By DAVID JONES

One never knows when some life-bending twist of fate may come along.

Mine may have come from a simple phone call from Greater Tulsa Reporter publisher Forrest Cameron. Auditions were being held at the Maytag Store at 4915 E. 41st St. for television’s new Maytag repairman. Why don’t I cover it? Better yet, why don’t I audition?

The Goodwin Family: Soaring with the Eagle

By CHARLES CANTRELL

Editor’s Note: This article is the fourth in a Centennial year-long series saluting families who were in Oklahoma about the time of statehood and have contributed to the state’s well-being since.

After the Civil War, the failures of reconstruction prompted a mass exodus of African-Americans from the oppressive effects of racism reflected in the persistent Jim Crow laws of the postwar South. Newly emancipated slaves in search of better freedom headed north to the large industrial cities seeking employment and west in search of the opportunity to own land. The exodus continued beyond the turn of the century and much of the migration tracked across Oklahoma and in particular Tulsa. James Henri Goodwin with his wife Carlie Greer Goodwin left Mississippi and arrived in Tulsa as part of this migration.

Modern Amenities Suit Empty Nesters, Young Professionals

By DAVID LLOYD JONES

Niche marketing for real estate has probably existed since the caveman with two sabretooth tiger rugs tried to get a larger cave than his neighbor, who only had one rug. Certainly, over the decades, mansions were not built in the low-rent district and tenements didn’t appear in the more fashionable parts of town.
Many of the two-bedroom houses in the Brookside area were thrown up right after World War II to take care of returning servicemen, their wives and small families.

The Pencil, The Promise and The Pay Off

By HENRY PRIMEAUX III

There are times in a businessman’s life that are truly rewarding. The story that I am going to relate to you is one of those times that has brought joy to my life. In 1997 I was invited to speak to an assembly of middle school students at the public school in Verdigris, a small rural community in northeast Oklahoma.
The talk was a motivational one that I have given many times to encourage kids to remain in school, finish high school and then to go on to higher education.

Holiday Wishes from the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame!

By CHUCK CISSEL

Enjoying the winter wonderland recently, a group of us from the Jazz Hall of Fame was singing one of the holiday season’s most famous songs, “Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful, and since we’ve no place to go, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”

Siegfried’s Produce Four Generations of Leadership

By CHARLES CANTRELL

Author E. S. Klappenbach writes in the book, “The Extraordinary Lives of Ray H. Siegfried,” “It (Siegfried’s life story) records the early, rambunctious business community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a different view of the pipeline contracting business, the creation of religious institutions and industrial firms, the development of real estate, the production of oil and gas and the rewards of taking risks and being total individualistic.”

Season’s Greetings! Remembering Those in the Armed Services

By HENRY PRIMEAUX III

Merry Christmas, Season’s Greetings and Happy New Year to everybody! My wife Jane and I and all of our family hope 2007 will be the greatest year ever for you and yours!

The Gift of Giving

By JIM STOVALL

We live in an acquisition, consumption, disposable society. I am reminded of the famous, or possibly infamous, bumper sticker and slogan that says, “The one who dies with the most toys, wins.” In reality, the one who dies with the most toys simply died with the most toys. The ones who win are the true winners. They are, quite simply, not the same thing.

Reverse Mortgage an Option for Empty-Nesters

By DAVID LLOYD JONES

The kids are all gone, the retirement party has been endured, the house that once sounded like an echo chamber filled with young voices has taken on a tomblike air and, lets face it, the pension plan doesn’t quite equal the salary it has to replace.
Time to downsize, isn’t it?

GTR Oil Series, Part 19

By CHARLES CANTRELL

At the Oklahoma Conference for Community and Justice’s (OCCJ) annual awards dinner held recently at Tulsa’s Renaissance Hotel, Steve Malcolm, chairman, president and CEO of Williams Cos. Inc., was handed an award honoring the company he heads for its generous support of OCCJ’s mission to fight bias, bigotry and racism through educational programs and projects that promote respect and understanding among all people. It was another page for a Tulsa company’s storied past of community support and involvement. Williams, as it is now branded, is a nearly century old locally owned and managed international company that has not only grown up with its home office city, it has been instrumental in developing much of the city’s character and self image.

GTR Oil Series, Part 17

By CHARLES CANTRELL

Editor’s Note: This article is the 17th in a multi-part series about the past, present and future of the oil industry in greater Tulsa and throughout the region. The series began in Mid-June 2005 and has been published monthly since.

Holiday Season Brings PSO’s Parade of Lights

By HENRY PRIMEAUX III

The holiday season is upon us, and one of the highlights every year is the PSO Parade of Lights, which will be held in downtown Tulsa Dec. 9 beginning at 6 p.m. and starting at 8th Street and Cincinnati Avenue.

Jazz Depot Continues Tulsa’s Downtown Expansion

By CHUCK CISSEL

One of the real cool “Tulsa hot areas” developing on the horizon is in downtown Tulsa. As you walk through the downtown area, you can witness the development from the highly anticipated BOK Center to the Brady District with several new businesses taking shape. As a matter of fact, take a stroll along Brady near Main and you can see exactly what I am talking about.

Lebanese Christians Made Big Impact in State

By CHARLES CANTRELL

Editor’s Note: This article is the first in a Centennial year-long series saluting families who were in Oklahoma during statehood and have contributed to the state’s well-being since.

In the late 19th century, like so many other immigrants from around the world, the first generation of Adwons came to America because they were experiencing an uneven playing field in their native country. Adwon Adwon and his brother Khalil Adwon were Antiochian Orthodox Christians in predominantly Muslim Lebanon, which at the time was a small piece of the declining Ottoman Empire. As such they, their family and others like them were taxed at a higher rate, had limited economic opportunity and were in line to be conscribed into the ranks of the overburdened Turkish military.