People & Places: Roy Clark, S.E. Hinton on marquee at new Oklahoma Legends event Thursday
BY DANNA SUE WALKER World Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
10/31/12 at 9:28 AM
Teresa Miller (left), Ken Busby and Michael Wallis prepare for an evening with "Oklahoma Legends — a Celebration of our Heritage" from the Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa. Courtesy
Oklahoma Legends is a brand new way to celebrate our state's rich cultural legacy.
That's why The Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa will host "Oklahoma Legends - A Celebration of Our Heritage" at 7 p.m. Thursday in the OSU-Tulsa Auditorium.
The names of S.E. Hinton, N. Scott Momaday and Roy Clark would light up marquees anywhere in the country, but even more so here in Oklahoma.
"That's why we're launching Oklahoma Legends," explains Teresa Miller, executive director of the Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers. "These iconic artists have spanned decades, and their influence will continue to reverberate with many generations to come."
In addition to honoring musician Clark and authors Hinton and Momaday, the event will feature special appearances by the Tulsa Playboys, Jim Halsey, Michael Wallis and John Wooley.
"All of the honorees will be doing special presentations as part of the awards ceremony," Miller adds. "We want to showcase the talents that made them legendary, not just here in Oklahoma but also throughout the world. This is going to be a memorable evening."
Clark, a country music singer best known for hosting the television variety show "Hee Haw " from 1969-1992, will perform with the Tulsa Playboys. The Country Music Hall-of-Famer and Grand Ole Opry member has lived in Tulsa since the 1970s. During the 1970s, he frequently guest-hosted "The Tonight Show" for Johnny Carson and also had a recurring role as Cousin Roy on "The Beverly Hillbillies."
Hinton is best known for her young-adult novel, "The Outsiders," set in Oklahoma in the 1960s. The novel was published during her freshman year at the University of Tulsa in 1967 and has gone on to sell more than 14 million copies. She has written nine books, four of which have been adapted into feature films. A native Tulsan, Hinton was inducted into the Oklahoma Writers Hall of Fame in 1998.
A Pulitzer Prize winner for "House Made of Dawn," Momaday is credited with helping bring American Indian literature into the mainstream. Born in Lawton, Momaday developed an interest in literature early on in his life, particularly poetry. He has written numerous novels, poems and plays over the course of his career and was honored as the Oklahoma Centennial Poet Laureate. He also is the recipient of the National Medal of Arts.
Tickets for Oklahoma Legends are $15 plus fees and may be purchased at tulsaworld.com/mytix or order by phone at 918-596-7109. For more information, contact Miller at 918-594-8215.
Tulsa Press Club Manager Shaun Lee (left), KTUL anchor Kristin Dickerson, First Draft Chairman Tom Gilbert and Marshall Brewing Co.'s Wes Alexander prepare for the eighth edition of First Draft, a beer tasting that benefits the Tulsa Press Club. STEPHEN PINGRY / Tulsa World
First Draft on tap for Friday
Plan to raise a glass to your favorite frothy brew, or try something new, when the Tulsa Press Club rolls out its eighth edition of First Draft from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday at ONEOK Field.
"If you love beer or want to explore what great beers are out there, then the Tulsa Press Club's First Draft tasting is a must-attend event," said Tom Gilbert, event chairman.
"The number of breweries in Oklahoma and in the region has grown, and their products are of the highest quality. What a great way to look over the Tulsa skyline and enjoy the flavors of beer."
More than 75 beers will be featured.
Tickets are $45 each or $80 per couple in advance or $50 the day of the event.
Admission includes a commemorative pint glass, a beer tasting from the region's finest brewers, hard-to-find and highly rated labels, and plenty of ballpark-style treats.
Participating brewers include regional favorites Marshall Brewing Co., Choc Beer, COOP Ale Works, Prairie Artisan Ales, Huebert Brewing Co., Dead Armadillo, Tallgrass Brewing Co. and Mustang Brewing Co.
First Draft is no stranger to beer and brewery debuts - Marshall Brewing Co. debuted at First Draft in 2004. This year, Prairie Artisan Ales and Black Mesa will be introducing new brews.
The event began eight years ago outside of the Press Club in the lobby of the Atlas Life Building. Last year more than 300 people attended the event.
The money raised will support the professional development activities of the Tulsa Press Club, which has contributed more than $500,000 in journalism scholarships in the past decade.
Sponsors include Cherokee Nation Businesses; Cox Business and Cox Communications; Tulsa World; Public Service Company of Oklahoma; James, Potts and Wulfers; High Gravity Homebrewing and Winemaking Supplies; TulsaPeople; McNellie's Group; Crumpton Aviation; Walsh Branding; Urban Tulsa; Phoenix Cleaners; Espo Fire and Wire Restoration; Jackson Technical; Courtyard by Marriott Tulsa Downtown; Tulsa Business Journal; Osage Casino; and Ace Cuervo photography.
For tickets, call the Tulsa Press Club at 918-583-7737 or go to tulsaworld.com/firstdraft2012
For information, visit tulsaworld.com/firstdrafttulsa
Original Print Headline: Celebrate Oklahoma legends
