• OSUIT dedicated Pistol Pete Plaza, featuring a 12-foot bronze statue of Frank “Pistol Pete” Eaton created by Oklahoma artist Wayne Cooper. The ceremony, held on Eaton’s birthday, was attended by then-OSUIT President Bill R. Path and the OSU mascot, Pistol Pete. The statue, located at the campus’s south entrance in Okmulgee, stands on a six-foot stone base and aims to be a source of pride and signify OSUIT as a true OSU campus.
• Cody Minyard, a Muscogee (Creek) citizen and a junior at the University of Oklahoma, interned for U.S. Senator Al Franken in Washington, D.C., through the Native American Political Leadership Program (NAPLP). The full-scholarship program allowed him to live on campus at George Washington University and take six hours of coursework while gaining experience on Capitol Hill. Minyard’s internship duties included answering phones and emails, but he also focused on Indian Affairs, attending briefings and hearings, and meeting with the Department of Interior. He planned to attend law school after graduation, with an interest in constitutional or Native American law.
—
• According to a report released by the Violence Policy Center, Oklahoma ranked seventh in the nation for the rate of women murdered by men. The report, titled “When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 1998 Homicide Data,” stated 37 women were killed by men in the state, a rate of 2.16 per 100,000 residents. The data showed 53% of the victims were shot and killed with guns, and 86% were killed by someone they knew.
• Ricky Blatchford of Henryetta, was one of 33 individuals recognized at the 15th Annual Governor’s Disability Employment Awards ceremony. Blatchford, who had been working for almost a year in fiberglass manufacturing at Blue Wave Boats in Checotah, was honored for his performance and dependability. The owner of Blue Wave Boats, Pam Parks, praised his work, noting he had received additional responsibilities and two raises. The job allowed Blatchford to become financially independent and support his family, moving away from dependence on Social Security.
— 50 Years Ago (1975)
• Local preparations were underway for a special Halloween Drive for National UNICEF Day. This event marked the 25th Anniversary of Trick or Treat for UNICEF, with hundreds of Henryetta children and youth preparing to join millions of other American boys and girls in the effort. Participants would act as “ambassadors and diplomatic couriers” for less fortunate children worldwide. Emphasizing the crucial timing, every contribution, regardless of its size, was effectively utilized by UNICEF.
• Midland Glass was in talks with Pittsburgh Plate Industries to purchase their plant located in Henryetta. Midland operated out of New Jersey, Indiana and Minnesota and was looking to start producing glass containers at the site of the previous sheet glass plant.
— 100 Years Ago (1925)
• Mr. and Mrs. JS Butler of Henryetta welcomed an 8-pound baby girl to the world. They named her Metta Lee.
• Pete Toffier and Zalema Skidmore were united in marriage at the Methodist church by Rev. AR Garrett. Pete was known as “a most excellent young man” and Zalema was a recent graduate of Dewar High School. They planned to make their home in Dewar for a while.
