January 25, 2025 Issue, Page 14 of 14

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CHAMBER BANQUET 2025 4B+ SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 2025 The Elk City News pick it up off the hallway PRESIDENT and run to the bedroom me to do. I didn’t want to, but we left, and we moved church in a small com- munity called Geary, OK. our house that survived the tornado in 2017. It was Mitchell spoke to the chamber about his role Continued from page 3B and slam the door and away from the only place He and his family settled here. It’s here in this city as a basketball official, as hope your brother doesn’t that I had ever known and there by building a home. that we deliver Meals on well as a pastor. He and his back to the little town in hang it up. That’s how we called home. We moved to They were not there long, Wheels. It’s here. It’s here wife will be celebrating 35 Texas, which was where he dated eighth and ninth Springfield, Missouri. but Geary was another in Elk City. It’s here in this years of marriage, and his met his future wife. grade. But that wasn’t all of We went to Bible Col- town that they had found, place that we have decided wife has been involved “She had stayed in her it. We got very ingenious,” lege. In 1993 we moved but was not a hometown. this is our hometown. It's in education for 30 years. hometown all of her life. Akins explained. from there and we pas- “In the year 2011, I here in Elk City.” They have one son and one Shed been right there. Im- Akins continued to de- tored a small church in moved to Elk City, Okla- The new president took daughter. mediately, I didn’t. wait. scribe his and his wife's South Oklahoma. homa, Kendra (his wife) a moment to talk about He went on to describe I went right up to her, meeting, as well as their In 1997, we moved from and I, we believed that we Elk City and the opportu- how basketball can be and I asked her to go out first kiss. there and we moved into a had found another home- nities offered in the town. compared to chamber ac- with me. I’m in the ninth- They dated until 1981, 36-foot-long travel trailer, town. It is here that we will It is his hometown. Akins tivities, and how they are grade. ‘Go out with me’ when they were both out and for the next 12 years, have friends for the rest then introduced the key- both like officiating bas- Yall remember what that's of high school. Dumas be- we drove across the Unit- of our lives, and some of note speaker, Pastor Rick ketball games, He ended like? That means we were came their home. They re- ed States preaching the them are sitting at this ta- Mitchell, his sister's hus- his speech by asking the going to communicate on mained there for the next gospel in all sorts of little ble right here) Akin said. band. crowd to stand, and tell the family phone in the eight years. bitty towns, all little plac- “This is part of our Mitchell is someone he each other they have their hallway with the long cord “But in 1989 the call of es, some big cities, some church. It is here in Elk stands with, and some- back. Elk City does not with the rotary dial in the God came upon my heart, big congregations, mostly City that we will have doc- body that he knows for have the biggest court, but middle of it, where you and I knew it was God, and all small,” he continued. tors that watch our health. a fact will always be his to explain that they are on I knew what he was asking Akins then found a It is here that we bought good friend. their, “home court.” hank You! (3ndurance Federal Credit Union We want to thank the Elk City Chamber of Commerce for their support of our town and always making improvements to bring in residents 105 Regional Drive - endurancefcu.org and tourist to our great town! Come Grow With Us! 1000 Elkwood Bivd, Elk City, OK 580.225.0506 Thank You, WinodY 7Zhank You! Elk City Chamber of Commerce! f™ NISSAN We want to wish the NT Elk City Chamber a great LIPSCOMB CHRYSLER PODGE Jeep, RAM 2300 E. 3rd St. Elk City, OK “nemo (IE eae Sens Ei facebook. year and thank them for 580-225-3005 all their support! LipscomeCurysterDopceJEEPRAM.coM windynissan.com Thank You to the Elk City Chamber of Commerce for all you do throughout the year to provide events for Chamber of Commerce our community and surrounding We appreciate all the hardwork you put in each year to make Elk City a great place to communities to enjoy. live and visit! Dr. Bintz Chamber President - [988 D> Great Plains Bank VU 70K) SOURCE MEMBER FDIC DOCTORS BINTZ & ELLIS Op ric PI ans 2017 W. 3rd, Elk City 1300 S. Main, Elk City ELEBRATING 40 YEARS. p] 4984-2024 4 980-225-2265 ° gphankokK.com