Tulsa, OK June 2023

SPORTS + RECREATION

UNIVERSITY OF TULSA’S NEW HEAD COACH, KEVIN WILSON

EDUCATION

CHARLIE BROWN: LUCK & LEGACY JUNE

The Men's Issue

The Men's Issue

Have you ever wondered, “Do fathers matter? What differences do I make in my home as a dad?” Let’s start with the simple answer — the importance of a father is tremendous! Fathers make countless differences in their homes and family. However, how much impact you decide to make as a dad is entirely up to you!

To this day I remember the sayings or life lessons my stepdad taught me. When I was in 6th grade, he bought me a palomino horse and the next day he got Dusty out so I could learn to ride. He handed me the reins and I asked where the saddle was. He told me when I learned to ride, I could have a saddle. I asked how I was supposed to learn without the saddle and he said, “Who’s in charge, you or the horse?” After a few falls, I learned how to ride quickly. Moving forward when I came upon a difficult situation, I knew it was up to me to figure it out.

A father’s gifts of quality time, life-giving words, and positive actions have a long-lasting impact on his children.

As I reflect on fatherhood this month, here are just a few of the ways dads can build up their homes:

• A father’s strength can be powerful

• A dad’s words can be fueling and inspirational

• Hugs from a dad can be deeply comforting

• A dad’s smile can instill joy and confidence

• Time with a dad can be fun and productive

• A dad’s physicality can be challenging

• A dad’s guidance can be life-changing and foundational

• A father’s correction can be life-saving and life-giving

• Adventures with a dad can be exciting and memorable

Let your father or a father figure in your life know how much he matters to you. And if you are a dad, let us be the first to say - thank you. You are invaluable to the people who know and need you as well as the community around you.

Happy Father’s Day!

KATHY SLEMP, PUBLISHER @TULSACITYLIFESTYLE

June 2023

PUBLISHER

Kathy Slemp | kslemp@citylifestyle.com

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Lindsey Nantze | lindsey.nantze@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Kacie Brown, Joe Harwell, C.L. Harmon, Andrea Gardner

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Cindy Alvarez

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

AD DESIGNER Evan Deuvall

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain

A Stroke of Excellence

We know that hiring a painting contractor can be frustrating and time consuming. On paper, painting your home or business should be a fun and refreshing experience! At Impressions Painting, we strive to be a customer service FIRST business. Nearly 200 five-star Google reviews can’t lie when it comes to painting, Impressions has you (and your walls) covered!

Artist

Derek Penix to be featured at Royce Myers Gallery

Award-winning artist Derek Penix returns to Tulsa for a reception and workshop at Royce Myers Gallery. The reception will be held at the gallery on June 8th from 5:00 - 8:00 PM, and the workshop runs from June 9th - 10th. "It's an exciting opportunity for me to share my journey with my fellow Tulsans and show them how my roots in Tulsa continue to influence my art," Penix says. Find out more at roycemeyers.com .

A Fresh Coat

EXPERT ADVICE FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT PAINTING COMPANY TO TRANSFORM YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.

From Broken Arrow to Owasso, the Tulsa area has seen major growth over the past 10 years. And as our communities have expanded, so have our contracting options. Sorting through these companies can be overwhelming, especially on top of preparations for business or home-improvement projects. We talked to Impressions Painting Company owner Emmanuel Mora to find out what's most important in a painting company - whether you're looking for a summer refresh or a whole new look.

A COMMITMENT TO QUALITY

When you're choosing a painting company, you're making a decision you'll quite literally "live with" for years. It's so important that you're confident in the care the company will take with your property. As you're exploring painting companies' websites, look for a variety of project outcome photos that display excellent work, and check for customer testimonials, too. The more there are, the better!

