The Okmulgeean (Okmulgee, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 3, Ed. 1 Tuesday, March 23, 1954 Page: 1 of 4
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ABOUT OKMULOE8 A1 D OKMULOEEANS: —
V
stuff and
V
things
BY DALE O ASTON
This is the big dpy
Hopeful candidates for city council will either inarch
aodly to the county secretary of the election board and
put their John Henry on the dotted line or sit back seeth-
ing with anticipation wonderng who may file from their
ward '
The list of those who may wish to take over the helm
r our city givernment is growing ever large But lets
vait Save your judgment until the last
You and I as Mr Voter of Okmulgee should enjoy
his election very much '
In so much as this is the first election of its kind in Ok-
nulgee we wonder what kind of “promises' candidates
f this sort can and will make
Just for the fun of it we will keep a list of them
All we're asking for is the world with a ribbon around
t And you know someone might make us a tentative
if ft
i '
Our congratulations must go to the members of the
'arm Bureau and their officials
This week the Bureau Federation met with a congress-
onal committee and informed them that the farm mem
ters of this group definitely feels that price supports is
lot the only answer to their salvation
The officials pointed out that the marketing the sell-
ng of their product is the main answer
At least this segment of our farm population has come
9 the conclusion that government is not any longer spel-
sd "give-rnment”
We've always suspected that our farm population
rere a pretty smart lot and now we’re convinced of it
The realization of this group that they wfmt to help
hemselves rather than be wards of the government is an
ncouraging sign of our times
The farmer definitely needs protection from the farm
iroduce buyers because they delight in breaking season-
ble markets but the knowledge that the farmers wants
o take the responsibility in this effort is a definite step
n the right direction
Gradually we’re pulling our boots out of the experi-
ment in Socialized government
-
Are you interested in our public schools?
No doubt you are and here are some figures on school
inarming released by Superintendent James R Frazier
hat everyone should know
Our schools receive income from three principal sour-
es: local state and state-federal
The current total budget of about $399000 nearly 50
ercent is derived from local sources
Ad valorem tax in the amount of 20 mills this year
irovides about $176742 or 44 percent of the total bud
et with other funds such as county apportionment in
angible tax and surplus providing the remaining $26-
'51 of the total $203493 from local sources
From state sources we receive about 48 percent or
i 911 89 which includes state aid of $123143 and the
nuch discussed auto license and farm truck revenue in
he amount of $55488
The state-federal funds received by our local schools
re for our cooperative Vocational instruction programs
rhich amounts to $4475
Does this sound like a lot of money? 'Then consider
he fact that women spend several million dollars more
ach year for cosmetics than we spend for public educat-
Dn in the nation
We might add that we like pretty women too but we
ike them better when their eyes gleam with a little more
han love and adoration
It's with a great deal of humility that we extend our
nost sincere thanks to Okmulgee city officials in follow-
ng our recommendation to honor W E Wood by nam-
ng the urban by-pass Wood Drive"
- An act of this kind is long overdue by the city to rec-
gnize this man
We feel fortunate to live in a city in which the officials
an take time out to honor one of its citizens
Incidently it would take a book with as many pages
is the novel “Gone With The Wind’t® describe the
nany good things Mr Wood has done for this city and
ounty in past years
THREE LITTLE REMINDERS: ' Be sure to vote in
he school levy election Tuesday — go register before
darch 31— -and say something good about Okmulgee
oday iand maybe someone will say something nice about
rou tomorrow
VOLUME I
OKMULGEE HONORS MR W E
NAMES STREET HERE “WOOD
Gtizens To Start
CctructionWcrk
On New Bank
Work To Gist
About $150000
With the arrival this week of
Charles Stone Jr superintendent
(or the Bank Building and Equip-
ment Corporation of America In-
itial work will be started on the
Citizen's National Bank's expan-
sion and general remodeling pro-
gram According to Mr McElroy pre-
sident of the Bank the St Louis
concern will handle all phases of
