story and photo by Vickie Jenkins, Staff Writer

Growing up in Holdenville, OK in the late sixties, people considered this as golden town living; a safe place to live, small in size and friendly folks. At the tender age of twelve, Barbara McDougal was like most girls, beginning to notice those once dreaded species called boys. She began to push her childish ways to the side, knowing that she would soon be a teenager. Barbara took notice of a certain boy that had just moved to the neighborhood, only one block away from her. She peeked out the window each time he walked by her house as he adventured out, exploring the mighty streets in the neighborhood.
As Barbara and her girlfriends gathered, Barbara found herself secretly pointing this boy out, telling them how cute he was, along with a firm statement of, “Someday, that boy is going to be mine.”
It wasn’t long before Barbara became more interested in this new boy in town. She would casually be sitting on the front porch at the most convenient planned out times. It wasn’t long before this boy walked by her house, stopping to introduce himself. It was just like one of those love stories on the big screen; the two of them stood there, gazing into each other’s eyes, as though a light suddenly came on. They knew the love bug had gotten to both of them. They had been love-struck!
His name was Bobby Aldridge and he was sixteen-year- old. He drove around town in his blue ‘57 Chevy and Barbara remembers the car being far out! After a few visits between the families and getting to know each other a little better, Barbara was allowed to meet Bobby for lunch at the local Dairy Queen. They spent their time holding hands as they listened to the juke box play some of their favorite music; Donavan’s Hurdy Gurdy Man and Tommy James and the Shondells. Soon, the relationship between the two of them progressed and they were inseparable!
In this time and age, when a boy liked a girl, he gave her a token of his love by giving her a drop, a necklace with the boy’s initials on it; Bobby’s initials being RLA. Now, they were going steady! The relationship between Barbara and Bobby was going perfect!
It was in 1970, that Barbara got the news that Bobby and his family were moving from Holdenville, to Oklahoma City, OK. No, this couldn’t happen! Both families hated to see the sweet couple separate but it had to be. Bobby’s dad had taken on a new job in Oklahoma City, OK. After the move, frequent visits were made by Barbara as her parents would drive to OKC, allowing Barbara to spend as much time as possible with Bobby. Little did they know that their relationship would be coming to an end in the near future.
Life brings changes when we least expect it and our paths take off in different directions.
Barbara graduated in 1974 and attended Oklahoma State University. This was a whole new world for her; college, new friends and discoveries of being an adult. Barbara became an LPN in 1978, working in Stillwater, OKC and even moved to Dallas, Texas for a while. Barbara realized that she needed to go back to school for her RN. She moved back to OKC in 2007 to begin RN school at OSU/OKC.
Time moves on. Barbara had just finished one of her classes and decided to go a near-by restaurant for lunch. As she sat at a booth, she noticed a gentleman sitting at a booth, across the room, not far from her. Taking a second look, he looked very familiar. Was it Bobby? With a feeling of nervousness and a little flushed, she got up and walked over to him. Yes, it was Bobby! They enjoyed talking to each other and reminisced about old times. Their love story picked up where they left off.
Barbara and Bobby were married on October 7, 2017. Barbara wore his initials, RLA as a charm on her charm bracelet in their wedding. This was the something old for her wedding.
Now, it’s the year 2020. Bobby is a homebuilder in OKC and Barbara is an RN at Mercy Rehab Hospital. Today, they still hold hands as they listen to some of their favorite music; Donavan’s Hurdy Gurdy Man and Tommy James and the Shondells.
From first love to last love, fifty-one years later and the love is still growing.

