Comments on: Can Someone Please Explain Why There is No Tribute to This Man?

By: Steve Lackmeyer

Steve Lackmeyer — Mon, 11 May 2009 14:12:13 +0000

Classen and Colcord both got streets named after them, as you note, as did Shartel, Robert S. Kerr, Dean A. McGee, E.K. Gaylord and more.
Rasmey – well, he built one tower and I’m not sure he did much of anything else.
But there’s really very little doubt that Bricktown would have been reduced to a parking lot if not for Horton. It’s likely the same could be said for the Colcord.
And I’m not sure there is anybody in this list who sacrificed or lost more to make downtown vibrant again.

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 11 May 2009 14:04:31 +0000

I’m guessing probably the same reason why we don’t have statues of Anton Classen, Colcord,Ramsey, Skirvin, and other key leaders in the early days of our city that have helped shape it for the better. Granted, Classen has a street named after him and the others have skyscrapers, but they built them with their own private money, but they were still civic leaders. I’m sure there are dozens of others that are noteworthy.

By: Steve Lackmeyer

Steve Lackmeyer — Mon, 11 May 2009 13:45:52 +0000

Jim, we look forward to hearing more.

By: jim

jim — Mon, 11 May 2009 13:08:47 +0000

Steve:
Bricktown has plans to honor him during some activities on July 2nd. We will have more details soon…

By: Steve Lackmeyer

Steve Lackmeyer — Mon, 11 May 2009 12:25:09 +0000

For insiders, that’s great. But it’s not the same thing as having a street named after you or a statue. It’s not really visible to the public, now is it?

By: kim

kim — Mon, 11 May 2009 02:28:02 +0000

What about the Neal Horton Award at the Dean A McGee awards?

By: CGHill

CGHill — Sun, 10 May 2009 00:39:13 +0000

At least he got more than a shout-out in the Lackmeyer/Money book.

By: Terry

Terry — Sat, 09 May 2009 13:59:12 +0000

I suspect the specific reasons in this instance are 1) that there is no economic benefit in creating a memorial to Horton; and, 2) there is no one with means, opportunity, and desire who cares about it otherwise.

More generally it seems to me that developers are not very highly regarded for one thing. For another the misunderstanding of the development process is both wide and deep.