Photograph used in the Daily Oklahoman has a caption that reads: "Showing off the antelope he killed during the recent open antelope season in the Oklahoma Panhandle is Bob Williams of Houston, Texas." c. 1966; photos courtesy of The Oklahoma Historical Society
The Oklahoma panhandle is a curious part of state. Previously known as No Man’s Land, the approximately 6,000 square miles were added to Oklahoma upon statehood in 1907.
“The Oklahoma panhandle is a product of the reduction of the boundaries of the Republic of Texas following its admission to the Union, as the Missouri Compromise and later the Compromise of 1850 mandated any territory above the 36’30 line to be ‘free,’” says Matthew Pearce, Ph.D., state historian with the Oklahoma Historical Society. “About a decade later, the creation of Kansas Territory in 1854 left a tiny sliver of land to the south between Kansas and Texas,” he continues.
The 36’30 refers to a line established within the Missouri Compromise that dictated where slavery was permitted. South of the line permitted slavery, while north of the line prohibited it.
“One could argue that slavery had almost everything to do with the creation of what became the Oklahoma panhandle, starting with the debate over the boundaries of Texas upon its admission to the Union,” says Pearce. The Compromise made Texas relinquish any claims north of the line while also establishing boundaries of New Mexico Territory west of the panhandle.
“The Kansas-Nebraska Act established what ultimately became the panhandle’s northern boundary. Upon gaining statehood in 1861, Kansas designated its western boundary as the 102nd meridian and ceded any of its territorial claims west of that line, which ultimately became part of Colorado,” he continues. “All of this helps explain why the panhandle is bordered by four states.”
This photo depicts a one-way plow covered by sand from the field. Pictures of this type are quite common in the Panhandle area; this plow is covered by the soil which it helped remove. This was one way plows were blamed for much of the destruction of cultivated wheat fields. c. April, 1935.
With the Organic Act of 1890, which organized Oklahoma Territory, the panhandle was formally placed within the territory.
“The panhandle originally comprised one county, Beaver County. Upon statehood, the panhandle was divided into three counties: Cimarron, Texas and Beaver,” says Pearce.
Because of the almost disconnected nature of the panhandle, the area has developed a distinct identity from the rest of the state.
“Historically the panhandle was cut off from the rest of Oklahoma, and the region remains an afterthought for many in Oklahoma even today,” says Pearce. “Economic development in the region occurred later than the rest of the state and the population in the panhandle was relatively small, with about 3,000 people in 1890.” The first railroad didn’t arrive until 1901, nearly thirty years after other areas in the state, and even now, Cimarron County has the smallest population of any county in Oklahoma.
“As a result, the area has developed a sort of ‘frontier’ identity not all that different from the nearby Texas panhandle,” continues Pearce. “There are a lot of similarities culturally, socially and economically between the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles. For these reasons, the historian Richard Lowitt described the panhandle as ‘America’s Outback.’”
Across Oklahoma, and the country at large, more pets are tipping the scales, and not in a good way, says Rob Miller, DVM, with Woodland West Animal Hospital in Jenks. National surveys show nearly 60% of dogs and 61% of cats are overweight or obese, and Oklahoma veterinarians here report seeing similar, if not higher, rates in practice.
“Obesity in pets isn’t just about appearance,” says Miller. “Extra weight increases the risk of arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. In cats, it’s especially dangerous. If an overweight cat becomes ill, the stress can trigger a potentially fatal condition called hepatic lipidosis, or liver failure. The good news? With a few changes in routine and mindset, most pets can return to a healthier weight and a more active life.”
After all, if domesticated animals are overweight, it’s not their fault.
“Sometimes there are hormonal shifts, a slowed metabolism after spaying or neutering, or underlying conditions like hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease,” says Miller. “These conditions can make weight loss far more difficult, even with strict diet and exercise. If your pet is gaining weight despite careful feeding, or if you notice other symptoms, such as hair loss, changes in thirst or urination, or unusual lethargy, it’s time to see your veterinarian for bloodwork and a full exam. Treating the underlying medical issue is often the key to unlocking healthy weight loss.”
Sometimes, lessening the serving size isn’t enough — the type of nutrition has to change. Today, clients have options, including specialized diets and foods. Pet owners can also measure amounts based on a veterinarian’s calculation for exact daily caloric needs based on weight, age, breed and activity level.
Speaking of activity levels, “movement matters just as much as diet,” says Miller. “Regular walks, scent games and short training sessions help burn calories and keep pets mentally sharp. And here’s the bonus: walking your dog doesn’t just help them, it helps you. That movement benefits both species, reinforcing the idea that shared exercise routines improve longevity, emotional well being and cardiovascular resilience.”
If you’re not sure how to make that exercise fun, Miller has some suggestions.
“Dogs may enjoy scent games, puzzle feeders, agility courses, dock diving, fetch with a twist, swimming or group walks,” he says. “Cats can benefit from climbing towers, feather wand play, food dispensing toys, laser pointer chases or window perches for bird watching. Both species can enjoy short training sessions using part of their daily food allowance, or low impact rehab exercises for pets with mobility issues.”
The best – and lowest calorie – pet treat is a pat on the head, a kind word or a moment of play.
“Food rewards have their place, but affection and interaction go even further toward building the bond between owners and their fur kids,” says Miller. “A hungry dog can make you feel like you’re the villain in their life story just for eating a cracker. And while that ‘feed me’ face is undeniably cute, it’s not good for them — or for us — if it works every time.”
He concludes: “With the right support and a little consistency, most pets can lose weight safely and keep it off. The payoff isn’t just physical. A healthier pet moves more, plays more and lives longer for more love and fun.”
