Bishop McGuinness • Casady School Crossings Christian School • Heritage Hall Trinity
OKC FRIDAY Vol. 56 No. 34 • Two Sections • 18 pages • January 27, 2023
$1 per copy
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 49 years
United Way celebrates $19 million campaign, 100 years of giving By Rose Lane Editor The United Way of Central Oklahoma (UWCO) celebrated the close of its annual fundraising campaign with the United Way Gala at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, where the organization announced that a grand total of $19,055,547 million was raised. The event also recognized three community leaders, the campaign cochairmen and the board president, Sherri Lance, and toasted the organization’s 100th year of giving. “We are immensely grateful to have received more than $19 million to support the health of central Oklahomans,” Shane Wharton, who co-chaired the 2022 UWCO campaign with his wife, Lori, said. “We couldn’t be more thankful to start our 100th Anniversary year with this amazing success. Thank you to our generous donors, volunteers and Partner Agencies for giving the gift of
hope to our neighbors in need.” The United Way Gala, which served as the official kickoff to UWCO’s 100th Anniversary year, also recognized three community leaders who exemplify compassion for others, with the organization’s most prestigious volunteer awards. Jean Leger, a retired OG&E vice president, is the recipient of the Ray Ackerman Leadership Award. This honor recognizes those who share Ackerman’s tireless efforts and devotion to United Way’s mission and set the standard for volunteering, leadership and caring. Leger has been involved with United Way for many years and served on the board of directors, as well as the Community Investment Committee’s chairman. Another honoree is Bill Citty, former Oklahoma City police chief. Citty received the John and Berta Faye Rex Community Builder Award, which recognizes individuals See UWCO, Page 2
United Way celebrates successful campaign
- Photo by Beau Brand
United Way President and CEO Debby Hampton, campaign Co-Chairmen Shane and Lori Wharton and board Chainman Sherri Lance unveil the total of the 2022 campaign.
State’s most tenured city manager is retiring from The Village By Eric Oesch Staff Writer
- Photo by Rose Lane
Wife Tim and retiring The Village City Manager Bruce Stone with Vice Mayor Wynter Griffis during a retirement reception at City Hall.
When Bruce Stone was hired as City Manager of The Village in 1985, postage stamps were 22 cents, eggs were $1 a dozen and the average price for a gallon of unleaded gas was $1.20. A lot has changed in the 37 years Stone has led the northwest Oklahoma City suburb and as he retires as Oklahoma’s longest serving city manager, Stone is leaving the City of The Village a much different place than when he arrived. Stone, who has a clever sense of humor said, “I was born in Cleveland, Ohio at a very young age.” He grew up with his brother and sister living all over the United States and abroad as his father was employed with the U.S. Agency for International Development following a career in the Army. His father’s military career took the
Lyric details 60th anniversary season Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma is celebrating its 60th anniversary season this year with seven spectacular performances at the beloved Plaza Theatre and majestic Civic Center Music Hall. Lyric's 2023 anniversary season includes five mainstage productions – “The Play That Goes Wrong” (April 5-23), “The Sound of Music” (June 27-July 2), “The Prom “(July 11-16), “Ain’t Misbehavin’” (July 2530) and “Concerto” (Sept. 13-Oct. 1). Season add-ons include “Big River: Theatre For Young Audiences Version” (Feb. 16-March 11) and Lyric's 13th annual production of “A
Christmas Carol” (Nov. 24–Dec. 24). “The future is bright for Lyric Theatre, which was recently named the Official State Theatre of Oklahoma, and we are celebrating all year long,” said Michael Baron, Lyric’s producing artistic director. “We are busy creating a dynamic season with fresh looks at classic musicals, world and regional premieres and a new spectacular production of Lyric’s ‘A Christmas Carol.’ We are producing at full capacity and I am excited to welcome returning and new theatre See LYRIC, Page 4
family to numerous Army bases in the states and abroad including, Japan, Germany, Vietnam, Thailand and Laos. His mother, mostly a homemaker, worked several years as the director of the U.S. Information Service in Savannakhet, Laos. Maybe that’s why he’s always been, “pretty good at foreign languages.” “My first exposure to tonal language was in 1958 when my father was at the Army Language School in Monterrey, Calif.,” said Stone. “He was fluent in Vietnamese, compliments of the Army. So, my ear got used to the tonal sounds at a very early age. “I am fluent and can read and write Laotian. I also speak and read Thai, especially the northern Thai dialect called Thai Esan,” he said. “I don’t think I could be considered See RETIREMENT, Page 5
FRIDAY’s
Stone to continue as interim By Eric Oesch Staff Writer Longtime city manager of The Village, Bruce Stone, is to officially retire from the position he has held for over 37 years at the end of January. His pending retirement was the focus of discussion at last week’s City Council meeting where members approved an agreement to retain Stone as its interim city See STONE, Page 5
Dog of the Week
This is Walter Shapard Jacobsen (“Wally”). He is a Basset Hound and Beagle mix who spent the first 5+ years of his life in a laboratory being tested on. The Beagle Freedom Project (www.bfp.org) rescued him last fall. We adopted him in December from the BFP. He is like a cartoon character – silly, funny, awkward, happy to chase squirrels, go on walks and snuggle-up and sleep in a comfy chair, but most of all, he absolutely LOVES getting lots of love and attention from his human brothers, Teddy and Tucker Jacobsen, and his parents, Jeff and Nicole Jacobsen ... and anyone else willing to rub his belly and scratch his long hound-dog ears.