July 7, 2021 Issue, Page 2 of 8

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2 July 7, 2021 News get my buddy’s camera, so it play all the softball I wanted. his employer a game sponsor- Round Notebook was no harm, no foul. Then I took off for The City and went to my aunt and uncle’s He and his wife took me in as one of their own and helped me find a place,” Wilson said. ship for letting him off to call the games. “And that’s how I came to Town Continued from page 1. equipment and gas to White Rose Formal. “After a couple of days, I was going stir-crazy in that house. I didn’t know, but the bank had contacted them and said they were going to press Little did he know that move would be the one that would solidify his life in Elk be the ‘Voice of Elk City’ for all those years. I went full-time whoever was having the event room and went with my buddy charges on me if it wasn’t paid. City. a few years later and contin- — like say if the Shriners were to location. There was a guy So, they had paid my debt. My “I met my sweet little wife July 2 ued after Blake Brewer had there or something that like,” there with NL McCullough, uncle told me that it wasn’t Gina out there at the fields,” Wilson said. which was a wireline company it. I have told my kids to find Block Party Elk City- about the money, but if I ever he recalled. “She was beautiful, While he had attended the in Elk City, Oklahoma. He said left my aunt worrying like that and she could turn a double something they love and then Downtown Elk City University of Missouri, he had if I would come out to Elk City again that he would stomp a play. She was the organizer someone to pay them to do it. joined a fraternity. Though that I had a job. The next day I mudhole in my behind. I got that I needed in my life. What That’s what I have gotten all Wilson had not enrolled at the did just that,” he said. them paid back and came back else could you ask for.” these years in this work,” he University of Oklahoma, ever It was March of 1981. to Elk City for another month His career then took him the social butterfly, he prompt- “I got here, and I had about said. July 4 of work,” he said. back to the oilfield in mul- ly befriended members of the 18 cents and a quarter tank of Like almost every step in tiple capacities. To be more The Wilson’s three children Annual Firework Dis- same fraternity at Norman. gas. I went down to the shop, — Elizabeth, McKenna and Wilson’s life, each new move involved in civic activities, he play, Ackley Park “This was my first real but the guy who did the hiring seemed to propel him toward joined the Jaycees. Levi — are now grown. Their job. I mean, I had worked my wasn’t going to be there until his destiny. “We put on a haunted two daughters have returned whole life on the dairy, but the next day. I had two things “One day, this guy I worked house every year. I walked to their hometown to teach we didn’t get a paycheck and of value with me — a shotgun with came out to location in a down there with my oldest have to budget the money and my friend’s Nikon camera in the Elk City Public Schools. July 24 softball uniform. That’s when daughter, who was two at the out. We would just go to Dad, and a lens. I went down to I learned that they played a lot time. There was a man named They share four grandchildren Sizzlin’ Summer Side- and he would dole it out as a pawn shop. I think it was of adult softball out at Burson Jack Palmore outside doing a whom Wilson says are the joys needed, so I didn’t really have called Chick’s. He gave me Field. That Saturday, I got remote radio show for KADS. of their lives. walk Sale - Retail District a good concept of how much $100 for it with a 30-day slip out my cleats and my gloves He said, ‘Hey, do you think “This year, Gina asked me trouble you could get into if to come pay the hawk and and went out there. This guy that little girl would talk to you started writing checks that get it back. I went down to what I wanted for Father’s July 31 Pat Wray was sponsoring a me?’ I said that I didn’t see wouldn’t cover. One night we Hardee’s and got some food team. He said if I were any why she wouldn’t. I picked her Day. I said, ‘all our kids and KECO Golf Tourna- had the White Rose Formal, because I was starving. Elk good, the team would vote to up, but she started acting shy. grandkids have food and ment presented by Moran and I wrote about $2,300 City was booming at the time, see if I could be on it. Well, I took the microphone and shelter and transportation. worth of bad checks. I woke up so there wasn’t a room to be the first play out, I turned a said, ‘Elizabeth, say something Our babies are all taken care Equipment, Elk City Golf the next morning and knew had. I slept in the grocery triple play, and he said I could like this.’ Then I did the voice of. What better gift for a Course. I had messed up really badly. store parking lot with that be on the team. I told them inflection that I had modeled A friend of mine from high shotgun on my lap,” Wilson father is there than that?’ that I worked basically 30 off the deejay from Laugh-In, school was working in the laughed. days straight with two off, kind of mimicking him, and When our two girls returned August 1 oilfield and staying at a hotel in Sure enough, he was hired but if the game days fell on a said something like, ‘Come on home after leaving for a little Kingfisher. He told me I could the next day and worked for day that I was off, I would be down to the corner of 12th bit, that felt really good. It let “Over the River and come crash out in his room as nearly a month straight. there,” Wilson explained. and Wolfey.’ It was in that me know that I had picked the Through the Woods” - long as I needed to if he could “On the 29th day, we got As Wilson went back to radio voice. Jack said, ‘Hey, use my car to get back and paid. I had two days off and right place to raise a family. work, Wray spent 17 straight do you like sports?’ I told him Red Carpet Community forth to work. So I packed up headed back to Elk City with Elk City is my favorite place in days coming to his company’s that I loved sports, and he said Theatre. what I had and took off with- a $3,600 check. Of course, I shop looking for him. he was looking for a sports the world. There aren’t better out telling anyone where I was didn’t have a bank account, “He finally caught me there guy and asked me to come sit people anywhere. Every bump going,” Wilson remembered. but United had a sign that and asked what it would take in and call a game with him. It along the way in getting here August 6 Wilson’s plan was to find said they would cash payroll for me to come to work for was in the fall of 1988. After himself a job in the oilfield to checks. They took $10 for was worth it. It was part of the Block party Elk City - him. I said, ‘$10 an hour and a that game, he offered me a quickly pay back the debts he every $100, so I had to pay company truck.’ He said that job,” Wilson said. journey I had to take to lead Downtown Elk City had incurred on his wild night $360 to get it cashed. The first was done. He taught me how Wilson continued to work me to where God knew I was of fast spending during the thing I did was go down and to be an electrician and let me as an oilfield salesman, giving supposed to be.” “Over the River and Sibyl Clark’s face painting, and friends and enjoy this sim- all the good stuff that goes with Through the Woods” - Red Carpet Community Theatre. Dust Bowl Peter Lewis’ Caricatures and Street Art and Olivia Pleasant’s Patriot Cakes. Dancing under the stars to ple time together! From the beginning it was very important to the planning team to ensure that this festi- that! There will be a large do- nor banner at the festival with the names of those generous Slim Pickins Band brings an val would be free to all. Bring- donors who made it possible Continued from page 1. his mechanical bull! Get ready end to our day! However, come ing people together to celebrate for that! Western Equipment, on back Sunday afternoon and our rich heritage of farming to keep this festival free to all. Club will be preparing an SWOSU, Northfork Electric, Oklahoma No Tax share in a very meaningful end and ranching in Oklahoma is Please thank them when you amazing calf fry dinner for fes- OSU Extension, the Washita to our first Dust Bowl Days Fes- the reason for this festival. To see them or do business with tival fans. Battle Center and Knutson Ir- Weekend, Clothing and tival! Many local churches are create an opportunity for all And for all you shoppers, the rigation will all be here staffing them. And from the festival RT 66 Pop-Up Plaza offers a a booth. Shoppers can browse participating, but this event of us, those who still farm and footwear under $100.00 - wide variety of vendors as well through the Trendy Trailer Bou- invites EVERYONE to come out ranch, those who used to but planning team – thanks for be- Retail District as community/business booths tique, Dasa Skelley’s boutique, to the park pavilion for some don’t anymore – and those who ing part of this inaugural Dust to browse through. Plus, Dustin Missie Folsom’s Farm Photog- good, old fashioned fellowship just have this way of life in their with music and a meal. So grab bones – to come together and Bowl Days Farm & Ranch Festi- Ratchford will be here with raphy, Al Syverson’s Rug Ranch, some grub, bring your family share in the love of the land and val! We’ll see you next year! August 7 Oklahoma Weekend, Clothing and No Tax Michael Land Foster footwear under $100.00 - Retail District Memorial Tournament Continued from page 1. Hensley explained. Michael Land was a soph- He was smart, funny and was a Sports Club on Facebook for Kids in Care Resources has omore at Hammon High friend to all. updates. Shirts, hoodies and received support from Beck- School. He was tragically killed Hammon All Sports Club is ham County civic groups in August 8 bracelets will be available for the past. For example, the in a car wreck in February of hosting the Memorial basket- purchase. A concession stand Oklahoma No Tax Sayre Boys Scouts recently do- 2021. His parents are Robert ball tournament in his honor will be open for food and drink nated a large amount of bed- Weekend, Clothing and and Nila Land. His older broth- to raise funds for a scholar- at the tournament. ding. footwear under $100.00 - er, Josh, will be a senior this ship that is set up in his name. If you are unable to play and The group would like to find year at Hammon. His mom is High School boys and high a secondary place to house Retail District would like to make a donation, their materials in Beckham the math teacher at Hammon school girls' divisions are avail- that would be appreciated as County. High School as well. able. There is a possibility of well. Please make checks out “We get a lot of support Michael loved God, his fam- JH divisions as well. The cost from the churches in Clinton, “Over the River and ily, friends and basketball. He is $200 per team and there to Hammon All Sports Club-- but that is who we have net- Through the Woods” - was an exceptional basketball is a 3 game guarantee. To Mike Land Memorial. Again, worked with because we are player who loved to dunk! He register, please call 580-660- all money will go to the schol- from there,” Hensley said. “We Red Carpet Community arship fund. Contact Lynne don’t know as many people in wore #15 for the Hammon 0210 or email hammonall- Theatre. Warriors and he played on nu- [email protected] by July Walker at 580-660-0210 with Beckham, but we would like to branch out and let Beckham merous AAU basketball teams. 10. Please follow Hammon All any questions. County know what we are do- ing. If we could find a place to keep some of this stuff, it could cut down on the wait Send obituaries to time for these willing kinship placements.” The effort is close to both [email protected] (USPS # 173-020) Garcia’s and Hensley’s hearts. 580-225-3000 After all, both have opened their homes to foster children. Is published twice weekly by Beckham County Media, LLC “Our group was named DHS 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644-4736 Partner of the Year in 2017,” she recounted. “They know Periodicals Postage Paid at Elk City, OK 73644 our hearts are in it because we by 9 a.m. Monday for have done it. We often talk to POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644 people who are interested in foster care but are also ner- Wednesday and SUBSCRIPTIONS Josh Umholtz vous. That is an understand- Deliverd by mail: Publisher able concern. These kids need $75/yearly Amy Loynd a home, but there is a lot to by 9 a.m. Thursday $50/six months Business Manager consider. We understand that, so we want to give them all No refunds on subscriptions. Neva Pyatt the support they need. We are Advertising Director here to make the adjustment a for Saturday. [email protected] D’Ann Brasuell little easier when a foster fam- [email protected] Production Manager ily opens their home.” [email protected] For more information, con- Maressa Margerum [email protected] Customer Service Rep tact Kids in Care Resources through their Facebook page.