This photo from the 1950s showcases Tulsa’s Meadow Gold sign in its original location on 11th St. at Lewis Ave. The sign was later refurbished and moved two miles west. Photo courtesy Beryl Ford Collection/Rotary Club of Tulsa
Somehow, I missed the news a couple of years ago about how Tulsa had been officially designated as the Capital of Route 66.
In case you missed it, too, here’s what happened: In April 2024, following what the City of Tulsa website calls a “process that lasted more than two years and involved exhaustive research and surveys,” the federal government approved Tulsa’s request to copyright the title “Capital of Route 66.” That process came about through the city’s Route 66 Commission, and it concluded in plenty of time for the Mother Road’s big centennial celebration, kicking off this year.
Those driving down Route 66 in Tulsa can view the Buck Atom Space Cowboy, one of several giants on the Mother Road. Photo courtesy Melissa Winterscheid
One of the first 100th-birthday celebrations comes with Route 66 in Tulsa, a new book compiled and written by Tulsans Steve Clem and Becky Hatchett. Published by the South Carolina-based Arcadia Publishing as a volume in its “Images of America” series, Route 66 in Tulsa combines vintage and a few contemporary photos with prose chapters and captions that give historical context.
Thanks to all the hubbub around the centennial and the strong Tulsa-66 connection, there’s little doubt that the release of this book was perfectly timed – which, of course, was Steve Clem’s idea all along. At least, sort of.
“A year or two ago, I did plan to write a [Route 66] book for the centennial,” he says. “But really, I started the project that became this book about a decade ago, when I began driving around Tulsa with a spreadsheet on my computer, chronicling and documenting where every old motel used to be – on 11th Street, on Southwest Boulevard, on Admiral Place. I’ve had a longtime fascination with the old motels and their neon signs, so I devised that spreadsheet and went to all those locations to see what was there now.
“I was asked [by a publisher] if I wanted to do a ‘then and now’ book about Route 66 and Tulsa, but you can’t really do that,” he adds with a chuckle. “You’d be photographing too many parking lots. So much of what was on Route 66, especially when it comes to the old motels and restaurants, were just razed.”
If that sounds like the observation of a longtime Mother Road aficionado to you, you’re right on the money. Clem has, for many years, been an admitted “fanatic” about the Main Street of America; he’s attended events with fellow members of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association for more than a quarter of a century.
“I’ve always been fascinated with the strong connection Tulsa has to Route 66,” he says. “The father of Route 66, Cyrus Avery, was a Tulsan, and he was incredibly instrumental in not only getting Route 66 founded, but also in getting it routed through his adopted hometown of Tulsa. And the other connection is Michael Wallis, who started the renaissance of Route 66 back in 1990 with his book Route 66: The Mother Road. Both he and Cyrus Avery came from other cities to Tulsa and did some of their most outstanding work while they were living here.”
Like all of the books in the “Images of America” series, Route 66 in Tulsa is extensively photo-illustrated. Most of those vintage shots, Clem says, came from the collections of the Museum of Tulsa History and the Tulsa City-County Library.
“It was the combination of those two sources, which both do such a wonderful job with archival photos, and three postcard-collector friends of mine,” he notes. “They’re Route 66 friends I see at conferences and conventions and festivals, and they have massive collections of Route 66 and other postcards. All three of them were kind enough to lend their images to this book.”
Tulsan Cyrus Avery, known as the Father of Route 66, was part of the committee that created the national highway system in 1926. Avery ensured that U.S. Highway 66, from Chicago to Los Angeles, came through his adopted hometown of Tulsa. Photo courtesy Cyrus Stevens Avery Collection/Department of Special Collections and Archives/
Oklahoma State University-Tulsa
Clem also had assistance in the text department – which is where his co-author, Becky Hatchett, first came in.
“I was searching for an expert on the west side of Tulsa,” he explains. “I research a lot of stuff, and I could’ve just researched the west side and written something about its history. But I didn’t want to be a guy on the outside looking in at that particular area of town. It’s got its own character, its own feel. There’s a kind of east-meets-west dynamic there that we mention in the book, the uptown oil interests vs. the people on the west side who worked in the refineries and had the neighborhoods. So I was looking for expertise and ran into Becky, who’s connected to the west side in so many ways.”
“Steve and I have many mutual friends,” adds Hatchett, “but we had never met each other. He was asking around for someone who could help with the west side perspective – and he knew that Westsiders are kind of sensitive about some things. We want to be called by the correct names, for example.
“People will talk about that whole side of town as being West Tulsa. That is not West Tulsa. West Tulsa is just that little area right across the 11th Street Bridge. It was an incorporated town from 1907 to 1909.
“I’m from Red Fork, and when it was annexed to the City of Tulsa in 1927, the Tulsa World, I believe, ran a contest, trying to come up with a name for the whole area. They were going to give a prize, but it was never decided,” she notes with a laugh. “I think Darla Hall, who was the city councilor over there for a long time, finally decided to just call us all Westsiders, and that’s what’s stuck. But we are all these little towns. We are not a unified whole.
“I also think that people forget we even have Route 66 over there; we have four miles of it. And we have some great attractions. Maybe a lot of Tulsans don’t know about the Route 66 Historical Village, but the people who come in from out of town and from all over the world to the Historical Village know we’re there.”
Originally, Clem sought Hatchett’s help on Chapter Four of Route 66 in Tulsa, the one that deals with the city’s west side. However, he says, “she did such a great job describing it and coming up with archival images that she just started helping me with the rest of the book, and it rose to the level that I asked her if she wanted to be a co-author. That’s how it happened.”
“It was,” says Hatchett of the co-author offer, “nice of him, gracious of him, to do that. And I’ve learned a whole lot from Steve. For instance, I don’t think I understood how important the 11th Street Bridge [spanning the Arkansas River] was to Route 66 being routed through Tulsa. I didn’t really realize the effort that it took to build the road all the way through, that it started out as all these little patchworks of roads working around people’s property lines, until the government got involved.”