EMSA and INTEGRIS Health have partnered to develop a one-of-a-kind specialty care transport ambulance. On Monday, this unit, designated “ECMO 1”, will join the EMSA system.
INTEGRIS Health is proud to be the home of a world class ECMO program that offers lifesaving therapies to patients facing imminent death. INTEGRIS is the first in the state to establish a specialized life support program solely devoted to adult patients suffering from heart or lung failure. The program uses extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, commonly abbreviated as ECMO, as an advanced lifesaving therapy. Since inception of the INTEGRIS ECMO program in 2014, the INTEGRIS team has served over 500 patients with this technology. INTEGRIS’ ECMO team is made up of talented doctors, nurses, perfusionists, and respiratory therapists, who are expertly trained in the field of ECMO and advanced critical care. The INTEGRIS ECMO team is available to serve those in need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
ECMO provides support to patients whose heart and/or lungs are so severely diseased or damaged that they can no longer serve their function; perhaps after a heart attack, cardiac surgery, pulmonary embolism, near drowning or lung-related issues such as flu or pneumonia. The goal is to allow the heart or lungs to rest and recover while the machine does all the work. When the heart or the lungs have healed and can work on their own, the lifesaving support of the ECMO artificial heart/lung machine is weaned then removed.
INTEGRIS Critical Care ECMO team in conjunction with EMSA provides the highest level of complex care in the state. Outside of ECMO transfers, the INTEGRIS and EMSA teams have the capability of transporting patients who require advanced management of ventilator support, IV medications, and cardiac assist devices including intraaortic balloons pumps, impella devices, and LVAD pumps. The expertise of this team allows for safe inter-hospital transfers, so patients can receive the one of a kind care only INTEGRIS can provide.
Previously only done in a hospital setting, technological advances have allowed ECMO to move into ambulances. Together with EMSA, the INTEGRIS ECMO team stands ready to be there anytime, anywhere, for anyone in need of this life-saving care.
EMSA’s ECMO unit specifications were designed in collaboration with the INTEGRIS Health ECMO Team. Special attention was paid to the layout of the ambulance to make sure the patient could receive the critical clinical care needed, could comfortably and safely transport up to five ECMO Team Members in addition to the patient during long distance transports. Additionally, the larger ambulance also has the capacity to carry more oxygen and other medical gasses that are needed for ECMO patients.
When not assigned to ECMO transports, this unit will serve as one of EMSA’s bariatric ambulances for the Oklahoma City area ensuring this unit is able to serve several key roles in the EMSA system.

Story and photos by Darl DeVault and Richard Mills

For a decade, actor Mark Harmon, star of the CBS action drama “NCIS” provided the spark needed to propel The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital in Bethany to a fundraising goal. He and his famous friends sustained a 16-year charity mission in the area raising more than $1 million through the “Pitch in for Kids” baseball charity game, bowling competition and auction.
Locally, Dr. Michael Wright of the Oklahoma Sports Science and Orthopedics (OSSO) was friends with Harmon during his time in San Bernardino. He participated in baseball charity games Harmon organized. Moving to Oklahoma City in 1998, Wright soon connected with The Children’s Center. (story continues below)

Wright then called Harmon to invite him and his charity team “the Bombers” to consider The Children’s Center as a fundraising stop on a several-city tour the team did each summer.
The Bombers played the OSSO Healthcare Network Outlaws, a team of physicians and staff members of the medical organization. Each year OSSO served as the primary sponsor and producer of this premier fundraising event.
The relationship with The Children’s Center began in 2001. The event was a rousing success. The team made the hospital its focus each year for that decade.
“It’s humbling to look back and see the positive impact Mark Harmon, the Bombers charity baseball team and the OSSO baseball team had on fundraising and raising our hospital’s visibility in the community,” said Albert Gray, executive chairman of the board at The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital.
The first time Harmon visited The Children’s Center, patients greeted him at the door with excitement. At the time, the hospital only had a complex care unit with 100 inpatient beds. Harmon toured the facility, where the patients played baseball with him in the hospital gym. The children used toys to mark the bases and enjoyed their time with Harmon.
It was evident Harmon empathized with the patients, so raising money for this hospital was an easy decision. He saw the need and understood the hospital relied on private contributions from organizations and individuals to provide continued pediatric and rehabilitative care.
Although a career actor, Harmon is no stranger to competitive athletics. He was the UCLA Bruins’ starting quarterback in 1972 and 1973. The National Football Foundation gave him their award for All-Round Excellence in 1973.
For the 10 years Harmon and his friends helped the Children’s Center, they hosted a bowling competition and auction on Friday night for sponsors and hospital employees. On Saturday, the group staged a charity baseball game at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in the afternoon before the minor league night game. Harmon was gracious in signing autographs while posing for photos with fans at the events.
The Bombers team of Harmon’s Hollywood industry friends and former star MLB players made the trip from southern California each year. Harmon’s college roommate and now his agent Barry Axelrod was the Bombers’ manager and often late-inning pitcher. Hollywood super producer Frank Marshall and MLB veterans Wally Joyner (first base) and Cy Young winning pitcher Rick Sutcliffe (now an ESPN broadcaster) accompanied Harmon each year. Other teammates included Mark Heydorff, Peter Dubrawski, John Sciarra, Steve Klausen, Ed Galigher, Brad Lyman, Jim Peterson, Deacon Nauslar, team historian and catcher Don Manning. Most years Scott Wedman, Rusty Van Dam, Scott Wedman, Bruce Walton, MLB veteran Mickey Hatcher and long-time player coach Chuck Olsen rounded out the team.
Often, local sports stars, celebrities and media members played for the OSSO team against the Bombers in the seven-inning game.
Harmon, the Bombers and OSSO raised $1 million through their annual fundraiser. This sustained the hospital in raising the remaining $9 million needed for a new Pediatric Medical Rehabilitation Unit. This unit added 20 additional inpatient beds, providing short-term care for children and teenagers needing rehabilitation after an injury or illness.
Many of the staff and supporters of The Children’s Center are certain God brought Harmon and the Bombers to Bethany each year.
The grateful management and staff at The Children’s Center wish Harmon a resounding Happy Birthday on his 70th birthday September 2nd. They are proud he and his friends played a key role in the legacy of helping children and teens heal and thrive, as the hospital has expanded to treat more patients since then.
Exciting recent developments at the hospital, with more than 700 employees, include the opening of a community compounding pharmacy. In keeping with the Bombers’ efforts, the hospital opened a state-of-the-art Adaptive Recreation and Fine Arts Center. They are working to open an adaptive ballfield for patients and the community later this year.
These new facilities expand the hospital’s reach into the surrounding community. It will offer children with differing abilities opportunities to participate in therapies, arts, and recreational activities.
“Harmon and his team truly had a heart for our patients, and the fact that we are weeks away from completing construction on our own ballfield speaks to the impact they had through their charity baseball game. We are forever grateful,” Gray said.
After finishing the fundraising drive for the hospital, Harmon and his group moved their philanthropic efforts to other children’s concerns locally for six more years before Dr. Wright moved his practice to Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Revamped, it became the Mark Harmon Celebrity Weekend. Each year the team took part in a bowling event and a baseball game or golf event to raise funds for children related non-profits supported by the OK Kidz Charities Foundation.

