OKC FRIDAY Vol. 57 No. 4 • One Section • 12 pages • June 2, 2023
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Women’s Hall of Fame OKC Mayor David and Rachel Holt, left, and Immediate Past Chairman Victoria Woods with Anna Marie Costello, right, at the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Page 11
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Downtown OKC to present Dean A. McGee Awards
The 2023 Senior Follies Beauties are, from left: Lisa Johnson, Judith Coyle, Jackie Short, Gina Bramlett, Carla Joy, Dot Liles, Kitti Asberry and DeeDee DeVore. For photos from the annual Beauties luncheon, see Page 2.
Senior Follies take the stage June 10-11 By Rose Lane Editor Broadcaster Kevin Ogle is to reign as king over the 2023 Oklahoma Senior Follies, set for Saturday and Sunday, June 10 and 11. The stage in the Hudson Performance Hall, NW Classen High School, 2820 N. May Ave. is where the shows are to take place beginning at 3 p.m. each day. Parading across the stage as Beauties will be Lisa Johnson, Judith Coyle, Jackie Short, Gina Bramlett, Carla Joy, Dot Liles, Kitti Asberry and DeeDee DeVore. Edgar Cruz is scheduled to present a special guest performance. This is the 12th year for the
Ziegfeld-inspired extravaganza, featuring the talents of Oklahoma’s 55plus. As always, the performances are to include lots of singing and dancing, as well as comedy acts. Oklahoma Senior Follies, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of Oklahoma Seniors. The organization’s goal and mission are to promote, encourage and stimulate the social and active lives of senior citizens. Each year, the Follies raises funds and donates them to the Oklahoma Alzheimer's Association through varied activities, including the Follies' extravaganza. For tickets, visit oklahomaseniorfollies.com or call (866) 966-1777.
Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership honors four business and civic leaders for their outstanding contributions to the downtown community at the 36th annual Dean A. McGee Awards on Wednesday, June 7, in the First National Center Ballroom. Gary Brooks is to receive the Dean A. McGee Award for his lifetime contributions to downtown; the Stanley Draper Award is to be presented to Wiley Williams for his efforts in community excellence; Charles Nicholas (posthumous) is to receive the Neal Horton Award for revitalization of downtown; and Jane Jenkins is the recipient of the President’s Award for her exceptional service to downtown. The 2023 Dean A. McGee Awards is a black-tie event that begins with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by a dinner and awards program at 7 p.m., and an after-party in The Library of Distilled Spirits. The 2023 event co-chairmen are former Mayor Mick Cornett and Marva Ellard, owner of Sieber Holdings. Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership President and CEO Jennifer Nakayama is to present the State of Downtown address. “This year’s honorees exemplify the spirit of the leaders for whom the awards are named, Dean McGee, Stanley Draper and Neal Horton,” said co-chairman Cornett. “The achievements of this year’s honorees will significantly contribute to a downtown being a place for future generations to live, work, play and raise a family.”
KEVIN OGLE Senior Follies King
See AWARDS, Page 3
Judith James, Bill Lance to be inducted into OK Hall of Fame By Rose Lane Editor OMRF Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Judith James and Chickasaw Nation Secretary of State Bill Lance, Jr. are to receive the state’s highest honor — induction into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Oklahomans are selected for outstanding service to humanity, Oklahoma and
the U.S., as well as efforts to bring distinction to the state. Jane Jayroe Gamble, member of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, opened the announcement ceremony with an invocation. “We honor a few of our own on this special day. These friends stand tall on a mountain of accomplishments, yet their feet are planted firmly in the red dirt of Oklahoma,” said Gamble.
James, a fifth-generation Oklahoman and native of Pond Creek, first came to OMRF as a Sir Alexander Fleming Scholar in 1988 and went on to become the first graduate of the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center’s M.D./Ph.D. program. Today, as a board-certified rheumatologist, she oversees all clinical activities at OMRF, chairs its Arthritis and Clinical Immunology
FRIDAY’s
Dog of the Week Meet Casper! He is 11-months-old and a white-factored Collie with a sable head, (completely white except for his head). His human John Gron said he has a licker problem and loves to get hugs and kisses! Casper is very athletic and learning the Dexterity Obstacle course. Email Dog, Cat, Pet and Baby of the Week nominations with complete descriptions to rose@okcfriday.com. Submissions are used in the order they are received.
Research Program, and holds the Lou C. Kerr Endowed Chair in Biomedical Research. A member of the National Academy of Medicine, James is best known for her watershed work in understanding early events of and launching prevention trials in autoimmune diseases like lupus. Her research has resulted in OMRF being named a National Institutes
of Health Autoimmunity Center of Excellence, one of only eight in the U.S. In addition to her role as OMRF’s chief clinical officer, James serves OUHSC as associate vice provost for clinical and translational science, a George Lynn Cross research professor, and a professor of medicine. At OUHSC, she leads the See HOF, Page 7
OMRF taps 2023 summer interns By Rose Lane Editor Seven Fridayland students have been chosen to intern in the summer labs at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. They are among more than two dozen students who comprise the largest class of interns in OMRF’s 76-year history. Those interns include 16 Sir Alexander Fleming Scholars, six Langston University Biomedical Research Scholars and four John H. Saxon Service Academy Summer Research Program students. Our interns are: Fleming Scholars — Lindsay Best,
Oklahoma City, Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, University of Southern California; Jenna Chan, Oklahoma City, Classen School of Advanced Studies; Gerson Estrada, Oklahoma City, Classen School of Advanced Studies, University of Southern California; Andy GamezRico, Oklahoma City, Classen School of Advanced Studies, University of Tulsa; and Makayla Tillett, Oklahoma City, Putnam City North High School, Oklahoma City University. Langston Scholar — J’Taelii Heath, Oklahoma City, Harding Charter Preparatory School. See OMRF, Page 5