Downtown Oklahoma City Inc. to honor Burns Hargis, JoeVan Bullard and

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Mar 11, 2004 by Journal Record staff

Downtown Oklahoma City Inc. will honor Burns Hargis, JoeVan Bullard and Randy Hogan for their outstanding contributions to downtown at the 18th Annual Dean A. McGee Award Ceremony. Hargis, who is completing his second year as chairman of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, will receive the Dean A. McGee Award. Bullard will take the Stanley Draper Award, while Hogan will receive the Neal Horton Award.

The black-tie evening will begin with a reception at 6 p.m. April 23 in the Civic Center Music Hall's Meinders Hall of Mirrors. The gourmet dinner and award presentation follows at 7 p.m.

The Dean A. McGee Award recognizes individuals for their lifetime commitment to downtown. Hargis started his efforts to further downtown's development as chairman of the Mayor's Economic Development Council in 1987. Under his leadership as chairman of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, in 2002 it launched an urban core marketing campaign to attract development and a Web-based information system for downtown. Hargis led the chamber in securing $1.5 million in federal grants to develop the Oklahoma City Enterprise Center in the First National Bank building. In addition to his chamber post, he is the vice chairman of Bank of Oklahoma, the state's largest bank.

Bullard will be honored with the 2004 Stanley Draper Award, recognizing an outstanding staff or volunteer of a nonprofit group, or a non-elected government employee, who has made a lasting positive change for downtown. For three decades with the City of Oklahoma City, Bullard has tackled projects ranging from 1970s downtown renewal projects to rebuilding efforts after the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. He joined the city staff in 1972 as a research analyst and rose to assistant city manager, working under four mayors, several city managers and dozens of city council members. In late 2003, he became executive director of the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority.

For his determination to transform Bricktown into a retail and entertainment destination, Hogan was chosen to receive the Neal Horton Award. Horton similarly struggled to pioneer a vision for Bricktown in the 1980s. The award was forged to honor a visionary who creates a renaissance in a part of downtown.

Combined, Hogan and his partners' development of Bricktown Entertainment Center, Bass Pro Shops, Bricktown Harkins Theatre and Embassy Suites brings more than $85 million of investment to this downtown area. His belief that Bricktown needed a strong anchor faced undue pressure and a national downturn in the theater industry. His commitment resulted in two Bricktown anchors that will be a home run for this downtown district's renaissance.

Seating is limited for the Dean A. McGee Award Ceremony, presented by Downtown Oklahoma City. Reservations are required by April 15. Advance tickets may be purchased for $150 by calling 235-3500 or e- mailing rsvp@ downtownokc.com. Patron tables are available for $1,500. For additional information, take your Web browser to www.downtownokc.com and click on the Dean A. McGee Awards icon.