FLEXIBILITY

At Impressions Painting, no project is too large or too small for us to take on: single rooms, entire properties, you name it. We're experienced in a wide range of areas: interior painting, exterior painting, and even more unusual services like deck staining. You

want to be sure your potential painter is well-versed in the area you're needing work done, especially before requesting a quote.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Working with a difficult contractor can be a nightmare. When choosing a painting company, excellent customer care is non-negotiable, and that's what we're all about at Impressions Painting. We love what we do and want your project to be 100 percent perfect, no exceptions. If you’re not thrilled with the outcome of your painting job, we’ll make it right. We’re not just a painting company – we strive to make a positive difference one coat of paint at a time. If you're ready to jump into your next project, schedule a free consultation with us today! Call us at 918-973-0242 or visit impressionspaintingtulsa.com .

"We’re not just a painting company – we strive to make a positive difference one coat of paint at a time."

Tracing separate property or assets in a divorce can be an important issue for lots of individuals. Take a situation where somebody has a 401k or IRA before marriage. They have put money into this account before marriage.

They then get married. After marriage, they continue to contribute to this 401k or IRA. At this point, pre-marital separate funds and marital funds are being mixed.

The parties then file for divorce. In these situations, the one spouse is often asking that the entire 401k or IRA be divided in the divorce. The spouse who had funds in these accounts before marriage argues that the pre-marital por-

tion should be set aside to them entirely. And they argue that only the funds put in during the marriage should be divided through the divorce.

The reality, however, is that the separate funds need to be traced out from the account. This often requires a forensic accountant reviewing statements and doing an analysis to determine the amount that was in these accounts during the marriage.

At a minimum, parties may need to subpoena the statements from the date of the marriage to try to determine the amount that was in there. However, it can often be hard to obtain statements at the exact date of the marriage.

In addition to 401ks or IRAs, tracing can be important for other assets like bank

accounts, investment accounts, whole life insurance policies, and other assets where a party might have built up cash value before marriage. In some instances, a party might consider having a prenuptial agreement drafted before getting married.

Stange Law Firm, PC limits their practice to family law matters including divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, guardianship, adoption, mediation, collaborative law, estate planning and other domestic relation matters.

Stange Law Firm, PC gives clients 24/7 access to their case through a secured online case tracker found on the website. They also give their clients their cell phone numbers. Call for a consultation

at 855-8050595.

INSPIRING SUCCESS

Meet Christopher and Lee Appel, the new owners of Broken Arrow’s Huntington Learning Center

With seasoned teachers and highly individualized programs, Huntington Learning Center of Broken Arrow has been working with students to improve academic performance, build confidence, and create successful outcomes for more than 10 years. The center just changed hands, and new owners Chris and Lee Appel say they are eager to serve the community’s students – especially as they regain ground after the pandemic. We talked with Chris to find out more.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND. WHAT LED YOU TO LOCAL BUSINESS AND EDUCATION?

My background is in engineering – I’ve been running a consulting business in oil and gas for about nine years. I came to education through my wife, who’s a 3rd-grade teacher at Victory Christian School. I’ve had the desire to buy a business for several years, and this one was a great fit for us, especially because we have three school-aged children, so we’re right in the middle of teaching our own kids, too.

WHY SHOULD PARENTS CHOOSE HUNTINGTON?

Huntington does things very, very well. The results they get are extraordinary – the grade-level learning increases they see with elementary through high school students, the improvements in ACT/SAT scores, and

the scholarships they’re able to help students obtain. You just can’t beat the Huntington method. We hold high respect for the former owner, Cindy Snodgrass, and all that she has invested to make the Broken Arrow Huntington Learning Center what it is today.  We are excited and ready to continue the legacy of learning for students in the Tulsa Metro Area.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO HELP STUDENTS ACHIEVE?

There’s a real need right now coming out of the pandemic. Students need more support, whether they didn’t connect with online learning or are just struggling in the classroom. Children are our future, and we want to help build not only their ability to learn, but also their self-confidence to become successful adults.

THE LONGTIME HOLLAND HALL FIGURE RETIRING AT 86

CHARLIE BROWN: LUCK AND LEGACY

Holland Hall has been around for more than 100 years now. And one person can say he's served the school for more than half its long history: Charlie Brown. Over his 56-year tenure, he's played important roles in thousands of students' lives as head football coach, chemistry teacher, dean of students, athletic director, advancement officer, and director of stewardship. "Even people who don't know him have been impacted by Charlie Brown," current Holland Hall head football coach Tag Gross says. "He's a great person, coach, and teacher, but also just had a profound vision for the school."

