The following is a previously published column.
I was born in Tulsa on November 16, 1953 – exactly 46 years after Oklahoma became a state on November 16, 1907.
I tell people I was born on statehood day but I am quick to point out that I was born on the anniversary of statehood, not in 1907.
I love this state. I am proud that I was born here and that my children were born and raised here.
Did you know that part of Oklahoma (east of the Panhandle) was part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803? The Panhandle was part of the acquisition by the United States following the Mexican-American War.
France had claimed the territory in 1682 but French colonialists never really like Oklahoma and preferred Louisiana.
Before the Civil War, most of Oklahoma was designated Indian Territory. It was opened to general settlement about 1890. That’s when the original “Sooners” jumped the gun and settled before they were supposed to.
Back then, the feeling was that Oklahoma was not good much for farming or ranching. The tribes were sent here because most people didn’t want to come to this area.
In 1830, the Indian Removal Act was the basis for President Andrew Jackson to make treaties to remove the tribes east of the Mississippi River. Part of Oklahoma was set aside for relocation of the Five Civilized Tribes (Cherokees, Choctaws, Chickasaws, Muscogee Creeks and Seminoles).
The removal of the Choctaw Tribe from the Southeast in 1831 resulted in the “Trail of Tears” – a deadly, forced relocation march. The Trail of Tears also applies to the Cherokee removal in 1838-39 in which at least 4,000 died.
That is a sad part of our history. I learned about this in public schools in Tulsa.
Oklahoma residents were on both sides of the Civil War and the tribes who had sided with the Confederacy paid a price after the war.
The Land Run of 1889 was approved by President Benjamin Harrison. It opened up 2,000,000 acres and was the first of a series of land runs.
In 1902, leaders of Indian Territory wanted statehood and wanted it called “Sequoyah.” This Sequoyah Constitutional Convention failed. William “Alfalfa Bill” Murray came up with a plan that consolidated the state and that was approved by Congress President Teddy Roosevelt.
The original state capitol was Guthrie but in 1910, Democrats moved it to Oklahoma City because Guthrie was too thick with Republicans. At one point in its early history, Oklahoma had the largest Socialist population (12,000 members in 1914) in the United States. But World War I – a boon for farmers – diminished the Socialist movement as capitalism flourished. Cattle, cotton, wheat and oil changed things.
The first oil well in the United States was in July 1850 in the Old Cherokee Nation near Salina. Then oil was discovered in Glenpool and Tulsa. Through the 1920s, Oklahoma was a hotbed of activity and prosperity came through oil exploration and production. Tulsa created some spectacular architecture.
Poor agricultural practices and a short-term drought led to the Dust Bowl and the demise of family farms, mostly in the Panhandle. Many families packed up and moved to California. That move was the inspiration for the novel, The Grapes of Wrath. The term “Okie” had a negative connotation, especially in California.
After World War II, Tulsa was tagged as the “Oil Capitol of the World.” That title probably belongs to Houston, Texas, now. Oil companies like Phillips Petroleum and Conoco saw great revenues.
There are many reasons to be grateful to live in Oklahoma.
We have problems.
The tribes have opened at least 141 casinos throughout the state. The State of Oklahoma has instituted a lottery. Gambling is rampant all over Oklahoma.
Oklahoma voters approved “medical marijuana” but it has essentially changed into “recreational marijuana.”
Homelessness is up. Alcohol sales are skyrocketing after state liquor laws were liberalized.
The good news is that many Oklahomans are conservative in the politics and strong in their Christian faith.
People here are friendly. We help each other. We work hard and enjoy the fruits of our labor.
We have great college football teams in Oklahoma. We have some wonderful Christian colleges and universities.
Some great people – the late Dr. Bill Bright (founder of Campus Crusade for Christ), the late great Mickey Mantle, NFL Hall of Famer Steve Largent and many famous people in politics, entertainment and sports – were either born in Oklahoma or live here.
I am very happy to have spent my nearly 66 years on this planet in this portion of the Bible Belt. I love this country but my affection for my home state is undeniable.
Maybe that’s why God had my parents come to Tulsa for me to be born.
Funny stuff…
– A little girl was sitting on her grandfather’s lap as he read her a bedtime story.
From time to time she would take her eyes off the book and reach up to touch his wrinkled cheek. She was alternately stroking her own cheek, then his again. Finally, she spoke up, “Grandpa, did God make you?”
“Yes, sweetheart,” he answered, “God made me a long time ago.
“Grandpa, did God make me too?”
“Yes, indeed, honey,” he said, “God made you just a little while ago.”
Feeling their respective faces again, she observed, “God’s getting better at it, isn’t he?”
– A group of senior citizens was sitting around talking about their ailments:
“My arms are so weak I can barely hold a cup of coffee,” said one.
“Yes, I know. My cataracts are so bad I can’t even see my coffee,” replied another.
“I can’t turn my head because of arthritis in my neck,” said a third, to which several nodded in agreement.
My blood pressure pills make me dizzy,” another went on.
“I guess that’s the price we pay for getting old,” winced an old man as he shook his head.
Then there was a short moment of silence.
“Well, it’s not that bad,” said one woman cheerfully.
“Thank God, we can all still drive”!
– A man and his wife were sitting at a table at her 50th high school reunion and she kept staring at a drunken man swigging his drink as he sat alone at a nearby table.
The husband asked her, “Do you know him?”
“Yes,” she sighed. “He’s my old boyfriend. I understand he took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear he hasn’t been sober since.”
“Wow!” the husband said.
“Who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?”