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HELLO EVERYONE!

I'M RICH!

LENZ.

IT'S BEEN 50 YEARS SINCE AMERICA'S LAST BIG BIRTHDAY BASH IN 1976, WE ALL CELEBRATED THE NATION'S BICENTENNIAL, HER 200TH BIRTHDAY.

AND NOW CAN YOU BELIEVE WE ARE CELEBRATING THE 250TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES?

THOMAS FLOWN BY AND MUCH HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST 50 YEARS, ESPECIALLY HERE.

THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT TEAM OF JOURNALISTS EACH DID A SPECIAL REPORT CALLED OKLAHOMA BY THE DECADES.

EACH REPORT IS A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE.

A LOOK BACK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN OUR STATE DURING EACH TEN YEAR PERIOD SINCE 1976.

THEIR STORIES AIRED ON OUR NEWSCAST ONE EACH MONTH LEADING UP TO JULY 4TH.

FIRST UP, REPORTER STEVE SHAW TAKES US BACK TO 1976 TO 1985, WHEN A COLLEGE FOOTBALL LEGEND WAS BORN.

THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL TWO SUPERB COACHES, BARRY SWITZER AND MICHIGAN'S BO SCHEMBECHLER, FACE EACH OTHER, COACH SWITZER FLATLY SAID.

PEOPLE WILL SEE TONIGHT THE TWO BEST TEAMS IN THE COUNTRY OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS.

ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF 1976, THE BICENTENNIAL YEAR, BARRY SWITZER'S THIRD RANKED SOONERS FACED OFF AGAINST FIFTH RANKED MICHIGAN IN THE ORANGE BOWL AT THE SOUND OF THE FINAL GUN.

IT'S BOOMER SOONER FOR OKLAHOMA.

OU S 14 TO 6 WIN GAVE BARRY SWITZER HIS SECOND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

OKLAHOMA ONCE AGAIN NATIONAL COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONS OF AMERICA NUMBER BOOTLEGGER'S SON.

I'VE READ THE BOOK, BUT HE WAS A FANTASTIC RECRUITER OF GOOD TALENT.

FUTURE THREE TERM OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL DREW EDMONDSON WAS AN OKLAHOMA STATE REPRESENTATIVE IN 76 AND FOLLOWED SWITZER'S CAREER CORDIAL.

AND I THINK THE WORLD OF HIM, HE WAS.

HE WAS COACHING WHEN I WAS IN VIETNAM, AND I MADE MONEY BETTING AND GIVING HUGE SPREADS IN OU FOOTBALL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, A BUNCH OF MILITARY GUYS OVERSEAS, THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT OU'S WISHBONE OFFENSE AND HOW MANY POINTS THEY COULD RACK OUT, HANG HALF A HUNDRED ON THEM AND BURIES WORDS.

RETIRED STATE HISTORIAN BOB BLACKBURN WAS WITH THE OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOR 42 YEARS.

HE SAYS SINCE OKLAHOMA GAINED STATEHOOD IN 1907, THE MID 70S WERE JUST AS CHAOTIC AS THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND WORLD WAR TWO.

IN THE SOONER STATE.

IN OUR HISTORY HERE IN OKLAHOMA, THE BIG TURNING POINT IS THE 1970S, BECAUSE BY THE 1970S, FARM AND RANCHING IS BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT.

THERE WAS A GOOD YEAR FOR WHEAT FARMERS, 1974.

BUT AFTER THAT BANKRUPTCY, PEOPLE COULDN'T AFFORD TO BUY THOSE.

JOHN DEERE COMBINES.

AND YOU START A SLOW, SLIPPERY SLOPE FOR AGRICULTURE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ELVIS PRESLEY, THE OTHER KING, PLAYED AT OKLAHOMA CITY'S OLD MARRIOTT CENTER IN MAY OF 76 AND IN TULSA ON JULY 4TH.

ELVIS PRESLEY WOULD INFLUENCE A YOUNG LADY GROWING UP IN CAPITOL HILL, OKLAHOMA, RIGHT SOUTH OF OKLAHOMA CITY.

WANDA JACKSON NEVER PARTIED, SENDING TO THE STORE AND BUY SOME MORE.

HAVE A PARTY TONIGHT.

THERE WAS UNREST IN STATE PRISONS IN THE 1970S.

ON JUNE 19TH, 1976, SEVEN INMATES AT THE MCALESTER STATE PENITENTIARY ESCAPED AND WERE ON THE RUN FOR MORE THAN A WEEK.

ONE OF THOSE ESCAPEES WAS GARLAND REX BRIMLEY JUNIOR, WHO'D BEEN CONVICTED IN THE BOMBING DEATH OF A BRISTOW KINDERGARTEN TEACHER.

YES, I REMEMBER THAT.

AND THAT'S NOT THE ONLY BOMBING HE WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE COMMITTED.

REX BRIMLEY WAS PORTRAYED IN THE IN THE GRIDIRON, THE ESCAPE, I THINK, CAME DURING A RIOT AT THE PRISON, AND BRIMLEY WAS ON THE LOOSE FOR A LONG TIME.

HE WASN'T ACTUALLY FOUND AND CAUGHT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

HE WAS JUST EATEN UP BY CHIGGERS AND TICKS AND TURNED HIMSELF IN.

AND THEY CALLED ME FROM HEADQUARTERS EARLY THAT MORNING AND TOLD ME THAT THE SCOUTS HAD FOUND A DEAD GIRL.

AND WHEN I GOT HERE, TO MY SURPRISE, IT WAS TO THE ONE.

THERE WAS THREE.

ON JUNE 13TH, 1977, THREE GIRL SCOUTS, EIGHT YEAR OLD LORI LEE FARMER, NINE YEAR OLD MICHELLE GOOSE AND TEN YEAR OLD DORIS DENISE MILNER WERE FOUND MURDERED AT CAMP SCOTT IN MAYES COUNTY.

THE GIRLS HAD BEEN BEATEN AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AFTER A TEN MONTH MANHUNT.

LOCAL PRISON ESCAPEE GENE LEROY HART WAS THE PRIME SUSPECT.

HOWEVER, A JURY SET HIM FREE.

TWO YEARS LATER, HE WENT BACK TO PRISON AS HE WAS DOING TIME FOR A MURDER.

WHEN HE ESCAPED, AND HE DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AFTER GOING BACK TO PRISON, AND MOST EVERYBODY THOUGHT THERE WAS A HIGHER JUDGE ON THAT CASE.

ON APRIL 10TH, 1979, THE TERRIBLE TUESDAY TORNADO OUTBREAK HIT THE CITY OF LAWTON, WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, AND THE RED RIVER VALLEY.

THE EF FOUR TORNADO KILLED MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE AND CAUSED MASSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE.

1979 WHERE WERE YOU IN 1979?

I JUST MOVED TO OKLAHOMA CITY.

JUST BOUGHT OUR FIRST HOUSE.

OKAY.

DID YOU KNOW 1979 WAS ALSO KNOWN TO BE THE TAIL END OF OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY'S PRE SPRING BREAK STREAKER NIGHT TRADITION?

WELL, I HAVE A STORY ON THAT.

STREAKING.

WE'RE GOING UP THROUGH THE COURTS OF THE GYMNASIUM.

WHO'S STREAKING?

THERE'S THERE'S MORE COMING.

FRANK, GET IN THE CAR.

EVERYBODY'S DOING IT NOW.

OKAY.

STREAKING FOR ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO DON'T HAVE THE SLIGHTEST IDEA WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT WAS A SHORT LIVED TRADITION THAT BEGAN HERE ON THE OKLAHOMA STATE CAMPUS BACK IN 1973.

AND THESE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS URGE TO TAKE OFF ALL THEIR CLOTHES, EVERY STITCH, AND TO RUN THROUGH CAMPUS, RUNNING THROUGH THE STUDENT UNION, RUNNING ACROSS A FOOTBALL FIELD.

THE STREAKING MOVEMENT PETERED OUT IN THE EARLY 80S.