PROMOTING PASSION

With numerous championships, a record-breaking win streak, a place in the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame, grants from the National Science Foundation, and more, Brown's list of accomplishments runs long. But it's clear from just a few moment's conversation with him - and his decision to retire at 86 - that his time at Holland Hall hasn't been about trophies and test scores.

Helping mold outstanding young people is his passion, and it brings him great joy to see them pursue theirs.

Brown's approach to athletics was different from many other Oklahoma schools’. He and his coaches didn't expect students to specialize in just one sport. Instead, they encouraged them to explore multiple, and made sure they could be involved in the arts and other activities, too. Brown helped cultivate a rich culture of multidisciplinary excellence at Holland Hall, and he says seeing students thrive in it still inspires him.

"I recently went to see our concert chorus and various music groups, and I saw a brilliant young lady sing a solo," he says. "Well, I was out on the track later and saw that she was a hurdler. It's those kinds of experiences that really make teaching fun."

TEACHING VALUES

Brown's coaching is legendary - he's even been recognized by the Oklahoma State Legislature for it. As a coach, he says he hoped to instill traditional, sports-focused qualities like a strong work ethic and sportsmanship in his players, but he also emphasized character-building traits like humility, loyalty, and trust. "I never believed in something called 'trash talking,'" he says.

Brown says during his time at Holland Hall, he's been especially proud of the entire school's approach to students' behavior, too. When students' actions come into question, they appear before a council of their peers. "It's students visiting with students about their behavior. That becomes a valuable thing when students want other students to behave well and represent them well," he says.

REFLECTING ON LUCK

Brown doesn't hesitate to call Holland Hall the best school in Oklahoma. He acknowledges his bias, but it's clear that he knows the school inside and out, as a coach, teacher, and administratorand as a father of two Holland Hall graduates. He says watching his boys flourish at the school gave him an even greater appreciation for it.

"As a parent, if your children always want to go to school, you can tell they're in a pretty good school," he says.

Exemplifying the humility he hoped to instill in his football players, Brown says his time at that "pretty good school" has made him one of the luckiest people in education. He even wrote an autobiography, titled "The Lucky One," which gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at the stories and relationships that have made his career so remarkable. All of the book's proceeds benefit the Charlie Brown Endowment for Financial Aid.

Brown will still work closely with the Holland Hall community in his retirement, and says he's also looking forward to playing golf and enjoying time with his nine grandchildren and cocker spaniel, Lucky.

“TAKE ME RIDING IN A CAR, CAR.” BOB DYLAN

THE DEFINITION OF AN AUTOMOTIVE ENTHUSIAST

Bob Dylan may not be known for penning the ultimate car song, but Tulsan Lonnie Sherry is the definition of a true automotive enthusiast. Lonnie and his wife own five show quality rides; three Corvettes, a 59, 71, and 2011, plus a 64 short-bed Chevy pickup and a 2016 Alpha Romeo 4C.

The car bug bit him early. When Lonnie was young, his father bought three, 1929 Fords. One to drive, one for parts, and one for Lonnie to drive when he turned fifteen. A 29 Ford for a first car. That’s beyond cool. His day job for the past thirty-eight years is an insurance adjuster.

Lonnie doesn’t just own cool vehicles. He did full restorations on the 59 and 71 Vettes and the 64 pickup. “I built the 59 in my shop for my wife about five years ago. It's a blue metallic convertible with white coves and a white soft top. The motor is a 283 V8, factory aluminum intake with dual four barrels and a fourspeed standard transmission.”

The 71 is also a convertible, red with red interior and a white top. He did a full restoration on it about six years ago in the shop. “The motor is a 383 stroker, balanced and blue printed with all the go fast goodies and a turbo 400 transmission.”

