 Phillip Roy Ball was born October 19, 1925 to Frank C. and Sara Nee Allen Ball. He attended grade school in the West Point community southwest of Yukon, Oklahoma. He then attended Yukon High School, where he was very active in athletics and drama, graduating in 1943. He enlisted before graduation and was inducted in the U.S. Navy immediately thereafter. He was in the V-12 and NROTC Officers' Training Program and was commissioned in 1945. His service duty included submarine patrol, light cruiser gunnery officer and landing craft. He married his high school sweetheart, Lois Virginia Gramkow, on the day of his commissioning.
Following discharge from the Navy, he returned to the University of South Carolina, where he received B.S., B.A. and M.ED degrees with ODK honor. He played six years of college football counting his time in the service and received All-Conference and All-American recognition while playing. He and Lois had two children, Donna and Keith. The family returned to Oklahoma and Phil began a 15 year career as a high school coach and mathematics teacher. He had very successful teams at Wewoka, Walters, Seminole and Muskogee High Schools. He coached two State Championship football teams, had numerous all-state athletes and many who became college athletes. He was an outstanding advanced math teacher and was twice selected to represent Oklahoma high schools in Summer Math Institutes. In 1964, Phil became the head football coach at Central State College (now University of Central Oklahoma) and coached through the 1976 season. During that time he coached 26 players who made All-American one or more times and three players who were NFL draft choices, as well as three players being later named Distinguished Former Students at UCO. He taught in the Health and Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) Department. Upon retiring from coaching, he completed his Doctoral degree at Oklahoma State University. He taught until his retirement in 1993, specializing in Exercise Physiology and Coaching Preparation.
He was an active church member throughout his life and a member of the Edmond First Methodist Church since 1964. During those years he was a teacher of the Fellowship Class and was at one time President of the Wesley Foundation Board. Phil was a long time member of the Edmond Lions Club and twice was President. He also was active in the Friendship Force and ORCTC travel clubs because he and his wife enjoyed traveling abroad and hosting international visitors to Oklahoma. Other hobbies included bridge, reading and current issues. Coaching honors included being selected to the Oklahoma Coaches Hall of Fame, High School Coach of the Year, and Collegiate Conference Coach of the ,Year. He served as President of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Football Coaches and was a presenter at various coaching clinics. In his teaching field, he served as President of OAHPERD and was selected to its Hall of Honor and served on several Southern District OAHPERD committees. Following retirement he devoted time and energy to volunteer work including the ERMC Hospital Auxiliary, Mobile Meals, Breakfast on Boulevard and the Coffee Creek Riding Academy. He was extremely proud of his and Lois' children and grandchildren and was devoted to this immediate and extended family.
Phil was preceded in death by his beloved wife Lois of 62 years, his father and mother, all his aunts and uncles and brother Dick Ball. He is survived by his daughter, Donna Hirst of Iowa City, IA, son Keith Ball and wife Marti Jourden of Oklahoma City, grandchildren Matthew Hirst and wife Morgan of Austin, TX and Amy Hirst of Iowa City, IA, sister Eileen Belcher and husband Tom of Tulsa, sister, Marjorie Moesel of Oklahoma City, sister, Ruth Harvill of Yukon, sister-in-law, Civilla Ball of Yukon, sister-in-law, Norma Gallien and husband Henry of Mobile, AL, and numerous nephews and nieces. Memorials may be made to the Phil Ball Scholarships UCO Foundation, Edmond Mobile Meals or charity of one's choice. Memorial Services will be held 11:00 AM, on Saturday, November 22, 2008, at Edmond First United Methodist Church of Edmond, 305 E. Hurd Street, Edmond, OK. Services under the direction of Matthews Funeral Home.
Published in The Oklahoman on 11/19/2008
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Gepford III, Burton Darnell
Burton Darnell Gepford III, born 1/13/39 in OKC and remaining as a lifelong resident, known as Darnell to his friends and family, passed away 10/18/08 and is now with the Lord.
His Oklahoma heritage began with his great grandfather, William Houser Gepford (who mustered out of the 116th Regiment Illinois Volunteers as a corporal at the end of the Civil War) and great grandmother, Nancy Jane Gepford (Hornbeck), entering Oklahoma during the 1889 Land Run.
Darnell's parents, Burton Darnell Gepford II and Maxine, predeceased him when he was a child, so his grandparents, Ray and Daisy Porter, raised Darnell on their farm in OKC. From a young age, Darnell stood out from the ordinary. He created riding lawnmowers from leftover equipment on the farm, earned his own car as a teenager and decided to be called Darnell since there were too many family members called Burt. Darnell was also independent and a fighter.
