Oklahoma Today Volume 53 Issue 1

68 Pages·2003·14.5 MB·English

by  Oklahoma Today

The Fott Sill Half Sectid
remusslveArb
Society Museur
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A Wichita Mountains
Wildlife Refuge
for more information go to www.ardmore.org or call [phone]

Lakes 69 Parks Great Golf Outdoor Recreation
TOURISM AUTHORITY

T o d a
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2003
VOLUME 53 NUMBER 1
FEATURES
Oklahoman of the Year 27
It was a once-in-a-lifetimeproject and the ultimate
finishing touch for the stater's most important public
.Oklahoma Toda salutes the creators of the
CbuapilidtoinDsome, forty Pe op e who represent the thou-
sands who brought t e proiect to fruition.
PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHNJERNIGAN
Away From It All 32
In Ramona, a yellow house atop a hill entices with deluxe
cabins and suites, gourmet meals, and the all-important
personal touch. Welcome to Oklahoma's only four-star-
rated facility, The Inn at Jarrett Farm.
BY STEFFIE CORCORAN
Kidnapped! 36
1933. The event, the dramatic kidnapping
Charles Urschel from his Oklahoma City
home. Amgng the perpetrators, notoriousgangster couple
"Machine Gun" Kelly and his diabolical wife, Kathryn.
1
BY KENT FRATES
I
Was That a Drip? 42
One writer recounts thirteen unforgettabledays without
power during the Great Ice Storm of 2000.
BY MAURA MCDERMOll
The BestThings in Life r 44
get more than you pa for. To launch the
rand--and economica -fashion, a list of
free activities to do across Oklahoma.
BY STEFFIE CORCORANAND NICOLE EMMONS
D E P A R T M E N T S
Contributors
Editor's letter Sacred Gifts
Feedback Samuel Combs Ill,Kathy Brod
Marketplace Company Perks: Oklahoma Coffees
Calendar
The Range Zaha Hadid, Titanic at Omniplex
Getaway Guide Winter Retreats
Events Guide Tulsa Boat and Travel Show
The End Good Eats at Oklahoma Cafes and Diners
This pawCouItcsy B.C. ClarkJewelers. Cover photo-
graphof the Talimena Scenic Bywayby BillTiiey.
CONTENTS I
O K L A H O M A
CONTRIBUTORS
Official Magazine of the T o d a y
State of Oklahoma
F
Since 1756
FRANK KEATING, Governor
"I generallytry to keep it stress-free," BRAD HENRY, Governor-elpct
says contributing editor John Jemigan,
who spent about two days mentally pre-
-paring- for the "~klahomanof the Year"
photo shoot (page 27). Still, positioning
forty people proved its own mental task,
he says. "Even though we scouted the JOAN HENDERSON
Rlblirher
location a week before and I knewhow
LOUISA MCCUNE
many people we were expecting, I was Editor in Chief
surprised at what that number a d y
STEVEN WALKER, WALKER CREATIVE, INC.
looked like. My biggest challenge was Arz Direnor
to make sure the group didn't look likea STEFFIE CORCORAN, Senior Editor

marching band." Jernigan, who lives in ANDREA LOPEZ WALKER, hociate Editor

AUDI TOMEK, Designer

Oklahoma City, has spent twenty-five BROOKE DEMETZ, HEATHER HARKINS,

--, and RYAN MARIE MENDENHALL, Editorial hirjtana

years as a professional photographer. -r EVELYN KIX)PP, Editorial Intern

"Mtold, I was flattered and honored
to document this historic moment RLWARD BIIGERS,HEILAHBRIGHT,

"
g
ADAV BUCKLEY COHEN, KELLY CROW, BRUCE FAGLE,

in time," he says. "Something of this
IOHN ELK 111. IOEL EVERETT. CORDON GRICE.

magnitudecan be mentally draining.
TOMLUKER, MA~~~AMCDERMOJT.DT. ,MERRYWEATHER,
saGrday night, after the photo shoot, I MICHAELWALLIS, &MARY LOGAN WOLF
was in bed at 8 p.m."
MIKE HARVEY, Cidtiona ndMarkctng Diremi
COLLEEN MCINTYRE, Rodurnon Managm
KIM RYAN, AduertisingAccount ~ t i u e
SAND1 WELCH, AddngG mphic Artist
Contributinge ditor MawM cDennottof LISABRECKENRU)GE,Accountant

Checotahwas in the eye of the 2000 ice storm, the KATHYFUGATE, Ojice Manage

TAMMY CONAUGHT, Cunomm Service Speciaht

subject ofher essay, "WasThat a Drip?" (page 42).
Tourismand hation

D w h e rt hirteen-day-long ordeal, she says, "I JANEJAYROE,Eremtiue Director

spent quite a bit of time copyeditingm y book [The
Tourismand Remation Commission