The 64 Chevy shortbed fleetside pickup is Lonnie’s daily driver. It has a big back window with silver over blue two-tone paint. “I restored it ten years ago but I’m in the process of restoring it again with an LS motor, 4L60E transmission, modern suspension lowered five inches, twenty-inch chrome wheels and power disc brakes. The interior has two-tone leather, stereo, heat and air (vintage air), and power steering.”

The couple purchased the 2011 Vette new. It’s a special Grand Sport Heritage edition, red with black soft top. “We have left it stock. It’s a pleasure to drive and very fast with an LS3, four-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.”

The 2016 Alpha Romeo 4C is his wife's daily driver purchased new in 2017. “The metallic red carbon fiber body has a very fast turbocharged 1.7 liter 4-cylinder mid-engine and handles like a racecar with paddle shifted, double fluid clutch transmission.  We ordered it from Italy and it was shipped to a dealer in Salt Lake City.”

What’s next? More Vettes, another custom truck, an imported supercar? “In the next few years, we plan to reduce our collection to four vehicles. The problem will be, deciding what to keep.”

Lonnie began restoring cars in his garage. These days he has a 1,400 square foot shop at his house. He’s a member of the Tulsa Vette Set, Tulsa Chevy Classics, and Dragin’ Masters car clubs

Golden Hurricane May Just Be On The Offensive

University of Tulsa’s New Head Coach, Kevin

Has His Own Game Plan

Like most others in the country, Oklahomans love their football. And when it comes to college ball, it’s the season of stats, scores and “Shush - the game is on!” It’s a rush to see our favorite teams vying for - and maybe even winning - a championship. And every year, fans await the changes in new players and line-ups in hopes of getting a little direction as to how the season will play out. But behind all the teams moving the ball on the field, there is another team behind-the-scenes and on the sidelines moving the program up the field and through the season. And just like the teams on the field, there is a structure and a game plan as to how this team is gaining yardage in a very different way. Its quarterback, if you will, for this behind-the-scenes team is the head coach. And for the University of Tulsa’s Golden Hurricane, there is a new one with a playbook all his own. Welcome to Tulsa, Coach Kevin Wilson!

Many college sports fans may recognize his name. He has been coaching college football for 38 years and has made quite a name as an offensive coach. Originally from North Carolina, he grew up in a small town outside of Charlotte amid several small schools where local football had a huge community presence.

“I was impacted at an early age coming from a football town and being a football guy; I got sucked into the sport at an early age,” Wilson said. And though he played high school football, he knew as a teen that he wanted to be a coach. He attended the University of North Carolina from 1980-1983 as a walk-on and played all four years as a “solid backup guy, but nothing special,” by his own admission. His aspirations were to obtain his degree, coach high school athletics, and teach math.

But instead of gaining employment at a high school, he would take a job as a graduate assistant coach for the university just to

see if he had what it took to be a college coach. After three years of being an assistant coach, he had been well received by the coaching staff, particularly Randy Walker who had recruited him for the assistant position. As such, he took a shot and accepted a position at Winston-Salem State in North Carolina. After one year, though, he followed their head coach to another college in North Carolina, moving up the field a bit.

During his second year at that college, opportunity knocked again. But this time it was one to pursue his original goal of coaching high school. Turned out, it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, and he didn’t do well at it, he stated. So, he left and began looking at getting back into the college game. His coaching mentor Randy Walker from his first assistant coaching job came through and offered him the chance to coach at Miami University in Ohio, where Walker was the head coach. Wilson felt at home in Miami and remained there for nine years. He then opted for another move and followed Walker to Northwestern University in Illinois to work with renowned coach Gary Barnett’s staff. While there, the team won a Big Ten Championship, bringing attention to Wilson’s coaching abilities.

This would put his skill set and experience on multiple radars - including legendary Oklahoma Sooners coach Bob Stoops, who offered him an opportunity with the Sooners. He would remain there for nine years as an offensive coach with the last five as offensive coordinator. Then he would be given a chance to be a head coach. He jumped at the offer and moved to Indiana to lead the Hoosiers. He coached that organization for six years before moving to Ohio State for another six years. Through the years he has been building his reputation as a solid offensive coach. And then another Oklahoma opportunity would present itself. And like a perfectly executed play, his next move would lead him back to Oklahoma to head up the University of Tulsa football program.