ON JULY 5TH, 1982, OKLAHOMA CITY'S PENN SQUARE BANK SHUT DOWN.

AND IT'S A COMPLEX STORY.

IT WASN'T MALFEASANCE.

IT WASN'T CROOKS.

IN FACT, THERE WERE GOOD PEOPLE, BLACKBURN SAYS THE PENN SQUARE BANK FAILURE WAS EQUAL TO A SECOND GREAT DEPRESSION FOR OKLAHOMA.

WITHIN THREE YEARS, 96 BANKS FAILED.

IT LED TO MASSIVE BANK REFORM.

THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES LED TO THE RISE OF NEW ENERGY TITANS LIKE T BOONE PICKENS.

OIL AND GAS IS WHAT PEOPLE REMEMBER.

HE MADE AS MUCH MONEY, THOUGH, AS A HOSTILE RAIDER.

HE TRIED TO BUY PHILLIPS PETROLEUM COMPANY AT ONE TIME IN A HOSTILE TAKEOVER.

THOSE PEOPLE IN BARTLESVILLE DON'T CARE MUCH FOR BOONE PICKENS, BUT HE WAS MAKING ALL THIS MONEY.

HE PUT US ON A DIFFERENT PLANE TO COMPETE IN SPORTS, BUT ALSO THE SELF-IMAGE OF US GRADUATES OF OSU.

I FINISHED MY PHD THERE IN 78.

IS THAT FOR ALL OF US?

HE ELEVATED THE IMAGE OF SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO US.

OSU HAS PLENTY TO BE PROUD OF IN TERMS OF ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD, YOU KNOW, TO TO THE ATHLETIC HISTORY, SPORTS HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA.

YOU THINK ABOUT JIMMY JOHNSON'S AND THEN HOW HE STARTS AT OSU.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, ONE COULD SAY GOES ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS WINNING, WINNING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND SUPER BOWLS.

BUT I MEAN, HE GETS HIS START AT OSU.

ANOTHER STORY THAT DOMINATED OKLAHOMA IN 1984 WAS THE MEMORIAL DAY FLOOD IN TULSA.

14 PEOPLE DIED.

LAND AROUND THE ARKANSAS RIVER WAS RAVAGED TO THE TUNE OF $180 MILLION.

IN 1985, BARRY SWITZER SOONERS OVERCAME A SEASON ENDING INJURY TO QUARTERBACK TROY AIKMAN IN OCTOBER.

FRESHMAN QUARTERBACK JAMEL HOLLOWAY AND LINEBACKER BRIAN BOSWORTH AGAIN LED OU TO THE ORANGE BOWL, WHERE THEY BEAT PENN STATE, EARNING THE KING A THIRD NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

BARRY SWITZER HAS A PLACE IN OUR COLLECTIVE MEMORY AS THE TYPICAL GUNSLINGER OKLAHOMA INDIVIDUAL THAT'S GOING TO DO IT HIS WAY.

HE'S THE FRANK SINATRA OF SPORTS.

I'M GOING TO DO IT MY WAY.

AND DID HE?

HE BROKE THE COLOR BARRIER WHILE OTHER COACHES IN THE SOUTH WERE NOT RECRUITING AFRICAN AMERICANS.

BARRY, WHO GREW UP IN A MIXED COMMUNITY WHERE THE AFRICAN AMERICAN KIDS WERE HIS BEST FRIENDS, HE SAID, YEAH, I WANT THAT THAT STAR.

I WANT JAMEL HOLLOWAY, I WANT THE PRUITT'S IN WASHINGTON'S OF THE WORLD.

AND HE CHANGED THE CULTURE OF OU FOOTBALL.

NOT EVERYONE LOVED IT BECAUSE THERE WERE STILL, STILL IS TODAY.

RACISM IN OKLAHOMA, AS THERE IS IN ALL OF AMERICA, HE SAID, I DON'T CARE.

I'M GOING TO DO IT MY WAY.

SO EVEN THE RACISTS WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THAT.

STEVE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UP NEXT, 1986 TO 1995, IT WAS A DECADE MARKED BY ACTS OF VIOLENCE, SENDING SHOCKWAVES THROUGH THE NATION.

THAT CHANGED THE WAY ALL OF US LOOKED AT WORKPLACE VIOLENCE AND DOMESTIC TERRORISM.

JASON DOYLE HAS THAT REPORT.

IT WAS A HOT, HUMID SUMMER DAY ON AUGUST 20TH, 1986 IN EDMOND, OKLAHOMA.

PEOPLE WERE GOING ABOUT THEIR DAILY BUSINESS JUST LIKE ANY OTHER SUMMER DAY, INCLUDING THOSE DROPPING OFF MAIL AT THE EDMOND POST OFFICE.

DISGRUNTLED WORKER PATRICK SHERRILL RECEIVED A WORK REPRIMAND THE PREVIOUS DAY.

IT WAS A SAD DAY IN EDMOND AND ACROSS OKLAHOMA AND INDEED ACROSS AMERICA, BECAUSE PATRICK SHERRILL, WHO WAS MAD AT HIS BOSS, MAD AT HIS COWORKERS, DECIDED TO TAKE IT OUT.

HE HAD BEEN IN THE OKLAHOMA AIR NATIONAL GUARD AND HAD BEEN IN THE AIR FORCE AND HAD LEARNED TO USE GUNS, AND HE TOOK THREE GUNS TO THE POST OFFICE AND KILLED 14 PEOPLE AND WOUNDED SIX MORE.

CHERYL'S ACT IS THE ORIGIN OF THE PHRASE GOING POSTAL.

THAT BECAME.

OF COURSE, WE'RE NOT PROUD OF IT, BUT IS THE THIRD WORST MASS SHOOTING IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

IT IS THE WORST WORKPLACE MASS SHOOTING IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

ALSO THAT SUMMER, THE OKLAHOMA GOVERNOR'S RACE WAS HEATING UP TO DECIDE WHO WOULD REPLACE GEORGE NIGH.

HE WAS FINISHING HIS SECOND AND FINAL TERM.

AT THAT TIME, DEMOCRATS WERE STILL HEAVILY FAVORED IN OKLAHOMA.

FORMER REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR HENRY BELLMON WAS FACING DEMOCRATIC BUSINESSMAN DAVID WALTERS.

HE WAS A FORMIDABLE OPPONENT, EVEN THOUGH DEMOCRATS OUTNUMBERED REPUBLICANS, AND DAVID WALTERS WAS A GOOD CANDIDATE.

HE, OF COURSE, WOULD BE ELECTED LATER AS GOVERNOR.

BUT HENRY BELLMON BEATS HIM IN 1986 BY TRAVELING THE STATE AND SELLING THAT IDEA OF A STRAIGHT TALKING WHEAT FARMER FROM BILLINGS.

THAT NOVEMBER, OKLAHOMA'S FIRST REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR WON A TRIP BACK TO THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION.

AND YOUR NAME I, HENRY BELLMON BELLMON, WAS SWORN INTO OFFICE FOR THE SECOND TIME IN JANUARY 1987.

LATER THAT YEAR, A TRAGEDY THE STATE FAIR MURDERS THE LAST TIME SISTERS, 17 YEAR OLD CHERYL KINZER AND 25 YEAR OLD LISA PENNINGTON WERE SEEN ALIVE WAS SEPTEMBER 23RD, 1987.

LANE HENLEY WAS THE LAST PERSON TO SEE THE GIRLS BEFORE THEY DISAPPEARED.

WHEN THE GIRLS DID NOT RETURN THE NEXT DAY, THEIR FATHER BEGAN SEARCHING FOR THEM.

THE NEXT MORNING WHEN THEY HADN'T COME HOME.

NOW THIS IS THE 80S.

DAD'S DAD, ROCKY PENNINGTON, STARTS CALLING AROUND PEOPLE THAT KNOW THEM AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WHERE THE HECK THEY'VE GONE.