the project calling (or a total
estimated expenditure of from
130000 to $150000
Contractors estimate the project
will take about six months to
complete
The Bank will take In the add-
itional building formerly occupied
by Kraker'e store thus doubling
floor space heretofore available
for banking purposes The entire
exterior of the building will be
resurfaced with a combination
of brick stucco and granite mat-
erials Bank signs affixed will
be of non-coroslve metals stain-
less ateel or aluminum
The Bank entrance will be re-
located and will be from Sixth
Street rather than at corner of
the building as at present and
will open Into a central public
lobby In the new enlarged banking
quarters
Completely new fixtures will be
of dark mahogany open type and
slanted from ledge to floor Of-
ficers quarters will be located on
either side of the central lobby
A color scheme of soft greens
grays and brown will carry
through on walls ceilings and
drapes to convey a desired warm
and friendly atmosphere
Among features designed to ap-
peal to and better serve custom-
ers and please the bank’s own
loyal and efficient staff are:
One “Drive-In” banking facili-
ties by which customers cau
drive their own automobile Into
banking quarters from Main
Street drive up to the “Auto
Teller’s Window” and make a
deposit or cash a check without
ever leaving the drivers seat
Two Adjacent to the vestibule
at the bank's main entrance and
accessible fiom either bank lobby
or the vestibule will be a nicely
appointed Director's Room and
conrultation room which will be
made available also to any small
civic group or oiganization for
committee or discussion meetings
Three A music system featur-
ing semi-olasslcal instrumental
selections at regular intervals
will provide a restful and pleasant
atmosphere for employees and we
think will be appi eclated by cus-
tomer of the bank as well
I-OUR Thinking of convenience
and comfort for women employees
particularly a mezzanine lounge
facility will be built lncorpoiat-
ing built-in sink units refrgera-
tor coffee maker etc with near-
by powder room
This community has always
given our Bank a nice volume of
business — we have grown and
prospered — and we think it Is
fitting and proper that we make
a sizeable further Investment to
give better and more complete
banking service to Okmulgee and
this trade territory Mr McElroy
said
Morris Women
Continue Work
On Park Project
’ The citizens of Morris have tak-
en notice of the efforts being mads
to clean up and beautify their
City Park
Several have complimented the
members ef the Home Demonstr-
ation Club on the progress made
so far
Members of the Club spent
Thursday afternoon cutting brush
and hauling of trash that has
cluttered up the premises for s
long time
The City of Morris sent some
of Its equipment to pull out the
dead trees and fill In the holes
made by removing dead trees and
shrubbery
This Is only the beginning home
demonstration women said An-
other afternoon will be spent soon
to romplete the clean-up process
before so jr planting will be dons
THE OKMULOEEAN
Social Security Agents
Gives New Schedule
The representative of the Soc-
ial Security Administration of
Muskogee has anounced a new
schedule for office hours here In
Okmulgee during April May and
June - i
The representative will be In
his office each morlnlng beginn-
ing at 10 a m In Room 223 Post
Office Building on these dates:
April 6 13 20 and 27: May 4 11
18 25 and June 1 8 15 22 and
29
This representative ’ handles
matters pertaining to the Old-age
and Survlrors Insurance provlsl-
lons of the Social Security Act
Citizens To Vote
On School Levy
Oet out and vote today V
The annual school levy election
for 15 mills is being conducted by
the Okmulgee schools
The mills will be used to finan-
ce the school during the fiscal
year of 1954-55
Voting places for the election
will be Ward 1 McKinley school
Ward 2 Wilson school: Ward 3
Franklin school and Ward 4
Horace Mann School
Polls open at a jn and close
at 8 a m and close at 7 p m
Persons eligible to vote in the
election are those who are 21
years of age lived In the district
30 days in the county six months
and In the state one year
fr
Teen Town To Select
1954 Kings & Queens
Plans were made for the elec-
tion and crowning of the King
and Queen at the- Teen Town
Council meeting Monday night at
the home of David Rowden ac-
cording to Mrs Hettl Miller spon
sor
The 7th 8th and 9th grades
will chose their king and queen
from the 9th grade on April 3 and
9 and the senior group will chose