Unlike many coaches who seem to take the nomadic existence of eyeing the next position and always chasing up or making lateral moves, Wilson points out that he preferred to embrace every job with focus, and with an intent to stay and build the program. He admits he would most likely have advanced further and faster had he chosen to play that game. But instead, he opted not to look at it as the ‘grass is greener’ on the next field, but to make a difference where he was and wait for opportunities to present themselves. As such, he has had only four jobs in the last 33 years, which is quite remarkable in a profession where moving around is just part of the game.

“It's difficult to be the right guy for a coaching position because there’s a lot of talent out there,” Wilson said about getting the job as head coach. He is humbled

that when the decision makers at TU “peeled back all the candidates,” he just happened to be who they were looking for as their next program leader. And he was certainly ready for another shot as a head coach.

Historically, TU has had some phenomenal teams over the decades, and ranks well in college football history in terms of wins and conference championships. Wilson is excited to be the next leader moving TU football into the future and continuing the tradition of creating great teams and exceptional men with skills to tackle anything on the field and in life.

“I’m excited to lead the program and having been a head coach in the past and to have had the opportunity to work with some great coaches and mentors; I feel I possess a good perspective for coaching Tulsa,” he said.   He explained that this perspective, in part, comes from the experience of learning what works, and more importantly, the wisdom to know that what works for one program may not work for every team dynamic. As for the new job and fitting in, he feels they are off to a good start and he and his staff are connecting positively with the team in building the infrastructure, culture, and vibe.

Wilson’s main priority is managing and developing the team, which is a colossal feat, especially in the beginning. It takes a lot of time and energy to develop the different facets of coaching and managing a team, while also providing positive influence both on and off the field, as well as being cognizant of the university’s reputation. The university’s programs are all part of that reputation, which Wilson considers to be one team all

working together to win in every aspect of the college experience.

“We want to be successful, but we also want to represent the university both on and off the field with class, effort, passion, and enthusiasm while playing the game in the right way,” Wilson said. Part of creating that winning team is connecting with the city of Tulsa - the team’s fan base - and representing the city in a positive manner, which Wilson believes is also an integral part of any successful college program.

“We are positively impacting young men’s lives and hopefully we can do that and still win a boatload of football games,” he said. And to be able to do that is a successful game plan, no matter which side of the line of scrimmage a team finds itself on. He is excited to work with these young players as the season unfolds. He expressed that the players are buying into what he and his coaching staff are selling. But he is not naïve and knows there will be challenges and much team-building ahead. These players are receptive to what he hopes to achieve, and this gives him confidence that the victories will come to pass. The first four months have been very “pleasing” to him and he is proud and appreciative of the work the players and coaching staff are doing.

“Tulsa is a great city. I love the city and the vibe. I really like our institution, campus, and its academics. It’s a beautiful place,” Wilson said. He is a father of five, and he and his wife Angela are excited to be back in Oklahoma, having moved to Tulsa in December. Here’s to Coach Wilson and the next generation of the Hurricane bringing Tulsa the golden ticket.

“We are positively impacting young men’s lives and hopefully we can do that and still win a boatload of football games.”

—Kevin Wilson

MAKE AN IMPACT FOR DAD

What do you buy for the man who has everything? Perhaps an experience oriented around what dads value most – time together – is just what he needs. Fathers and father figures are invaluable in our lives. They help shape and mold us. They’re there for us and support us. If you haven’t already planned something special, take a look at our list of ideas and circle your favorites. If you have kids, let them join in the fun too!

Whether you decide to spend a day at home or enjoy a day on the town, these innovative celebration ideas will include fun for the whole family and make Dad feel loved. Whatever activity or surprise you land on to show your dad, husband, brother or father figure your appreciation for all they do, the most important thing is that you all get to spend some quality time together.

Memorable Ways to Celebrate The Father Figure in Your Life

LEARN ABOUT HIS FAMILY TREE

Family heritage websites can offer insight into dad’s past and be an interesting way to study the history of your family. Present Dad with a report on his ancestors or dig in together!

