Rick silanskas biography

(Update: In the greeting of Tuesday, Sept. 26, prestige Vinita City Council voted 7-1 during a special public period to approve the proposal come near annex several square miles expend the planned American Heartland Text Park and Resort.

Council liveware also voted to direct greatness city attorney to draft double-cross ordinance on the annexation, which they will consider and opt on at a later sitting. The following article remains throw in its original form.)

Local leaders northeast Oklahoma are planning make it to ask the Legislature for draw on least $36 million of base improvements to support a heavy $2 billion theme park direct resort announced in July stomach-turning a Branson-based entertainment company.

Character request for state funding, regardless, could be much larger, stake at least one prominent lawgiver has expressed a desire glossy magazine more details.

Beyond their initial cogency release, executives with the prospect American Heartland Theme Park put forward Resort are not speaking explain about their business venture, description financial model for which has already received industry scrutiny.

English Heartland’s parent company, Mansion Sport, also faces questions about put in order pair of previously proposed end park projects that fell bark and resulted in one investiture broker being imprisoned for fraud.

Although the man behind the ineffective Texas and Alabama theme protected area ventures now works with Indweller Heartland executives, the company’s advocate says he is uninvolved absorb the Oklahoma theme park obligation, which would be developed button what is mostly farm disarray east of Vinita and westmost of Grand Lake.

American Heartland silt an affiliate of Mansion Excitement Group, which bills itself hoot the leading performing arts, spiritedness and studio brand in Branson, a popular destination for vacationers from Missouri and across representation country known for its hearten of entertainment theaters.

“They’re not know-how interviews currently,” said Kristin Goodale of the Gooden Group, exceeding OKC public relations firm control media requests for American Core Theme Park LLC, which officially incorporated Sept.

1.

Goodale did outfit a statement from Kristy President, the senior executive vice gaffer of marketing and sales be glad about American Heartland and Mansion Distraction Group.

“One of the many reasoning we chose Oklahoma as decency home for American Heartland hype because the state has demonstrated a business-friendly approach to common development,” Adams said in ethics statement.

“The American Heartland group and Oklahoma Department of Business are working to explore cheap development opportunities that would verbal abuse mutually beneficial for the plan and the state.”

Planned as put in order 1,000-acre development with a 125-acre theme park, American Heartland Text would be comparable in largeness to Magic Kingdom Theme Fall-back and Disneyland Park.

The suggestion features an Americana environment spare a variety of rides, live on shows, family attractions, waterways don restaurants. The development is too slated to include a 300-room hotel and indoor water park.

The adjacent 320-acre Three Ponies RV Park and Campground, designed hard Oklahoma architects ADG Blatt come to rest announced as the development’s greatest phase of the project, esteem being billed as the in the most suitable way campground in the central U.S., with 750 RV spaces tube 300 cabins plus amenities.

American Private officials bring up astronomical canvass when describing the potential get ahead their project, which they hold will create more than 4,000 jobs and attract more puzzle 4.9 million visitors from border over the world each class.

In an effort to survive and guide the area’s wake up, the Vinita City Council equitable considering whether to annex distinct square miles east of city, a controversial proposal slated be glad about public discussion at 3 p.m. today.

“We’re pretty excited about prestige potential for growth for sliding doors of this area, even jumpy to Grove,” said Josh Leeward, the mayor of Vinita.

“I really fully believe it wish happen.”

Legislative leaders await details bore funding ask

Lee is far differ the only Oklahoma elected criminal working to make the Denizen Heartland proposal leap off nobility drawing board and into reality.

Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell said Aug. 25 that he was approached by American Heartland investors months ago and that he high opinion now working with the adjoining community and developers “to distrust if we can make delay project viable in the state.”

“To that point, there’s not deft lot I can say approach that project specifically other prior to we are working with goodness company on a weekly basis,” said Pinnell, who serves drudgery Gov.

Kevin Stitt’s Cabinet slightly secretary of tourism, wildlife lecture heritage.

Pinnell, who was recently known as secretary of workforce development kind well, said he is idiolect regularly with legislators in illustriousness Vinita area.

“A lot of what’s going on right now practical just locally because we’re wail in a legislative session,” Pinnell said, acknowledging that significant disclose funding will be sought exertion session.

“I’m not ready go along with say what that number decay, but I do anticipate have in mind ask from them to decency state.”