AND HENLEY IS ONE OF THE FIRST CALLS THAT HE MAKES, AND HE SAYS, NO, THEY WERE HERE.

THEY DECIDED TO LEAVE.

THE BODIES WERE RECOVERED IN A SHALLOW GRAVE ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THEY DISAPPEARED.

THEY HAD EACH BEEN SHOT.

BUT THE MYSTERY KIND OF GOES DEEPER IN THAT THEY WERE EACH SHOT BY A DIFFERENT CALIBER OF BULLET, MEANING IT WOULD HAVE CAME FROM A DIFFERENT GUN FOR EACH OF THEM.

AT ONE POINT, HENLEY WAS CHARGED WITH THE KILLINGS, BUT THE CHARGES WERE DISMISSED BECAUSE OF FAULTY FORENSIC EVIDENCE.

IT WAS PROBABLY HENLEY.

I'M PRETTY COMFORTABLE IN SAYING THAT HENLEY PROBABLY KILLED THEM, AND WE'LL NEVER TRULY SEE JUSTICE.

THE CASE IS CONSIDERED STILL OPEN FOR THE OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE CHARGES AGAINST HENLEY WERE DROPPED IN 1992.

HE DIED IN 2015.

HEY, BUDDY.

HEY.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET RUN OVER NOW.

HEY, YOU DON'T GET HURT.

HEY, YOU!

HEY!

YOU HEAR ME?

IN 1988, OKLAHOMA STARTED GETTING SOME POSITIVE ATTENTION FROM HOLLYWOOD.

SEVERAL SCENES OF THE FILM RAIN MAN WERE SHOT IN OKLAHOMA.

THOSE WITH AN EAGLE EYE COULD SEE THE W.S.

KELLY GAS STATION IN COGAR.

DURING A SCENE WITH A PAYPHONE.

HOW CAN YOU STAND THAT?

I DON'T MIND IT.

HOW CAN YOU STAND.

GUTHRIE, EL RENO AND MINCO MADE THE OSCAR WINNING FILM TO.

THE COLLEGE SPORTS WORLD.

WOULD BE WATCHING OKLAHOMA IN 1988 AS WELL.

THAT'S BECAUSE A RUNNING BACK AT OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF.

OKLAHOMA STATE WASN'T HIDING ANYTHING.

I MEAN, TO BE SERIOUS.

THURMAN THOMAS WAS COMING OFF BACK TO BACK ALL-AMERICA YEARS.

IT WAS AN EARLY SECOND ROUND DRAFT PICK OF THE BUFFALO BILLS.

WENT ON TO HAVE A NFL HALL OF FAME CAREER.

OKLAHOMA STATE.

ALL THEY WOULD SAY IS I THINK WE'LL BE OKAY BECAUSE IT WAS.

BIG QUESTION HOW DO YOU REPLACE THURMAN THOMAS?

ED MURRAY WAS THE CO-HOST OF THE PAT JONES SHOW AT THAT TIME.

OF COURSE, JONES WAS THE HEAD COACH FOR OSU FOOTBALL.

MURRAY SAYS RUNNING BACK BARRY SANDERS COMING OUT PARTY CAME IN THAT YEAR'S BEDLAM GAME, AND WHILE OKLAHOMA WAS THE WINNER, JONES HAD PLANS TO HYPE SANDERS CHANCES FOR THE HEISMAN.

WE'RE WALKING UP THE STAIRS, HE GOES, I'M GOING TO MAKE MY OPENING COMMENTS, AND THEN I WANT YOU TO IMMEDIATELY, AS SOON AS I'M OVER, ASK ME ABOUT BARRY SANDERS.

OKAY, COACH, WE DID THAT A LOT.

SO HE DOES HIS TYPICAL CONGRATULATE.

OH YOU TOUGH LOSS.

AND AS SOON AS YOU SHUT YOU UP I WENT COACH TALK ABOUT BARRY SANDERS AGAINST THAT DEFENSE.

HE EXPLODES.

BEST RUNNING BACK BEST FOOTBALL PLAYER.

THE JUNIOR FINISHED THE YEAR WITH 2628 RUSHING YARDS AND 37 TOUCHDOWNS, EASILY WINNING THE HEISMAN TROPHY IN 1988.

AND SANDERS WON EVERY VOTING DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY BECAUSE THAT'S HOW PHENOMENAL THAT YEAR IS.

THE NEWS WASN'T SO GREAT IN NORMAN.

THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA SOONERS FOOTBALL PROGRAM WAS FACING A THREE YEAR PROBATION FOR RECRUITING VIOLATIONS, AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR MARKED THE END OF AN ERA.

TODAY, I'M RESIGNING AS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT DECISION I'VE EVER HAD TO MAKE.

BARRY SWITZER ANNOUNCING HIS RESIGNATION AS HEAD COACH ON JUNE 19TH AFTER 16 YEARS, 12 BIG EIGHT TITLES AND THREE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

AND IT GOT WORSE IN JANUARY.

SOONERS QUARTERBACK CHARLES THOMPSON WAS CAUGHT SELLING COCAINE TO AN UNDERCOVER FBI AGENT AND WAS ARRESTED IN FEBRUARY.

THOMPSON PLEADED GUILTY LATER THAT YEAR AND WAS SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON.

IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL YEARS FOR THE OU PROGRAM TO RETURN TO PROMINENCE, BUT THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA STILL HAD SOME CELEBRATING TO DO IN THE WORLD OF SPORTS.

OKLAHOMA CITY WAS NAMED TO HOST THE U.S.

OLYMPIC FESTIVAL IN THE SUMMER OF 1989.

MORE THAN 4000 ATHLETES ACROSS 37 SPORTS GATHERED IN THE OKC METRO THAT SUMMER, AND PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN OPENED THE FESTIVITIES AT OKLAHOMA MEMORIAL STADIUM.

AS THE CALENDAR FLIPPED TO A NEW YEAR, THE EDUCATION REFORM ACT OF 1990 TOOK CENTER STAGE IN THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE AND CLASSROOMS.

IT INCREASED CORPORATION AND PERSONAL INCOME TAXES BY A PERCENTAGE POINT AND SALES TAX BY A HALF PERCENT FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING.

STANDARDS WERE SET FOR CLASS SIZE, STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND TEACHER EVALUATIONS.

AS LAWMAKERS WERE DEBATING THE BILL, TEACHERS STAGED A FOUR DAY WALKOUT AT THE CAPITOL.

TEACHERS BY THE HUNDREDS DESCENDED UPON THE STATE CAPITOL TO SAY, WE NEED A RAISE.

WE NEED SMALLER CLASS SIZES, AND WE NEED HELP IN ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.

AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS WERE BUNDLED UP INTO HOUSE BILL 1017, AND IT EVENTUALLY PASSED THE LEGISLATURE.

THAT LED TO A COMPROMISE NEEDED TO PASS THE MEASURE.

GOVERNOR HENRY BELLMON SUPPORTED THE EDUCATION REFORMS AND SIGNED THE BILL IN 1992, OKLAHOMA WAS IN THE RUNNING FOR UNITED AIRLINES TO BUILD A MAINTENANCE FACILITY.

HOWEVER, THE PROJECT WENT TO INDIANAPOLIS BECAUSE THAT CITY WAS CONSIDERED TO HAVE A BETTER STANDARD OF LIVING AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR OKLAHOMA CITY LEADERS TO BEGIN PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.

AN IDEA CALLED METROPOLITAN AREA PROJECTS OR MAPS WAS BORN.

THE PLAN PASSED IN LATE 1993.

HOWEVER, THE PROJECTS WOULD BECOME TRANSFORMATIVE TO THE CAPITAL CITY IN THE COMING YEARS.

IN 1994, MORE EVIDENCE THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WAS GROWING IN POWER AND POPULARITY AS ONLY THE THIRD REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR SINCE STATEHOOD WON THE ELECTION.

I JUST ARGUED THAT REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, WE HAVE A LOT TO DO.

LET'S COME TOGETHER AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.