PLAN A STAYCATION

You don’t need to go very far to have a great time with Dad! Explore a new neck of your own woods with a family staycation. You can go out on the town, stay at a fancy hotel and maybe even enjoy some room service!

GO BIRD WATCHING

Lay out a blanket in your backyard and grab your binoculars for a peaceful, naturefilled day. Make a list of how many different kinds of birds you see and guess if you can identify them.

GO BOWLING

Bowling is a timeless classic Dad is sure to enjoy. Bonus if the bowling alley has an arcade, chicken wings and Dad’s favorite beverage of choice.

PLAY FRISBEE GOLF AS A FAMILY

Find a local frisbee golf course and grab a slot for the family to play. This activity is fun for both young and old and helps you take advantage of being in the beautiful outdoors together.

SPOIL HIM WITH BREAKFAST IN BED

Breakfast in bed isn’t just for Mother’s Day. Dads can enjoy it too! Whip up some of his favorite brunch treats and start Father’s Day off the right way.

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HAVE A WINE AND PAINT NIGHT

Sign up for an artistic experience at a local wine and paint shop so Dad can let his creative side show and you can have a custom piece of art for years to come.

TACKLE A TASK TOGETHER

Is Dad a hands-on guy? Why not spend the day constructing a tree house or painting a birdhouse? Or better yet, help him organize the garage or start a garage redesign.

DO A FITNESS CLASS TOGETHER

Consider signing him up for a fitness class together. Whether he likes cycling, boxing or HIIT, encourage him to be adventurous and try something new.

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FIRE UP THE BACKYARD GRILL

There’s no greater way to get to a Dad’s heart than the word “barbecue”. Grab extravagant meats like a rack of ribs or wagyu beef burgers and go to town.

CONSTRUCT SOMETHING OUT OF LEGOS

Harken back to Dad’s childhood with a specialty kit of legos. Embark on a family project of helping Dad build models of favorite movie props like the Death Star or Hogwarts castle.

HAVE AN OUTDOOR FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT

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COOK SOMETHING ADVENTUROUS

If some of Dad’s role models include Gordon Ramsay and Bobby Flay, consider thinking outside the box and create a meal with something you wouldn’t usually go for like bison burgers or grilled octopus tentacles. Tackling a complex recipe may seem challenging but the memories and the meal will be worth it.

Great Gifts

for Dad

Get Dad something he’ll actually like this Father’s Day at Tulsa Hills Wine & Cigar Cellars

01 OKIE BRAND HAT, $25-37. Shop Tulsa’s largest selection of hats and apparel from Oklahoma’s favorite brand. // 02 WHISTLEPIG 12 YEAR SINGLE BARREL SELECT RYE, $167. A whiskey hand-picked by Tulsa Hills Wine Cellar is the ultimate limited edition item. / 03 GAMBA OLD VINE ZINFANDEL, $55. Opt for a bold red Dad can drink now or age. / 04 DOUBLE AGED 12 YEAR VINTAGE CIGAR BY PERDOMO, $1113.   Tulsa Hills Cigar Cellar is the only store in OK with this limited-release series. / 05 KIRK & SWEENEY GRAN RESERVA RUM, $52. Dad won’t want to mix with this sipping rum. / 06 GIFT CARDS, $10+. Not sure which gift to choose? Give Dad a gift card to one of his favorite stores.

Tulsa Hills Wine & Cigar Cellars are located at 7420 S Olympia Ave near 71st and Hwy 75. For more information visit  tulsahillswinecellar.com or  tulsahillscigarcellar.com

I’m a teacher at Holland Hall and an alumna.

What makes a Holland Hall teacher? Someone who is passionate, who is a master at their area of study and who cares deeply about forming relationships and learning about kids.”

Holland Hall, Holland Hall, Tulsa’s PreK-12th grade independent Episcopal school, offers a rigorous academic curriculum, but also more than 30 arts classes, state championship athletic teams and faculty members who have time to know your child. Ask about a private tour and tuition assistance.

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