November 5, 2022 Issue, Page 1 of 12

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yy Serving a ,v Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Weekend Edition James Williams Given The Melvin Jones Award Gheictmas Basket Begins Fund Drive ‘The Elk City Christmas Basket, sponsored by the Elk City Ministerial Alliance has begun it’s Christmas Basket fund rais- MW ji ing drive for the 2022 Christmas season. This program was begun in the mid 1930's during the Great Depression by Paul Ne an Wade the late editor of the Elk City Daily News and continued by his son, the late Larry Wade. It has continuously provid- By Sheryl Ponce his daughter Jennifer Hagerman repre- ed food items for approximately 85 years to people in need at sented MPLX Local Giving Committee in Christmas time. ‘This is possible thanks to the generosity of ‘The Elk City Lion’s Club recently hon- presenting the club with a $2000 donation individuals in the Elk City area. ored James Williams with the Melvin to help with their community service. They ‘This past year we had a family in Elk City, who pledged provide donations for deserving organiza- Jones Award for his dedication to the com- to match up to $10,000 in gifts that were given by individuals munity and the organization. The Lions tions in the communities they operate. through local churches for the Christmas Basket Fund. Thank- Clubs worldwide recognize individuals by According to Hagerman, “The Lions fully we were able to match that pledge, replenish our depleted awarding them this award in the name of Club is a very deserving organization that reserve and meet our goal to give holiday cheer to families. Over 650 individuals were provided food for Christmas thanks their founder Melvin Jones. It is the high- serves the community in many capacities, est form of recognition to be given a per- such as the American flag placement, the to your generosity ‘This year we are anticipating additional families and indi- son who embodies the humanitarian ideas rodeo concessions stand, scholarships and viduals in need of Christmas Baskets. To meet this need it is that are consistent with the purpose of Li- more! rounding areas. They have the eyeglass anticipated that $8000 or more will be needed to provide the ons Clubs. ‘The Elk City Lion’s Club was started in program, they give scholarships, and sup- necessities for a good Christmas meal. We are once again ask- During the meeting honoring Williams, 1948, and they serve Elk City and the sur- port other charities. See Basket page 2. WOHS Hall of Fame WOHS Hall of Fame WOHS Hall of Fame Inductee Shawn Wilson Inductee Dale Tracy Inductee Cindy Wood By Sheryl Ponce By Sheryl Ponce By Sheryl Ponce A native of Harrisonville, Missouri, Shawn Wilson came to Roger Mills County historian, Dale Tracy, will be inducted Cynthia Jo Alvarez Wood is the widow of Robert Wood, Elk City after attending the University of Missouri in Colum- into the Western Oklahoma Historical Society’s Hall of Fame DDS. Together they had one son, Mark who is now married bia. He began a career in the oilfield in 1981, where he worked on Nov. 15th at 6:30 p.m. in the Elk City United Methodist to Beth. Her grandchildren are Dalton and Brooke Wood. She in one area or another. He began announcing sports for KADS Church. He has been instrumental in compiling the “100 Years also has four bonus children Rob, Jr., Melanie, Drew, and An- radio in 1988. It was there that he began being known as, “The Ago” column for the “Cheyenne Star Weekly Newspaper” over drea. Her bonus grandchildren and great grandchildren include Voice of Elk City Sports.” the past 19 years. Justin, Nikki, Christa, Maggie, Ethan, Kelly, Jackson, Con- For 28 years, Wilson has been known for his contribution ‘Tracy was born on the Tracy family homestead, where he nor, Lacy, Kyndi, Warner, Barrett, Fletcher, Arthur, David, and to the town and Elk City sports by announcing games and call- grew up. He graduated from Cheyenne High School in 1959 June. She was born in GlenDale, West Virginia, where she grew ing in reports to Friday Night Finals to the Oklahoma News and Oklahoma City University in 1963. After servingin the US. up before meeting Robert and eventually moving to Elk City. Network. Those reports were heard throughout Oklahoma, Army and US Army Reserves, he returned to the family farm, Wood earned her BA degree from West Virginia Univer- Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri. In 1991 he began an- Red Moon Farms. In 2020 he retired from the farming opera- sity and her Master of Education degree from Southwestern nouncing on the first internet live-feed broadcast of Elk City tion, turning it over to the next generation. Oklahoma State University. She began her teaching career at sports. Through the live feed alumni and soldiers stationed in ‘Ihe history of Roger Mills County has been preserved by Moundsville High School in Moundsville West Virginia, and Iraq were able to listen to the high school football games. Tracy's efforts. He published a Historical Map of Roger Mills continued it at John Marshall High School in GlenDale, West Wilson, along with Sergeant Lieghton Lowell, touched the County in 2019 that included the locations of one room schools, Virginia. lives of area solders stationed in Iraq by starting a campaign cemeteries, post offices, churches, wagon roads, and points of Wood retired from Elk City Public Schools after teaching to send DVD's, game consoles, and food packages to the troops interest. He was also the co-creator of the 2012 Pictorial His- English for 29 years. In her nomination for being considered stationed in Bagdad during the Gulf War. Those efforts were tory Book of Roger Mills County, contributor to a sequel, “Once for the Hall of Fame Award it was written, “As a popular and called Operation Troop Recreation. Every Five Years, and co-editor of the Roger Mills County Ge- loved teacher throughout that time, she has influenced the The Oklahoma Secondary Schools’ Activity Association nealogical Society’s quarterly journal over the past eight years. lives of approximately thirty-five hundred students. She has (OSSAA) awarded Wilson the Media Excellence Award for his taught, spoken and written communication skills, interpreta~ Tracy served on the Cheyenne Public School Board for 30 years of outstanding media coverage in March of 2020. In 1998 years. He is a deacon and Sunday school teacher at the Chey- tion and application of ideas—all essential for successful living Wilson was hired by Paragon Communications to be a full-time enne Baptist Church, and he is an active member of the Chey- in today’s world.” sports director and sales representative. He began co-hosting enne/Arapaho Old Settler's Committee. He has also served as a She was honored by being named as the Teacher of the a show called Exploring Energy in Jan. 2012, a program that mentor in the Cheyenne School's BEAR mentor program. Year for Elk City Public Schools in 1999, Elk City High School continues to be heard worldwide today. Teacher of the year in 1999 and 2005, and John Marshall High Tracy and his wife, Judy, continue to live on their Centenni- Wilson has been involved with the Elk City Public Schools School Teacher of the Year in 1969. Wood was involved in the over the years. He was elected to the school board in 2003, al Farm, Red Moon Farms. They have three sons, 14 grandchil- schools as junior class sponsor for eight years and senior class dren, two great grandchildren, and expecting two more great where he served as president for eight years. He resigned from sponsor for 20 years. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gam- the board in 2012 so his daughters could work for the district grandchildren. Judy Tracy was inducted in the Hall of Fame in ma and Kappa Kappa Iota, both being women educator's orga- 1996. as teachers. nizations. On Nov. 15, at 6:30 p.m. in the Elk City United Methodist He is a member of the First Christian Church in Elk City, As a member of St. Mathews Catholic Church, Wood has Church, he will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame. His con- and he has served as a deacon, elder, and Chairman of the been a Sunday school teacher anda member of Safe and Sacred Church Board ofDirectors. Wilson and his wife, Gina, have also tributions in preserving the western Oklahoma heritage will be Children Learning Program committee, She continues to be an honored at the banquet, with his family and friends supporting See Wilson page 2. him. See Wood page 2. Weather Vol. 120, No. 87 Mail delivery View online ‘ IN ' tomorrow / 45 75 cents, 12 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com