Tonight I watched the big Oklahoma Centennial Celebration from Oklahoma City that
aired on OETA. Though I didn't watch it all, what I saw was impressive.
I was born and raised in Oklahoma but never really thought about all of the great people from who call the Sooner State home. The show was packed with famous country singers like: Carrie Underwood, Garth Blooks, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, and Blake Shelton. Writer and singer Jimmy Webb, born in Elk City, was also on the show.
I do not follow the Opra world, but when, Enid born, soprano Leona Mitchell sang, it was impressive. Wow what an amazing voice.
It was great seeing the tribute to Will Rogers, one of the most famous Okies. Patti Page belted out a couple of songs. She said she had performed on Oklahoma's 50 anniversary. The gal can still sing. They paraded out all of our former Miss Americas. I had no idea we had that many. A long time ago I had the chance to work with Jane Jayroe, Miss America 1967, and she was one of the kindest and classiest person I've ever worked with.
There are a lot of famous Oklahoma athletes. Former OU coach Barry Switzer was on the broadcast. Baseball greats Johnny Bench, from Binger, and Boby Murcer, born in OKC both on the big show.
Though he is not from Oklahoma, at least not that I am aware of, weatherman Willard Scott did a long segment listing the names of living centenanians. We have a lot of them according to Willard. He cracked a few corny ad lib jokes and it was like I was watching the Today Show 10 years ago when he did the weather.
Someone said the Flamming Lips were on, but I didn't catch them. The weatherman montage included meteorologist from Oklahoma City and Tulsa, which was nice they didn't leave us out. It was all a big intro to the Stillwater band that made it big, the All American Rejects. They sort of rocked the place and sounded good.
Garth reminded us of what happened to all of us on that terrible day April 19th, 1995.
He did it with class and respect, but you sort of expect that from Garth.
Again, I didn't see it all, but what I caught was outstanding. It looked like quite a party, wish I had been there to see it in person. Next time they rebroacast it on OETA, take a little time to check it out.
Happy birthday Oklahoma. I've not been here the entire 100 years, but proud to be called an Okie.