Elizabeth Von Gunten

(Right) 100 years old. Naomi Elizabeth (Oursler) Von Gunten of Stillwater is Always very active in her church & community, she regularly Facetimes & Zooms her family using her own iPad, but being the mother of wonderful children who contribute to their communities & churches is her special honor. Words of wisdom: “Go to church, be active in it & develop a strong religious faith!”

Leon Campbell

(Left) 100 years old. Leon Campbell served in the Army during World War II, had a career as an aircraft mechanic, and had many hobbies. He was a competitive dancer winning many awards. Words of wisdom to us are: Love the Live You Live and Dance Like No One is Watching!

Betty Jean Shuttee

(Right) 100 years old. Betty Jean (Field) Shuttee of Enid is a retired pediatric nurse, enjoys all music by Lawrence Welk, reading, gardening, singing, Netflix & angel food cake. Her travels have taken her to 39 countries & to every state in the US. She received a proclamation from the Mayor & a special poster made by a class of preschoolers. Words of wisdom: “Be patient, be positive and be kind to everyone!”

Phil Morgan

(Right) 102 years old. Phil Morgan is a veteran of WWII. Words of wisdom: “Put God first, go to church and develop a close walk with the Lord. Cherish your family, spend time with them, time goes fast, and kids grow up too quickly. Honor the military, respect the United States of America.”

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Since 1951 the cannon used by William “Buffalo Bill” Cody and Gordon W. “Pawnee Bill” Lillie in their Wild West Show has been on display at the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) headquarters in Oklahoma City. It was first displayed outside the original OHS building at 2100 N. Lincoln Blvd., and then at the new Oklahoma History Center at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive. After more than 70 years in Oklahoma City, the cannon will return to the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum in Pawnee.
According to Ronny Brown, the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum director, the Model 1861, 3-inch ordnance rifle was cast in 1863 at the Phoenix Iron Company in Phoenixville, Penn. The gun reportedly saw service in several Civil War battles, including Missionary Ridge, before Pawnee Bill acquired it for use in the Wild West Show. After the Wild West Show, the gun found a home on the front lawn of Pawnee Bill and May Lillie’s mansion. Shortly before Pawnee Bill died in 1942, he gifted the gun to his longtime friend and publicist Frank Stuart. The carriage was in bad shape and continued to deteriorate as the gun sat in Stuart’s backyard in Oklahoma City for many years. Stuart died in 1950, and under his will the cannon was gifted to the OHS in 1951. The OHS had a new carriage built for the cannon, and has displayed it in Oklahoma City ever since. Now the gun is set to return home to the front lawn at the Pawnee mansion.
The OHS is providing $15,000 in matching funds toward the $30,000 needed to restore the carriage, build a suitable exhibit space, and move the cannon to Pawnee. “This has been a dream of the local community for many years, and we are so excited to be working on plans to make it happen,” said Mona Denney, president of the Pawnee Bill Ranch Association. “We are launching a fundraising drive to raise the $15,000 needed to complete the project. This will be a big attraction for the ranch, and we can’t wait to see it back home on the mansion lawn.”
“We are very pleased to be working with the community of Pawnee to bring the cannon back to the ranch,” said Trait Thompson, executive director of the OHS. “The project includes placing a flagpole near the cannon and lighting the front of the mansion and the cannon display. The cannon will be placed on a concrete pad with exhibit panels to tell the cannon’s story. Also included in the project is a new sidewalk to ensure the display is accessible to everyone,” continued Thompson.
“Come by for a visit and make a donation to the project to be a part of this opportunity,” said Denney. “If you can’t make it for a visit, give the ranch a call to make a donation at 918-762-2513.”
For more information about the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum or directions to the site, please visit www.okhistory.org/pawneebill or call the ranch at 918-762-2513. The Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum is located at 1141 Pawnee Bill Road in Pawnee.