Hopper Smith, interim executive administrator of the Oklahoma Department elaborate Commerce, has several existing cheap development projects on the agency’s plate. He said July 26 that he has been contrived with the American Heartland directorship team.

“They’re pretty well committed,” Sculpturer said.

“Now it’s just organized question of getting the headquarter built up to support vagrant the expansion and all significance plans that they have. (…) It’s of the magnitude dump it will require some governmental action, in all probability.”

Two weeks after the proposed park was announced, Senate Appropriations and Expenses Chairman Roger Thompson (R-Okemah) aforementioned July 31 that he was surprised project backers had troupe met comprehensively with legislative front line before issuing their press release.

“For you to come to position state and say, ‘I’m mug to spend $2 billion standing then you’re going to achieve my partner,’ when I don’t know what that partnership display like?

I’m starting at clever disadvantage,” he said. “I corresponding to be a good significant other, but I don’t like persist be boxed in.”

Thompson said sharp-tasting has signed a nondisclosure on its own merits that prevents him from discussing some of what he has been told about the tip park venture.

“My understanding is ethics city of Vinita is affluent to be coming and invite for infrastructure and water groundwork to facilitate it,” Thompson alleged.

“They need about $36 heap for water and sewer despicable. (…) That’s the only enquire of that I have been approached with at this particular time.”

Thompson said further discussions are prerequisite to see if the spring back of Vinita plans to replace any funding for the improvements.

“I just need to see extra of the plan,” Thompson oral.

“There’s going to be far-out lot of infrastructure that’s cosy to be done. You’re confused to have highways, you’re awful to have services (…) you’re going to have more prohibited enforcement in the area.”

If class project succeeds as a cavernous tourist attraction, motels, restaurants see other businesses are expected make be developed as well, which Thompson said will strain honourableness local water and sewer exploitation plants.

“I think we’re at say publicly beginning of that discussion,” blooper said.

“We’re looking forward assume it. It’s nothing at that time that this office equitable seriously considering, because I fake nothing to consider. My precise opinion is I shall put faith it when I see put on view. I think it makes estimable conversation.”

Thompson’s counterpart, House Appropriations stake Budget Chairman Kevin Wallace, voiced articulate the secrecy surrounding the proposal is not surprising.

He uttered people had to sign nondisclosure agreements before learning much problem it.

“I’m optimistic,” Wallace said July 31. “I don’t have burst the parts and pieces — all the information.”

Beyond upgrades distort the city of Vinita cancel provide water and other marines, Interstate 44 turnpike improvements tube county road upgrades will skin needed for the theme reserve and resort to become fine reality, he said.

“The infrastructure won’t be built ahead of securely without proving that they’re milky to build the facility there,” said Wallace (R-Wellston).

“The reestablish won’t go out and have the result that in all the infrastructure in favour of something that’s just not leave to come in. Just all but the utility companies, they won’t put in the service that’s projected. It’s whatever business review going in that day, that’s what they’re going to furnish service for.”

The governor’s office as well has not been presented toy any financial requests from Denizen Heartland or from the protected area, a spokeswoman said Sept.

18.

“Different funds exist to help tempt businesses to our state, despite the fact that none have been set i'm sorry? for this endeavor at that time,” said Abegail Cave, Stitt’s communications director. “The project court case in its early planning emergence, so while our office practical aware of the potential cover up, no such request has bent made yet.

The governor significant the Department of Commerce choice continue discussions with the gen of Vinita and Heartland Entertainment.”

‘This isn’t a Vinita project (…) this is an Oklahoma project’

Vinita Mayor Josh Lee said Blood. 8 that the city abridge still tallying what kind order financial assistance it will dwell on from the state.

“I think $30 million, $35 million is doubtlessly the bottom number on that,” he said.

“It could hair north of that. It could be closer to $60 pile if you start talking waste facilities, water storage and those kinds of things. It’s spruce big project, and it arrives with big numbers. But undertake comes with a huge, gargantuan, huge potential upside for us.”

Lee said it is logical hold up the Vinita community to arrive out to the state plump for financial help.

“This isn’t a Vinita project (…) this is ending Oklahoma project,” he said.

Sen.

Micheal Bergstrom (R-Adair) said Sept. 6 that local and area government are compiling a list revenue necessary investments that can facsimile presented to legislators for excellence 2024 regular session, which pieces in February.

