OKC FRIDAY Vol. 58 No. 15 • One Section • 12 pages •August 16, 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
Casady receives $12 million gift to help fund dining center
Holt leads delegation to Paris By Eric Oesch Staff Writer Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and an entourage of Oklahoma City officials spent six days observing the Paris Olympics as they prepare to host softball and canoe/ kayak slalom events during the 2028 Olympics Games in Los Angeles. The LA28 Games, scheduled for July 14-30, 2028, are officially known as the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad, and commonly referred to as Los Angeles 2028 or LA28. Los Angeles organizers have proposed that softball and canoe/ kayak slalom be held in Oklahoma City, about 1,300 miles east of the host city of Los Angeles, in efforts to keep costs down. The IOC executive committee has approved the venue assignments, pending approval from the City of Los Angeles. Holt said he looks forward to working with Los
Casady School has received a gift of $12 million for a $23 million Upper Division Dining and Engagement Center. In response to this generous gift from Gay and Ed Kirby and their family, the school has secured additional fundraising commitments from donors for nearly 95% of the total project. “Casady has had a tremendous impact on our family,” said the Kirbys. “Our daughter, Laura, received the Alumni Achievement Award in 2010, and she had the foundation of a Casady School education to set her on the path to become a successful business owner in her life.” “As a member of the Board of Trustees, I see the fiduciary and financial responsibility of the Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, right, visits with IOC member Prince Albert of Monaco at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Angeles. Holt led a delegation of about 10 people from Oklahoma City who attended the ‘24 Paris Games. The Olympics concluded its two-week run last Sunday. The group included representatives from city staff, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, the OKC Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Riversport Venue.
The mayor paid his own way to attend the fact-finding mission. Holt has said OKC leaders have been working closely for the past six years with organizers from LA28 and the City of Los Angeles to develop a plan for Oklahoma City to host Olympic softball and canoe and kayak slalom events. Softball is set to return to the Olympics as an official sport dur-
See CASADY, Pag 5
ing the LA28 Games. OGE Energy Field at Devon Park, home of the Women’s College World Series, is to host the retart of softball in the games. During their trip, Holt and the Oklahoma City delegation met with IOC President Thomas Bach and other IOC officials, including Prince Albert of Monaco. See HOLT, Page 2
Head of Casady School Nathan L. Sheldon with Gay and Ed Kirby.
Animal activist, community leader Louisa McCune passes away By Rose Lane Editor
LOUISA McCUNE
Kirkpatrick Foundation Executive Director Louisa McCune, who passed away over the weekend at 54, leaves behind a legacy of community leadership, particularly in animal advocacy. In a November 2023 interview with OKC FRIDAY, Louisa said that when animals fare well, people fare well. “Animals of all kinds will tell the story of human well-being,” Louisa said. "There’s not one issue I can’t draw back
to animal well-being.” Louisa was a champion for the construction of the animal shelter which was included in MAPS 4. OKC Mayor David Holt tapped her to be apart of the neighborhoods subcommittee working on the its development. Upon graduating from Enid High School in 1988, she studied at Colorado Mountain College, 1988–89, and then the University of Colorado/Boulder, 198990. In 1992, she graduated with a bachelor's degree from San Francisco State University.
OKC FRIDAY: Fabulous at 50
A pillar of support for community By Mary Blankenship Pointer Senior Vice President Frontier State Bank Over the years, I have had the honor of serving as the chair, cochair, or member of various fundraising committees. Throughout this journey, OKC FRIDAY newspaper has consistently stood as a pillar of support for our community. Our community thrives because of the unwavering dedication and backing from OKC FRIDAY. Being locally-owned, you can
often find Rose and Vicki at events, showing their support and engaging with community members. Their presence and commitment are a testament to their genuine investment in the well-being of our community. The ads I have purchased through OKC FRIDAY have paid off many times over for the organizations I represent. We have been able to develop new donors and supporters while significantly raising awareness about our causes. Thank you to OKC FRIDAY for your continued support. Here’s to the next 50 years!
FRIDAY’s Cat of the Week
After college, she worked for Evergreen Helicopters in West Africa on a project to eradicate river blindness. She received her pilot’s license in 1993. Louisa got her start in publishing at the Enid News and Eagle. Harper’s Magazine offered an in-house internship program and Louisa was one of four young people to earn a position in 1995. Louisa went on to free-lance as a research editor for such magazines as
This is Dumpling. He is a rescue from Safe Haven Animal Rescue in OKC. Dumpling loves to be held, chase you around the house, eat Fritos and carry around his toys. His dad is Cole McDaniel. Email Dog of the Week, Baby of the Week and Cat of the Week submissions to rose@okcfriday.com.
See McCUNE, Page 5