Darnell's spirit was constant throughout his life. He could use any material in his chosen carrier of interior design to meet his client's needs. He was also an entrepreneur who created several successful businesses. He was a landlord with 17 commercial and residential rental units and was a leader in interior design in OKC. He was also a furniture designer, an expert appraiser regarding antiques and art, a highly regarded art therapist, and a well respected artist with a unique style and unfortunately a repository of dumb jokes. His entrepreneurial successes were matched by his educational achievements.
After graduating from Harding High School, he attended the Kansas City Art Institute and School of Design, graduating cum laude from UCO with a Bachelor's in Science and a Master's in Education. He also graduated from OU with a Master's in Human Relations. Although his Crohn's prevented him from marketing his work at art festivals, his style was immediately recognized and sold by art dealers. Darnell had a great interest in his family heritage.
He was a member of the First Families of the Twin Territories and a Descendant Member of The 1889ers Society. Darnell is survived by his son, Burton Darnell Gepford IV (Burt) and wife, Patricia, grandson, Burton Darnell Gepford V, granddaughters, Ashley and Aubrey Dawe and 2 great-grandsons. The family will receive guests at the funeral home on Tuesday, 6-8 p.m. Graveside services will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, October 22, 2008, at Rose Hill Burial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Odyssey House or Crohn's Disease Foundation.
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We had our picnic Saturday September 27 at The Harn Homestead and 1889ers Museum ! 
It was a beautiful day and well-attended by menbers and friends. The food was great, and as usual, free for all.
 Our special event during the meeting part of the picnic was the presentation of the first check from The 1889ers Society to the Harn Homestead to assist with scholarships for students.
Many elemenary and middle schools provide field trips to The Harn as part of their Oklahoma history lessons. In these times, there is not always enough money for even the special reduced school entrance fee. Now, there is even less money available for fuel for the school busses.
The 1889ers Society is pleased to be able to help The Harn Homestead and 1889ers Museum with their Oklahoma history efforts.
For more Picnic Pictures, click the "Read More" link below.
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Click Here to Read more...
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by Carolyn Leonard
(Carolyn's photo gallery of the Ancestor Fair is here
http://gallery.me.com/carolynleonard#100481)
Oklahoma Genealogical Society and the Oklahoma Historical Society
(OHS) Research Division sponsored the free 2008 Ancestor Fair event on
Saturday August 9. History Center staff at the front desk said that 380
attended the Ancestor Fair and another 220 paid to go to the museum
exhibits.
OGS President Billie Fogarty said she was well pleased with the
enthusiasm shown by the crowd. Festivities began at 10:00 AM and
continued throughout the day. Some forty booths offered displays and
handouts, entertainers provided music, stories, demonstrations of
sculpting and other crafts, a bagpiper led the costume parade of
participants dressed to represent their favorite ancestors. Many others
came just to enjoy the presentations.
A total of 213 photos were judged by the team of professional photographers.
Jim Slade is well-known for his genealogy expertise and has spoken
at many national conferences. He loves photography and has collected
many old photographs and served as chairman of last year’s photo
contest.
Johnnie Sue Olson, Freelance Photographer of
Freedom, h
as seen her photos published on covers of many local state and national
magazines, including Western Horseman, and Reiman publications. She has
photos displayed in the Alabaster Room of the Ford Center and many have
been printed in professional calendars.
Terry Zinn’s photos are often published in national publications
such as Persimmon Hill and Oklahoma Today magazines. He is a research
and photo archivist with the Oklahoma Historical Center, and is
president of the Travelwriters Association.
Arvela Bateman, Print specialist, has been collecting family
genealogy for more than twenty years and has always loved photography
and old photos. William Welge also served as a judge. Welge is Research
Division Director for the Oklahoma History Center.
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 The Harn Homestead and 1889ers Museum is a popular destination for school children studying Oklahoma history, generally in the fourth grade. The Harn already provides significant discounts to schools when classes come to visit, but rising prices, especially fuel, have made these important field trips more difficult. It costs a school about $1000, including admission, fuel & food, to send one class to visit the Harn Homestead and 1889ers Museum.
The Board of The 1889ers Society voted to provide scholarships to subsidize these field trips for classes recommended by the Harn.
"This is one of the most important things we could do", said June Stone, President of The 1889ers. "Continued education about Oklahoma History is our primary activity."
