OKC FRIDAY Vol. 58 No. 1• One Section • 12 pages • May 10, 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
FRIDAY: FABULOUS AT 50! Founder Leland Gourley published first issue on May 10, 1974
By Vicki C. Gourley Publisher On May 10 1974, J. Leland Gourley published the first issue of FRIDAY. He was the owner and publisher of the Henryetta Daily Freelance. He left his general manager in charge of the Freelance to travel the
After Edmonson was elected to the U.S. Senate, Gourley bought State Capital Bank. But he longed to be back in the newspaper business. He started FRIDAY in 1974 with news content covering Nichol Hills government and social scene. Jane Van Cleef was his first social column writer.
state to campaign for gubernatorial candidate J. Howard Edmondson. After Edmondson’s election, Gourley moved his family to Oklahoma City so he could serve as Edmonson’s chief of staff. Edmonson, 33, was and still is the youngest governor in the history of the state.
After reading this first issue, Vicki Clark – president of The Village Jaycees – visited Gourley’s office, saying “your newspaper is all Nichols Hills news and Village advertisers.” Gourley hired Clark to write a Village column paying her $10 a week. The newspaper thrived,
but within the year, Gourley was threatened with a lawsuit from an Asian newspaper which had registered the name FRIDAY. Gourley quickly changed the name to OKC FRIDAY. Now, as we celebrate our 50th year of all local news, we want to thank all of our readers for your support.
Fridaylanders are set to direct Ziegfeld-inspired Senior Follies By Eric Oesch Staff Writer In 2010, Fridaylander Bobbie Burbridge Lane came up with a unique idea to present an annual Ziegfeldinspired variety show featuring talented seniors aged 55 and over. She called it the Oklahoma Senior Follies and her goal was to stage an elaborate production to entertain, uplift and energize senior citizens. The Oklahoma Senior Follies was originally at the Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center on the campus of Oklahoma City University. It was an instant success. Today, the Senior Follies are scheduled for June 8-9 at Mitchell Hall Theatre on the campus of the University of Central Oklahoma. The show has morphed into a non-profit organization that benefits the Alzheimer’s Association. The aim is to raise $55,000, all while keeping the original goal to offer an entertaining show for seniors. Through the years the Oklahoma Senior Follies has attracted some of the
area’s most talented entertainers and community leaders including Jane Hall, Charlotte Franklin, Vicki Gourley, Kerry Robertson, Jody Miller, Leona Mitchell, Rose Lane, Linda Wright, Barbara DeMaio, John Ferguson, Kevin Ogle and Edgar Cruz. “Only at the Follies can you see the Beauties,” said Dot Liles, marketing chairman and an entertainer for the 2024 edition of the Senior Follies. “They are women well-known for their public service. They wear Ziegfeld-style elegant gowns, elaborate hats or hairdos and wow the audiences!” Beauties featured in the 14th edition of the Senior Follies include Jackie Short, Barbara McMullin, Dot Liles, Fran Kozakowski, Billie Rodely, Barbara DeMaio, Pamela Holzberger, and Victoria Young. “On several occasions at least one Beauty nearly lost her hat on stage,” Liles recalled. “It’s a real balancing act especially if you’re dancing! “In the past our Beauties were introduced, but last year was the first time
Senior Follies directors Gina Bramlett and Michael Pone show off their ballroom-dancing skills.
- Photo by Fran Kozakowski
See FOLLIES, Page 3
Parks take center stage as NHills named Tree City USA for 30th consecutive year By Eric Oesch Staff Writer For the 30th consecutive year, the National Arbor Day Foundation recognized Nichols Hills as a Tree City USA. The honor was celebrated with the planting of a
Redbud tree in Grand Boulevard Park by Mayor Sody Clements, Vice Mayor Peter Hoffman and Councilman Steve Goetzinger during Arbor Day festivities. “Since I’ve lived in Nichols Hills since 1959, I’ve seen
FRIDAY’s Cat of the Week Jessica (kitty girl) is a 7year-old patched tabby cat, whose mom is Sarah Laing. “I rescued her in 2018 from OK Humane Society and we have been besties ever since,” Sarah said. Email Dog of the Week, Baby of the Week and Cat of the Week submissions to rose@okcfriday.com.
how lovely our parks and trees are,” said Mayor Sody Clements. “It’s thrilling to think that a national group would recognize our dedication. And being a Tree City USA helps us keep our commitment to nurturing trees.” Although the City of
Nichols Hills is just 1.98 square miles, it boasts 31 landscaped parks, both large and small. Arbor Day festivities called attention to the upcoming renovation of the south end of the Spark, to be known as Redbud Park, in honor of the
Oklahoma state tree. The recent Arbor Day event was organized by Nancy Herzel, chairman of the city’s Environment, Sustainability and Health Commission. Members of the See NHILLS, Page 3
Classen is No. 1 in Oklahoma Classen School of Advanced Studies High School at Northeast came in first place in the U.S. News and World Report 2024 list of Best Oklahoma High Schools. Harding Charter Prep was ranked No. 8 and Harding Fine Arts Academy took No. 16 in rounding out the top 20. “This remarkable achievement is a testament to the exceptional efforts of each and every one of our staff members,” said Dr. Misti Tope, Classen School of Advanced Studies (SAS) High School at Northeast principal. “Thank you for your continued commitment to
our students and our school. Together, we are making a difference in our students’ lives and shaping our community's future. I couldn’t be prouder of our collective accomplishments.” U.S. News and World Report ranks schools based on college readiness, math and reading proficiency, math and reading performance, performance of underserved students, college curriculum breadth and graduation rate. Classen SAS High School at Northeast eclipsed other See CLASSEN, Page 3