OKC FRIDAY Vol. 58 No. 37 • One Section • 14 pages • February 14, 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
Councilpersons in Village, NHills do not seek reelection
Respect a key to Joy and Jerry’s union
By Eric Oesch Staff Writer Voters in both Nichols Hills and The Village are to elect council members following candidate filings last week. Voters in The Village will elect a new councilman to represent Ward 2, while in Nichols Hills the Ward 2 seat sees a contest for the first time in many years. In Nichols Hills, 18-year incumbent E. Peter Hoffman, Jr. surprised many by not filing for reelection. He is the current mayor of the city and has served six terms as councilman representing the constituents of Ward 2. Colin M. FitzSimons (51) and Ford Austin (54) filed last week with the Oklahoma County Election Board to replace Hoffman on the Nichols Hills city council. FitzSimons is a 20-year-resident of Nichols Hills. He is president and CEO of Corytus, LLC and is on the board of Dorchester Capital Corp. He has 15 years of service on the Science Museum Oklahoma Board of Trustees including five years as chairman of the board. He also sits on the boards for Casady School and Allied Arts. Austin is an award-winning Hollywood motion picture producer and business owner. He has been president and CEO of
By Rose Lane Editor Letting each other set boundaries, respecting your spouse and just having fun are the secrets to Joy and Jerry Richardson’s nearly 62year marriage. Most Fridaylanders know Joy and Jerry. Joy wrote a long-time column, Excursions for OKC FRIDAY where she would cover events and offer her signature Travel Tip. Jerry was at the helm of the Dub Richardson car dealerships. They have been fixtures in the community for a very long time, giving of their time, talents and treasures to many charitable organizations. Joy and Jerry raised their three kids here, all of whom have followed their parents’ example of community service. Now, Joy is concentrating on her art and Jerry is into acting and investing, all the while traveling around the world. “Having something to
Joy and Jerry Richardson on their wedding day, May 31, 1963.
be excited about is what keeps us going,” Joy said. Joy went to Edmond High School and Jerry to Harding. They met junior year of college at the University of Oklahoma on a blind date. The date was going to the drive-in to see “The Parent Trap.” Jerry asked Joy out on a second date, but she already had a date. He asked her for a third and again, she already had a date. “I really liked him,” Joy said. “But, I really did have a date.” They finally found a time that worked for both of them. Jerry was a Beta Theta Phi and he took Joy to a Beta swim meet.
Bice named to West Point Board of Visitors Congresswoman Stephanie Bice has been appointed by Speaker Mike Johnson to serve on the Board of Visitors of the United States Military Academy at West Point. The Congresswoman and her fellow board members are to examine the morale, See BICE, Page 7
STEPHANIE BICE
The pair stayed together. Jerry was in the ROTC so he was required to serve two years in the military, choosing the Navy. Joy and Jerry graduated from college on Sunday and he was commissioned that afternoon. They became Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Richardson the next Friday, May 31, 1963. The honeymoon was a driving trip to San Francisco, Calif., where Jerry was to be stationed. They settled into a small apartment near the Naval base. As Jerry was out at sea a lot, Joy started working See JOY AND JERRY, Page 13
See ELECTIONS, Page 2
NHills sanitation trucks to get an ‘artistic facelift’ By Eric Oesch Staff Writer Sanitation trucks in Nichols Hills are to get an “artistic facelift” as one of two public art projects announced by the city. Nichols Hills is currently soliciting bids from area artists for both projects. The first project is an art wrap that is to adorn the city’s four sanitation vehicles. A second project creates a “rotating” work of art for placement in the Love Family Park along Grand
Elemental Ball to offer unique fun Science Museum Oklahoma hosts its second annual Elemental Ball at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 28, supporting the museum’s nonprofit mission to spark curiosity and expand knowledge. Unlike traditional fundraising galas, the Elemental Ball offers handson experiences that intertwine interactive science and elegance. While guests enjoy cocktails and a chefcurated gourmet dinner, they also participate in unique activities, such as indoor mini go-kart racing, fire throwing, champagne sabering, walking on broken glass and exploring a massive ball pit. As a 501c-3 that receives no public assistance, the evening is to help Science Museum Oklahoma raise
APCO Oil Corporation in Oklahoma City for 16 years and serves as acting CEO of The Private Office of Anderson Family Investments located at 1000 W. Wilshire Blvd. in Oklahoma City. In The Village, Ward 3 councilman and current vice mayor Melodie Moore did not file for reelection. She previously announced her intention to seek reelection. When Moore ran for the Ward 3 seat two years ago, she was elected the first Black person to serve on The Village City Council. Keith Spangler (43) is the only candidate to file for Moore’s vacant Ward 3 seat and was automatically elected to the council. He is the registered agent on file for Offensive Entertainment Management LLC, an Oklahoma Domestic Limited -Liability Company. He has not run for previous office. The Ward 2 seat in The Village is the only seat to draw a competitive race, pitting current 20-year council veteran and former Mayor C. Scott “Bubba” Symes (78) against Village Arts Association board chairman Jon Sousa (33). Symes is the most tenured councilman in The Village, having served 22 years on the council and four terms as mayor. He
essential funds to support programs that reach underserved communities and add new educational exhibits that bring STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) to life. Individual tickets are still available, but limited, until Feb. 14 at sciencemuseumok.org/elemental. “Elemental Ball is more than just a night of excitement — it’s a celebration of curiosity and discovery,” said Sherry Marshall, John E. Kirkpatrick CEO at Science Museum Oklahoma. “Every experience, from throwing fire to exploring the science behind sabering champagne, fuels our mission to inspire future innovators and expand access to hands-on learning.”
Boulevard. The city recently announced the invitations for proposals in the public notice section of OKC FRIDAY. “To my knowledge, this is the first solicitation for art proposals in the city,” said City Manager Shane Pate. “Historically, residents have donated art themselves through park adoption or city council donation acceptances.” Pate said the City Council has budgeted a collective $25,000 for the Art Commission to add pub-
FRIDAY’s Dog of the Week Tetra is an especially spunky twoyear-old Cardigan Welsh Corgi. She lives in Oklahoma City with Leah and Micah Fryslie where she enjoys spending much of her free time playing outside. Tetra loves stealing toys from her sister and eating all the snacks, but just wants to cuddle with her humans in a warm blanket at the end of the day. Email Pet of the Week submissions with complete descriptions to: rose@okcfriday.com.
lic art in the city. The city plans to use operating funds set aside for each project. “Our Public Arts Commission is dedicated to making art accessible to all residents in Nichols Hills,” said Melissa Scaramucci, chairman of the commission. “The commission will manage the selection process, including public input, and will make a final recommendation (for both projects) to the City Council for approval. See NHILLS, Page 7