You, too, can help the Harn Homestead. Contact the Harn's Executive Director, Cher Golding,
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or 405-235-4058.
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Celebrate The Run of 1889 !
featuring
A Private Showing of the1889ers Airport Exhibit Videos
Where: Hometown Buffet
3900 NW 63rd St, Oklahoma City
(The triangle where 63rd meets the Northwest Expressway)
When: Saturday, May 3, 2008
Dinner begins at 6 P.M.
Program begins at 6:45 P.M.
RSVP Not required, but Appreciated 405-640-3716
Who: Bob Howard presents an exclusive showing of the Video from the Airport Exhibit, including scenes from the Oklahoma Historical Society, The Sam Noble Museum of Natural History, the Cities of Guthrie and Ardmore, The History of the Cherokee Strip, and others.
The Annual Banquet is our big event of the year. People bring grand parents, great-grand children, and everyone in between. It is often the only time we get to see people from outside of Oklahoma City.
The Cost is: Adults $10.89, Seniors $10.29, Children 8-12 $4.59, Children 4-7 $3.29 We would appreciate your RSVP. Click Contact Us at 1889ers.org. You may also call 405-640-3716 to leave a recorded message. Please be sure to say your name, phone number, and how many people you will be bringing.
We're expecting you!
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Ralph C. Miller, life member, passed away on April 7, 2008 at the age
of 96. He was once a member of the board and a tour guide in the barn
and loved being involved. -
Jerry Lee (Miller) Ventress, daughter
Ralph was often the organizer of our Annual Banquet. He had a great sense of humor and was a loved asset of The 1889ers Society.
Here is what was in The Oklahoman.
| Miller, Ralph
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 Ralph
Charles Miller, age 96, 7/10/1911 - 4/7/2008. Ralph graduated from
Central High School, member of Stuyvesant Fraternity, served in the
U.S. Navy during WWII and later owned M&W Auto Supply in El Reno,
OK. He was preceded in death by his wife, Gladys E. (Maxson) Miller and
son, Ralph K. Miller and is survived by daughters, Jerry Ventress and
Barbara Smith sons, Charles S. Miller, wife Omega and Richard C.
Miller, wife Sue Ann daughter-in-law, Patricia Miller 11 grandchildren,
13 great-grandchilren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Service will be
at 2 PM Thurs., April 10, 2008, Guardian West Funeral Home, with burial
at Chapel Hll Memorial Gardens, 8701 NW Expwy, OKC, OK.
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Published in The Oklahoman from 4/9/2008 - 4/10/2008. |
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"Destination Oklahoma", the new interactive video exhibit from The 1889ers Society is on display at Will Rogers World Airport.
Our 4x6 foot red oak corral is located in the Main Concourse at the West end toward Gate 12. Airport Director Mark Krannenburg selected the prominent, high-traffic, easy to see location.
The construction is rock-solid. "I used to design and build displays for retail stores all over the country," said artist-builder Ray Anthony. "We had to make them people-proof, kid proof, and easy for the maintenance people to clean around. The raw oak was cut with precision for exact fit, stained and sealed for lasting beauty. This furniture-quality exhibit will last for years and years."
The video system is DVD-based using industrial components designed for heavy use. Two controllers from BCD Associates, Inc. operate the system: One for DVD navigation with Up, Down Play and Menu buttons. The second controller is dedicated to turning on the 42" display after power outages. These are the same controllers used at museums around the world, certified 'public-proof'. 
Our initial subscribers have been very enthusiastic about being able to have a presence at the airport. We concentrate on organizations having an historical connection to Oklahoma Territory and the Run of '89. We will update the DVD from time to time as new subcribers join and existing ones submit new videos.
Charter Subscribers:
- The Oklahoma Historical Society
- The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
- The City of Guthrie
- The Harn Homestead and 1889ers Museum
- The Oklahoma Centennial Commission
- The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
Thanks go to all who have supported this project.
We would appreciate your comments. Please click here for our contact form.
Would you like your organization to be represented in Destination Oklahoma?
For more information, please email
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OKLAHOMA
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY presented a first time ancestor fair at the new
Oklahoma History Center, and it was a rousing success -- with something
for everyone.
Pictures are here:
OGS Ancestor Fair
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In connection with our centennial, I'm researching a book on women
homesteaders in Oklahoma-women who claimed land in their own names in any
of the Oklahoma land openings, 1889 to 1901.
I would be grateful if any
descendants of these women who would like to share stories would contact me
(Andrea Koenig) via email:
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