TULSA WORLD OUR LIVES Fred Gibbon 1922-2012 For onetime scout, Oilers' role was icing on the cake The former minor league player and NHL scout loved advising Tulsa's hockey team. BY TIM STANLEY World Staff Writer In boldly proclaiming the supremacy of his sport, Fred Gibbon felt like he was skating on pretty solid ice. In fact, it was the skating that set hockey apart, the former player and scout noted. "Hockey players can play hockey, basketball, baseball or tennis," Gibbon told the Tulsa World in 2006. "Other athletes wouldn't know how to skate.
And that's what makes it a great game. Hockey is the greatest sport in the world." A former minor league hockey player who once scouted for the National Hockey League, Gibbon became a familiar face rinkside at Tulsa Oilers games in the Tulsa Convention Center and later at the BOK Center. As an unofficial adviser to the Oilers, the Toronto native made it to just about every home game, keeping up a connection to the sport he had loved since childhood. Frederick Henry "Fred" Gibbon, who also became a mentor to a former junior team, the Tulsa Rampage, died March 5. He was 89.
A memorial service was held Friday at Fellowship Baptist Church in Tulsa. The Cremation Society of Oklahoma handled cremation arrangements. It all started about six years ago, when Gibbon telephoned Oilers owner Jeff Lund to voice his support for the team. Learning that Gibbon wasn't able to drive after dark to attend the Oilers' games, Lund offered to begin picking him up personally. The team owner got a glimpse of what to expect at their first game together.
"I had to go speak to someone before the game, and when I came back, Fred had disappeared," Lund recalled. "Well, I found him in the locker room. He had a crowd of players around him. He was talking hockey with them and showing them his ring." DEATH-NOTICES FROM A18 Grove Reuben T. Dixon 98, retired fire chief, died Wednesday.
Graveside service: 2 p.m. Saturday, Walker Cemetery, Welch. Ellis Family. Richard Echard, 81, died Tuesday. Services pending.
Grand Lake Funeral Home. Holdenville James Donald "Jim" Parris, 76, died Wednesday. Services pending. Waldrop, Wilburton. Jay Juanita Armstrong, 87, secretary, died Tuesday in Tulsa.
Graveside service 2 p.m. Monday, Duffield Cemetery. Worley-Luginbuel. Kellyville Billy Banks, 59, retired from the Army Corps of Engineers, died Wednesday in Tulsa. Visitation 7-9 p.m.
Friday, Smith Funeral Home, Sapulpa, and service 10 a.m. Saturday, Kellyville Free Holiness Church. Locust Grove Wayne McCartney, 80, retired Lone Star Industries welder, died Wednesday. Visitation 6-8 p.m. Friday and service 2 p.m.
Saturday, both at Key Funeral Home. Mannford Don L. Vermillion, 81, steel worker, died March 8. Graveside service 11 a.m. Friday, Fort Gibson National Cemetery, Fort Gibson.
AdamsCrest Cremation, Tulsa. Miami Velma Eileen Stow Hayes, 86, retired Walmart office supervisor, died Tuesday. Visitation 6-7 p.m. Thursday and service 10 a.m. Friday, both at Paul Thomas Funeral Home.
Muskogee Maxine Ruth Rae Alexander, 82, homemaker, died Monday. Visitation noon6 p.m. Friday, Keith D. Biglow Thursday, March 15, 2012 A 19 After four months, city's water meter still I gushing A homeowner urges the city to follow its own advice about fixing water leaks. BY KEVIN CANFIELD World Staff Writer J.W.
Smith's question is simple: If city leaders want residents to fix their leaky faucets, why can't the city fix its leaky water meters? Smith said Wednesday that he notified the city four months ago about a leaky water meter on a property he owns, but as of late Wednesday afternoon, water was still gushing from it. The water leak is on the city's side of the meter and thus doesn't affect Smith's bill. But "I would just like to see the city fix it," he said Wednesday. "I hate to see the water wasted like that." The city's Water and Sewer Department asked residents on Tuesday to identify and repair leaky faucets as part of this week's national Fix A Leak program to save water and money. Leaking faucets, running toilets and other leaks can account for more than 10,000 gallons of water in an average home every year enough water to wash nearly 10 months' worth of laundry, ac- Water streams out of the city water meter in the front yard of the home on East Virgin Street in Tulsa on Wednesday.
MICHAEL World cording to city officials. Smith said he has been told by the city that the leaky meter on his property on East Virgin Street has been assigned a work order number and that white flags have been placed around it but that's it. The fact that the city hasn't heeded its own advice and fixed the leak has left Smith confused. "That's a heck of a lot of water drops" to waste, he said. City spokeswoman Michelle Allen said late Wednesday that the city prioritizes its service calls based on the potential impact of the reported problems.