THEN, JUST AS THE DECADE BEGAN WITH TRAGEDY, IT ALSO ENDED WITH THE MOST DEADLY DOMESTIC TERROR ATTACK IN U.S.

HISTORY THE BOMBING OF THE ALFRED P MURRAH FEDERAL BUILDING ON APRIL 19TH, 1995.

THE BOMBERS TIMOTHY MCVEIGH AND TERRY NICHOLS PLOTTED THE TERROR ATTACK AS RETALIATION FOR THE DEADLY BRANCH DAVIDIAN RAID IN WACO BY THE FBI.

TO HAVE SOMEBODY TAKE IT INTO HIS OWN HANDS TO CRUSH THE UNITED STATES, ITS HISTORY, TRADITIONS AND.

AND IT CAUSED GREAT MAYHEM AND HAVOC IS UNFORGIVABLE.

UNFORGIVABLE BEHAVIOR.

168 PEOPLE WERE KILLED THAT DAY.

THOUSANDS OF OKLAHOMANS RESPONDED BY VOLUNTEERING TO HELP IN ANY WAY THEY COULD, SETTING UP WHAT WOULD BE REFERRED TO AS THE OKLAHOMA STANDARD.

I SPOKE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY FOR SEVERAL YEARS ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA STANDARD, AND IT WAS INCREDIBLE THAT PEOPLE CAME HERE AND COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW GENEROUS AND WONDERFUL THE PEOPLE WERE.

BUT THEY WERE, AND HOW VERY COMPETENT THE PEOPLE WERE.

BUT THEY WERE.

AND THE REST IS A VITAL PART OF OUR HISTORY.

JASON.

THANK YOU.

DURING THE DECADE FROM 1996 TO 2005, OKLAHOMA DOMINATED.

IN SPORTS, BRICKTOWN GREW AND THE OKLAHOMA STANDARD WAS ONCE AGAIN ON DISPLAY AFTER ONE OF THE DEADLIEST STORMS ON RECORD.

HERE'S TAELYR JACKSON.

OKLAHOMA WORKED TO HEAL FROM THE BOMBING.

PROSECUTORS PREPARED THEIR CASE AGAINST TIMOTHY MCVEIGH AND TERRY NICHOLS, WITH THE TRIAL LATER MOVED TO DENVER TO ENSURE THE SELECTION OF AN IMPARTIAL JURY.

IN MAY OF 1996, THOUSANDS OF OKLAHOMANS RUSHED TO THE MOVIE THEATERS TO CATCH A NEW FILM CALLED TWISTER.

THE BLOCKBUSTER WAS SHOT IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING MAYSVILLE, PONCA CITY AND WAKITA.

LATER THAT SUMMER, OKLAHOMANS WERE BEAMING WITH PRIDE AS THEY WATCHED EDMOND NATIVE SHANNON MILLER LEAD THE U.S.

GYMNASTICS TEAM TO A GOLD MEDAL AT THE ATLANTA GAMES.

IN 1997, HANSON POPPED ON THE SCENE.

THE GROUP, MADE UP OF TULSA BROTHERS ISAAC TAYLOR AND ZAC, RELEASED THEIR DEBUT ALBUM, MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, IN MAY.

THE ALBUM PEAKED AT NUMBER TWO ON THE BILLBOARD CHARTS, AND IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE THEIR SMASH HIT BOP PEAKED ON INTERNATIONAL CHARTS.

BY TWO DO IT ALL BY.

BY 1998, THE MAPS PROJECT WAS IN FULL EFFECT, LEADING TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY.

OKLAHOMA CITY OFFICIALS MADE IT REALLY CLEAR THAT THEY KNEW THAT TO HAVE A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE, WE NEEDED TO HAVE A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN.

AND WE'VE CREATED THAT FOR SURE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THEY THEY PASSED MAPS IN ORDER TO MAKE PUBLIC INVESTMENTS AS CAPITAL INVESTMENTS, WHICH AGAIN, INCLUDED THINGS AND ALSO INCLUDED THINGS LIKE PAYCOM CENTER, WHICH IS NOW HOME TO THE THUNDER.

I MEAN, JUST THAT RIGHT THERE IS SUCH A HUGE ECONOMIC IMPACT.

GOVERNOR RON NORICK, AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS THE FATHER OF MAPS, CREATED THE MAP INITIATIVES IN THE EARLY 1990S.

ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS INCLUDED THE SOUTHWESTERN BALLPARK, WHICH OPENED ON APRIL 16TH.

BALLPARK, YOU KNOW, WAS A HIT INSTANTANEOUSLY.

AND I THINK AT THE TIME THAT THE BALLPARK CAME ON IN 1998, THERE WAS STILL SOME QUESTIONS.

THERE WERE STILL QUESTIONS IN AMONG THE PUBLIC AND TAXPAYERS.

WELL, IS THIS REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN?

CITY OFFICIALS PROMISED THIS BIG, YOU KNOW, SHINY GROUP OF PROJECTS, BUT IS IT REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN?

AND THE BALLPARK WAS THE FIRST EMPHATIC ANSWER THAT YES, INDEED THIS DOES HAPPEN.

AND YES, INDEED IT IS SPECIAL.

IN FACT, IN 1999, ESPN THE MAGAZINE AND BASEBALL WEEKLY BOTH RATED THAT BALLPARK AS THE NUMBER ONE MINOR LEAGUE BALLPARK IN THE UNITED STATES.

ON JANUARY 11TH OF 1999, FRANK KEATING WAS SWORN IN FOR HIS SECOND TERM AS GOVERNOR.

I AND STATE YOUR NAME, I. FRANK KEATING AND KEATING'S INAUGURATION SPEECH.

HE STATED THAT HIS GOALS WERE TO INCREASE OKLAHOMA'S NATIONAL.

A C T AVERAGE, INCREASE THE STATE'S PER CAPITA INCOME, AND DECREASE DIVORCE RATES.

IT'S ON MY WATCH.

WE MOVED FROM 45TH IN PER CAPITA PERSONAL INCOME TO ABOUT 3736.

BECAUSE WE PUT RIGHT TO WORK IN THE CONSTITUTION, WE DID TORT REFORM.

I WAS A FATHER OF CHARTER SCHOOLS.

WE DID PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE.

WE FINISHED THE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE CONNECTING EVERY TOWN OF 10,000 OR MORE BY A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY TO THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM.

I MEAN, ALL THESE KIND OF THINGS MADE PEOPLE THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING.

AND AND WE DID.

IN MAY, MOTHER NATURE'S FURY HIT THE HEARTLAND.

HOLD ON, HOLD ON.

I'M GETTING FIREFLIES WITH.

WE WEREN'T REALLY EXPECTING EARLY IN THAT MORNING THAT NUMBER OF STORMS NOBODY COULD HAVE EVER PREDICTED.

BUT THAT BEAUTIFUL SPRING DAY TURNED INTO A DEADLY STORM.

WHEN WEATHER CONDITIONS BEGAN TO CHANGE.

WE HAD A LOT OF WARM, HUMID, UNSTABLE AIR NEAR THE GROUND NEAR THE SURFACE.

WE HAD A DRY LINE OUT TO THE WEST, WHICH KIND OF DIVIDES VERY HUMID AIR TO THE EAST FROM VERY DRY HOT AIR TO THE WEST.

WE HAD A LOW PRESSURE AREA.

WE HAD A KIND OF A MID UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM THAT WAS IN THE AREA, AND WE JUST HAD A LOT OF WIND SHEAR, WHICH CAUSES THOSE STORMS TO TO ROTATE AND TO BE BECOME EVEN MORE INTENSE.

MULTIPLE SUPERCELLS PRODUCED SEVERAL DAMAGING TORNADOES ACROSS PARTS OF THE STATE.

SOME MOBILE DOPPLER RADAR MEASUREMENTS INDICATED IT COULD HAVE HAD WINDS WELL OVER 200 MILES AN HOUR, MAYBE OVER 300 MILES AN HOUR.

