Salute to Ray Ackerman
A few days ago, noted OKC civic leader Ray Ackerman died at the age of 90.
(above: from the home page of Ackerman McQueen)
I didn't know too much about the man, but decided to look into his achievements. They're impressive (and interesting) enough that I thought I'd do a little salute to him here. Which seems appropriate since much of what 'okctalk' talks about is a direct result of his legacy.
. . .
Ray Ackerman was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1922. He joined the Naval Reserve after the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941 and was called to active duty shortly after that. He fought in World War II as a fighter pilot.
After the war, he moved to Oklahoma City, where he began his business life, though he remained in the Naval Reserve for many years, and eventually rose to the rank of Rear Admiral.
source: Oklahoma Military Heritage Foundation - Rear Admiral Raymond B. Ackerman
Ray moved to Oklahoma City in 1947 after accepting an advertising sales position with the Daily Oklahoman.
One of his first clients was B. C. Clark jewelers.
Later he helped found Ackerman McQueen, an advertizing agency based in Oklahoma City. This company continues today and is ranked in the top 2% in size of all advertising agencies in the U.S.
sources:
Civic leader Ray Ackerman to be honored with effigy on Oklahoma River
Ray Ackerman - EmergingLeader.com
In 1956, Ray set about the task of creating an ad for his old client B. C. Clark jewelers for their upcoming anniversary. Together with his company's creative directory Al Fiegel, they wrote the B. C. Clark jingle. It was produced in Dallas for a mere $300. And the rest is Oklahoma history.
source: It’s that ‘Jewelry is the gift to give’ time of year again
As the years went by, Ray became increasingly interested in the history and progress of his adopted home state. In 1964, he wrote a short book called 'Tomorrow Belongs To Oklahoma!'.
His interest in the state's progress led him to greater involvement in local affairs and joining in civic organizations.
Ray served on the Board of Trustees of OCU, his alma mater, for over 20 years. In 1974-75, he served as International President of Worldwide Partners. Over the years, he served as general chairman, president, or a board member of the following:
National Finals Rodeo
the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce
the United Way
Allied Arts
Kirkpatrick Museum Center
St. Anthony Hospital Foundation
Better Business Bureau
Salvation Army
Science Museum of Oklahoma
Rotary Club 29
... and many others. This guy got involved in the community in a big way and was not afraid to provide leadership and counsel.
source: obit, see below.
In 1990, he became chairman of the OKC Chamber of Commerce. He helped push a bold plan for revitalizing OKC called "Visions for a New Frontier". Prominently included in this plan was a downtown canal and three low-water dams to reinstate a stretch of the North Canadian river running through OKC.
Then mayor Ron Norick incorporated most this plan into what was renamed as MAPS. Both Ackerman and Norick were strong proponents of the new plan, which, of course, was passed in 1993.
source: Holiday River Parade > Grand Marshal
Ray then went on a long compaign to have the stretch of river running by the downtown renamed as the "Oklahoma River".
His efforts finally came to fruition in 2004 when the state legislature officially made the name change. By this time, people began calling him 'Old Man River' for his ceaseless promotion of the downtown river and its importance to the city. Indeed, Bob Burke wrote a biography of him in 2002 called Old Man River The Life of Ray Ackerman.
In April 2012, a statue in his honor was placed in Regatta park along the Oklahoma River.
story: Statue unveiling will honor Ray Ackerman's advocacy of the Oklahoma River | NewsOK.com
video: Ray Ackerman "Old Man River" Statue Unveiling - YouTube
Ray Ackerman: 1922 - 2012
Comments from his statue unveiling:
Yes, Ray, you left something. A great deal. Thank you."Awful nice to leave a footprint that says you were here. And that statue says that. But the message says why I was here. And when you die, you like to think you left something."
.
Tribute from Steve Lackmeyer: Businessman, civic leader Ray Ackerman dies | NewsOK.com
Tribute from his nephew: Small Words For A Giant Of A Man
Obituary: RAYMOND ACKERMAN Obituary
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