Npxt &en Ra,oIution,coauthored with Jim Horne] LT. GOV. MARY FALLIN, Chair

ROBYN BATSON, STAN CLARK, JOE HARWOOD,

next to a bright window." Her first cover story
BOYD LEE, JOE MARTIN, JANIS RICKS, HAL SMITH,

for Okhbom Ehy,'%Thinking Man's Farm" &SIDNEY SMITH

(August 1992),p rofiled the Kerr Center, the Poteau
nonprofit where she is now communications
director. When not writing, she enjoys gardening,
dblabmM Todayawards indude:
2002 IRMAGold for Besr Profile;

2002 IRMA Brow Awards for Bat Department,

Best Spnial Focus, and Best OverallArt Dim;

Sierra Club2001 Consetvation Journalism Award;

Three Dallas Press Club 2001 Fist PnzeHonors;

IRMAMagavne oftheyear, 1991,1993,1994,1996;

1999 Folio Editorial EKceUence Award; 1998 WdburAward

Frates had compelling inspiration (ISSN 0030-1892) is published six times a
OAL"h""T% arch Ma uly Se tember, and November
for his story, "Kidnapped!" (page r,ear~?S!?bklaho~a, 8dahdrnaeTourism and Recreauon
36). His uncle, ~h&les~ rschei, 80ge7 a3r1tm02en. tP, O1S5T NM. ARSoTbEinRs:o nS,e nSdu iatded r1e0s0s ,c Ohaknl aehso tmo aO Ckihty-,
was Machine Gun Kelly's victim. born ~oriayCirculation, P.O. BOX 53384, ~ d ~ o Clm?i 8a
OK 73152. Oklahoma City Advertising Sales Office,
Says Frates, "Writing the article Box 53384, Oklahoma Ciy, OK 73152, [phone] or
was a labor of love motivated U(8S00.;) $77277-1.7993p. ySeuarb socurtispdl~i o&n .d ceUs:S $.1c7o.p9y5ri $pte r Oye a2r0 i0n3 tbhye
in part by the fact that so much Reproduction in whole or In part without
.tbited. Okhboma Todny is not responsible
misinformation had been written or the care andlor return of unsolicited manuscri ts, artwork,
photpgraphy, books, or any ?+er material submitte!for possible
about the case," includin-g ficti- publlcatron. Never send orlgmal photogra hy, manuscripts, or
artwork 1n no event shall submission of suJunsolicited material
tious accounts of Urschel playing
subjecr 0hit.hT~+ to any daim for holdiif~ee s or other
cards with Kelly in jail. Frates, a similar charges. Payment is u on publication. Visit (lUdoma j
published poet and writer, edits 1 Today on the Internet at ok%omatoday.com. I
and publishes Common Sense, a i
literary journal, and Sports Source.
.
I OKLAHOMATODAY JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2003

"Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only
by night."-Edgar Allan Poe
T
HE CREATIVE PROCESS IS NOT AN EASY ONE.
Although the greatestprogressions in human historyare due hoste xclusively tothe
creative mind-the artist, the explorer, the scientist-that talent and initiative does not come
without price. Cnzuing the momentous and, asmore often happens,the not-so-amodmary
canbe pamfuy7alienating. To riskappearancesforart or the adid lifkis rarely in a
world thatvalues homogeneity At times, society esteemsindividuals only for their market
value(goodbody goodlooks,goodincome-think ?%eBacheh),a nd the creator who
dodts ay or makethe nght thingisquickto be eschewed,aneasy target.
What creative individuals requireissupport.As an editor, Iseethatcrucialneed repeat*.
Sometimesall that's requiredis encouragement, agreen Wt,a belief by another that the taskis
surmountable, not onlywith competence but flair.
I first met Jeanne Hoffman Smith, an Oklahoma City clinicalsocial worker, a few
years ago at Oklahoma Symposium. Patterned afier the national Renaissance Weekend,
Symposium is organized by a handfid of bright Oklahomans and features panels on all
subjects, from the conflict in the Middle East to "things I've learned about love." There,
Ho&nan Smith and I spoke about her plans to endow something "creative." An inheri-
tance from her mother, GraceThatcher, had left her with some money, and, at the time,
she was studying how best to use the resources.
The Thatcher Hoffman Smith Prize, awarded for the first time in April 2003, is but
one result ofher research, generosity, and lifelong support of the creative process. Similar
to the MacArthur Fellowship (often called the "MacArthur genius grant"), the biennial
prize is a "no strings attached" grant of $40,000, and, to my knowledge, the only prize of
its kind oriiating in Oklahoma. Lithe Machhur grant, the money canbe used in
any way the recipient sees fit, no questions asked. Unlike the MacArthur fellowship, the
nomination process is open: Individuals may nominate others or themselves.
The application process is simple but requires that a creative project
already be under way:Aone-page abstract detailing the project, an essay,
and a nomination form. All applications are due on January 15,2003.
(For more details, go to creativityinmotion.org or call OU's College of
J Arts &Sciences at 40513252347.)