MORE THAN 70 TORNADOES RIPPED ACROSS THE GREAT PLAINS, CAUSING NEARLY $1.5 BILLION WORTH OF DAMAGE.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WERE INJURED DURING THE STORM, AND MORE THAN 40 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES.

IN JULY, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GATHERED FOR THE OPENING OF THE BRICKTOWN CANAL.

THE SPOT QUICKLY BECAME A TOURIST ATTRACTION.

I THINK THAT EVERYBODY WAS INTERESTED IN COMING DOWN AND SEEING, IS THIS REAL?

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

AND SO THERE WERE 40,000 PEOPLE IN THE CANAL AREA IN THE FIRST WEEK, AND THAT WAS THE ESTIMATES.

AND IT WAS JUST A SEA OF PEOPLE BLANKETING THE HILLS AROUND US, THE BUILDINGS THAT SURROUND US.

A LOT OF THEM WEREN'T THERE AT THE TIME.

AND SO IT JUST KIND OF CREATED THIS STADIUM LIKE ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE WERE TAKING VIPS, AND THEN THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON BOAT RIDES UP UNTIL 2 A.M.

THE NEXT THE NEXT DAY, ANOTHER PLAY STRAIGHT UP THE MIDDLE OF THE TRAIL.

AND IN NORMAN, A NEW ERA FOR SOONER FOOTBALL WAS ON THE HORIZON.

BIG GAME.

BOB STOOPS STARTED HIS FIRST SEASON AS A HEAD COACH FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA.

UNDER STOOPS, THE SOONERS SECURED A WINNING RECORD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE YEARS, FINISHING SEVEN AND FIVE THE DECADE BEFORE BOB STOOPS WAS HIRED.

THE TEAM, THE OU FOOTBALL TEAM WON JUST 54% OF ITS GAMES ZERO TEN WIN SEASONS.

DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE FIVE YEARS BEFORE BOB GOT THERE, DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A WINNING SEASON.

TOUCHDOWN.

OKLAHOMA!

THE UNDEFEATED OKLAHOMA SOONERS DOMINATED COLLEGE FOOTBALL, LEADING KANSAS STATE TO WIN THE BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP, SETTING UP FOR A SHOWDOWN AGAINST FLORIDA STATE AND THE ORANGE BOWL IN EARLY JANUARY.

ON JANUARY 3RD, 2001, THE SOONERS FOOTBALL PROGRAM CLAIMED ITS SEVENTH NATIONAL TITLE, DEFEATING FLORIDA STATE 13 TO 2 AND THE ORANGE BOWL TO FINISH OFF A PERFECT 13 WIN SEASON.

BUT WEEKS LATER, A TRAGEDY STRUCK THE SPORTS COMMUNITY.

ON THE SNOWY NIGHT OF JANUARY 27TH, A PLANE CARRYING TEN MEMBERS OF THE OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY'S MEN'S BASKETBALL PROGRAM CRASHED 40 MILES EAST OF DENVER.

THE ACCIDENT DEVASTATED THE COWBOY COMMUNITY, AND A MEMORIAL SERVICE WAS HELD AT GALLAGHER-IBA ARENA.

SUPPORT THEM AS NEVER BEFORE.

NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE OUR TEAM, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE YOUNG MEN WHO NEED TO LIVE BEYOND THIS DEVASTATING MOMENT.

BY 2002, THE OKLAHOMA DOME WAS COMPLETED.

THE DOME WAS A SYMBOL OF OKLAHOMA COMPETENCY, AND OKLAHOMA'S WILLING TO INVEST IN ITS HISTORY AND LOOK AT THE ARTWORK.

AND I WAS VERY, VERY ACTIVE IN FINDING PAINTINGS.

AND SENATOR CHARLES FORD FROM FROM TULSA.

IT WAS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT.

THE PLACE WAS FILLED WITH THE STORY OF OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA'S LAST.

CURRENT DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, BRAD HENRY, TOOK OFFICE IN JANUARY 2003 DURING A MAJOR BUDGET SHORTFALL.

THANK YOU.

PLEASE BE SEATED.

I MIGHT REMIND YOU THAT IF YOU APPLAUD OFTEN DURING MY REMARKS, IT MIGHT HELP KEEP YOU WARM.

SO.

IN MAY, A SERIES OF LONG TRACK TORNADOES HIT THE GREAT PLAINS.

MORE THAN 1000 HOMES WERE DAMAGED.

BRAD.

HENRY.

BRAD.

HENRY.

I'M JENNY BARBER, LIVE ON DOWN THERE.

I HATE IT THAT IT'S UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.

IN JANUARY OF 2005, OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOY MIKE GUNDY BECAME THE 22ND HEAD COACH OF OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY.

GUNDY COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED THE PROGRAM AND WENT ON TO BECOME THE WINNINGEST COACH IN THE PROGRAM'S HISTORY.

IN AUGUST, HURRICANE KATRINA SWEPT THROUGH LOUISIANA.

THE CATEGORY FIVE STORM DESTROYED THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, LEAVING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DISPLACED.

THE NBA TEMPORARILY RELOCATED THE NEW ORLEANS HORNETS TO OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE TEAM SPENT TWO SEASONS PLAYING IN THE FORD CENTER IN DOWNTOWN OKC BEFORE RETURNING TO NEW ORLEANS LATER THAT FALL, THE OKLAHOMA HISTORY CENTER OPENED ITS DOORS.

BEING SO CLOSE TO THE HUB OF STATE GOVERNMENT IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US BECAUSE WE ARE ABLE TO TELL THE STORY OF OKLAHOMA, RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS IN OUR STATE HISTORY ARE MADE.

TAELYR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

2006 THROUGH 2015 WAS A DECADE THAT BEGAN WITH THE EMERGENCE OF A NEW OKLAHOMA BORN COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERSTAR, AND ENDED WITH AN ESTABLISHED STAR RETURNING TO THE CONCERT STAGE WITH ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL TOURS OF ALL TIME.

JESUS, TAKE THE WHEEL, TAKE IT FROM MY HAND.

JANUARY 2006 BEGAN WITH AMERICAN IDOL WINNER CARRIE UNDERWOOD'S DEBUT SINGLE, REACHING NUMBER ONE ON THE COUNTRY CHARTS, WHERE IT STAYED FOR SIX FULL WEEKS.

THE DAKOTA NATIVES FIRST ALBUM, SOME HEARTS, EVENTUALLY BECOMING THE BEST SELLING COUNTRY DEBUT EVER BY A FEMALE ARTIST.

ON THE POLITICAL FRONT, BRAD HENRY PREPARED FOR HIS SECOND TERM AS GOVERNOR.

20 YEARS LATER, HE REMAINS THE LAST DEMOCRAT TO HOLD OKLAHOMA'S HIGHEST OFFICE.

AT SOME POINT, THE PENDULUM, THE SO-CALLED POLITICAL PENDULUM THAT SOMETIMES SWINGS PAINFULLY SLOWLY.

BUT IT WILL SLOW.

IT WILL SWING BACK AND.

AND THOSE IN CHARGE TODAY NEED TO REMEMBER THAT IN APRIL, KEVIN RAY UNDERWOOD WAS ARRESTED FOR THE BRUTAL MURDER OF TEN YEAR OLD JAMIE ROSE BOLAND AND PURCELL.

HE WAS CONVICTED AND EXECUTED 18 YEARS LATER.

ON A HAPPIER NOTE, THE LIFESTYLE EMPIRE OF REE DRUMMOND BEGINS WITH THE DEBUT OF A BLOG CALLED THE PIONEER WOMAN THAT LEADS TO A POPULAR TV SHOW ON THE FOOD NETWORK AND A THRIVING BUSINESS EMPIRE IN DOWNTOWN PAWHUSKA.

FROM AROUND THE TERRITORY TO THE OKLAHOMA RUN OKLAHOMA, CELEBRATING ITS CENTENNIAL IN 2007 WITH A SOLD OUT CONCERT IN OKLAHOMA CITY FEATURING VINCE GILL, REBA.

