Milestones Magazine

Don and Paula Beck are celebrating 45 years of enriching lives through architecture. Page 7.

Milestones

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Trochta’s Flowers thrives under the leadership of Genea and Jamie Vallion.

The Jewish Federation of Oklahoma City is marking its 85th anniversary with a gala on Oct. 24.

William & Lauren solves wardrobe dilemma.

Plus:

• Notable President’s quotes, Page 6 .

• Interesting facts about the U.S., Page 8 .

• About the Declaration of Independence, Page 10.

• United States Trivia, Page 12.

• Impactful events in U.S. history, Page 14.

ON THE COVER

Since its inception in 1972, Oklahoma City Community College has been the heartbeat of the Metro. For more informa‑ tion, see Pages 2 & 3.

Notable quotes from American presidents

Americans are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States throughout 2026.

Many a notable leader has influ‐enced the country in its 250‐year his‐tory, and the following are some notable quotes from American presi‐dents over the course of the nation's history.

• “If we can but prevent the gov‐ernment from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of tak‐ing care of them, they must become happy.”

—Thomas Jefferson, 1802

• “Peace is the best time for improvement and preparation of every kind; it is in peace that our

commerce flourishes most, that taxes are most easily paid, and that the revenue is most productive.'

— James Monroe, 1817

• “Officeholders are the agents of the people, not their masters.”

— Grover Cleveland, 1886

• “In the history of mankind, many republics have risen, have flourished for a less or greater time, and then have fallen because their citizens lost the power of governing themselves and thereby governing their state; and in no way has this loss of power been so often and so clearly shown as in the tendency to turn the gov‐ernment into a government primarily

for the benefit of one class instead of a government for the benefit of the people as a whole.”

— Theodore Roosevelt, 1903

• “Governments do not make ideals, but ideals make govern‐ments.”

— Calvin Coolidge, 1926

• “No government is perfect. One of the chief virtues of democracy, however, is that its defects are always visible and under democratic processes can be pointed out and corrected.”

— Harry S. Truman, 1947

• “Mankind must put an end to war – or war will put an end to mankind.”

— John F. Kennedy, 1961

Beck Design celebrates 45 years of enriching lives

For 45 years, Beck Design has demonstrated how thoughtful architecture can enrich lives, strengthen communities, and transform the built environment. Since its founding in 1981, the interdisciplinary firm has grown from a singular vision into a nationally recognized practice with offices in New York City, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa.

At the heart of Beck Design's success is a simple yet enduring belief: great design should elevate the human experience. This phi‐losophy has guided the firm through hundreds of successful projects, particularly in the spe‐cialized areas of higher education, performance venues, healthcare facilities, and libraries, where functionality, aesthetics, and tech‐nical performance must work in perfect harmony.

Beck Design's collaborative culture has been instrumental in its longevity and reputation. Bringing together architects, plan‐ners, interior designers, graphic designers, facility program‐mers, and technology specialists, the firm approaches every project as a partnership. By listening carefully to clients' aspirations and combining diverse expertise, Beck Design consistently delivers solu‐tions that reflect each client's unique identity while address‐ing complex design challenges.

The firm's commitment to innovation has earned more than 200 awards from respected organizations, including the American Institute of Architects, the American Society of Interior Designers, and numerous state and national preservation and education organizations.

More than 80 percent of Beck Design’s work comes from repeat clients who value its creative, research‐driven approach.

As Beck Design celebrates its 45th anniversary, it continues to embrace new challenges with the same curiosity, imagina‐tion, and dedication that defined its beginnings. Beyond its proj‐ects, the firm remains deeply committed to civic engagement, encouraging team members to serve, volunteer, and lead within their communities. Forty‐five years on, Beck Design's legacy is measured not only in buildings, but in the lasting impact those spaces have on the people who experience them.

3 signature Beck Design projects turn 20:

Interesting facts about the United States

The United States celebrates its semi‐quincentennial in 2026. That means the nation has been around for 250 years. Since its inception, the country has grown to include 50 states. As Americans in all 50 of those states cele‐brate the country in 2026, it can be both educational and fun to learn some inter‐esting facts about the United States.

• Largest state: Alaska spans more than 665,000 square miles, making it the largest state by land mass in the entire country. In fact, Alaska is so big that it's larger in terms of square miles than the next three largest states (Texas, California and Montana) combined.

• Smallest state: Checking in at 1,545 square miles, Rhode Island is

the smallest state in the United States. To put that in perspective, it's possible to squeeze 430 Rhode Islands into one Alaska.

• Most densely populated state: According to July 2023 data from the United States Census Bureau, New Jersey is home to more than 9.2 mil‐lion people across 7,354 square miles, making the Garden State the most densely populated in the U.S.