The authors devote the book’s final chapter to current Route 66 roadside attractions. Some of them, like Tulsa entrepreneur Mary Beth Babcock’s giant statues and the aforementioned Route 66 Historical Village, are bona fide tourist attractions. Others are less well-known – what both Hatchett and Clem call “hidden gems.”
For example, says Clem, “There’s a wonderful historical marker near Howard Park on Route 66, which is also officially known as the Will Rogers Highway. Right after Will’s death [in 1935], Tulsans lobbied Congress to give it that name because it was a road that connected Tulsa to Los Angeles, and Will lived in Los Angeles. Then, in 2001, a few different organizations got together to place these markers along Route 66, and the one I’m talking about is a beautiful large granite marker with Will Rogers’ image – and a Michael Wallis quote.”
Route 66 in Tulsa is available at the Museum of Tulsa History, Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios and online at amazon.com.
Main image cutline: This photo from the 1950s showcases Tulsa’s Meadow Gold sign in its original location on 11th St. at Lewis Ave. The sign was later refurbished and moved two miles west. Photo courtesy Beryl Ford Collection/Rotary Club of Tulsa
The Gothic-style Hungarian Parliament building in Budapest is a show-stopper.
Let’s do some travel math. Here’s an equation some might not know: Buda + Pest + the Danube River = Budapest! A city made up of the three aforementioned places is bound to delight! Buda is the hilly area where castles and cathedrals astound, while Pest is flat and full of boulevards. Between the two is the romantic Danube River, flowing underneath ornate bridges of sheer excitement as people stroll across, marveling at the lion statues and grandiose details.
A popular Budapest tourist destination is the Central Market Hall.
Budapest is a city of daily celebration. Restaurants along the Danube River are filled with people simply gawking at the beauty cresting on the Buda hillside. Riverboats glide by with passengers surrounded by “two cities in one,” Buda and Pest, where one side feels modern and the other feels historic. Whatever your mood fancies, just go there; Buda for castles and a town of yore or Pest for places like Andrassy Avenue with its boutiques and taverns.
The Old Fisherman Bastion offers stunning views.
Distinct features like the Opera House and the thermal baths make Budapest the epicenter of culture that it is. In fact, the opera house motif happens elsewhere in the city at cafes and hotels. The mind-blowing New York Cafe is a three-story restaurant designed as an opera house with Venetian chandeliers. People pose on various perches there for photos to celebrate the glamour. This travel writer enjoyed a Cortado coffee beverage with gold leaf sprinkles, a famous menu feature. Not only was the beverage delicious but the resulting gold lips afterwards made it a memorable moment. Reportedly, the Dalai Lama has even dined there.
Imagine starting your Budapest adventure with mystery … like at the Mystery Hotel. Entering the boutique hotel, there’s a magic carpet suspended from the ceiling over the front desk. Instantly, you’re in the mood for something special. The elevator doors are designed to look like stage curtains and the elevator interior has “portraits” of famous royals from floor to ceiling. A massive piece of art hangs over the bed. The room has red velvet everything, from the banquette to drapes covering the bathroom and closet areas. You are literally draped in the glamour of an opera house or art museum. Best of all is the “Turkish bath” experience in the spa where a sauna and whirlpool await you within a solarium. The opera-like restaurant even has a balcony.
Train cars in Budapest are ideal to avoid steep stairs.Burgviertel is a picturesque neighborhood in Budapest, perfect for window shopping.Liberty Bridge is just one example of Budapest’s outstanding architecture.
All this luxuriating is helpful for your vigorous strolls. You won’t leave Budapest without a stunning outfit or two. After dinners of goulash or other local food, have a beverage at the Callas Cafe across from the Hungarian Opera House in homage to Maria Callas. After all, what is more opera than the diva herself?
Walk into Buda over the iconic Szecheny Chain Bridge, a symbol of unity of the two cities, and take the funicular or tram that ascends the steep hill. You’re instantly transported to historic times as you gasp through buildings within the castle complex. Enter the St. Matthias Church where the gonging bells lift you up into heavenly heights. The palace isn’t only glorious, but it also has interactive experiences like the sketching room where visitors can engage in art activities.
Luckily, there are cafes where you can catch your breath and recharge with refreshments overlooking the Danube River and the city in one fell swoop. The Ottoman influence and Hungarian style in the architecture puts its stamp on the landscape. The gothic, massive Parliament building dominates the rivers’ edge and serves as the centerpiece of the city.
Feast your eyes on Budapest. It’s a travel buffet that leaves you Hungary for more.
Autoimmune diseases can be complex and difficult to diagnose, often lacking visible symptoms. Providing insights to this vast and diverse category of diseases is Mary Beth Humphrey, M.D., a rheumatologist with OU Health in Oklahoma City.
“Autoimmune diseases most often occur when the immune system is unable to distinguish healthy cells and tissues (self) from foreign or abnormal tissues (non-self), such as those resulting from infections or cancer,” says Humphrey. “Autoimmunity results from a combination of genetic factors that lead to increased stimulation or decreased ability to turn off the immune system, coupled with environmental triggers, including infections, sex hormones, chemicals or toxins and smoking, among others.”
She says there are many autoimmune diseases, with estimates ranging from 80 to 150, depending on classification criteria. Some target specific organs, like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves’ disease and Type 1 diabetes. Others are systemic, affecting multiple organs and tissues, such as lupus and scleroderma.
While autoantibodies are detectable in many cases, diagnosis requires clinical symptoms.