She said water meter leaks, for example, would have a lower priority than a waterline leak because it doesn't affect water service to customers and releases much less water. The city has roughly 140,000 water meters, she said. Allen said the city was made aware of the leak in Smith's meter on Jan. 5 and later dispatched a repair crew to the property, but the crew was not able to access the meter. Fred Gibbon, a former hockey player and scout who, as a regular attendee at home games of the Tulsa Oilers and former junior team Tulsa Rampage became a mentor to the players, died March 5.
CORY World file A one-time scout for the Philadelphia Flyers, Gibbon had been presented a championship ring when the Flyers won the 1974 NHL Stanley Cup. The ring was one of his most prized possessions. Gibbon, who had played minor league hockey in the 1940s, became a mentor to the players and "always had a story to tell about anything to do with hockey," Lund said. Such as the one about how he had once played center on a line with future superstar Gordie Howe on the minor league Omaha Knights. Or memories about other future legends he had played against, including Maurice Richard and Toe Blake.
"It was hard to get him to stop talking," Lund joked. But once the game started, he added, Gibbon was all business. He focused intently on the action, scribbling notes and after it was over he was the first one to the locker room. Gibbon gave praise where it was due, but he wasn't shy about criticism. "Fred was a strong-willed Funeral Home, and service 10 a.m.
Saturday, Divine Love Fellowship. Dorothy Jane Crosby, 78, Brockway Glass employee, died Wednesday. Services pending. Cornerstone. Lucille G.
VanBrunt, 90, homemaker, died Wednesday. Service 1 p.m. Friday, Bradley Funeral Service Chapel. Nowata Flora Betty Osburn, 82, route supervisor, died Tuesday. Graveside service 2 p.m.
Friday, Nowata Memorial Park Cemetery. Benjamin. Okmulgee Richard Eugene "Rick" Kelly, 62, carpenter, died Tuesday. Service 2 p.m. Friday, First Assembly of God.
McClendon-Winters. Florine C. McCurdy, 95, Okmulgee Memorial Hospital ward secretary, died Tuesday in Maryland. Services pending. Keith D.
Biglow. Owasso Ira Cecil Clark, 77, retired Department of Veterans Affairs supervisor, died Tuesday. No services planned. Johnson, Sperry. Pawnee Zelphia Irene (Lytle) Venable, 76, seamstress, died Monday.
Memorial service 2 p.m. Friday, Poteet Funeral Home Chapel. Poteau Bertha Jewel "B.J." Henry, 85, died Tuesday. Graveside service 9 a.m. Thursday, Greenhill Cemetery, Cameron.
Grace Manor. Pryor Scott Ebers, 50, died Wednesday. Services pending. Stephens. Sand Springs Charles Will "Buddy" Rogers, 82, retired Washington Township, N.J., teacher, died Monday in Tulsa.
Service 10 a.m. Friday, Olivet Baptist Church, Tulsa. MobleyDodson. Sapulpa Shane Anthony Fowler, infant son of Danielle and Danny Fowler, died Monday. Service 2 p.m.
Friday, Green Hill Funeral Home Chapel. Kevin Canfield 918-581-8313 kevin.canfield@tulsaworld.com guy and had a lot to say, and he would tell the players the things they were doing wrong," Lund said. "But it was always well-received. They knew his intent was to help them get better and win games." Transferred to Tulsa in 1957 as an employee of the Falstaff Brewing Gibbon, a Navy veteran, owned a liquor store in what is now the KingsPointe shopping center for 36 years. But he tried to stay close to the game.
He was a linesman for several years for Central Hockey League games and later got the chance to become a professional scout for the Flyers. Based in Tulsa, he held the job for five years. Gibbon continued to attend Oilers home games until about a year ago, as long as he was physically able, Lund said. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Bernice Gibbon, a former professional ice show skater and coach for the Tulsa Figure Skating Club. Tim Stanley 918-581-8385 tim.stanley@tulsaworld.com Charles E.
Nunley, 80, retired Arkansas Best Freight Lines truck driver, died Monday in Tulsa. Service 1 p.m. Friday, Heath-Griffith Funeral Home Chapel, Tulsa, and graveside service 3 p.m. Friday, Okmulgee Cemetery, Okmulgee. Sperry Gary M.
Schaffer, 49, self-employed automotive paint and body worker, died Tuesday. Services pending. Add'Vantage, Tulsa. Stidham Grant Harrison French, 73, sheet metal manufacturing worker, died Wednesday. Service 1 p.m.
Saturday, First Baptist Church. Hunn Black Merritt, Eufaula. Stillwater Lois Jane BestRussell, 89, secretary, died Monday. Service 10:30 a.m. Thursday, First Christian Church.
Strode. Tahlequah Minnie Lorene Lawson, 90, clinical psychology nurse, died Tuesday. Visitation noon-8 p.m. Thursday and service 10 a.m. Friday, both at Hart Funeral Home.
Talala Pearl (McLaren) Hunt, 96, homemaker, died Wednesday. Visitation 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Mowery Funeral Service, Owasso, and service 10:30 a.m. Friday, First Baptist Church. Vinita Mary Orlena Barnes West, 88, homemaker, died Wednesday in Tulsa.
