soonerfan21
11-12-2007, 06:29 AM
if you haven't seen this article thought I would share it -
100 years of trials, triumphs in Oklahoma
From the Dust Bowl to a high-tech model, state set to mark centennial
12:00 AM CST on Sunday, November 11, 2007
From Wire Reports Ron Jenkins, The Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY – Natural disasters evoke strong images of Oklahoma's first 100 years, along with oil derricks and wheat farms and a resilient, diverse people – from cowboys, Indians, settlers and roughnecks to colorful aviators, entertainers and politicians.
A modern-day Oklahoma, which celebrates its 100th anniversary as a state Friday, is emerging with thriving urban centers, natural gas replacing oil as energy king and an economy that is diversifying as leaders turn to research and high-tech models of other states.
It's a state, officials believe, that is finally shaking off its Grapes of Wrath image, even as they celebrate the spirit of Ma Joad declaring, "We'll go on forever, Pa, 'cause we're the people," the final line of director John Ford's movie based on the 1930s Dust Bowl novel by John Steinbeck.
"It has been a colorful and vibrant history," Gov. Brad Henry said in an interview last week. "There certainly have been challenges and difficult times, whether it was the Dust Bowl, the oil bust or natural disasters. But Oklahomans have come through to be stronger every time."
Mr. Henry said the world got to see what Oklahomans are made of as they pulled together after the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, which killed 168 people.
Oklahoma was a place of trial and tragedy before it became the nation's 46th state on Nov. 16, 1907. Indian Territory was the destination point for Indian tribes driven by the federal government from the eastern part of the country, most notably the Cherokees on the Trail of Tears in 1838-39.
Choctaw leader Allen Wright gave Oklahoma its name by combining two words in the Choctaw language that meant "red people," according to the Chronicles of Oklahoma.
Oklahoma has been in a state of constant motion throughout its history. While most early settlers scratched to make a living off farming, some newcomers struck it rich after the first commercial oil well hit Black Gold in 1897.
Tulsa laid claim to being "the oil capital of the world" as oil barons set up headquarters in the northeastern Oklahoma town.
Oil activity across the state produced such companies as Marland Oil Co., later Conoco; Phillips Oil Co., Sun Oil Co., Cities Service and Kerr-McGee. The Oklahoma Capitol, built in 1914, is the only capitol in the country with working oil wells on its grounds.
Oil booms and land runs led to rapid growth of the state's two largest cities – Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
The Great Land Run of 1889 was among six land runs that lured settlers to Oklahoma from across the nation and countries such as Poland, Germany and Ireland in search of free land and a way to make a living.
Black pioneers, some former slaves of Indians, took part in the runs and founded more all-black towns than any state.
Oklahoma became a leading producer of wheat and other crops, but poor farming practices, drought and winds combined to create the Dust Bowl in the early 20th century, leading many to flee.
With intense conservation projects and creation of hundreds of reservoirs and lakes, Oklahoma slowly recovered from the land blight of the 1930s and agriculture rivaled oil as the state's major economic force for the second half of the state's first century.
The state got serious about diversifying its economy after another oil bust in the early 1980s shook the economy.
Besides its Western heritage and the Dust Bowl, Oklahoma is known as much as anything for the achievements of the University of Oklahoma football team. The Sooners, named for early settlers who jumped the gun during the land rushes, have won several national championships.
Corporate takeover figure T. Boone Pickens contributed $165 million last year to his alma mater, Oklahoma State University, to foster athletics at the state's second land grant institution.
Democrats dominated the conservative state's early politics, which was marked by populism and a distrust for government and big business. In recent years, the state has elected mostly Republicans to high office.
An exception has been Mr. Henry, who in 2006 became only the third governor to be elected to successive terms.
Oklahoma, in the middle of "Tornado Alley," has been plagued with many natural disasters. In 1947, a tornado left 107 dead and nearly 1,000 injured in Woodward. Two years before it became a state, a tornado flattened Snyder, killing at least 97.
Mr. Henry said the Oklahoma of today is "a brand-new state," like the lyrics from the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, Oklahoma.
He points to investments in education, research and development and medical facilities in recent years, including plans for "world class" diabetes and cancer centers.
"We've created more high-tech jobs than virtually any other state," he said. "I believe the future looks incredibly bright."
