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Vol. 59, No. 8 • Four Sections, 38 Pages • June 27, 2025
Most Powerful Oklahomans
1. DAVID HOLT Mayor Oklahoma City
2. CLAY BENNETT OKC Thunder Chairman, CEO, Dorchester Capital
3. TOM COLE U.S. Representative 4th District
4. BILL ANOATUBBY Governor Chickasaw Nation
Our Big League City mayor tops 2025 poll By Rose Lane Editor
5. TRICIA EVEREST Attorney, Secretary of Public Safety
6. DAVID RAINBOLT Executive Chairman BancFirst Corp.
7. JAMES LANKFORD U.S. Senator State Of Oklahoma
8. HAROLD HAMM Executive Chairman Continental Resources
9. GENTNER DRUMMOND Attorney General State of Oklahoma
10. KEVIN STITT Governor State of Oklahoma
Fridayland set to celebrate the Fourth By Rose Lane Editor Fridayland is going to celebrate the Red, White and Blue in a big way as the community prepares for the Fourth of July. The festivities open the night before, Thursday, July 3, as the OKCPHIL presents its annual Red, White & BOOM concert and fireworks at Scissortail Park, beginning at 8:30 p.m. Red, White & BOOM! is a family friendly event allowing guests to experience an evening of patriotic music, family fun and fireworks. “The atmosphere for ‘Red, White
& BOOM!’ is electrifying,” said Maestro Alexander Mickelthwate, OKCPHIL music director. “The patriotic music, the cheering crowd, the fireworks. It’s an exciting evening of music and magic celebrating our nation’s independence.” Admission is free, and guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair, blanket and whatever is needed to enjoy the performance. “Next season we have a fabulous lineup of concerts,” Mickelthwate said. “But events like Red, White & BOOM! allow us to celebrate the birth of our nation while coming See FOURTH, Page 7
The mayor of the newly-minted NBA champions OKC Thunder’s hometown, David Holt, topped OKC FRIDAY’s independent poll of community and business leaders. This isn’t Holt’s first time at No. 1. In 2023 he led over Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby, with Anoatubby taking the first slot last year. A fixture in the top three, Thunder chairman Clay Bennett secured second place this year. 1. David Holt is Oklahoma City’s biggest cheerleader, leading the push for a special a six-year, one-cent sales tax extension to fund a new arena, which was approved by voters. He told OKC residents that we had to become a Big League City in order to keep the Thunder here. He is also the dean of the Oklahoma City University School of Law. 2. In addition to owning the Thunder, Clay Bennett is the CEO of Dorchester Capital, a diversified, private investment company. 3. U.S. Representative Tom Cole is the U.S. representative for Oklahoma’s 4th congressional district, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. 4. Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby saw the opening of the OKANA Resort and Indoor Waterpark this spring, which is promoted as a world-class destination. 5. Tricia Everest is the Oklahoma secretary of public safety, the founder of Palomar, Oklahoma City’s Family Justice Center, and founding chair of ReMerge which diverts mothers from prison and empowers them to build healthy foundations for their families.
See POWERFUL, Page 2
FRIDAY’s
Dog of the Week Daisy Mae is a rescue from Small Paws Rescue in Tulsa. She competed in the 2022 Puppy Bowl, which is held on the same weekend as the Super Bowl. She prereferred to be held by the refs! Her family is Barbe and Randy von Netzer. Email Dog of the Week and Cat of the Week submissions to rose@okcfriday.com.