GARTH, CARRIE.

THE FLAMING LIPS, AND MANY OTHER NOTABLE OKLAHOMANS.

THE EVENT WAS BROADCAST STATEWIDE BY OETA.

YOU DON'T KEEP SLUGGING WITH THE BIG GUY.

THEY'RE GOING TO TRY AND WIN THE FOOTBALL GAME.

RIGHT NOW IN SPORTS, THE BIG 12 CHAMPION OKLAHOMA SOONERS ON THE LOSING END OF ONE OF THE GREATEST UPSETS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL HISTORY.

BEATEN BY BOISE STATE IN THE FIESTA BOWL, 43 TO 42, BOISE STATE HAS WON THE TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

AND THERE WAS THIS.

I'M A MAN.

I'M 40.

I'M NOT A I'M NOT A KID.

ANGRY WITH THE FOCUS OF A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE, OSU HEAD COACH MIKE GUNDY DELIVERS HIS INFAMOUS I'M A MAN RANT.

THAT HEART IS BROKEN AND THEN SAY THAT THE COACHES SAID HE WAS SCARED.

THAT AIN'T TRUE.

THE COWBOYS FINISHED THAT SEASON WITH A SEVEN SIX RECORD.

2008 DELIVERED A FIRST FOR OKLAHOMA FOR THE FIRST TIME IN STATE HISTORY, REPUBLICANS CONTROLLED BOTH HOUSES OF THE LEGISLATURE.

THE BIG POLITICAL DIFFERENCES IN OKLAHOMA GOING BACK TO 1907 WAS NOT REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT BECAUSE, YES, THERE WERE SMALL MINORITIES, BIG MAJORITIES AT TIMES.

BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS RURAL VERSUS URBAN.

THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT.

AND THERE WAS AN HISTORIC FIRST NATIONALLY AS WELL, ILLINOIS SENATOR BARACK OBAMA BECOMING THE FIRST BLACK MAN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DEFEATING ARIZONA SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN.

SO HELP YOU GOD, SO HELP ME GOD.

CONGRATULATIONS, MR.

PRESIDENT.

BEST WISHES.

MEANWHILE, IN NEW YORK, TULSA BORN TRACY LETTS SEMI-AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL PLAY AUGUST OSAGE COUNTY DEBUTS ON BROADWAY AND GOES ON TO WIN FIVE TONY AWARDS.

WHICH BRINGS US TO 2008 AND PART OF 2009.

THE THUNDER'S INAUGURAL SEASON IN THE THEN FORD CENTER, FINISHING WITH A 23 AND 59 RECORD.

NOT VERY GOOD, BUT THE PROMISING PLAY OF YOUNG STARS LIKE KEVIN DURANT AND RUSSELL WESTBROOK GIVING FANS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.

AND THAT'S CERTAINLY BEEN REALIZED WITH A CHAMPIONSHIP.

AND NOW THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BILLION DOLLAR CONTINENTAL COLISEUM, IT'S CHANGED THE EXTERNAL IMAGE FROM A DRY, DESOLATE DUSTBOWL TO A CITY THAT HAS ITS YOU KNOW WHAT.

TOGETHER AND CAN SUPPORT A TEAM LIKE THE THUNDER.

IT'S A NEW IMAGE THAT THE STATE HAS EARNED.

IT'S AN IMAGE THAT'S CHANGED OUR OWN ATTITUDE ABOUT OUR STATE.

WITH SHOTS LIKE THAT, IF THERE'S A LOT MORE.

I LOVE PEOPLE SO MUCH.

BORN IN ADA, OKLAHOMA, IN 1918, 91 YEAR OLD ORAL ROBERTS DIED IN DECEMBER.

THE EPONYMOUS UNIVERSITY HE FOUNDED IN TULSA IN 1963, REMAINS ONE OF THE LEADING THEOLOGICAL COLLEGES IN THE WORLD.

AND WE LOST ANOTHER ICONIC OKLAHOMAN IN MAY OF THAT YEAR.

WAYMAN TISDALE, A THREE TIME ALL-AMERICAN AT OU AND A SUCCESSFUL JAZZ BASSIST AND COMPOSER FOLLOWING A 12 YEAR NBA CAREER, DIED AT THE AGE OF 44 WHILE BEING TREATED FOR CANCER BACK IN THE ZONE.

NOW, OKLAHOMA CITY MOVES THE BALL AND KEVIN DURANT SAYS ENOUGH BALL MOVEMENT, SPORTS NEWS DOMINATING THE 12 MONTHS OF 2010.

IN APRIL, 21 YEAR OLD KEVIN DURANT BECOMES THE YOUNGEST SCORING CHAMPION IN NBA HISTORY, AVERAGING 30.1 POINTS PER GAME TO EDGE OUT LEBRON JAMES FOR THE TITLE.

AND THE THUNDER MADE THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FRANCHISE HISTORY.

IT IS A SEASON FOR THE RECORD BOOKS IN STILLWATER, ANOTHER FIRST FOR THE OSU FOOTBALL TEAM, BECOMING THE FIRST COWBOY TEAM IN SCHOOL HISTORY TO WIN 11 GAMES, DEFEATING ARIZONA IN THE ALAMO BOWL 36 TO 10.

THE FINAL SCORE OKLAHOMA STATE ROLLS OVER ARIZONA HERE IN THE ALAMO BOWL IN SAN ANTONIO.

IN 2011, AS BLAKE SHELTON PROPELS HIS COUNTRY MUSIC CAREER TO ANOTHER LEVEL BY BECOMING A NATIONAL BREAKOUT STAR AS A JUDGE IN THE INAUGURAL SEASON OF THE VOICE.

I THINK IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO THINK OF THE VOICE AND NOT THINK OF BLAKE SHELTON.

PEOPLE LIKE BUGS TO A LIGHT.

THEY'RE JUST LIKE, REALLY ATTRACTED TO HIM.

IT HAS TO START WITH A GREAT VOICE.

ON MAY 24TH, A TORNADO OUTBREAK SPAWNED AN EF FIVE TORNADO AND TWO EF FOUR TORNADOES RESULTED IN 11 DEATHS, 293 INJURIES, AND DEVASTATING DAMAGE IN EL RENO, CHICKASHA, PRAGUE AND OTHER COMMUNITIES.

AND ANOTHER TRAGEDY TAKING PLACE ON NOVEMBER 17TH.

OSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH KURT BUDKE, HIS ASSISTANT MIRANDA SERNA, AND TWO OTHERS PERISHED WHEN THEIR SMALL PLANE CRASHED IN PERRYVILLE, ARKANSAS.

THE SECOND AVIATION DISASTER TO BEFALL OKLAHOMA STATE IN THE SPAN OF TEN YEARS.

KURT WAS MAYBE ON HIS WAY TO BECOMING THE MOST SUCCESSFUL WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH WE'D EVER HAD.

HE WAS A FRIEND TO EVERYBODY.

HE WAS SOMEBODY WHO WAS VERY MUCH THE FACE OF HIS PROGRAM.

MIRANDA WAS VERY, VERY DEDICATED TO HER PROFESSION.

SHE WAS ASPIRATIONAL.

SHE HAD SHE HAD GOALS.

SHE HAD DREAMS.

SHE WAS DRIVEN TO BE A HEAD COACH.

I SAID, OH, LORD JESUS, IT'S A FIRE.

IN APRIL, KIMBERLY SWEET BROWN'S REACTION TO ESCAPE IN AN APARTMENT FIRE IN OKLAHOMA CITY BECAME A WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON.

AND THEN THE SMOKE GOT ME.

I GOT BRONCHITIS, AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT.

AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT.

AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME.

AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME.

AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT.

GENERATING MILLIONS OF VIEWS, INSPIRING SONGS AND POPULAR MERCHANDISE.

AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME, AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT.

