I love Oklahoma

Oklahoma Centennial

Oklahoma is celebrating its 100th anniversary of
Statehood this year. Because most people think of the
Stage play ' Oklahoma!' when they hear the state's name mentioned,
Citizens are attempting to update the state's image by sharing
Interesting state facts with others as we celebrate our Centennial.

Oklahoma is not only the home of Ado Annie and Aunt
Eller from ' Oklahoma!' but of the parking meter
(invented in OKC) and the shopping cart (invented in Ardmore ).

The electric guitar also was invented in Oklahoma, by
A Beggs musician named Bob Dunn . The first 'Yield'
Sign was installed in Tulsa.

**Environmental Protection Agency recognizes Oklahoma
As having the most diverse terrain of any state in the
Nation. The state, according to EPA, boasts 11
Distinct Eco-regions.

The state has more man-made lakes than any other
State, which give us more than a million surface-acres
Of water and 2,000 more miles of shoreline than the
Atlantic and Gulf coasts combined.

The Sooner State has produced more astronauts than any
Other state in the union. Owen Garriott is an Enid Boy,
of course, while Tom Stafford is from Weatherford,
Shannon Lucid from Oklahoma City, William Pogue
from Okemah and the late Gordon Cooper from Shawnee.

Oklahoma is home to the Amateur Softball Association
And Hall of Fame, a world class zoo in OKC and more F4
And F5 tornadoes than any other state.

Oklahoma is the third-largest gas-producing state in
The nation and ranks fourth in the production of
Wheat, cattle and calves, fifth in the production of
Pecans, sixth in peanuts and eighth in peaches.

The state's colors are neither OU's crimson and cream
Nor the orange and black of OSU but green and white.

Oklahomans practice 73 major religions. The largest is
The Southern Baptist Convention, with nearly 1,600
Church and more than 960,000 members.

Oklahoma gave birth to Dick Tracy (cartoonist Chester
Gould is a native of Pawnee) and Donald Duck (Clarence
'Ducky' Nash, the original voice of Walt Disney's
Donald, grew up in Watonga). Not to mention, Garth, Reba,
Toby, Ron Howard, Troy Aikman and BRAD PITT!

Oklahomans have survived the Dust Bowl, any number of
Killer tornadoes, the 1995 bombing of Oklahoma City's
Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and various oil
Booms and busts. Oklahoma is populated by people who
Are caring, giving, hard-working, patriotic and Fiercely
independent. Oklahoma is a good place to Live, work and play.

The challenge in this, our centennial year, is to make
The rest of America aware of what Oklahoma has to
Offer, besides 'beautiful mornings,' 'fringe-laden
Surreys' and 'a girl who cain't say no.'

The official statehood celebration will be in
November. In the meantime, individual cities are
Restaging various events associated with statehood and
The settling of Indian Territory which eventually
Became our state. It's a great time to be an Oklahoman
And I wanted to share this with you!

National Cowboy & Western Heriate Museum

Jeff Foxworthy and Oklahomans

Forget Rednecks, here is what Jeff Foxworthy has
to say about folks from Oklahoma....

If someone in a Lowe's store offers you assistance and they
don't work there, you may live in Oklahoma

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time,
you may live in Oklahoma .

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who
dialed a wrong number, you may live in Oklahoma .

If "Vacation" means going anywhere south of Dallas for
the weekend, you may live in Oklahoma.

This falls under the category of
Wingman Spiritual Wisdom........

If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Oklahoma.

If you know several people who have hit a deer more
than once, you may live in Oklahoma.

If you install security lights on your house and garage, but
leave , both unlocked, you may live in Oklahoma.

If you carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how
to use them, you may live in Oklahoma.

If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph -- you're going 80
and everybody is passing you, you may live in Oklahoma.

If you find 60 degrees "a little chilly",
you may live in Oklahoma.

If you actually understand these jokes and forward them to all
your Okie friends & others, you definitely live in Oklahoma.