Leadership recognized

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Nov 17, 2000 by Joan Gilmore

Betty Price, executive director of the Oklahoma Arts Council, has garnered yet another award, this one national. She is in Pittsburgh where she has received the nation's top award for leadership in a state arts council from the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.

The Gary L. Young Award is presented to an executive director of a state arts agency or regional arts organization who has demonstrated leadership, innovative thinking, commitment to public support for the arts and dedication to diverse artistic expression.

Jonathan Katz, CEO of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, said, "Betty Price has long been an arts leader, not only in Oklahoma but regionally and nationally as well." The Oklahoma native joined the arts council in 1974 and earned her current title in 1982. Ken Fergeson, chairman of the Bank of Commerce in Altus and current chairman of the Oklahoma Business Circle for the Arts, credits Betty's leadership in bringing public support for the arts in Oklahoma to where it is today.

Betty's belief in the nonpartisan role the arts play in everyday life was documented during a 1998 gala in her honor, which featured congratulatory comments from five of the six governors under whom she has served. A member of the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame, she was a founding sponsor of Red Earth and served on the Murrah Federal Building Task Force Advisory Committee and Design Solicitation Committee. She is directing three commissions of public art for the State Capitol, including the Native American sculpture for the State Capitol dome.

Among her many talents is her own ability as a professional artist whose work has been displayed in many area galleries.

Incidentally, among the various contributions Betty's Oklahoma Arts Council makes to the quality of life in Oklahoma are funding of artists' performances and the artist-in-residence program. An excellent example is a program at 5p.m. Dec. 3. The program, which is part of the Arts at St. Luke's Series, will feature Howard Hanger, Earl Hefley, Dave Copenhave and James Keys. They will present a family-oriented, interactive Christmas experience at the Christian Life Center at St. Luke's United Methodist Church. The concert is open and free to the public.

The four Oklahoma men comprise the Jazz Fantasy Christmas experience. Hanger, a United Methodist minister, has traveled the world as a jazz musician, recording 16 albums. His children's recordings have won national awards.

Taste upon a star

More than 500 fun-loving, thirsty, hungry folks crowded Omniplex the other evening for the ninth annual Taste Upon a Star party benefiting the Kirkpatrick Planetarium. Twenty-nine vineyards and wineries and five breweries offered wares for sampling and 16 restaurants or caterers provided plenty of tasty foods. An international mood filled the air, since the wineries ranged from the United States to New Zealand to Spain to Italy. Centered in the party area was a gazebo where guitarist Edgar Cruz played international music. Guests entered the party area through a colorful archway of hundreds of balloons, donated by Debey Covey.

A silent auction in the planetarium offered everything from a round-trip ride to Fort Worth on the Heartland Flyer (donated by Amtrak) to a dinner at Applewoods and an evening at Ballet Oklahoma to a framed Coca-Cola Package wrap autographed by OU Football Coach Bob Stoops (donated by Great Plains Coca-Cola Bottling Co.). Bud Hill and Marijane Veazey were co-chairs of the party, assisted by Debey Covey, Vickie Nettle, Ann Schaefer, Stan Stack and Darenda Talmadge.

The importance of literacy

Not one but two speakers stressed the importance of literacy for youth and adults at the annual Reach for the Stars banquet at the Marriott Hotel. Sponsored by and benefiting the Community Literacy Centers, the evening featured rousing talks by Tom Harken and Mark Victor Hansen. Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin once again illustrated her talent as a master of ceremonies for the evening and was assisted in the awards presentation by Oklahoma's first lady Cathy Keating and CLC's president, Patti Mellow.

An entrepreneur, restaurateur and successful businessman in Beaumont, Texas, Harken's mission is to eradicate illiteracy. He admits in his frequent speeches around the country that he did not learn how to read until after he was grown and a successful businessman. Hansen, also an advocate for literacy, is co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul. He has co-written 31 consecutive best sellers and has 74 more books on his schedule, one of which is the new Chicken Soup for the Sports Fan.

Receiving the CLC awards and their categories were Tulsa Area Book Bank, Innovator; Leland and Vicki Gourley, Media; Krueger Charitable Foundation, Tulsa, Benefactor; Greg Colvin, Weatherford, Volunteer Tutor; Benjamin Alvarez, Okmulgee, Student; and Katherine Corbin, Enid, Volunteer. Edith Gaylord Harper, in absentia, was presented the Board of Directors' Award. The Leadership in Literacy Award went to Sandy Garrett, State Department of Education.