their king and queen on April 23
and 30 They will be crowned at
the dance following the Junior
and Senior banquet one at Teen
Town and one at the Country
club
There will be no activities at
Teen Town during Holy Week
H D Group Plans
Cemetery Clean-up
The Prairie Bell Home Demon-
stration Club will sponsor a clean
up project at the Cussetah Ceme-
tery southeast of Okmulgee next
Saturday March 27
All persons having unmarked
graves In this cemeterv are asked
to notify Mrs Pete Dillsaver so
that markers may be placed and
the plots cleaned
Those taking part In the clean
up may bring sack lunches and
coffee will be served by the mem-
bers of the club
Grade Pupils Plan
Two Operettas
Opperetta dates for Emerson
school and Franklin school have
been announced by the principals
of those schools
On April 2 Emerson school will
present “Around the World In
Song” under the direction of Mrs
Dan Keenan Miss Flora Christ-
ian principal stated today
- “Sleepy Head” Is the title of the
Franklin school operetta accord-
ing to Miss Adolphlne Relchel
principal
Miss Bertha Haggard and Mrs
Mydtle Wilson are directing the
operetta and it will be presented
on April 19
Funeral services for Emma La
ura 8porleder 80 of 908 South
Alabama who died suddenly Sat-
urday afternoon March 20 of a
heart attack were held Monday
March 22 at 10 a m at the First
Baptist Church Mrs Sporleder
was a member of the First Bap-
tist Church Dr E L Watson of
Shawnee formerly pastor here
officiated Burial was In Wichita
Kansas
Funeral services for Sarah Eli-
sabeth Steele 80 1108 South Taft
who died March 21 at 12:15 a m
will be held Tuesday at 2 p m In
the Buchanan Chapel Mrs 8teele
was a member of the Foursquare
Dos pel Church Interment will be
at the Begga cemetery
OKMULGEE OKLAHOMA
Okmulgee has a new street
And that la Wood Drive
City Commisslaners unanimous-
ly passed an ordinance here Mon-
day might renaming the streets
comprising the route of the U8
Highway 75 through the city
The street was named Wood
Drive In honor of W E Wood
former Okmulgee Mayor and lead-
er of the fight to secure the ado-
ption of the project
The streets renamed are the
portions of Choctaw Avenue and
Chickasaw Avenue which are In-
cluded In the routing project
The ordinance said In part:
"WHEREAS the Highway Com-
mission of the State of Oklahoma
and the Federal Roads Admin-
istration In conjunction with the
City of Okmulgee has heretofore
established an Urban Project for
the purpose of rerouting U S
Highway 75 through the City of
Okmulgee said route has been
selected and the right of way ac-
quired and the Highway Com-
mission Is now engaged In the
construction of a four lane High-
way over said route and
WHEREA8 W E Wood a cit-
izen of the City of Okmulgee has
led the fight to secure the adopt-
ion of said project and has given
unstintlngly of his time and mon-
ey and the Board of Commission-
ers of the City of Okmulgee deems
It altogether fitting and proper
at this time to give said limited
Access Facility an appropriate
name
NOW THEREFORE be it or-
dained by the Board of Clmmiaa-
ionera of the City of Okmulgee
the above described
hereby be designated Wood Drive
Mayor Bob Rowe stated that
the commissioners felt that Mr
Wood’s untiring efforts In this
project and other road projects
for over a span of more than 25
years more than warrants hls
recognition
“I have personally worked With
a number of people during the
past several years on various civic
projects but Mr Wood’s untir-
ing sincere and selfless attitude
In working for qlvic betterment
Is the most outstanding I've ever
seen” Mayor Rowe stated
Besides being a former Mayor
of Okmulgee and a leader in this
urban road project Mr Wood has
' '
A A
1 V
I t f
- J
S -
0
n
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT above la eae of S5 scenes la this year’s Wichita Moon tains Easter
jevtoeTh Ffwit lekmKWl aa Interdenominational will ho held from 2-5 sja Easter morning
4
Final rehearsals are underway
in the Wichita mountains near
Lawton for the 29th annual pres-
entation of the Easter service to
be held from 2-3 am April 18
The service open to all persons
regardless of race creed or color
wul depict the nativity ministry
and passion of Jesus Jack Batten
executive director of the pageant
said theme of the service this year
will be “Go and do thou likewise ’’
Luke 10:37 Special emphasis will
be placed upon the actions and
tsachlngs of Jesus In relation to
ether persons y
Several newer scents will be
TUESDAY MARCH 33 1954
Schools To Start
Annual Census Work
In preparation for the school
