OKC Friday okcfriday.com • facebook.com/okcfriday
Vol. 60, No. 18
September 18, 2026
1 Section • 14 Pages
People You Should Know
KIRSTEN LINDSAY Director, Workforce and Economic Development Francis Tuttle Technology Center Where did you grow up, and do you have a favorite childhood memory? I was born in Nyack, N.Y. and we moved to Tulsa right before I started kindergarten. I came to OKC right after college and have been here ever since. My favorite childhood memories center around travel. My father traveled quite a bit for work and as a family we benefited. I can recall being as young as 6 or 7 and feeling the thrill associated with driving to the airport (of course, air travel in and of itself was more of an” event” in those days). The exhilaration of exploring somewhere new, the fresh feel of a hotel room, souvenir shops, beaches and mountains. “We’re going on a trip! We’re going on a trip!” — I can almost taste my excitement. What did you want to be when you grew up? An actress, a marine biologist or a Taco Bueno employee. I loved watching them swaddle the tacos and burritos in the paper wrap. What are you most passionate about professionally? Like many good Oklahomans, my dad lost his job during the 1980’s oil bust. He was older, and in the aftermath was competing with men a decade or so younger for scarce jobs and struggled to find meaningful work. He was unemployed for quite a while and it was a challenging time for our family, financially and emotionally. As a consequence, I’ve always been passionate about people See PYSK, Page 7
(405) 606-2727
Former Heritage Hall coach Shirley Webster, joined at her left by school President Aaron Fetrow, cuts the ribbon on the softball field named in her honor. Standing to Fetrow’s left are the Miller family – Kevin, Andrea and Annie-Kate – whose gift through the Miller Family Foundation made the softball complex possible. Behind Webster are the LaLonde Family, from left, David, Leslie, Ellison and Leighton, who donated a major gift for the locker room at the softball facility.
Hall dedicates field to long-time coach By Jason Jewell Sports Editor For more than three decades, Shirley Webster served as an early advocate for girls’ sports and coached a number of them at Heritage Hall. In honor of her service, the school officially named its softball field after Webster last week during a special ceremony. “For 33 years on campus, Shirley showed up for our girls again and again,” Heritage Hall Director of Development Jenifer Standish said. “Today, this field carries her name, and with it,
her legacy: that women's sports matter, that our girls matter, and that the work of building them up is never finished.” The Chargers captured five volleyball state championships under Webster, while also winning the Class 3A slow-pitch softball title in 1997. Webster also paved the way for Heritage Hall’s field hockey program, along with teaching fifth- and sixth-grade physical education and organizing the Middle School Olympics. In addition, Webster played a special role in advocating for girls’ sports across Oklahoma
by helping to establish the softball program at Oklahoma State in the first years after the passage of Title IX in 1972. She has since been inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the inaugural 2026 class of the Heritage Hall Athletic Hall of Fame. Former student-athlete Nikki Miskovsky Gifford, from the Class of 1998, called Webster “the past, present and future of girls' athletics at Heritage Hall.” Gifford played on Heritage Hall's 1996-97 slow-pitch See COACH, Page 12
Pate reflects upon tenure at state’s most affluent city By Eric Oesch Staff Writer With just 15 weeks until his retirement as city manager of Nichols Hills, Shane Pate reflects upon his 10-year tenure as leader of Oklahoma’s most affluent city. He says that while he is confident he made the right decision to
step down as city manager, it doesn’t make it an easy one. “It’s always difficult to leave a place and group of people you care deeply about,” said Pate. “Nichols Hills had a great culture when I arrived and I think it’s become even stronger over the past decade. I’ve developed great relationships with
36 are named merit semis
By Rose Lane Editor
Thirty-six Fridayland students have been named semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship program. They are among 16,000 semifinalists in the 72nd annual National Merit Scholarship program. These academically-talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for about 6,700 National Merit Scholarships worth approximately $24 million that will be offered next
our residents, city council members, staff and the people who volunteer their time to make this community such a special place to live and work.” When hired as city manager in 2016, Pate said he promised the city council he would serve for 10 years. He said his greatest accomplishment is what
he and the community have been able to accomplish together. “When I joined the City of Nichols Hills, I promised to serve 10 years,” he said. “I made that same commitment to my law firm and am very grateful I’ve had the opportunity to fulfill that promise. See NHILLS, Page
FRIDAY’s Dog of the Week This is Sissy Lee Martin and her dad is Herschel Martin. She is a 10-year-old schnauzer, and has been with Martin for all 10 years. She loves to go to the nursing home to visit everyone, and accompanies Martin everywhere. His emotional support, Sissy is the heart and soul of the Martin home. Email Pet of the Week submissions to rose@okcfriday.com.
See MERITS, Page 11
Oklahoma City’s only locally-owned legal newspaper with all local news Serving far north OKC, Nichols Hills and The Village for 52 years • $1 per copy