Visitation 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Burckhalter Funeral Home, and service 11 a.m. Friday, First Christian Church. Wagoner Joyce Ann (Sullivan) Lemley, 75, homemaker, died Tuesday in Oklahoma City. Visitation 5-7 p.m.
Friday, Mallett Funeral Home, and service 11 a.m. Saturday, First Christian Church. Wesley Lee Welch, 57, died Wednesday. Services pending. Hersman-Nichols.
Wetumka Darrell Seeley, 69, died Tuesday. Service 2 p.m. Friday, Wetumka Assembly of God. Williamson-Spradlin. Advisory board backs funds for BA downtown manager The position would help promote downtown revitalization.
BY SUSAN HYLTON World Staff Writer BROKEN ARROW A $500,000 funding package for a soon-to-be-hired downtown manager was approved by the Downtown Advisory Board this week. With final City Council approval, the position would be funded by a $13.7 million tax increment financing district that was set up last year to benefit Flight Safety's new, expanded facility on Tiger Hill and to promote downtown revitalization through public improvements, property acquisitions and incentive-financing. The funding would provide $250,000 per year in compensation and expenses for two years. Wes Smithwick, president of the Economic Development Corporation, which is hiring the downtown manager, said three candidates specializing in downtown revitalization are qualified for the post. The downtown redevelopment program will focus on the procedures for applicants to the program along with the development of a marketing strategy.
The Economic Development Corporation is proposing a two-year contract with a one-year extension. Each monthly invoice would include a progress report, and increased sales and property taxes would be one measure of success, Smithwick said. The Planning Commission and the school board also will consider the funding mechanism before the issue, in the form of a final contract, is presented the City Council in April. Board member Lee Whelpley expressed the urgency to have the person on board as soon as possible, noting that previous issues, such as streetscaping concept plans on Main Street and parking lot issues, have been postponed in an effort to seek input from the downtown manager. "I'm glad we're here.
I think we've been talking about this for a long time," board member Joe Cook said. "I think this is a great day, and I look forward to the council's approval and the process beginning." Several downtown projects are in the works. The final designs on the Broadway Gateway Project are expected in mid-May, with construction planned for late June and completion by late May 2013. The work will be on Broadway Avenue from Elm Place to Main Street. Plans call for adding parallel and angled parking, landscaping, sidewalks and new curbing and surfacing.
The road will also include a "gateway" feature to designate Main Street as an arts and entertainment district. Susan Hylton 918-581-8381 Corps looking for public input to expand recreation at lakes BY RHETT MORGAN World Staff Writer Development at Keystone and Oologah lakes, operated by the Army Corps of Engineers, has been slow for decades. In fact, this month's groundbreaking at Harbor Marina at CrossTimbers represents the first new marina at Keystone- since 1975, said John Tennery, a natural resource management specialist with the corps' Tulsa district. To buck the trend, the federal agency is seeking the public's input. The corps will entertain development concepts for the two lakes at a meeting at 1 p.m.
Thursday at the Tulsa District Office, 1645 S. 101st East Ave. "We're just trying to get as general as input as possible for improving recreation at corps lakes in public-private agreements," Tennery said. The push is in support of Congress's Water Resources Development Act of 2007, Oklahoma Lakes Demonstration Program, which provides for the implementation of a 10-year program at lakes located primarily in Okla- homa. Harbor Marina at CrossTimbers is the most recent example of a public-private partnership, with CrossTimbers developer Ron Howell leasing land from the city of Mannford through the corps.
"We've mostly just had the funding to maintain the facilities that we have," Tennery said. "Part of this is to generate ideas on what new facilities may be useful and find the partners to help develop those." About 500 people responded to an online survey conducted by the corps from August to November, he said. Activities or facilities identified as desirable in the survey included equestrian, biking and hiking trails, more marinas and cabins and boat-accessible restaurants. Also rating high was 50- amp electrical service at campsites, Tennery said. "Right now, a lot of them have 30-amp, and it's not adequate to provide that much electricity to the types of trailers people drive or the motorhomes that people bring to our parks," he said.
The shorelines of corps lakes Keystone has 330 miles of shoreline and Oologah 209 are zoned for varying types and levels of recreational use and development. Some sections of those shorelines may not be available for development because of existing agreements with resource management agencies, local and state governments or other recreation use providers. "We're going to continue to have dwindling budgets," Tennery said. "We're trying to plan for the future, look at what we can do. "The demand is not going to go away," he said.
"People like to go to the parks and like to spend time out there, especially with gasoline prices going up. We feel like people will be staying closer to home." Proposals will be evaluated by an interdisciplinary team composed of federal and state recreation providers. Concept proposals under the initiative should be submitted by March 28 to john. Tennery also can be reached at 918-669-7406. Rhett Morgan 918-581-8395 rhett.morgan@tulsaworld.com.