census beginning April 1 preli-
minary census blanks have been
sent to the city schools to be fil-
led out by the oldest child In the
family going to school according
to word received frm the Office
of the Superintendent of Schools
Negro Chamber
To Sponsor
Tbinclad Tourney
A double header basketball show
sponsored by the Negro Chamber
of Commerce is being planned for
Friday night March 26 in the
Dunbar High School gymnasium
acordlng to O E “Pappy” Earnest
The first game v 111 start at 7 30
p m with the Okmulgee Negro
Chamber of Commerce team play-
ing the Morris Chiefs
At 830 p m the feature game
will bring to Okmulgee for the
first time Oklahoma’s own Negro
professional team made up of a
group of all stara and one All-
American Known as the Okla-
homa Leopards this team atars
the Cudjoe Twins formerly with
the Harlem Globetrotters
They are a colorful group states
“Pappy Earnest” their booking
sgent for Eastern Oklahoma and
the fans are promised a real treat
The Oklahoma Leopards will
tangle with the Bennett Oilers
No 1 team In Okmulgee County
In the feature game of the even-
ing Admission prices will be 25 and
50 cents Refereeing will be Jr
Lynn and Kenneth Buckley' of
Beggs
served as an official and has been
a member of the U S Highway
75 Association since it was started
The ordinance made the change
in name effective immediately and
ordered it hat all maps and plats
of the city be changed according-
ly f
in jj-
:V i ' -
' T
11 Jt -V
W"
given by (roups from Altus Blnger
Meert Duncan and Wichita Falls
Texas Batten said Individuals
from ee far away as Hanover Pa
will participate in the program
The musio service will begin st
11 p m and end Just before 2 am
Speaking parts and music will be
broadcast through loudspeakers
from a modern control room In
which the reading cast assemble
The acting cast more than 1000
men women and children panto-
mime the action Darkness is the
curtain of the pageant and scenes
are illuminated oy giant spotlights
Admission Is free since the serv
v
A
NO S
WOOD
DRIVE”
Rotarians Hear
Success Story
Of Handicapped
Armless Man
Demonstrates Feats
The Rotary Club was privileged
to see and hear an unusual suc-
cess story Thursday at their noon
meeting when Mr Jerry Leavy
San Jose California was guest
speaker
Mr Leavy Is an amputee haw-
ing lost both arms In an accident
st age of 15 He Is now 2T year
old and has finished high school
gone to night school and la now
sales manager for Dorrance-Hoa-mef
Corporation manufacturers
of artificial limbs He is married
and has two children Mr Leavy
is on tour now for his company
and drives his own station agon
and pulls a trailer
Mr Leavy was wearing his arti-
ficial limbs and using hooks Ha
demonstrated the doing of simple
everyday taaks so easy for the or-
dinary peison and so difficult for
the amputee Things like button-
ing and unbuttoning his shirt
tying his tie and eating lunch
were accomplished by Mr Leavy
with poise and ease but he re-
vealed it took him many month
to learn to do each small task
Dr John W Dayton Rotarian
of the day was responsible far
bringing Mr Leavy to Okmulgee
Mr Leavy also gave his demonstr-
ation before the patients at the
Rehab Center
Sgt Miller Gets
tyevr Army Duty
CAMP POLK LA — - Army Ser-
geant First Class Richard Miller
son of Mrs Mary Miller route I
Okmulgee wll move to the Fort
Bragg N C maneuver area nest
month with the 37th Infantry Div-
ision for Exercise Flash Burn
Miller Is a motor sergeant with
Battery C of the 135th Field Ar-
tillery Battalion stationed at
Camp Polk La His wife Haael
lives on Route 2 Mansfield La
V‘’ "
’ Vl
V - lift
8
f 'a " v T ri
I y v !
yh-i'
f
ice Is supported by voluntary of-
ferings The pageant first was presented
In 1926 under the supervision of
Rev A M WtUock By 1935 the
crowds had become so large that
the service was moved to Mount
Roosevelt and the audience watched
from a huge natural amphitheater
The Holy City was built of na-
tive granite stone in 1936 with the
help of the federal government
Since then the site has become a
national shrine with an attendance
of more than 300000 persons an-
nually representing every state and
many foreign countries
f
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Gaston, Dale L. The Okmulgeean (Okmulgee, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 3, Ed. 1 Tuesday, March 23, 1954, newspaper, March 23, 1954; Okmulgee, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc2336379/m1/1/?q=%22%22~1: accessed August 15, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.