OKC FRIDAY Vol. 57 No. 45 • Two Sections • 22 pages • March 29, 2024 $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 50 years
For local Holy Week worship services, see Page 14.
Ready for Redbud Oklahoma City Zoo’s largest expansion is now open to public
LOU KERR
Civic icon Lou Kerr passes away
Saturday, April 6 • 10-Mile Bike Fun Ride; • 30-Mile Timed Bike Tour; • 50-Mile Redbud Fondo; • 1-Mile Kids’ Fun Run; • 1-Mile Woof Walk (leashed
Africa, a dream destination for wildlife lovers, is now a reality for visitors to the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden with the completion of its new Expedition Africa habitat expansion. Presented by Inasmuch Foundation, Expedition Africa is the OKC Zoo’s largest ever expansion at more than 12 acres, encompassing new habitats, building renovations, and enticing features that elevate the guest experience like never before. Foremost among the expansion is room for more than 60 species native to the African continent. The spaces are intricately crafted to provide giraffes, lemurs, wildebeest, hyenas, and more with welcoming homes that mimic their native habitats. “One of the most exciting parts of Expedition Africa is that we’re able to provide natural enclosures for the members of our animal family,” said Dr. Dwight Lawson, OKC Zoo’s executive director and CEO. “It’s another vital step in our mission to connect people with wildlife and wild places all around the world.” Expedition Africa was a truly collaborative effort, bringing together individual and corporate donors, said Oklahoma Zoological Society Executive Director Mandy Heaps. “Since its inclusion in the zoo’s strategic plan in 2018, so many groups inside and outside the zoo worked in concert to make this dream a reality,” she said. “Seeing the fruition of the effort and giving of people across the state and around the world to make this happen is inspiring.” Among the new expansion’s standout features is the renovated Love’s Pachyderm Building, home to some of the zoo’s most captivating residents. The building, which joined the National Register of Historic Places in 2021, retains its Midcentury Modern architecture with an enhanced and visitor-friendly interior housing African lungfish, dwarf mongooses, naked mole rats and more. It also includes a gorgeous new events space for
See REDBUD, Page 2
See ZOO, Page 13
By Eric Oesch Staff Writer Prominent Oklahoma City civic leader and national philanthropist Lou C. Kerr has died at age 87 following an extended illness. The arts and education proponent, who had humble beginnings in south Oklahoma City’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, was a longtime resident of Nichols Hills and Quail Creek. She has been named one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Oklahoma City by OKC FRIDAY since the inception of the awards. Kerr was a 1955 graduate of Capitol Hill High School and obtained a bachelor’s degree in education and health from Oklahoma City University. She married prominent oil entrepreneur Robert S. Kerr Jr. in 1972 and was the daughter-in-law of former US Senator Robert S. Kerr. She was known for her lifetime commitment to public service and served as vice president of The Kerr Foundation from 1985 to 1999 at which time she became President. At the time of her death she was president and chairman of the See KERR, Page 7
Nichols Hills Police Chief Steven Cox, City Manager Shane Pate, Redbud Classic Race Director Kristin Hersom and her daughter Lillie are getting ready for the big race weekend, April 6-7.
- Photo by Rose Lane
Nichols Hills gearing up for local race tradition The blooming Oklahoma Redbud trees serve as a vibrant reminder of the 41st annual Redbud Classic, Oklahoma City’s longest-standing local race tradition benefiting local charities, set for April 6-7. Event officials welcome and encourage everyone to participate in the 12 different events and celebrations.
The Redbud Classic events include:
OKC FRIDAY: Fabulous at 50
Fridayland full of interesting people By Charles H. Van Rysselberge Former OKC Chamber CEO Congratulations to OKC FRIDAY — Vicki Clark Gourley, Rose Lane and the rest of the staff — on the 50th Anniversary of OKC FRIDAY newspaper!!! What a significant achievement! When I saw the announcement, I wondered how I might contribute to this occasion, and decided that perhaps I could comment on a portion of that time. What follows here is my
contribution to this year’s celebration! OKC FRIDAY is mentioned numerous times in this article as a source for some of my information. For the past several years, I have been writing about my life experiences, over the past seven decades. One of the ways I have done this is through my connections to several hundred of the most interesting people I have met or worked with, in the many See 50, Page 2
FRIDAY’s Dog of the Week Meet Mac Moreland, the most gentle giant. He’s the biggest protector, barker and the leader of Jason and Paige Moreland’s Doodle trio. Mac is a 7-year-old Bernedoodle. He tore his ACL running in the backyard and had surgery. Email Dog of the Week, Baby of the Week and Cat of the Week submissions to rose@okcfriday.com.