I had a game plan.Sure it was rural Western Oklahoma on Black Friday, but that’s no reason not to exercise my right as an American. On this day, that meant rushing out to the Elk City Wal-Mart before dawn with a handful of credit cards and no willpower.

So, I drove into Elk from my mother in-law’s farm near Hammon and arrived at the Wal-Mart store at 4:50 a.m. The store opened in 10 minutes, and I discovered about 300 of my closest friends were already waiting in the parking lot.

I took my place at the back of the line and waited. Conversation revolved around the size of the crowd and the surprise that some folks had at seeing that many people standing in 27-degree weather in the parking lot of Wally World.

“I didn’t know there were this many crazy people in Elk City,” a man said to his wife as we waited.

Just as the doors to the store opened, the woman behind me enthusiastically told her two teen-age children, “remember, the only thing illegal today is murder!”

With that we surged through the doors. I wanted desperately to get back to the electronics aisle.

Apparently, so did about 80 percent of the crowd and total gridlock ensued.

I waded into the traffic jam searching for the bargain printer I had seen advertised in a newspaper insert. When I didn’t spot it, I feared the worst: super early bird shoppers had grabbed them up already.

But then I spotted a printer in the shopping cart of a woman who was trying to work her way against the traffic flow.

Where did you get that, I asked.

She pointed to the opposite end of the electronics section. I rushed out of the electronics aisle, detoured through the much-less-crowded men’s clothing department and arrived on the back side of electronics; it’s an old flanking maneuver I learned in previous Black Fridays.

There were the printers! I reached over the shopping cart of a woman stuck in traffic and grabbed one.

With most of the crowd still stalled in gridlock, I sailed through the checkout process and was back in my car in less than five minutes.

Mission accomplished.

I checked “Wal-Mart” off my list and drove directly to the Atwoods store across town where a bargain lounge chair had my name written all over it.

Jim Stafford

Business Writer

GUTHRIE – Although Bob Blackburn was born Sept. 10, 1951, it seemed as though today, Oklahoma’s 100th birthday, is his birthday.Oklahoma history has been Blackburn’s life for almost 35 years and today the executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society served as narrator of the Statehood Day Inauguration Ceremony at the Carnegie Library here.

Oklahoma history has been his focus during thousands of speeches, 18 books and many television appearances including several on The History Channel.

“That’s when I started dedicating everything to Oklahoma history. my professional life, my reading at home, my books, my weekends, they have all been about Oklahoma history,” he said of that time period of about 35 years. “And so I’ve been putting together the little bits and pieces. It’s like doing a painting. You’re doing all these little brush strokes around the canvas and all of a sudden it starts making sense.

“This situation almost accentuates that understanding. This is kind of like the capstone on my personal career, all my books, working on the History Center, all the thousands of speeches I’ve done it’s all coming together here in this event.”

About 10 a.m. today he took his place, microphone in hand, on the steps of the Carnegie Library.
After a welcome and introductions he stepped into his responsibility as a narrator.
“Now I invite you to travel back in time, 100 years, to Nov. 16, 1907. The day had dawned bright and sunny,” he told the crowd today.

In Oklahoma where weather isn’t predictable from hour to hour, the day again dawned bright and sunny as the focus turned to the steps of the library.

It almost seemed that those steps were a bridge between 1907 and 2007.

To Blackburn’s back was the entrance to the Carnegie Library. In front of him amid the enthusiastic crowd were television cameras, sound systems, digital cameras and cell phones and above a helicopter dotted the blue sky.

“When I give a speech, I’m the center of attention,” he said, “but today I felt like more of an observer, more like I was watching history. It was like I was at a distance, watching this on stage.”

And one thing he noticed was the participation not only of the re-enactors but of those in the crowd.

“The audience was very responsive today,” he said. “I did not have to cue them or lead the applause.

“They understood what we were trying to do with this.”

Blackburn said that Statehood Day in 1907 not only marked change, but began change.

“They celebrated 100 years ago today,” he said. “But they were celebrating the beginning of something; today I think we’re celebrating the fulfillment of that promise.”

- Bryan Painter, Columnist

Ralph and Doris Morris of Edmond went to the centennial parade in
Oklahoma City, but said the one here was special.

“It was fantastically organized,” Doris Morris said, and noted the historic buildings in Guthrie really gave the area a feel for the past.

“Not in my lifetime will I ever see this again,” she said.

Blake Wade, executive director of the Oklahoma Centennial Commission, said he couldn’t have been happier with how everything turned out today. The parade really represented Oklahoma, he said, with the tractors and antique cars showing the state’s past and the numerous high school and college bands pointing to the future.