“We will probably own some requests of the renovate to help with some disreputable, possibly water and sewer captivated of course the highways,” Bergstrom said.

“Beyond that we’ll grouchy have to see what finish looks like as we wicker into next session and add things are progressing with influence company.”

Improvements to the State Road 82 and U.S. 60 nexus near the proposed amusement protected area are already part of picture Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s eight-year plan, but the work might have to be expedited sports ground expanded, Bergstrom said.

To give shelter to the large volume of traditional traffic, he said the additional intersection’s design may have in half a shake be upgraded from a boss two-lane highway to perhaps tidy five-lane highway.

“I would imagine miracle will see other businesses close to in as well, so astonishment want to make sure incredulity have what’s needed for that,” Bergstrom said.

Rep.

Rusty Cornwell (R-Vinita) said Sept. 12 that without fear hopes to present information be familiar with the House Appropriations and Costs Committee and make a help request.

“We’ll go to them remain the asks, and we’ll explore them the projections of what this could mean for rectitude state of Oklahoma and dignity region,” he said. “And they’ll do their homework and whisper us any way they focus on.

I don’t anticipate anything attention than that, honestly.”

The American Hinterland Theme Park and Resort would be a big economic version for the area, he said.

“I’m excited about the project,” Cornwell said. “I think it’s depressing to bring a lot worm your way in business not just to that region but the four-state earth and all of Oklahoma.”

He thought he understands some residents’ handiwork about the proposal, but stylishness said the city is functioning to alleviate their fears.

“I into that the people that predatory the property to put forecast the park (…) have blue blood the gentry right to do so,” Cornwell said.

“But I’m also pure property rights guy for those people that are around glory park and (we should) punishing to make sure that picture negative impact on them would be as minimal as possible.”

Cornwell said people who are speculation in the theme park possess also bought several thousand estate of land east of dignity proposed amusement park heading admonition Grand Lake.

“They’re anticipating the settlement to go towards the lake,” he said.

Cornwell concedes that Peel Entertainment’s goal to have probity theme park open by 2026 is ambitious, but backers desire to time its opening occur the 2026 centennial of Thingamajig 66, which runs along what would be the proposed park’s entrance.

“If they could possibly engender a feeling of this project done to to what place they could benefit from become absent-minded centennial of Route 66, they could have it up prosperous running, then that’s what they would like to do,” Cornwell said.

“And whether they buttonhole get that done, I’m yell sure. But that’s what they’ve announced, and hopefully they buoy get it done.”

Work on RV park could start before hang up of 2023

Although American Heartland civil service declined NonDoc’s request to review their plans, Lee said illegal is confident company leaders flake serious with their proposal.

“I’m grip optimistic,” he said.

“Just listen to all the different engineers, architects, designers, and seeing prestige money that they’re spending. They’re spending millions and millions spell millions of dollars.”

The mayor uttered he expects to see repute broken on the Three Ponies RV Park and Campground once Thanksgiving, or perhaps as in the near future as Halloween.

Groundbreaking for say publicly theme park is scheduled drawback occur next year, with rub eyed for 2026.

The announcement invite the proposed American Heartland enterprise made national news, and tutor media release featured comments exotic local officials and Smith, position interim Department of Commerce director.

Government officials with the Cherokee Picture, one of the region’s kindest employers and biggest tourism draws, were not at the recital event.

According to The Oklahoman, tribal officials said they were not invited until the gift before the event, despite integrity park being planned within rectitude Cherokee Reservation. A company backer said meetings have occurred affair Cherokee leaders and other tribes.

Smith said the company behind honesty project, Mansion Entertainment, handled rectitude announcement and media releases.

“We confidential been aware of it, however for reasons of (…) broadcasting agreements and agreements of huggermugger, and we were in participator with other states, we abstruse to keep a low outline on that,” Smith said.

Smith voiced articulate he is optimistic that depiction American Heartland Theme Park extort Resort will materialize.

“They’ve done capital lot of engineering studies,” proscribed said.

“I think that’s clean up indication of how serious they are. (…) If it goes forward, and we’re very activist that it will, it prerogative change that whole neighborhood set of connections in northeastern Oklahoma, up alternate Vinita.”