Ron Jenkins,
The Associated Press
100 years of trials, triumphs in Oklahoma
From the Dust Bowl to a high-tech model, state set to mark centennial
12:00 AM CST on Sunday, November 11, 2007
From Wire Reports Ron Jenkins, The Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY – Natural disasters evoke strong images of Oklahoma's first 100 years, along with oil derricks and wheat farms and a resilient, diverse people – from cowboys, Indians, settlers and roughnecks to colorful aviators, entertainers and politicians.
A modern-day Oklahoma, which celebrates its 100th anniversary as a state Friday, is emerging with thriving urban centers, natural gas replacing oil as energy king and an economy that is diversifying as leaders turn to research and high-tech models of other states.
It's a state, officials believe, that is finally shaking off its Grapes of Wrath image, even as they celebrate the spirit of Ma Joad declaring, "We'll go on forever, Pa, 'cause we're the people," the final line of director John Ford's movie based on the 1930s Dust Bowl novel by John Steinbeck.
"It has been a colorful and vibrant history," Gov. Brad Henry said in an interview last week. "There certainly have been challenges and difficult times, whether it was the Dust Bowl, the oil bust or natural disasters. But Oklahomans have come through to be stronger every time."
Mr. Henry said the world got to see what Oklahomans are made of as they pulled together after the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, which killed 168 people.
Oklahoma was a place of trial and tragedy before it became the nation's 46th state on Nov. 16, 1907. Indian Territory was the destination point for Indian tribes driven by the federal government from the eastern part of the country, most notably the Cherokees on the Trail of Tears in 1838-39.
Choctaw leader Allen Wright gave Oklahoma its name by combining two words in the Choctaw language that meant "red people," according to the Chronicles of Oklahoma.
Oklahoma has been in a state of constant motion throughout its history. While most early settlers scratched to make a living off farming, some newcomers struck it rich after the first commercial oil well hit Black Gold in 1897.
Tulsa laid claim to being "the oil capital of the world" as oil barons set up headquarters in the northeastern Oklahoma town.
Oil activity across the state produced such companies as Marland Oil Co., later Conoco; Phillips Oil Co., Sun Oil Co., Cities Service and Kerr-McGee. The Oklahoma Capitol, built in 1914, is the only capitol in the country with working oil wells on its grounds.
Oil booms and land runs led to rapid growth of the state's two largest cities – Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
The Great Land Run of 1889 was among six land runs that lured settlers to Oklahoma from across the nation and countries such as Poland, Germany and Ireland in search of free land and a way to make a living.
Black pioneers, some former slaves of Indians, took part in the runs and founded more all-black towns than any state.
Oklahoma became a leading producer of wheat and other crops, but poor farming practices, drought and winds combined to create the Dust Bowl in the early 20th century, leading many to flee.
With intense conservation projects and creation of hundreds of reservoirs and lakes, Oklahoma slowly recovered from the land blight of the 1930s and agriculture rivaled oil as the state's major economic force for the second half of the state's first century.
The state got serious about diversifying its economy after another oil bust in the early 1980s shook the economy.
Besides its Western heritage and the Dust Bowl, Oklahoma is known as much as anything for the achievements of the University of Oklahoma football team. The Sooners, named for early settlers who jumped the gun during the land rushes, have won several national championships.
Corporate takeover figure T. Boone Pickens contributed $165 million last year to his alma mater, Oklahoma State University, to foster athletics at the state's second land grant institution.
Democrats dominated the conservative state's early politics, which was marked by populism and a distrust for government and big business. In recent years, the state has elected mostly Republicans to high office.
An exception has been Mr. Henry, who in 2006 became only the third governor to be elected to successive terms.
Oklahoma, in the middle of "Tornado Alley," has been plagued with many natural disasters. In 1947, a tornado left 107 dead and nearly 1,000 injured in Woodward. Two years before it became a state, a tornado flattened Snyder, killing at least 97.
Mr. Henry said the Oklahoma of today is "a brand-new state," like the lyrics from the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, Oklahoma.
He points to investments in education, research and development and medical facilities in recent years, including plans for "world class" diabetes and cancer centers.
"We've created more high-tech jobs than virtually any other state," he said. "I believe the future looks incredibly bright."
Ron Jenkins,
The Associated Press