AS IS TOO OFTEN THE CASE IN OKLAHOMA, SEVERE WEATHER DOMINATED THE HEADLINES IN 2013.

ON MAY 20TH, A MASSIVE TORNADO LEVELED THE PLAZA TOWERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN MOORE, KILLING SEVEN CHILDREN.

IN ALL, THE STORM CLAIMED 25 LIVES AND 212 PEOPLE WERE HOSPITALIZED.

11 DAYS LATER, THE LARGEST TORNADO EVER RECORDED, 2.6 MILES WIDE, ROARED THROUGH A RURAL AREA NEAR EL RENO, KILLING FOUR STORM CHASERS.

JUST TWO DAYS AFTER BLAKE SHELTON ORGANIZED AND PERFORMED IN THE HEALING IN THE HEARTLAND BENEFIT CONCERT TO AID TORNADO VICTIMS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

I'M HERE TONIGHT WITH SOME OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS FROM OKLAHOMA AND BEYOND TO JOIN REBA MCENTIRE, VINCE GILL, USHER AND MANY OTHERS ALSO PARTICIPATED.

THIS LAND THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME.

A WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN GOIN ON.

IN 2014, THERE WERE AT LEAST 560 EARTHQUAKES OF MAGNITUDE 3.0 OR GREATER, MAKING OKLAHOMA THE MOST SEISMICALLY ACTIVE STATE IN THE UNITED STATES, FAR SURPASSING CALIFORNIA, WHICH KEPT US OFF THE STREET, PUT CLOTHES ON OUR BACKS, FOOD ON THE TABLE.

KEVIN DURANT NAMED THE NBA'S MOST VALUABLE PLAYER, AND ON MAY 6TH, HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH THANKING HIS MOTHER, BECOMES AN INSTANT CLASSIC.

YOU'RE THE REAL MVP.

MY.

NOW RUINED YOUR LIFETIME.

AND FINALLY, NO ONE IN THE WORLD SOLD MORE CONCERT TICKETS THAN GARTH BROOKS IN 2015, FANS GOBBLING UP 2.5 MILLION TICKETS, RESULTING IN AN ESTIMATED $80 MILLION IN GROSS INCOME.

THERE'S A LOT OF OKLAHOMA MUSICIANS, MUSICIANS THAT CAME OUT OF OKLAHOMA THAT ARE JUST HARD WORKING PEOPLE, AND YOU CAN REALLY SEE THAT WITH HIM.

YOU KNOW, HE REALLY DOES HUSTLE.

HE REALLY DOES WORK HARD.

AND THAT COMES THROUGH, I THINK, IN HIS MUSIC AND WHY PEOPLE RELATE TO HIM.

RICH LENZ OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

WELL, THAT BRINGS US TO THE YEARS 2016 THROUGH 2025, TEN YEARS THAT BROUGHT US OKLAHOMA'S FIRST PANDEMIC SINCE 1918.

THE EMERGENCE OF KEVIN STITT AND RYAN WALTERS.

AND RIGHT TOWARDS THE END, THE FIRST MAJOR PROFESSIONAL SPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE HISTORY OF OUR STATE.

NOAH MACK TAKES A LOOK BACK.

IN 2016, OKLAHOMA WAS HIT WITH ITS LARGEST EARTHQUAKE IN STATE HISTORY.

WASTEWATER WELL OPERATIONS REINVIGORATED THE UNDISCOVERED FAULT, WHILE PAWNEE HOMES AND BUSINESSES WERE ROCKED BY THE 5.8 TREMOR.

I CAN SHOW YOU ENGINEERING REPORTS THAT SHOW THAT MY HOUSE WAS DESTROYED.

AND SHOTS HEARD AROUND THE NATION.

SHOTS FIRED AT 321.

WE HAVE SHOTS FIRED.

WE HAVE ONE SUSPECT DOWN.

MY PHONE RANG AND IT WAS MY FATHER, MY HERO ON THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE, HYSTERICAL, SCREAMING THAT THEY KILLED HIS SON.

HE SCREAMED, THEY KILLED MY SON.

AND I ASKED WHO?

AND HE SAID, THE POLICE.

IN POLICE FOOTAGE OF THE INCIDENT, 40 YEAR OLD TERENCE CRUTCHER IS SEEN WITH HIS HANDS IN THE AIR GUN DRAWN.

TULSA OFFICER BETTY SHELBY SAYS SHE PERCEIVED HE WAS REACHING FOR A WEAPON INSIDE THE CAR.

SHE SHOT AND KILLED CRUTCHER.

LATER, IT WAS DISCOVERED HE DID NOT HAVE A WEAPON ON HIS PERSON, NOR IN THE VEHICLE.

TERENCE WASN'T A BAD DUDE.

I DON'T THINK A DAY HAS WENT BY THAT I HAVE NOT THOUGHT ABOUT MY TWIN BROTHER.

PROTESTS OVER THE KILLING UNFURLED ACROSS OKLAHOMA.

KNOW YOUR IMAGE OF ME IS WHAT I HOPE TO BE.

THE YEAR ENDED WITH THE LOSS OF OKLAHOMA MUSIC LEGEND LEON RUSSELL, REACHING THE AGE OF 74.

THE TULSA NATIVE WAS A TWO TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNING ROCK STAR AND PROUD OKLAHOMAN.

THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE CAME UP SHORT $800 MILLION AND HISTORIC CUTS BEGAN TO PUT PRESSURE ON OKLAHOMA'S PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.

THE EDUCATION CRISIS REACHED A BREAKING POINT IN 2018.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TEACHERS LEFT SCHOOL AND FLOODED THE CAPITOL TO PROTEST EDUCATION CUTS AND INADEQUATE PAY.

ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY TEACHERS I HAD TAUGHT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS CAME TO THE CAPITOL DURING THAT WALKOUT AND CAME TO MY OFFICE.

THAT IMPACTED ME IN A BIG WAY.

HUNDREDS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS WERE FORCED TO CLOSE.

IN THE SUMMER OF 2018 THROUGH A SUCCESSFUL STATE QUESTION.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA MADE ITS DEBUT IN OKLAHOMA.

YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE FELT LIKE THE LEGISLATURE DID NOT RESPOND TO WHAT THEIR NEEDS WERE.

AND SO THEY USED THE INITIATIVE PETITION PROCESS TO GET IT DONE.

I FURTHER SWEAR, I FURTHER SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE MY DUTIES, THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE MY DUTIES AS GOVERNOR OF THE GREAT STATE OF OKLAHOMA, AS GOVERNOR OF THE GREAT STATE OF OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA SWORE IN ITS NEW HEAD OF STATE IN 2019, CURRENT GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT.

HE VOWED TO BE BUSINESS FRIENDLY AND MAKE OKLAHOMA A TOP TEN STATE.

LET'S GET THIS DONE TOGETHER, FOLKS, BECAUSE OKLAHOMA'S TURNAROUND STARTS RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.

LATER THAT YEAR, STITT OVERSAW FATAL FLOODS IN TULSA THAT KILLED FIVE PEOPLE AND WREAKED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES.

HE ALSO INITIATED HIS INFAMOUS FEUD WITH OKLAHOMA TRIBES.

THE GOVERNOR.

MADE A REAL MISSTEP, IN MY ESTIMATION, BY TELLING TRIBES WHAT HE WANTED IN TERMS OF A GAMING COMPACT, WHICH TELLING US WHAT HE WANTED THROUGH AN OP ED THAT I READ IN THE TULSA WORLD, THAT'S NOT THE WAY TO TREAT A PARTNER WITH RESPECT, HE PUSHED SEVERAL TRIBAL LEADERS INTO NEGOTIATING NEW GAMING COMPACTS BY INSISTING AFTER 15 YEARS, THE OLD ONES WOULD EXPIRE.

HIS POSITION WAS WRONG ON THE LAW AND THE FACTS.

AND OF COURSE, THE COURTS ULTIMATELY VINDICATED THAT.

COME 2020, A WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC INTERRUPTED SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES AND RESHAPED DAY TO DAY LIFE.

