OKC Friday okcfriday.com • facebook.com/okcfriday
Vol. 60, No. 7
People You Should Know
BILLY COYLE Criminal Defense Attorney Where did you grow up, and do you have a favorite childhood memory? I was born in Oklahoma City, and lived here for several years, but my beautiful mother’s family was from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and she moved me and my brother to live there at a young age. I went to high school in Florida and graduated from Fort Lauderdale High (The Flying Ls) in 1993. My father (JW) has always been from Oklahoma City so I would always come home for the holidays. I have so many great memories of Oklahoma City and vacationing over the summer here every year (my father would also take us all over the country for a two-week summer trip). Being a kid in the 80s was awesome, great music, great movies. What did you want to be when you grew up? My father is a well-known criminal defense lawyer, and he always instilled a sense of passion for helping defend the citizen accused. I went to college at Florida State University, graduating with a degree in Finance. I worked for Morgan Stanley for one year and I quickly knew I wanted to follow in my dad’s footsteps. I moved back twentysix years ago and attended both Oklahoma City University and the University of Oklahoma Schools of Law. My wife is a lawyer, and my children want to be lawyers (who knows). It literally runs in the blood. What are you most passionate about professionally? I absolutely love defending people. I love challenging the government. Over the last year I have See PYSK, Page 3
(405) 606-2727
June 26, 2026
1 Section • 12 Pages
OKC votes to remove wording from plats By Eric Oesch Staff Writer The Oklahoma City Council adopted a resolution to remove discriminatory language from 13 plats in the city. With this action, Oklahoma City joins Nichols Hills and Edmond in adopting resolutions to remove outdated and discriminatory language from city plats — some dating back to the turn of the 20th century.
Thirteen plats located in portions of the Crown Heights, Lincoln Terrace, Bath Second East View and Edgemere Park neighborhoods are affected by the resolution. City leaders say this is the first of many similar resolutions the City Council is expected to consider over the next few years. Nichols Hills has removed offensive language from all 62 of its plats, while Oklahoma City must manually review more
than 6,000. Oklahoma City officials said the original plat documents will not be edited or altered as part of the newly adopted resolution. When residents download their plat, a digital scan with the redaction is to be visible, along with the original document. All property owners who live in these plats were notified about the process. See OKC, Page 13
Bike Club pedals possibility By Rose Lane Editor In its eighth year, the Cycles for Life is expanding its reach by welcoming adaptive cyclists and fueling a city full of young riders. There is a moment in every cyclist’s journey — that split second when the wheels find their rhythm and the world opens up. “For the students of Bike Club OKC, Bike Club OKC President Alyssa Lutz and Bike Club students stand with that moment is more OKC Mayor David Holt as he reads the proclamation, May is Bike Month. than a memory. It’s a transformation. Now in its eighth year, school approached program director Alyssa Lutz Bike Club OKC has once again proven that with with a challenge: a student named Riley desperthe right support, determination and a little creately wanted to join Bike Club OKC, but he lacked ative problem-solving, every child can ride, Bike the balance and coordination needed to ride a traClub President Alyssa Lutz said. ditional two wheeled bicycle. True to her spirit, A dilemma and a door that opens this year. Alyssa’s first response was what it always is. Before the invitations went out to students at “Let’s see how we can make that happen.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, Bike Club OKC facilitator Tetteh Franklin at the elementary See BIKES, Page 2
Holiday activities kick off with Red, White & BOOM! OKCPHIL’s Red, White & BOOM! serves as the official kick off to Fourth of July holiday celebrations in the Oklahoma City area. Red, White, & BOOM! is one of OKC’s largest and
most cherished Independence Day traditions, taking place on Friday, July 3 at Scissortail Park. Beginning at 8:30 p.m., the free community event transforms the park into a sea of blankets, lawn
FRIDAY’s Dog of the Week Coffee Bean (CB) was rescued by Dr. Joyce Maldonado of OKC, He is totally happy and inseparable from his mistress, aka “Velcro Dog.” Email Pet of the Week submissions to rose@ okcfriday.com.
chairs, and families celebrating together, while the orchestra performs patriotic favorites leading up to a fireworks finale. “There’s nothing quite like experiencing a live symphony orchestra outdoors with
thousands of people gathered together and fireworks lighting up the Oklahoma City skyline,” said Alexander Mickelthwate, Music Director of the OKCPHIL. “For many families, Red, White, & BOOM! has become
Cities ban fireworks By Rose Lane Editor The cities of Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills and The Village are advising residents that fireworks are still banned inside city limits, even after the passage of the Rockets' Red Glare Act. The act, which was signed by Governor Stitt in May, applies only to private property in unincorporated areas of the state and gives cities the authority to regulate fireworks within their city limits. The firework ban in OKC See BANS, Page 11
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