“For some diseases, autoantibodies may be found many years before the autoimmune disease causes symptoms,” says Humphrey. “At this time, there are no cures for autoimmune diseases, but most can be managed lifelong with therapies. In the near future, we may achieve cures with advanced cellular therapies, including genetically engineered immune cells that will target the autoreactive cells.
More than eight percent of the United States population has an autoimmune disease. The most common include psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease. Others include multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, Sjogren’s disease, systemic lupus erythematosus and inflammatory bowel diseases.
Some autoimmune diseases are more common in women due to several factors including sex hormones and X chromosome genes, with lupus occurring nine times more often in women than men. However, some conditions like type 1 diabetes and Crohn’s disease are more common in men.
Humphrey explains that early in the course of the disease, symptoms like painful joints, severe fatigue, mouth sores and headaches may come and go, making diagnosis challenging. Patients may feel unwell but lack obvious signs of illness like casts or surgical scars, which could lead others to underestimate their condition.
Humphrey says there are many ways to help manage chronic illnesses, including autoimmune diseases.
“It is very important to find a provider that listens to you and offers you treatment plans that address your symptoms and conditions,” she says. “Staying active with walking, Tai Chi, yoga and water aerobics can help maintain joint and muscle health and improve pain and sleep. Some people find that changing their diet to a Mediterranean diet or a more restrictive elimination diet for autoimmune conditions (Autoimmune Protocol) can improve their symptoms. For those working or avid hobbyists, an occupational therapy assessment can be useful for modifying their environment and work or hobby tools to help them be as productive as possible.”
In addition, she says illness-specific support groups can help with anxiety and depression while providing practical management tips, and cognitive behavioral therapy and meditation can help manage illness-related stress.
Humphrey also shares that recent research breakthroughs have led to new treatments providing sustained remission for many autoimmune diseases, with promising new therapies using genetically engineered immune cells in early trials.
“We also now understand that uncontrolled diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis lead to early heart disease, causing strokes and heart attacks,” she says. “Therefore, we treat these diseases more aggressively to prevent these early conditions. Overall, we have significantly improved our ability to get patients into remission and allow them to remain free of disability or early death.”
With colder temperatures here to stay (for now), folks who burn wood in fireplaces, backyard firepits and chimeneas are on the hunt for good firewood. Most are undoubtedly aware that in burning wood, they’re literally playing with fire, but might need some additional guidance finding good firewood and using it safely.
A lot of newer homes have built-in, gas-fueled fireplaces, says an official with the Oklahoma City Fire Department’s fire marshal office, but there’s still plenty of demand for firewood, and plenty of opportunities for things to go wrong in outdoor fireplaces, chimeneas and firepits.
“Before you go to bed or leave the house, make sure that the fire is completely out, cool to the touch,” is the advice from Capt. John Chenoweth, assistant public information officer with the Oklahoma City Fire Department, for families with wood-burning fireplaces. “Embers can burn for several hours. Even if you think it’s completely out, it can still burn and potentially cause a house fire.”
Chenoweth also advises making sure any wood being burned indoors is dry – completely – and seasoned. Wood that isn’t completely dry tends to produce a lot of unwelcome smoke inside a residence, he mentions.
The location for storing firewood, whether it’s for an indoor fireplace or an outside firepit or fireplace, chimenea or barbecue grill, should be at least 20 feet from the house.
“Fire piles can attract pests, and can potentially catch fire and set your house on fire,” he shares.
Further, Chenoweth recommends an annual chimney inspection and cleaning.
For wood-burning fireplaces, Chenoweth says that a good metal screen in front of the fireplace can catch any escaping embers.
Riley Coy, Urban Forestry Coordinator for Oklahoma’s Agriculture, Food and Forestry Department, is also adamant about making sure any kind of fire is completely out before leaving the space. Coy’s particular area of emphasis, working for the state in forestry management, is outdoor burning, but the same rules apply indoors.
Regarding campfires, Coy urges attention to the old advice from Smoky Bear about forest fires: Feel what’s left of the embers with the back of your hand. “If you feel heat, bury it with a shovel,” he says.
Coy says many people locate firewood by word of mouth: “I know a guy who knows a guy,” is how he puts it. Firewood can also be found at most big-box retail stores, he mentions.
The most desirable woods to burn are Osage orange and black locust.
“Those are the two hottest burning trees we have in Oklahoma,” he says. Oak and hickory continue to be popular woods, as well. He recommends against burning elm in indoor fireplaces.
“Elm produces a nasty smell,” he says.
Coy mentions that a big problem with firewood is invasive pests, such as the emerald ash bore and the spotted lantern fly, all of which he says travel in firewood. His department’s advice for anyone burning wood outdoors is to “burn it where you find it.”
Chenoweth offers a final word of caution in burning logs inside the home: “Our winter months, not only here but nationwide, are our busiest time for structure fires, and that does include fireplace fires.”
Located along the iconic Route 66 highway in Lincoln County, Chandler offers a mix of nostalgic Americana and attractions that make it a great stop for travelers and locals alike. As the county seat, this vibrant small town captures the essence of the Mother Road with its historical landmarks, all while buzzing with new developments, especially as the Route 66 Centennial approaches this year. Whether you’re cruising the highway or seeking a weekend getaway, Chandler’s blend of pioneer spirit, interactive museums and community energy promises something unforgettable.
Start your journey at the Lincoln County Museum of Pioneer History on Main Street, a free, donation-supported gem that’s been welcoming visitors since the 1980s. Here, you’ll often find volunteer Liz Gulliver sharing stories with locals and Route 66 explorers, highlighting the town’s deep roots in Oklahoma’s frontier past.