MANY WORKPLACES BEGAN TO LOOK LIKE THIS.

AS A CAUCUS, WE WERE ON ZOOM ALL THE TIME.

WE ULTIMATELY DID END UP COMING BACK TO THE CAPITOL.

WE WERE REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS.

WE HAD PLASTIC DIVIDERS BETWEEN US AND OUR OUR SEAT MATES.

THE FIRST CASE OF COVID 19 IN OKLAHOMA WAS ON MARCH 7TH, AND ABOUT TEN DAYS LATER, THE FIRST DEATH.

ACCORDING TO THE CDC, 4847 OKLAHOMANS DIED OF COVID IN 2020.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN PRACTICE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

I HAD NEVER SEEN AN OUTBREAK OF A DISEASE THAT CAUSED HOSPITALS TO HAVE TO RENT REFRIGERATED TRUCKS TO HOLD ALL THE BODIES.

NEVER IN MY CAREER, EVER SINCE.

THANK YOU, PANELISTS, FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU.

AND FOR ALL THE VICTIMS, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

ARGUABLY THE BIGGEST NEWS STORY OF THE DECADE IN OKLAHOMA WAS THE U.S.

SUPREME COURT'S RULING IN MCGIRT V OKLAHOMA.

THE HIGH COURT DECIDED IN A 5 TO 4 RULING THAT CRIMINAL JURISDICTION IS IN THE HANDS OF FEDERAL AND TRIBAL COURTS IF THE CRIME IS COMMITTED ON SOVEREIGN TRIBAL LAND.

BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT SOMETHING BIGGER.

IT'S THE PROPOSITION THAT WHEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES MAKES A PROMISE TO INDIAN COUNTRY, THAT IT IS EXCEEDINGLY AND OUGHT TO BE EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT FOR THE UNITED STATES TO GET OUT OF THAT PROMISE.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE COURT SAID WAS THE CONGRESS NEVER TERMINATED THE RESERVATION.

COVID FESTERS, AND 2021 BECOMES THE DEADLIEST YEAR FOR THE VIRUS IN OKLAHOMA, 7279 OKLAHOMANS DIED THAT YEAR.

AMERICA 2021 ALSO MARKED 100 YEARS SINCE THE TULSA RACE MASSACRE.

THE FACT THAT THIS MASSACRE WAS UNKNOWN FOR ALMOST A CENTURY BEARS TESTAMENT TO THIS COUNTRY'S WILLFUL ACT OF FORGETTING.

OKLAHOMA RESUMED EXECUTIONS IN OCTOBER OF 2021.

JULIUS JONES WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST EXECUTION IN ALMOST SEVEN YEARS, BUT HOURS BEFORE HIS SCHEDULED DEATH, GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT COMMUTED HIS SENTENCE TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE.

MONEY FLOWS FREELY HERE NOW.

I DO LOVE THAT MONEY, SIR.

THE PRODUCTION OF KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON KICKED OFF.

MARTIN SCORSESE SHOT THE HOLLYWOOD RETELLING OF THE 1920S OSAGE MURDERS IN PARTS OF OSAGE COUNTY TO CAPTURE THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE OF GREEN COUNTRY AND COLLABORATE WITH THE OSAGE PEOPLE, AND 2022 BROUGHT ANOTHER BIG WIN FOR TV AND MOVIES IN OKLAHOMA.

WHEN SYLVESTER STALLONE CAME TO OKLAHOMA TO SHOOT HIS PARAMOUNT SERIES, TULSA KING TULSA, TULSA, I WANT YOU TO GO THERE.

THE HORSE RACE, THE SPRINGBOARD MILE.

THERE'S NOBODY DOING NOTHING.

YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.

LET ME GO AHEAD AND SIGN THIS BILL, AND WE CAN OPEN IT UP TO A FEW QUESTIONS.

GOVERNOR STITT SIGNED AT THE TIME THE MOST RESTRICTIVE ABORTION BAN IN THE NATION, JUST MONTHS BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED THE LONG STANDING CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS FOR ABORTION.

STITT WON HIS 2022 REELECTION BID, AND THE ERA OF RYAN WALTERS BEGINS.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T NEGOTIATE WITH THE TEACHERS UNION.

THEY'RE A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION THAT HAS CONTENT MEMBERS, MEMBERS, AT LEAST THE LAST TWO TIMES OKLAHOMA STATE HAS COME OUT ON TOP.

THAT'S IT.

BOWMAN TAKES A KNEE.

THE FINAL BEDLAM IS IN THE BOOKS.

IT GOES TO THE COWBOYS.

2023 WAS OU'S LAST SEASON PLAYING IN THE BIG 12 CONFERENCE, AND ALL EYES WERE ON THE FINAL BEDLAM RIVALRY GAME BETWEEN OKLAHOMA STATE AND OU IN A CLOSE 27 TO 24 GAME, THE COWBOYS TOOK THE VICTORY, SAYING SAYONARA TO THE SOONERS.

DON'T LET THE OLD MAN IN 2024 STRUCK A SOMBER TONE IN THE STATE, AS COUNTRY STAR TOBY KEITH DIED AFTER BATTLING STOMACH CANCER.

CAN'T LEAVE IT UP TO HIM.

OSAGE PERFORMERS TOOK TO THE STAGE AT THE 96TH OSCARS FOR A RENDITION OF WIZARD FROM KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON.

SONGWRITER SCOTT GEORGE BECAME THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN TO BE NOMINATED FOR THE BEST ORIGINAL SONG.

THE THUNDER HAVE TAKEN THE NBA BY STORM FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THE NBA CHAMPION RESIDES IN OKLAHOMA CITY WITH TV'S ON IN HOMES AND SPORTS BARS ACROSS THE STATE.

THE THUNDER BEAT THE INDIANA PACERS 103 TO 91 IN GAME SEVEN OF THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP.

ALL OF THE SEEN, ALL OF THE SIGHTS, ALL OF THE SOUNDS.

IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW YOU THINK IS A MOVIE REALLY.

SPORTS FANS FROM ACROSS THE STATE FLOODED INTO DOWNTOWN OKC FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP PARADE.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE SHOW UP AND GET TO CELEBRATE THIS TEAM.

AND I THINK REALLY, BY EXTENSION, CELEBRATE WHAT OKLAHOMA CITY HAD BECOME AND IS BECOMING, WHICH IS THIS, YOU KNOW, TRANSCENDENT CITY BEYOND WHAT IT WAS EVEN, YOU KNOW, 15 YEARS AGO, 20 YEARS AGO, 25 YEARS AGO, OBVIOUSLY, THE CONNECTION TO THE BOMBING AND ALL THAT'S COME AND CHANGED SINCE THEN, EVEN AS WE, YOU KNOW, HAVE THAT AS A VERY CENTRAL PART OF WHAT WE ARE AS A CITY.

ALL OF THAT'S TIED IN ALL OF THAT EMOTION, ALL OF THAT HISTORY, ALL OF THE FUTURE.

I THINK IT'S ALL SORT OF TIED INTO THIS BASKETBALL TEAM.

YOU KNOW, FIVE GUYS IN SHORT PANTS OUT THERE PLAYING BASKETBALL.

NOAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO THAT'S THE BREAKDOWN OF THE LAST 50 YEARS IN OKLAHOMA.

WHERE WILL WE BE IN 2076 WHEN AMERICA CELEBRATES HER 300TH BIRTHDAY?

I PROBABLY WON'T BE AROUND TO FIND OUT, BUT IF WE'VE LEARNED ANYTHING FROM THE LAST 50 YEARS, OKLAHOMA ENDURES AND PRODUCES PEOPLE WHO TRANSFORM THE LANDSCAPE OF A GREAT NATION.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

JACK'S DOGS COULD HUNT COYOTE AND WOLVES BOTH.

AND ONE DAY HE WAS.

HE WAS OUT RIDING AND SAW TWO WOLVES THAT WERE EATING A