OKC FRIDAY Vol. 58 No. 38• One Section • 12 pages • January 10, 2025
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www.okcfriday.com facebook.com/okcfriday OKC’s only locally-owned legal newspaper with all local news Serving affluent far north Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills and The Village for 51 years
Panther squads net Bank 7 Holiday title Af left, the PC North girls basketball team poses with the championship trophy after claiming the Bank 7 Holiday Classic title. The Panthers cruised to a 68-42 victory against Bixby over Christmas week in the final at Mustang High School.
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Af right, the PC North boys basketball team celebrates after capturing the Bank 7 Holiday Classic title over the Christmas week. The Panthers held off Choctaw for a 67-64 win in the championship game at Mustang High School.
Browne family donates $500k to NHills park By Eric Oesch Staff Writer Nichols Hills residents Robert and Karen Browne have donated $500,000 to the City of Nichols Hills to adopt Redbud Park along Grand Boulevard in the Oklahoma City suburban community. The adoption includes payment for the construction and ongoing maintenance of improvements to be installed in the park. A Park Adoption Agreement Resolution detailing park improvements and financial responsibilities was unanimously approved by the Nichols Hills City Council in December. “This will eventually be a $2.3 million park improvement project,” City Manager Shane Pate told the council. “The Brownes have generously donated a large portion of the funds required for the project. We also want to acknowledge Clay and Jamie Farha for their generous donation of $100,000 toward the project. We are most appreciative of both families.” See NHILLS, Page 3
FRIDAY’s Dog of the Week This sweet boy is Tripp, who was recently adopted by OKC FRIDAY Deputy Publisher Rose Lane and her husband Bob, also known as the “Arm Candy’’ in social settings. Six-year-old Tripp is 118 pounds of pure Golden Retriever who just wants to be with his people. Email Pet of the Week submissions to rose@okcfriday.com.
Gene Rainbolt leaves legacy of love for Oklahoma By the late Gene Rainbolt Chairman Emeritus BancFirst Corp. The circle of my life closed on Jan. 2, 2025, and the only person who can write an obituary from the perspective of the deceased is, obviously, the deceased. This is my story of what was important to me. I was born on Feb. 20, 1929, as Harry Eugene Rainbolt, son of Bertie and Clark Rainbolt, of Norman and the youngest of four children. All my life I was called Gene. Having an adoring, but detached mother, and a distant father, at 5 or 6 years of age it was clear to me that whatever my life was to become was up to me. Consequently, I became a life-long serial entrepreneur,
GENE RAINBOLT
answering to myself. Because of my parents’ decision to be
close to a university, I had the extraordinary luck of living in Norman, giving me access to the University of Oklahoma, where I grew up in, on, or nearby the campus, one of the paramount factors in my development. As in most lives, there were important people in my life, but the most profound of all was my closest and incomparable friend, Jeannine Tuttle, who for many decades provided strength, support, tolerance, guidance and love. Beginning in the sixth grade at McKinley Elementary School, she became my friend and advisor, confirmed by the note I later wrote in her Norman High School See RAINBOLT, Page 3
Chance encounter with President Carter makes FRIDAY headlines By Rose Lane Editor A chance encounter with the late President Jimmy Carter is still a favorite story of Marie Cole’s family. The story made the front page of OKC FRIDAY on June 17, 1977. The President, who was known for his community service, particularly with Habitat for Humanity, died Dec. 29, 2024 at the age of 100. Marie’s family lived in the
Stonegate neighborhood in Fridayland. Just 8-months-old, there is a photo of little Marie wearing a Plains, Ga., t-shirt emblazoned with a peanut. Marie, her mom Ronnie Peddycoart and a friend Dana Littlepage had traveled to Plains, Ga. to visit Marie’s uncle Richard Gilbert. He took them to Plains to see the town, not knowing the President was there. Richard was pushing Marie in a stroller and took her to an area See CARTER, Page 2