For a true immersion in Route 66 lore, head to the Chandler Route 66 Interpretive Center, housed in a 1937 WPA-built former National Guard Armory made of locally quarried, hand-chiseled sandstone, 20 inches thick. The structure served the Oklahoma National Guard until 1971, and executive director Susan Pordos emphasizes its interactive appeal with “six video stations and a cozy theater [which] enhance the individual experience with state-of-the-art technology. The glitter-speckled, vintage-style motel beds bring a whole new meaning to the term ‘Rest Stop.’
“Your Route 66 journey takes place from the seats of a Model A, a Willy’s Jeep, a Ford Mustang and from relaxing motel beds – all of it designed to cultivate a nostalgic mood for a cruise through yesteryear,” she concludes.
The center appeals to all ages, taking visitors on an “interactive trip on the Mother Road – a pilgrimage experienced through an array of audio/visuals portraying the sights, sounds and history of America’s legendary highway,” says Pordos.
McJerry’s Route 66 Gallery in Chandler offers Route 66 artwork, maps and travel guides. Photos courtesy McJerry’s Route 66 Gallery
The center also features photography of Oklahoma Route 66 icons donated by Tulsa Community College students.
Chandler’s designation as the “Hometown of the Oklahoma National Guard” shines through, thanks to Howard Dickman’s efforts in documenting its history since 1898, with a framed citation proudly displayed on Main Street.
Pordos urges visitors to explore the Route 66 Bowl, where owners Sid and LaDonna invested years in planning the space.
“They have the original Route 66 Bowl Neon Sign from OKC as well as hundreds of vintage signs, gas pumps and multiple [pieces of] memorabilia,” she says.
Chandler celebrates roadside culture artist Jerry McClanahan, recently inducted into the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame. He authored the Route 66 EZ Guide and coauthored the Here It Is Map Series with Jim Ross, exploring the highway since 1980.
“The City of Chandler was recently awarded grant funding from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to partially fund a new park in honor of McClanahan to celebrate the 2026 centennial,” built on land that was formerly a baseball/softball field and will be called McClanahan Park, shares Pordos. “You can view his artwork at McJerry’s Route 66 Art Gallery downtown.”
Beyond downtown, gems like the Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum, a 1920s building with 140 vintage bikes curated by Jerry Ries, draw global visitors.
“Visitors from all over the world come in, you can’t name a spot they haven’t come from,” Ries says.
Nearby, Painted Gate Farm, a working cattle ranch and Airbnb owned by Wayne and Janis Baldwin, offers rural charm.
“We fell in love with Chandler because it’s a ‘live’ small town, not a bedroom community,” says Janis Baldwin. “The downtown is alive every day, all day except Sunday, then the churches are alive.”
She praises the active movie theater, Lincoln County On Stage theater group, beautiful parks with walking trails and murals, and agricultural hubs like veterinarians and farm centers.
With its historical significance on Route 66 and exciting additions like McClanahan Park on the horizon, Chandler isn’t just a pit stop – it’s a destination brimming with fun, history and heart.
Sam Presti, Michael A. Mares, Eddy Gibbs, Mautra Staley Jones, Ronnie Dunn, Bert Mackie, Taylor Hanson; Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Oklahoma Hall of Fame, OKC
Amy & David Cottrell, Ellen Fleming; Circle Club Holiday Party, Allied Arts, OKC
Amy & David Cottrell, Ellen Fleming; Circle Club Holiday Party, Allied Arts, OKC
Amy & David Cottrell, Ellen Fleming; Circle Club Holiday Party, Allied Arts, OKC
Kimberly Johnson, Peggy Helmerich, Hernan Diaz, Annette LaFortune Murray; Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award Gala, Tulsa City-County LibraryThe Helmerich family; Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award Gala, Tulsa City-County Library; all Helmerich photos by Emily Steward PhotographyHans Helmerich, Marsha DeWalt, Shelby Rice; Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award Gala, Tulsa City-County LibraryPhil Cline, Veronique Conway, Steven & Alicia Uerling; Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award Gala, Tulsa City-County LibraryLori Byrd, Cindi Rapp; Celebrate Pink,
Oklahoma Project Woman, OKCSam Presti, Michael A. Mares, Eddy Gibbs, Mautra Staley Jones, Ronnie Dunn, Bert Mackie, Taylor Hanson; Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Oklahoma Hall of Fame, OKCTricia Everest, Gov. Bill Anoatubby; Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Oklahoma Hall of Fame, OKCMark Daigneault, Sam Presti; Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Oklahoma Hall of Fame, OKCSusan Pefanis, Eden Turrentine, Debra Stalcup, Natalie Walker; Paseo Arts Awards, Paseo Arts Association, OKCAmanda Bleakley, Joy Reed Belt; Paseo Arts Awards, Paseo Arts Association, OKCDr. Bruce Saxon, Pete McBride, Kevin Fedarko, Jan Saxon; Pete McBride and Kevin Fedarko speaking event, Tulsa Town Hall
Smart financial planning is a lifelong process, but the most important step is simply getting started, no matter your age. From leveraging the luxury of time in your 20s to protecting wealth and planning a legacy in your 70s, experts outline achievable moves that build stability decade by decade.
Your 20s & 30s
People in their 20s and 30s, who are likely far from their peak earning years, might find it difficult to prioritize saving for retirement. But Oklahomans who have devoted their careers to helping people thrive financially during retirement say it’s well worth the discipline involved.
“Young people really have one of the most powerful tools on their side: time,” says Dawnetta Moore, assistant vice president and Mustang branch manager for First Fidelity Bank. “Compounding interest means your money earns interest, and then that interest earns more interest.
Luke Preaus, president of Regent Private Wealth, seconds the advice to get started early, adding that “time in the market is better than timing in the market.”
He continues: “Historically, the United States has not been very good at household savings. If you can save between 15-20% of your gross income, you would be considered a world-class saver. If you can do 10%, that’s a huge win. By investing a small amount consistently in the early years, you start building a habit.”
