New edition of Becky Dixon's 'Oklahomans' to air Wednesday

Becky Dixon is wrapping up Oklahoma's centennial year with profiles of 10 "Oklahomans to Watch" on Wednesday.

Dixon's series of specials, which she has been hosting and producing with Tulsa-based Winnercomm for 16 years, runs the gamut of success stories in the fields of entertainment, politics and sports.

Some of the segments in the latest edition of the show are ones viewers have seen before. Others have been updated with new information, and one -- on Tulsa businessman John-Kelly Warren -- is completely new.

"We just looked at guests we had profiled in the past and asked the question 'Who do we think has a lot more to contribute in their field?' " said Dixon, a 1973 University of Tulsa graduate and president of Taylor Communications.

"All of them, in their own right, have already achieved success in their area, but we felt like each of these will have continued success," she said in a phone interview.

In the music category, Checotah's own multi-award winning singer Carrie Underwood and singer, writer and producer Toby Keith, from Clinton, came to mind.

Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor and U.S Congressman Dan Boren are thriving on the political scene. Psychologist and author Dr. Phil McGraw, born in Vinita, is sought out by television viewers every day.

Success in sports is nothing new for the state's men and women and New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey and University of Oklahoma women's basketball coach Sherri Coale are no exceptions.

In the private sector, John Kelly-Warren, chief operating officer of the William K. Warren Foundation, is "heir apparent to a family legacy of giving," Dixon said.

Dixon is already making her list of others she would like to interview for future shows. After all, there's a huge talent pool from which to draw.

"In Oklahoma, we have people who are looking to be in the entertainment industry or looking to politics or a sports career," she said. "It seems like we really have a competitive spirit here, I would say.

"Carrie Underwood in her interview talked about how Oklahoma's talent pool of musical stars had inspired her. I think that is what we have going here. If you look at this generation of Oklahomans, they could probably each name another Oklahoman who had inspired them. With Carrie, it was Reba McEntire. With Dan Boren, it was his own father (former governor and U.S. Senator David Boren)."

What each of her guests have in common is a "special place for Oklahoma in their lives and hearts," she added.

"That's another thing I looked for -- I knew none of these people had forgotten their Oklahoma roots, no matter where they are living or what they have gone on to achieve.

"I updated Amber Valetta's interview because it had been 10 years since I talked to her," Dixon said. "She was in town for the breast cancer awareness luncheon and she said she may come back here and run for politics one day. She's really committed to her community, wherever she is."

For upcoming specials, Dixon's wish list for a future "Oklahomans."

"In almost every field that you look at, you can find an Oklahoman who is doing well," Dixon said.

"In sports, the No. 2 player in baseball is the Colorado Rockies' Matt Holliday from Stillwater," Dixon said. "New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker is from Oklahoma City, and he's one of the top pro football players in the country this year. Then, of course, we have another Miss America, Lauren Nelson from Tulsa.

"No, I don't think I'll ever run out of Oklahomans to interview."

"Oklahomans"

When: 8 p.m. Wednesday and noon Saturday

Where: KOTV, channel 6

Rita Sherrow 581-8360
rita.sherrow@tulsaworld.com