category as the Barry Sanders feature, also edited and produced by Cleary.
While this in itself was a great feat, his greatest memories come from the process of learning and understanding true OSU values.
Still, Cleary’s best memories have come from the process of learning and understanding the OSU values espoused by athletic director Chad Weiberg, deputy AD Reid Simon and associate AD Kevin Klintworth.
“...(T)hey have such a clear vision for what they want the university to look like and what they want it to promote,” Cleary said. “All those things are things I value in myself, so it didn’t feel like
work when going out and making videos that promote (those things). It felt like doing something good.” In creating the award-winning film, Cleary and his cohorts established those very principles, and after visiting Sanders’ childhood home in Wichita, Kansas, an even greater value came to mind: humanity.
“We’re standing in the backyard and and they’re like ‘Oh this tree right here was the end zone, and this is where the other end zone was, and Barry would run around,’ and you’re just sitting there like… I did this in my backyard too,” Cleary said. “They all just became kids again.”
While Cleary didn’t get to meet Sanders personally, through the lens of Sanders’ seven sisters, he was able to capture the essence of one of OSU’s biggest legacies as both a family man and community figure.
The future
Since August of 2022, Cleary has dedicated countless hours and sleepless nights to OSU, creating several Emmynominated films and various other short-form content. Now, it’s time for him to take another leap forward. Cleary will be joining MadeHoops starting Aug. 1, allowing him to pursue the thing that kickstarted his love for storytelling: high school basketball.
“I started doing the high school circuit,” Cleary said. “High school basketball is when I picked up a camera for the first time, so this is an opportunity for me to go back to something I’m passionate about.” Cleary’s time at OSU is coming to an end, but from setting foot in The O’Colly’s newsroom to walking across the Emmys stage, he knew Stillwater would always be a part of him.
“I was born in St. Louis, I was raised in Choctaw, but I feel like I grew up in Stillwater,” Cleary said. “Even though I don’t have a diploma, I feel like the life experience I’ve received is worth far more than whatever diploma I could’ve earned.”
Camrynn Meadows
Kylie Collins was named to the ITA Scholar Athlete list for the third consecutive year and first with the Cowgirls.
Courtesy Joshua Cleary
Joshua Cleary (right) poses with Jason Carroll after the two received their first Emmy award last Saturday.