It’s also never too early to start an emergency fund, says John Kiosterud, senior client adviser and senior vice president with Arvest Wealth Management, and the goal should be a savings account with six months’ worth of income.
“When you get too much, move it to an IRA,” Kiosterud says.
It’s also crucial to take advantage of an employer’s 401(k) match, which Kiosterud emphasized is “free money.”
For people who want to start saving and investing beyond a 401(k), “you want to look at traditional versus Roth individual retirement accounts,” Kiosterud adds. “It depends on when you want to pay taxes.”
Contributions to a Roth IRA are made with after-tax dollars, so there is no immediate tax break, but qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free.
With the traditional IRA, contributions may be tax-deductible, but withdrawals in retirement are taxed as ordinary income.
Your 40s
Michael Manghum, vice president of Regent Private Wealth, says that by the time people hit their early 40s, “you might have found yourself in the rat-race wheel, or in the comparison game. It’s a great time of life to pause and figure out where you want to go, what you want your lifestyle to look like in retirement. Before you spend the next 20 years working toward a question mark, do some planning now.”
Some people in their 40s might be reaching an elevated point in their careers, Manghum says, “so it’s an opportunity to turn up the dial a little bit” when it comes to saving and investing.
Many people in their 40s are sending their children off to college, and Kiosterud has some advice: “Avoid the 100% trap of paying for your kids’ college,” he says, which can get in the way of saving for retirement. “I raised two kids and I helped my kids through college,” he says. “But they had to work. Both graduated with no debt.”
Moore mentions that she and her husband realized when they were in their 40s that they were not on track to meet their retirement goals. But, she says, “there’s still plenty of time to adjust course. It’s time to assess, not stress. Small adjustments can make a really big difference later.”
A common rule of thumb, Moore says, is to have two to three times your annual salary saved by age 40, and three to five times your annual salary saved by age 50, although personal situations vary.
“Most 401(k) programs have calculators for you to see if you are on track,” Moore says. “And this is a really good time to meet with your banker to identify any gaps, to see where your goals are and what your risk tolerance is.”
Your 50s
By the time they reach their 50s, “most people are getting out from underneath debt, so cash flow is hopefully becoming more positive for them,” says Preaus. It’s also a good time to take advantage of catch-up contributions.
At age 50, Preaus says, employees can apply an additional $7,500 a year in a catch-up contribution to a 401(k), an extra $1,000 to an IRA and an additional $1,000 annually to a health spending account.
The 50s “are typically the bridge between building wealth and protecting it,” says Moore, who mentions that it’s time to “shift gradually to a more balanced asset mix,” such as bonds, certificates of deposit and diversified mutual funds.
“The 50s are about fine-tuning and protecting what you’ve built,” she concludes.
It’s also a time to evaluate the pros and cons of long-term healthcare insurance.
Your 60s
When it’s time for people in their 60s to consider a retirement funds withdrawal strategy, factors to be considered include when you plan to retire and when you plan to start receiving Social Security, says Manghum. A general rule of thumb, Manghum says, is to withdraw first from taxable accounts, then use investments that were tax-deferred, and finally, make withdrawals from Roth IRAs.
How and where you want to live will also affect personal budgeting once the decision is made to retire, says Moore.
“Retirement becomes real rather than theoretical in your 60s,” she says. “You can reduce expenses, and simplify your life.”
Retirees might find that the home in which they raised their children is no longer needed.
“My husband and I have bought property and we are going to downsize in a few years, and build something more efficient in an area with a little less taxes,” Moore continues. “You can save quite a bit by downsizing.”
Selling a larger home, especially if it’s paid for or nearly so, can also free up funds for retirement. Less property upkeep means more freedom to travel, and to volunteer, too.
While relocating can help retirees cut their overhead and allow them to live closer to family members and healthcare facilities, there are financial and emotional considerations, Moore says.
“Moving costs can be significant,” Moore says. “And there can be an emotional attachment to leaving your family home and establishing in a new community.”
Your 70s
For people in their 70s and beyond, Manghum says he likes to use the “paychecks and playchecks” philosophy.
“Look at your guaranteed forms of income, such as your pensions and Social Security,” he says. “If you add them all up and it covers most of your bills, we would call that a retirement paycheck. If that covers at least 90% of what you need, you have your baseline needs pretty much covered. Now your retirement savings are not as much needed.”
With those additional funds, retirees have the freedom to do things such as invest more aggressively, spend money on travel or set aside gifts for their grandchildren.
If it hasn’t been done already, estate planning should be on the financial agenda of people in their 70s, says Kiosterud.
“Estate planning is essential,” he says. “You want to assure that all your wishes and goals are fulfilled.”
One decision to be made is who to entrust with your power of attorney should you become incapacitated. Another is deciding whether to leave a will, which must be probated, versus a trust which is a way to bypass probate.
“There are a lot of situations where a trust is needed,” Kiosterud says.
Kiosterud says he enjoys working with clients of all ages, but especially enjoys his relationships with long-time clients he has helped meet their retirement goals.
“I could have retired a few years back, but I can’t leave my clients,” he mentions.
2025 was a landmark year for our state. In fact, Oklahoma didn’t just move forward – it surged ahead. Bold, confident and visionary leaders drove that momentum, pushing industries forward, lifting communities up and proving that belief in Oklahoma’s people can take you just about anywhere.
The impact of these honorees, whether in business, sustainability, sports, leadership or education, is unmistakable, and their influence only grows as we enter 2026. These Oklahomans of the Year are doing more than leading the way; they’re setting the standard, and the state is following.
Profiles by Kimberly Burk, Tracy LeGrand and Mary Willa Allen
Photo courtesy Cherokee Nation Businesses
Chuck Garrett
CEO, Cherokee Nation Businesses
Cherokee Nation Businesses (CNB) thinks of itself as a “forever company,” says CEO Chuck Garrett.