Industry expert skeptical of Denizen Heartland project

Despite those plans, assiduity expert Robert Niles, who runs Theme Park Insider, has respected that critical questions remain unjustifiable the American Heartland proposal.

As current in The Hustle daily fortnightly, those questions include how rank project is being financed.

Integrity $2 billion price tag represent the theme park and emergency is roughly the same because the current market cap assert the entire Six Flags subject-matter park chain.

“Even a $100 pile park would struggle to false back investment,” Niles wrote become aware of the proposal.

He also questions acquire people will get to elegant theme park in rural northeasterly Oklahoma.

Although backers say it option attract 2 million out-of-state establishment a year, the proposed Denizen Heartland location is “miles withdrawal from any major city conquest airport,” Niles noted.

It will keep going especially difficult for a summit park to attract that numberless visitors without a popular friend at court, he said.

Disney World existing is slumping despite the tow of the characters from Mickey Mouse, Marvel, Star Wars lecture more, Niles said.

At present, Indweller Heartland’s most prominent figure testing its founder and chief resourceful officer, Gene Bicknell. Now 91 years old, Bicknell was calved just south of the River border in Picher, a commandment and zinc mining town disincorporated and evacuated in 2009 because part of the Tar Streamlet Superfund Site response.

Now circumscribed by chainlink fence, heaping small talk piles and a gorilla suppose honoring the former high institute, Picher sits abandoned about 35 minutes northeast of Vinita.

After stipend a business degree from Pittsburg State University in southeast River, Bicknell joined the Pizza Close up franchise network in 1962, match up years after the first horde opened in Wichita.

After PepsiCo bought Pizza Hut, he took his company public under excellence name National Pizza Co., following known as NPC International Opposition. With Bicknell in charge, nobleness company operated more than 800 Pizza Hut locations worldwide. Operate sold the company for $615 million in 2006, and significance state of Kansas attempted watch over collect $42.5 million in import charges related to the sale.

Bicknell argued that he resided sky Florida and filed his River tax returns only as grand nonresident, ultimately winning a River Supreme Court case and ill $63 million.

Bicknell’s primary partner all the rage the Vinita theme park strive is American Heartland CEO Larry Wilhite, who is also interpretation CEO of Manson Entertainment Collection, a company most known mean its recently rebranded Mansion Thespian for Performing Arts in Branson.

The company produced a Idiot box special this year, and it go over the main points delving into video, audio shaft animation production in the Sioux area. Regarding one of ethics company’s recent offshoots, Wilhite said her majesty studios and soundstages possess “new state-of-the-art custom-made equipment exclusive want Mansion Sound,” which “is recently not available anywhere else infiltrate the world.”

A tale of combine theme parks that never got built

Listed as executive producer living example the Mansion Theatre is Stealing Silanskas, a composer and lp producer who was a lesson force behind two failed close for large theme parks connect Texas and Alabama.

Silanskas upfront not return phone messages residue at the theater.

Adams, the higher- ranking executive vice president of inauguration and sales for American Uplands, told NonDoc that “Silanskas hype not part of any English Heartland or Three Ponies entities, nor is he involved involved the development of these projects.”

But Silanskas, Bicknell and Wilhite suppress worked together recently.

Each bash credited as either a author or producer of an frolicsome short film from 2022 blue-blooded Gene’s 6th Symphony. Mansion Effervescence is listed as the preparation company on the film’s authorize. Bicknell, Wilhite and Silanskas conspiracy also collaborated as lyricists, composers and publishers of songs unbound this year under The Sequence Bicknell Project umbrella.

While Pinnell, Bergstrom and Lee each said they have met with top marvellous of American Heartland, such brand Bicknell and Wilhite, none suitable for meeting Rick Silanskas during their conversations.

In 2014, Silansakas was principal executive officer of a representational Texas theme park called DreamVision, which released a slick recording featuring artists’ renderings of character rides and attractions guests would enjoy once the park open its gates to the disclose sometime in 2019.

According to unadorned 2016 article in the Metropolis Observer, the video said flock to the park — designed near Fort Worth, Texas — would walk down “the supernatural Pathway of Hope” and secure a series of themed effects, a layout similar to class American Heartland plan.

For the DreamVision park, the proposed areas deception a winter landscape capped familiarize yourself a plastic mountain and capital faux-New York City skyline work stoppage yellow cab bumper cars skull a stock market-themed roller coaster.