A crowd estimate is still being calculated, Wade said, but he walked the streets during the parade and the people were “at least 20-deep on each side.”

The crowds are dispersing, heading to the centennial picnic, and more celebrating will continue tonight in Oklahoma City for the Centennial Spectacular concert at the Ford Center.

- Jennifer Mock, Capitol Bureau

We are over an hour into the parade now and the crowds are still thick watching the shows and floats pass by. Still to come is the OU band and the Centennial Band, which will bring up the end of the parade.

After the parade ends, everyone is invited to a large barbecue, where a slice of beef, a piece of bread and a pickle will be served, just as it was 100 years ago in celebration of statehood.

- Jennifer Mock, Capitol Bureau

Lt. Gov. Jari Askins rides in a horse-drawn carriage as a part of the Oklahoma Centennial Day Parade, during Statehood Day celebrations in downtown Guthrie.

GUTHRIE – Other state leaders are featured on parade floats, dutifully waving to the passing crowds. But Rep. Jeff Hickman, R-Dacoma, is the driver of the Woodward float, making sure it stays inside the street lines as it passes the crowds of people.

Cars being driven in the parade are also reminiscent of the turn-of-the-century, as Model T Fords drive by honking at the crowds. Driven by the Okie A’s Model T Club, the cars show the crowds what cars looked like in Oklahoma’s first years as a state.

- Jennifer Mock, Capitol Bureau

Eight Budweiser Clydesdales just passed by the crowd, followed closely by the Woodcrest Baptist Church in Guthrie, whose parisioners were singing “Old Time Religion.”

Jennifer Mock, Capitol Bureau

In a sunset ceremony last night, several Indians noted that while they might not look back on all of Oklahoma’s history with fondness, this day represents a new 100 years and a new beginning for the state.

- Jennifer Mock, Capitol Bureau

Her friend, Sara Hainzinger, also originally from South Dakota, was also in a turn-of-the-century dress and hat, along with her three children. Johnson said they all came out today in costume to help teach the kids about Oklahoma history.

“We wanted them to see this Oklahoma experience,” she said. “This is a once in a lifetime experience.”

The family and friends lined the street in front of the Carnegie Library, ready for the parade to pass them by.

- Jennifer Mock, Capitol Bureau

GUTHRIE–A flyover by four Air Force T-38C Talons from Vance Air Force Base in Enid is set to wow the crowd as they buzz the parade route, officially kicking off the event.

The parade will feature several university bands, including the Pride of Oklahoma band at the University of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma State University Cowboy band. Seven high school bands will also entertain the crowd, and floats from towns and tribes across Oklahoma will pass by the cheering watchers.

A trolley packed with Oklahoma’s centenarians will also wave to the crowd as part of the parade.

- Jennifer Mock, Capitol Bureau

GUTHRIE–Gov. Charles Haskell has been sworn in as governor, just as he was 100 years ago on this spot at the Carnegie Library.

The re-enactment ended with a children’s choir singing the state song, “Oklahoma!” People dispersed, lining the streets where the parade will begin at 11:30. As the day warms up and the parade and picnic nears, the streets are filling up with revelers, ready to celebrate the state’s 100^th birthday.

People will be able to see the parade all along the route and on large TV monitors scattered along the streets. The state Tourism and Recreation Department is offering a broadcast to fill the time, interviewing locals and setting the scene for those waiting for the parade.

- Jennifer Mock, Capitol Bureau

GUTHRIE–The decendents of Oklahoma’s first governor, Charles Haskell, took part in the ceremony, where visitors were asked to travel back in time 100 years. Then, the day was bright and sunny and 30,000 people had gathered in Guthrie to celebrate Oklahoma’s entrance into the United States. It is expected 100,000 people will gather here for the festivities today.

A proclamation by then-President Theodore Roosevelt was read to the crowd. Those partaking in the re-enactment are all dressed in period attire, with the women in frilly, long dresses and elaborate hats, and the men in tuxes and top hats.

Wedding music rang out over the crowd as Miss Indian Territory and Mr. Oklahoma Territory were wed, much like they were in a ceremony 100 years ago. It took 18 years of wooing, but the union was finally made this day in 1907.

 “This is not exactly a case of love at first sight,” the preacher performing the ceremony said.

“No divorce can ever be granted,” he added.

Back in 1907, the speeches lasted more than three hours, with Haskell’s speech lasting more than an hour. The speeches have been shorted for the ceremony today, but the words read are the same as they were 100 years ago.

- Jennifer Mock, Capitol Bureau