“We really have to thrive in every type of economy,” he says. “To do that, you can’t really rely on just one stream of revenue. The vision is that CNB will build a portfolio of diversified companies that provides a sustainable, durable dividend for the Cherokee Nation forever.”
Garrett described CNB, with more than 11,000 employees, as “a large enterprise with several different business units, but we have one shareholder, and that shareholder is the Cherokee Nation.”
An Oklahoma native, Garrett attended the University of Oklahoma and Harvard Law School with the help of tribal scholarships. CNB, he says, provides a career path for tribal citizens.
“The Nation has invested heavily in education,” he shares. “This pipeline of talent has served the Cherokee Nation well.”
CNB, with more than 45 companies that generated $2.205B in revenue in 2025, has holdings in gaming and hospitality, retail, tourism, television and film, investment management and government contracting. CNB has contributed $1.25 billion to Cherokee Nation in the past 10 years through its 37% shareholder dividend.
“We recently purchased a company focused on cybersecurity for various federal agencies,” Garrett says.
Other recent initiatives include “the acquisition of various cloud-computing solutions that help support some of the federal government agencies,” Garrett says. “And we have made significant investments in private equity funds as limited partners. That’s a new type of investment for us. We measure very carefully our efficiencies and our margins, and we work very diligently to make sure we are running efficient and competitive businesses.”
Garrett joined CNB in 2013 and became CEO in 2019, with a background in law, commercial real estate, gaming and investment banking.
“I have been fortunate to work in many different industries,” he says. “That has certainly influenced my leadership style and my leadership focus. I’ve had a lot of good mentors.”
Garrett said he sees “a CNB in five years that has added portfolio companies in different industries, and we will have doubled the capacity of our funding for the Cherokee Nation.”
– KB
Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
Sam Presti
Executive Vice President/General Manager, Oklahoma City Thunder
Sam Presti is intent on building a legacy.
Not for himself, but for the Thunder organization – and Oklahoma at large.
Hired in 2007 as the general manager for the Seattle SuperSonics, Presti became the second-youngest person to ever hold the position within the NBA at 30. Today, he is also the third-longest-tenured head of basketball operations in the league.
But you won’t find Presti bragging about that – or any of his achievements – although many of the Thunder’s greatest successes have hinged upon his methodical roster building and eye for scouting young talent. Presti makes it clear: He is just one part of a well-oiled machine that aims to make Oklahoma better for everyone.
“Professional sports in a small market is truly a team effort,” Presti says. “We couldn’t exist in Oklahoma without support from our sponsors, fans and friends. Our on-court success certainly helps, but our hope is our backing is not entirely transactional. We hope people see us as an additive piece to the community and grander future of the city and state, and that their support for the team is grounded in something deeper.”
The Thunder’s record-breaking 2024-2025 regular season culminated with the franchise’s first-ever NBA finals win. When the team raised the trophy at Paycom Center last June, it was Presti’s vision that helped get them there. Seven months later – with a new Thunder arena in the works poised to boost OKC tourism exponentially – the organization appears stronger than ever. It’s proof that no one, Presti included, is content to rest on their laurels.
“We look at decisions and initiatives on a continuum,” Presti says. “In other words, we are always building, iterating, adapting and hopefully, evolving from our vision for the organization. That vision was established in 2008, and although we have certainly evolved, there is a focus on building a legacy in real time.”
Community engagement is central to the Thunder’s identity, most notably through its charitable arm, Thunder Cares. All Thunder organization members participate in some capacity.
“When we talk about pursuing progress, that is not confined solely to our competitive endeavors, but also our outreach and relationship with our community,” Presti says. “Oklahoma has a beautiful heart, and beautiful intent, and a beautiful future. We always want to work together with our civic leaders and broader Oklahoma community to help recognize that future.”
Many GMs focus solely on franchise improvement: draft strategies, trades, player evaluations. And it goes without saying that Presti excels in the hard skills needed for the job. His understanding of Oklahoma City’s heart, however, is what truly separates him from his peers. Case in point: When any new player comes to the franchise, Presti sees to it that he visits the Oklahoma City National Memorial first thing.
“It’s our belief that to represent something authentically, it is imperative to understand the history and, in this case, our team simply would not be in Oklahoma City if it were not for the response to the bombing in 1995,” Presti says. “The darkest day in state history also revealed the deep powers of humanity and resilience that have long been held in this community for generations.
“The lessons from that event and the response that followed in the years thereafter are so vast, it’s only right that we ensure our people are educated and reminded that what we are doing is representing, win or lose, good years or bad, something much larger than a ball dropping through a basket.”
– MWA
Photo courtesy the Choctaw Nation
Gary Batton
Chief, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
The traditional attire worn by Choctaw Chief Gary Batton features a diamond pattern representing the rattlesnake, an animal revered by the tribe.
“It’s just to remind everybody of our culture and our history, and more importantly what it stands for,” Batton says.
The eastern diamondback rattlesnake was a respected animal not only for its lethality and because it gives a warning before it strikes, but also because it helped remove hungry rodents from agricultural fields, tribal historians say.
Batton, 58, is a longtime tribal employee who was schooled early for a lifetime of service.
“We lived in a rural area,” he says. “When we went to town, we asked everybody around us if they needed anything. We picked up things for everybody.”
His mother was fullblood Choctaw, and she met Batton’s non-Native father when he was stationed at Fort Sill.
“My father really pushed my culture more than my mom did,” he says.
Batton was the first in his family to earn a college degree. He went to work for the tribe in 1987, was appointed assistant chief in 2007 and became chief in 2014.
Even now, he still has a heart for rural Oklahoma.