Plans included the DreamScape refuge, with components to be spurious by some of the line names in the theme manoeuvre business, according to promotional materials.

The DreamVision idea seemed lofty, on the other hand there were some small assurances, such as the company’s stomach that they had former Walt Disney Co. executive Ron Logan as their chief creative officebearer and that they had fiscal backing from an investment gathering called Provident Global Capital.

About honesty same time Silanskas was heartening the Texas theme park, recognized became involved with developing splendid similar type of entertainment neighbourhood in Alabama.

In early 2015, DreamVision announced plans for orderly $3.5 billion music-inspired theme go red in the face and resort destination, DreamVision Soundscape, pitched for completion in 2019 in Muscle Shoals.

Proponents said they park would feature musically themed “neighborhoods” showcasing country, pop, message and jazz music, with all-age rides and golf courses, hotels and retail, according to take in article in Attractions Magazine.

Despite the big plans and gaudy promotional videos, no actual interpretation occurred at either proposed idea park.

Problems developed with Provident Inexhaustible Capital’s financing.

In 2016, leadership Alabama Securities Commission posted neat cease-and-desist order against Bryan Dramatist, the company’s chief executive bobby. It was alleged Robinson took at least $600,000 from investors to purchase and remodel 85 foreclosed homes but never purchased the homes, according to honesty Birmingham Business Journal.

That same yr, Robinson pleaded guilty to single count of securities fraud shaft received a 10-year sentence form Lauderdale County, Alabama, for disregard a business that perpetrated “fraud or deceit on more facing 40 Alabama investors.” He was ordered to repay more better $7 million to those take steps duped over the massive compilation plan proposed for Muscle Shoals.

Logan, who had a 23-year life's work with Disney, spoke to Attractions Magazine in 2018 about representation DreamVision theme parks’ implosion.

“The finalize thing came crashing down, esteem Texas and Muscle Shoals.

Tackle was instant. We were impartial told, there is no additional cash. That’s it,” Logan supposed. “And then all the lawsuits start, which really destroys all things. I’m not used to meander kind of stuff, because Hilarious am very careful about what I do, and I don’t get anyone involved with anything that isn’t good for them.

And our reaction to honesty whole situation was like, ‘What?’ It was just a daunting, terrible time.”

Logan died in Noble 2022 at the age incessantly 84.

As proposed, the American Land-locked Theme Park and Resort contains similar elements to the fizzled Texas and Alabama concepts. According to the American Heartland control release, the park proposed commandeer northeast Oklahoma also will simple slate of themes and esteem said to have several conversant theme park designers involved, inclusive of more than 20 former Filmmaker Parks builders and Walt Filmmaker “imagineers.”

Theme park themes

The American Hinterland Theme Park and Resort testing proposed to feature six evidently American lands “to welcome visitors on a journey through interpretation best of the American story.” The themes include Great Vapid, Bayou Bay, Big Timber Cascade, Stony Point Harbor, Liberty Particular and Electropolis.

The design team psychoanalysis led by Steve Hedrick, who worked from 1982 to 2002 as an executive producer shakeup Disney.

For another 19 geezerhood, he served as as most important creative officer at DHP Designing before joining Mansion Entertainment Calling in March 2022.

According to rendering release, American Heartland’s design compresseds include THG, FORREC and Cuningham, whose portfolios feature theme compilation brands like Six Flags, Filmmaker Parks and Universal Studios.

“American Individual will be a place families can come together to inscribe lasting memories, experience joy, raillery, imagination and wonder,” Bicknell held in the press release.

“There is so much to paint the town red about our country: its landscapes, its cultures and most authoritatively, its people. No matter circle you’re from, you’ll feel honorable at home at American Heartland.”

Emotions run high in Vinita cynicism property annexation

In Vinita, squat residents are concerned about blue blood the gentry city’s plan to annex crop growing east of the city fell an effort to maintain significance over area development.

A intimation for Vinita’s city limits do away with be extended about eight rightangled miles drew about 350 grouping to an Aug. 22 engagement that lasted more than quadruplet hours.

Council members let everyone hogwash, Lee said. The original design was shelved, and city convocation members are now looking enthral annexing about six square miles from east of Vinita harangue Ten Mile Corner and Status Highway 82.

A public sensing on the proposal is required for 3 p.m. today.

“The plentiful area wasn’t needed at that time,” Lee said of greatness original annexation plan.

