May 14, 2019 Issue, Page 11 of 13

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& Tuesday, May 14, 2019 Benton looks to her future City and Cemtery Board officials along with contractors attended the ribbon-cutting of the new chapel at Fairlawn Cemtery on Thursday. Shown hereare, from left, Paul Neece, plumbing contactor; David Garrett, masonry contractor; Lee Litterell, city manager; Rod Minor, Cemetery Board member; Rusty Meadows, concrete Reagan Benton, who played tennis at Elk City High contractor; Richard Dugger, Cemetery Board member; Mike Smith, Smith Mechanical; Kurt Kramer, assistant School, is the 2019 ECHS valedictorian. She will superintendent of the cemetery; Gary Stanfield, cemetery superintendent; Chris Whinery, Cemetery Board attend Oklahoma Baptist University. member; Basil Weatherly, past Cemetery Board member; Gary Hoffman, Ace Lumber; Ricky Burch, city inspector; Staff photo by Don Munsch. Scott Boese, Ace Lumber; Shonda Currell, Currell’s Do It Center; and Jerry Hemingway, past Cemetery Board member. Submitted Photo. By Don Munsch Editor New chapel at Fairlawn Cemetery Editor's note: Fifth in a series of stories on area high school valedictorians and salutatorians. By Don Munsch ‘The city paid for the tor of economic and com- of people who want to pay Some friends of Reagan Benton would describe her in Editor chapel, which cost around munity development with the their final respects to loved what one might think is an unexpected way. $200,000, Stanfield said. city of Elk City, in an email. ones,” Mason said. “The new Benton is the valedictorian of Elk City High School’s Anew chapel for indoor ‘The chapel is located on the Mason explained that, for chapel also incorporated class of 2019 and was asked to describe her key to aca- services at Fairlawn Ceme- northwest side of the cem- years, Stanfield and cem- public restrooms which can demic success. tery in Elk City had a ribbon- etery next to the veterans etery board members, along be accessed without going “I study a lot,” she said. “Ihave friends that will tell me cutting on Thursday. memorial. with the support ofthe city into the chapel.” that I'm the dumbest smart person they've ever met, just Several city officials, “Unfortunately, many manager, mayor and city In an interview, Stanfield because I don’t have a lot of common sense and everything contractors and cemetery times graveside services commissioners, have been said he first had an idea of that I've learned I’ve worked really hard and studied really board members attended the were held in the elements working toward and envi- the chapel around a dozen hard and spent long hard hours trying to cram into my ribbon-cutting. The cem- (wind, rain, snow, and mud) sioning a “beautiful indoor years ago. head,” Benton said. “So lots and lots ofstudying, lots of etery is maintained by the and even when a tent was chapel” at the cemetery. “It’s taken us awhile to get turning things in on time, reaching for every bonus point I City of Elk City and overseen provided, conditions were “Together they designed a it to this stage but we finally could get. Just doing everything I could.” by Cemetery Superintendent often not very accommodat- chapel which could accom- Finishing as the top student in her class occurred be- Gary Stanfield. ing,” said Jim Mason, direc- modate various sized groups See Chapel page 2. cause of hard work. “It’s kind of weird,” she said. “I don’t really see myself as someone who is extremely smart or anything. Ijust put ina lot of effort over the years. It’s kind of a cool feeling.” Merritt and Canute graduate She liked her science classes and excelled in those. She See Benton page 2. Stafford to speak Canute High School valedictorian Samantha Bullard speaks at graduation including about her passion of recycling and the environment. Photo submitted by Alison Kincannon. Merritt High School co-valedictorian Ben Mills doesa salute after his valedictory speech Friday night. Staff photo by Don Munsch By Don Munsch and Wil- _ fun, we learned, but most yourself to gain strength — from teachers to family to liam B. Carroll importantly, we developed _ within yourself,” he said. friends - who made gradua- lifelong friendships that will “You have toconquer your _tion day possible. Merritt High School never be forgotten.” desire to get what you crave. “We truly wouldn't be here } co-valedictorian Carson And those memories made _ . . In order to fulfill yourself, _ without all of the support,” : > Rutherford left some words —_are also important, he said. youhave to forget yourself. _she said. polite Sissi of wisdom to his classmates Graduates from 2019Mer- In order to find yourself, you ‘Puckett encouraged class- | ctronaut Thomas P. Stafford will appear ina special in his valedictory speech ritt and Canute high school _have to lose yourself.” mates to find their passion speaking engagement at the Weatherford High Friday night at the Merritt _ id farewell to their schools Selflessness isthe great _in life, abea light in a dark School Performing Arts Center on Sunday. Photos High School gym. Friday night in commence- _est “thing you can do for world and know “they can Submitted. Those words came from ments. yourself,” he said, and he accomplish just as much as the Bible, ina passage about Merritt High School hoped fellow grads woulddo the person sitting right next By Don Munsch believers putting their faith Co-valedictorian Ben Mills _ their best to be as selfless as __to you.” She thanked her Editor in God and not being discour- thanked his teachers for they can. fellow grads and said she is aged, and amovie character, pushinghis limits sothathe _Co-salutatorian Klaudia _— “forever grateful” to all of, Weatherford native Thomas P. Stafford, who flew aboard Ricky Bobby, played by Will could grow. He also thanked Porter talked toherclass- _—them. the Apollo 10 moon orbit mission in 1969, will speak at 2 Ferrell, from the comedy the Merritt administration mates about what achieving The ceremony included p.m. Sunday at the Weatherford High School Performing “Talladega Nights: The Bal- _ and his family, especially his success in their livesshould _a slideshow presentation Arts Center. lad of Ricky Bobby.” mother and father. He also mean. in which pictures of grads He is speaking here as part of the Stafford Air & Space “If you ain't first, you're thanked the graduating class. © “Mychallengetoeachof _ showed them at different Museum’s “An Afternoon with General Thomas P. Staf- last,” Rutherford said, quot- “We've done it, we're you and to myself to is do stages of life, from infant and | ford.” ing Bobby, anutty NASCAR __ finally here in these pad- everything you canto reach —_toddler to now young adult. This will be Stafford’s first public appearance in Weath- driver played by Ferrell. ded chairs, our minds filled _ your full potential,” she said. Also during the ceremony, erford in nearly 10 years, so this will be a rare opportunity Inhis speech, Rutherford __ with mixed emotions about She challenged her fellow the Student of the Day to see Stafford, 88, and hear first-hand accounts of his mis- said grads often measure receiving that diploma,” he graduates to “be the best you awards was presented to sion, according to a release from the museum. their experiences in sports said, explaining there is both canbe,” and thatasthey go Puckett and Mills. Stafford flew on the Apollo mission just before the one competitions and other joy and sadness in moving _their separate ways, they Merritt seniors milled ~Apollo 11 - that first landed men on the moon on July 20, events as the school year on. Mills sprinkled philo- should know the Merritt around the gym floor near 1969. Admission to the event is $20 for adults and $10 for rolledon, but one aspect of _sophical ideas inhis speech. community will always be students [12 and under] with all proceeds going to the mu- high school stands out. “You have to give to behind them. seum’s Legacy Campaign for the new 20,000-square-foot “Our time has not been receive, you've got to sur- Co-salutatorian Brooke See Merritt and Canute expansion, according to the museum website. wasted,” he said.“Wehad render tosomething outside Puckettthankedeveryone page3. For more information, access staffordmuseum.org. IHL Ml Mtl INN Weather ie [A 8 Vol. 117,No.39 Home delivery View online ‘ sores aot » tomorrow < 75 cents,10 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com