“We have decentralized a lot of our functions to put jobs back into rural areas,” he says. “Indian Child Welfare has 56 social workers located throughout the Choctaw Nation.”
Housing has been a major initiative, with 1,300 homes built in the past five years. Some are offered on lease-purchase contracts to help tribal citizens who had been paying higher rent rates. The tribe also builds affordable rental properties and homes for elders.
“With those three types of housing, we are committed to building 350 per year,” he says.
The Nation has 235,000 citizens and employs 13,500 people, many of whom received college scholarships and vocational training funded by the tribe. As executive director of health, Batton also oversaw construction of the first tribally-funded health facility in the United States. The tribe continues to expand its healthcare offerings, with a recent focus on substance abuse treatment and children traumatized by domestic violence.
“I make it a point twice a month to be out in the community,” Batton says. “I listen to tribal members and take notes. It’s great to get that feedback.”
In addition to the 151 businesses managed by the tribe, the economic development team works to attract private businesses. Eighteen were recruited in the past five years, including Academy Sports, Auto Zone, Braums, Starbucks and Olive Garden.
Batton bases his leadership, he says, on “faith, family and culture. If it wasn’t for God and Jesus I would not be here today. It’s in our history to believe in a Creator.”
Tribal culture is about tradition — but also about looking forward, Batton says.
“Our Choctaw people change, mature and evolve. We always say we are warriors, but warriors fight for the right reason. They don’t fight just to fight.”
– KB
Photo courtesy Utopia Plastix
Sharina Perry
Founder and CEO, Utopia Plastix
Sharina Perry never planned to revolutionize plastics. Growing up Black in late-1980s Oklahoma, Perry first learned what it felt like to be the “other” – police stops in small towns, the weight of judgemental, unfamiliar eyes. Around the same time, she watched her grandfather, a proud landowner, hand her his legal papers and smile: “Come here, little attorney,” he said, because others had tried to take advantage of him. Those moments taught her that disadvantage usually comes from lack of access, not lack of effort and certainly not lack of worth.
“I made a promise to God,” she says. “If He helped me navigate the barriers, I’d hold the door open and make sure there were seats prepared for others who looked like me.”
That promise became Utopia Plastix. With no formal training in chemistry or engineering, Perry taught herself about the industry by reading more than 600 papers, praying in her kitchen and refusing to fear the unknown. What began as a search for plant-based health products pivoted when plastic-straw bans hit the news. One disastrous homemade straw – collapsing the moment she sipped – unlocked the breakthrough: a tough, fully plant-based material that outperforms plastic and biodegrades harmlessly. Experts later told her, “if you’d been a trained chemist, you never would have seen it.” Her perceived flaw as an outsider became her advantage.
Utopia’s patented polymers are grown on American farmland, pulling carbon from the air four to five times faster than trees. Her client farmers, many minority landowners, earn far more per acre than with traditional crops and plant with a guaranteed buyer. The result? No market risk, a higher income and the pride of feeding a closed-loop system that turns harvests into everything from cutlery to packaging.
Perry leads the way humbly. She’s the first to roll up her sleeves, and insists faith, integrity and tough questions always stay at the table.
“Sustainability without justice is just new exclusion,” she says.
So every contract, every acre, every job is intentionally steered toward equity. When people ask why game-changing green tech is coming out of Oklahoma instead of Silicon Valley, Perry smiles.
“I never looked the part—no chemistry Ph.D., no coastal pedigree,” she says. “But when you’re aligned with purpose and walking with God, you don’t need permission to change the world.”
Her hope is simple: That one day Utopia is a household name, carried forward by her children and theirs, and that every person who hears her story – especially the little Black girl in a small town – understands the gifts inside her are enough. Barriers bend, boxes break and the future can be built anywhere by anyone willing to stay true to themselves. – TL
Photo courtesy Oklahoma State University
Jim Hess
President, Oklahoma State University
Since assuming the presidency of Oklahoma State University as its 20th leader last April, Jim Hess, Ed.D., has made one message clear: “Students are the reason we’re here.”
A decades-long educator and leader, Hess brings a rare blend of frontline teaching experience and proven administrative vision to his leadership.
“Every major decision we make starts with one question: What is best for our students?” says Hess. That question now fuels two overarching priorities: expanding access so every qualified Oklahoma student who wants to can attain an OSU degree, and transforming the student experience into one that feels undoubtedly like home. Expanded scholarships, enhanced academic advising and mental health investments top his agenda.
Demonstrating that commitment is Cowboys Care, the university-wide mental health initiative launched last fall by First Cowgirl Angela Hess. Knowing that his wife struggled with anxiety since childhood, Hess recognized the need for proactive support on campus.
“We know students cannot perform academically if they are not mentally well,” Hess says. “Cowboys Care was born out of a need to wrap our arms around students before crisis hits. Asking for help shouldn’t be an act of courage; it should be part of campus life.”
The initiative’s ambassador program places hundreds of trained faculty, staff, resident advisors and peers throughout dorms, classrooms and student organizations, ensuring help is always just a hallway away.
Hess’s career is marked by building what communities actually need: increased enrollment for working adults at OSU-Tulsa, filling rural physician shortages through the Center for Health Sciences, and orchestrating the complex acquisition of OSU Medical Center. Those experiences continue to inform his vision: “Where are the needs greatest, and how can OSU help?” Even small gestures reveal the professor still at his core. He surrendered the presidential parking space to students, asking, “If they’re paying to park, why shouldn’t I?”
For Hess, leading a university remains fundamentally about people.
“The greatest moral calling a person can accept,” he says, “is to change another human being’s life – to encourage them, support them and say, ‘I believe in you. Whatever your dream is, you can achieve it, and I’ll help you get there.’” – TL