The mark of a higher power is most evident to me when Iwatch

creative people at work. When a benefactor sees to it that creativity is
BEHINDTHE SCENES: 11-16-02
Prom fop, phot0smph.r JohnJemiganatthe nurtured financiallya nd emotionally, another gdtemerges-the gdtof freedom.
'Cmatorsofthe Dome8photoshoot; Jernigan
sets up hiI-on: &honna ~odayas& A
NEWYEAR BRINGS AN EXCITING NEW TRADITION TO OKLAHOMA TODAY;
ateeditorAndrea LopezWalker and diiri n
$

chief leuhaMdumlookatatest shot with We'm rep* our annualyearbook, the Year in Review,with a funtravel guide. De-
Jsmisan;Wnce Oill,atthe%ateCapitolfor a livered to subscribers with the first issue
momiw-Ire* phoro *- travelers. Thisyear, it's the Okkzboma TothyGuideto G+s andDiners.Next year, we'll cover
Hiswife, Amy G*rant, intho background, took
pha)ographsof Sta(r,Capao[.Fdand kvoritebed an4b&, hotels, and
Cathy Keating share a laugh keforetheshoot. aswe enjoyed putting it together for you.
.
To day.com
1
OKLAHOMATODAY JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2003

"I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids-and 1 miqht even be
said to possess a mind."-Ralph Ellison
First-Class
The NovemtrerlDecember 2002issue of
Okluboma Torkayis an exceptional publica-
tion. From the artides and artwork to pho-
tography hyd production, it's a first-class
magazine that insoires as wellas informs.
6nt he eveof &p~&umousin ducrion tin,Texas, area. My mother and I ofien get
into the Oklahoma W&wHall ofFame, into the "who's got what" debate between 2002 issue. However, I do have a problem
the piece on Ralph Ellimn's acclaimed Oklahoma and Texas. Okkahoma Today with this. As a born and bredSooner, I was
novel Irpvisi6kiCf;anwas of particular inter- provides me with terrific ammunition. For led to believe that our capitol was dome-
est to my wife and me. a Chrisunas present, it seemed only fitting less by design. My mother used to say with
On a pr&iod level, the spread on the that I~has~ptionwshemseethepr ide that OH&osna was unique in that we
history of our StateCapitol buildmg and the wonderfulthingsOklahomahasto &err are the only state capitol without a dome.
dome that now crowns it mademe proud to Thankyou for the o u t m njo~b every- Although I have not lived in Oklahoma
be &ted with one oftheinstitutions that onedoesat your magazine. for ova twenty-five years, my roots still go
helped bring the plan to d t yO klahoma5 Patrick Gaines Sr. back to LeFlore County. I guess I am glad
centennial celebmion israpidly appro* OKLAHOMA rn that we are not so unique anymore.
and there is no better time than rheppnt MwnlclinMan Curtis N.Floyd
to instillpride in all of our citizens, through Rdcently a friend of mine loaned me the HOUSTON,TEXAS
shared knwledge of tlG state's rich history JulylAugust 2002 issue of your magazine, -*
andofthepromis'~futuretbtfiesahead andI founditquite interesting. I would like byaJ
Samd Cornba Ill to wmment on-thea rticle "Risen From the Al&o@ I amgrateful for any mention
President and COO Ashes" about the QwaMountain Resort afone of my favorite authors, RAM erty,
Oklahoma Nafural Gas Arts and Conference Center, which I think I take exception to Chad Love's assertion
C OKLAHOMA CITY was well written and very informative. On that Lafferty is an unknown rout of His
a return trip from New Mexiw about four Time," NovemberIDecember 2002). I do
years ago, we stopped by and decided to agree that his historical novel, Okh Han-
,DOBI
3- 2002, Oklahoma return at a later date. Now that the resort is p~&Iiis, brilliatit,
completed and open, this will certainly be I was fortunate enough to know Ray.
a must in the near future. One of my favorite stories he told about
ndonalRegtonal Mujp The murals and the naming of the can- his i&y after publishing this fictional
rEneAssociationcdemmce
hence rooms c o n bt hat our society is historywas as follows: *My ultimate praise
not only accepting but also vying to pre- came fiom the many late night phone calls
serve the pre-Columbian cultures which I received from a local bar, enlisting my
flourished here. I thinkit is great that we help in settling disputes. They presumed
are preserving the history of American I would know the correct history since I
Indians and other cultures around the was andhad as0huented that
Red River Rival world. The resort looks likea great place to establishment." I took his word for this and
Thank you, Okhh~maT oday. for your visit, and we plan on doing so in the near many other things because he was such a
wnderfulartides, piaura, and ins& into future. great storyteller.
our great srate. Not only are rhe articlesin- Keith Simmons If you are one of the f~ who have not
formative, they arewritten in a manner that APACHE yet discovered the wealth of fiction by R.
excites one to the point that you want to sit A. Merty,hop everything and read one
down andsmrr planningyour summervaca- Oome on the Range of his stories today.
tionsbefbreSeptemberis even over. Thanks for the great pictures of the Dixie Belcher
My parents and sisters alllive in theAus- Capitol Dome in theNwemberIDecember SAWLPA
.
I OKLAHOMATODAY JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2003