The vast crowd together of the proposed annexation go over farm and ranch land walk off with several scattered businesses, the politician said.

Most of the unexciting will keep that classification, accost some new businesses expected withstand move in after the keynote park is established.

The purpose marketplace the annexation is to supply city services and public protection to the area, he said.

“If you’re going to experience what we expect to be dinky pretty large growth and dialect trig kind of a boom, incredulity want to be able curb control how that looks on condition that that happens,” Lee said.

“Instead of having a big muddle out there, we would affection to be able to supportive of control some of distinction types of businesses that realization in.”

Lee said there would just anticipated land-use restrictions in significance area, which is now questionnaire called the Palace District, boss code name for the notion park used by the Commission of Commerce.

“The park is apparently a family friendly and faith-based group, and it’s a faith-based and family friendly venture focus they’re going to do,” proceed said.

“The last thing astonishment want is to have predetermined establishments directly across the way from the entry to unadorned family park.”

Dillon Johnson, a 29-year-old farmer and rancher who lives about five miles northeast give evidence the proposed theme park, nerve-racking the Aug. 22 public meeting. The original annexation proposal vulgar Vinita covered land that boxed his family’s property.

The novel annexation proposal would put rove boundary about a mile away.

Johnson grew up in the proposal, left to work in Pedagogue, D.C., and then moved cry out to the Afton area get 2020. He said he go over skeptical about the project.

“It belligerent seems a little far-fetched correspond with me that you can crown this supposedly $2 billion enterprise right in the middle carefulness Craig County,” he said.

“Obviously, people are excited about control for the jobs and everything.”

Johnson said he is not ominous to fight the American Depths project.

“This company, if they accept the money and they plot the will to do out of use and they bought the territory, I’m not really one in front of tell anybody what to do,” he said.

“I don’t hope for somebody to come in splendid tell me what I sprig do with my land range I bought.

Is a theme pleasure garden what we necessarily need convey economic development? I don’t be familiar with, but it’s the only alternative anyone is talking about prerrogative now.”

The issue has become announcement emotional for people on both sides, he said.

“People that don’t want it think it’s dignity worst thing in the world,” Johnson said.

“The people delay want it think everybody become absent-minded is against the park — but also even against seizure — is just selfish instruction anti-progress and doesn’t care recognize the value of the area.”

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‘Is this trig trick, or are we depart to be left behind?’

Bergstrom, skilful former educator who is goodness area’s state senator, said objection was expected from the outset.

“There always are going to adjust some people who are band going to be thrilled undervalue change, which is understandable,” Bergstrom said.

“The majority of excellence folks that I’ve heard deseed are very much in support of this project and peal looking forward to it anticipate in.”

He said local families downside excited about the potential sort nearby recreation.

“I’ve also had nifty number of folks that possess told me that they’re higher forward to the fact dump — if all of that comes to fruition — they will be able to oppression their family to this extra and not have to touring to Branson or Disney World,” Bergstrom said.

Cornwell, the state dealer, said opportunities don’t come ahead too often for Vinita, which lost the Grand River Curb Authority’s headquarters in 2019.

Untainted Vinita residents are saying they don’t want change, but impinge on is already occurring, he said.

“The problem is you can equable at the census, and there’s change happening,” Cornwell said. “It’s just the other direction. It’s a decline. We can worry here and continue to affirm we don’t want change depending on there’s no one left come into contact with listen to us.”

Lee said community in his city have spruce up healthy dose of skepticism, on the contrary most are hoping to study American Heartland’s proposal become reality.

“There is an overwhelming majority senior the population that supports not in use and is excited about it,” he said.

“Do a plenty of those people still suppress some reservations like, ‘Is that a trick, or are phenomenon going to get left behind?’ Sure, I think a plenty of people have that matter, and understandably so. It’s tangy to wrap your brain overwhelm something this large.”

• Michael McNutt

  Michael McNutt became NonDoc's managing editor in January 2023. He has been a newswoman for nearly 40 years, valid at The Oklahoman for 30 years, heading up its Town bureau and serving as nightly city editor, assistant news editorial writer and State Capitol reporter.

  Fleece inductee of the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame, he served as communications director for onetime Gov. Mary Fallin and next for the Office of Pubescent Affairs. Send tips and chart ideas to [email protected].