story and photos by Bobby Anderson, Staff Writer

On Sundays strangers gather at New Heights Baptist Church on the city’s south side and sing their praises to the Lord.
But each Monday night, Capitol Hill alumni get together at New Heights to sing in praise of Albert “Ozzie” Ossenkop.
Randy Parsons directs Ozzie’s Capitol Hill Alumni Choir, a group composed solely of individuals taught by the local choral legend.
Members are either Ossenkop’s former students, their spouses or those he taught in church choirs.
Membership is by audition only and encompasses Capitol Hill students from 1963 to 1972.
“But we all auditioned 50 or 60 years ago,” Parsons laughed. “Ozzie was a great showman, a great choral director and taught us not only the love of music but he loved all of us.
“He made us feel special.”
The choir started after a couple of large reunions honoring their former director. Hundreds of students came out of the woodwork for those.
Ossenkop taught for 34 years and passed in 2011 at the age of 89.
During the later years, the group gathered each Christmas to serenade him at Legend at Rivendell.
“Many of the choir stayed in touch and would come to visit and still consider him like a father,” Parsons said. “As he aged our love for him probably increased because we could care for him a little bit like he cared for us.”
But when Ossenkop passed there was a void.
A couple of alumni got the idea of gathering members to sing for the lighting of the Stockyards Christmas tree.
“That’s what got us started and now we are the official choir of Stockyards City and we sing every year at the lighting,” he said. “We figured if we were going to do this let’s do this with the songs Ozzie taught us.”
The choir doesn’t just sing, it performs Ossenkop’s original arrangements he taught back in high school.
This will be the fourth season for Ozzie’s Capitol Hill Alumni Choir, which performs around 14 shows yearly.
In late August, the group performed at the Capitol Hill Alumni Association Annual Banquet.
One of Ossenkop’s students made it all the way. Tenor Chris Merritt has performed all over the world from Carnegie Hall to London’s Royal Opera House.
Ossenkop took his choirs all over as well. Disneyland, Montreal, San Antonio – Ossenkop’s choirs toured performing his annual Musical Extravaganza, a collection of show tunes he arranged.
Member Cheryl Tolsen was part of Ossenkop’s last choir. Coincidentally, her mother was in Ossenkop’s first choir.
“The alto doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Parsons joked.
On Monday nights you’ll find Kathy Perkins, Class of 1968, accompanying the choir on piano the same way she did in high school.
Following Labor Day, Parsons said the group will look to add more members. Anyone who was taught by Ossenkop is welcome to join this month to begin work on the group’s Christmas performances.
Carol Netherton (Class of 68) serves as the group’s secretary and treasurer.
“He was just full of vitality and vivaciousness,” she remembered. “I don’t know anybody who didn’t like him. He was like a father to so many.”
Alana Stephens (Class of 69) described her mentor as ‘“a big old teddy bear.” Seeing Ossenkop each morning at 7:25 a.m. was always a treat.
“He really was interested in all of us kids,” Stephens said. “He wasn’t just a teacher.”
Ossenkop’s expectations were straightforward: no smoking, no drinking, be an A+ person.
Even decades later, when Ossenkop would see one of his students he could tell them what voice part they sang and even remembered details about their families. “One teacher’s influence has been multiplied over all these years and is still being multiplied,” Parsons said. “Nobody pays these people to come. They have to put up with me but they come week after week, year after year. We enjoy each other but our main motivation is we want to honor the guy that started it all.”
Ossenkop left an indelible mark on every member of the choir.
Juanita Gasaway (Class of 1968) still has two pictures of Ossenkop on her cell phone. The first is of him holding her first son in 1970. The second was Ossenkop holding her son’s son in 2010.
“He had a heart of gold,” Gasaway said.