• Least densely populated state: Given its aforementioned size and vast amount of undeveloped land, Alaska's status as the least densely populated state should come as no surprise. According to the World Atlas, Alaska is home to 1.3 persons per square mile,

which is considerably less than New Jersey's 1,298 people per square mile.

• California's economy is massive. Even though it's part of the larger United States, California's economy is massive on its own. According to data from the International Monetary Fund and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released in 2025, California boasts the fourth largest economy in the world. Only the United States, China and Germany boast a larger economy than the state of California. And California is gaining ground, as it experienced a growth rate of 6 percent in 2024, which was better than the U.S. (5.3 percent), China (2.6 percent) and Germany (2.9 percent).

Nine facts about the Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence is a document that indicates the found‐ing principles of the United States of America. The declaration was issued by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, and announced the separation of the 13 British colonies in North America from the United Kingdom. That significance means the public may want to learn more about the Declaration of Independence. Here are some key facts.

1. While Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, it was carefully reviewed and modified by other members of the Continental Congress, notably John Adams and Benjamin Franklin.

2. The Continental Congress actual‐ly voted for independence on July 2, 1776. The written Declaration was dated July 4, 1776, but it wasn't actu‐ally signed until August 2nd of that year. John Adams thought July 2nd would be marked as the national holi‐day.

3. Fifty‐six delegates signed the Declaration of Independence, but not all were present on that day in August.

4. While many know that John Hancock signed first, with his promi‐nent signature readily visible, it is believed that Thomas McKean of Delaware was the last person to sign.

5. Others signed according to state delegation and in columns, starting

with the northernmost state (New Hampshire) to the southernmost (Georgia).

6. About 200 copies of the Dunlap Broadside were printed. Today, 26 copies remain.

7. The original rough draft of the Declaration of Independence has been lost.

8. The Declaration of Independence was not universally accepted, and many people in the colonies remained loyal to the British monarchy and opposed American independence.

9. The Declaration of Independence has a message written on the back of it. It reads, "Original Declaration of Independence dated 4th July 1776."

Jewish Federation celebrates 85 years of service

This year marks the Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma City’s 85th anniversary — a mile‐stone that reflects 85 years of serv‐ice, leadership, philanthropy and community building.

We invite the community to join us as we celebrate on Saturday, Oct. 24. We will have live music, dancing, raffle prizes and opportunities to reconnect with friends while honor‐ing our shared history and looking ahead to the future.

This achievement belongs to the countless individuals who have shared their time, talents and dedi‐cation throughout our history. We would not be here today without the support of our board members, com‐mittee members, staff, donors, vol‐unteers, and the entire Jewish and greater Oklahoma City communities.

Your commitment has helped shape and strengthen our Jewish Federation for generations.

As a part of the celebration, we will present our “L’Dor V’Dor” (from Generation to Generation) Award to Hedra and Harry Merson and Susan and Marc Silver. Through their longstand‐ing commitment to philanthropy, community involvement and Jewish life, the Merson and Silver families exempli‐fy the values of tzedakah (justice and charitable giving) and gemilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness). Their dedication has inspired future generations to continue a tradition of service and generosity.

Oklahoma City remains commit‐ted to meeting the evolving needs of our community, strengthening partnerships throughout the Oklahoma City area, and creat‐ing opportuni‐ties for future generations to connect, learn and thrive.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey. Together, we honor our past, celebrate our present and look forward to the years ahead.

The Jewish Federation of Greater

Happy 85th Anniversary, Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma City. Please join us for this special celebration.

William & Lauren solves wardrobe dilemma

Lauren Warkentine did‐n't set out to start a clothing company. She set out to solve a problem that shouldn't have existed in the first place.

After leaving a high‐profile cor‐porate meeting feeling like her wardrobe had let her down, she started looking for suits and blazers that were powerful, refined and actually hers. The market had nothing, so she built it herself.

LAUREN WARKENTINE Founder, CEO William & Lauren

In 2015, she founded William & Lauren on a simple premise: profession‐al clothing should fit who you are, not just how you look. The company grew out of a gap she'd experienced firsthand, the absence of custom garments that offered real tailoring without sacrificing comfort, personality or presence.

Today, Lauren leads William & Lauren as founder and CEO, overseeing everything from design and fit to client experience and operations. She runs a business that is both deeply creative and impressively systematic, bringing the same sharp eye to a bespoke suit as she does to the processes that keep everything running.

Under her leadership, William & Lauren has built a strong reputation for thoughtful suiting, exceptional fit and a client experience that feels genuinely personal. Lauren knows that what someone wears on a big day — a boardroom pitch, a wedding, a first major speaking engagement — can shift how they carry themselves. She takes that seriously.

For her, clothing is a performance tool. Every piece William & Lauren makes is designed to help someone show up with clarity and intention, and leave a lasting impres‐sion for all the right reasons.