R.I.P. Bob

 
Bob Barry Sr., the longtime voice of Oklahoma football and basketball and a Norman resident, has pass away, OU officials confirmed today.

No details were available and neither the University of Oklahoma nor his family have released a statement.

 

Jack Ogle and Bob Barry Sr.

at KNOR

Bob, 80, began his career in broadcasting in 1956 at Norman radio station KNOR as a salesman, disc jockey and sportscaster calling Norman High games. In 1961, OU football coach Bud Wilkinson selected Barry to call football and basketball games.

Bob left Oklahoma in 1973 when he went to work at Tulsa University and Oklahoma State calling games. He was also a sports anchor and sports director at KFOR until 1997.

Bob returned to OU in 1991 doing play-by-play for the Sooners. He held onto the position until he retired after last year’s basketball season.

Bob has been awarded Oklahoma's Sportscaster of the Year by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters, and was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, and the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. In 2008, he was recognized as a distinguished alumni by the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma.

OU recognized him as a distinguished alumni in 2010.

Bob graduated Classen High School in 1946, and studied journalism at the University of Oklahoma before joining the U.S. Air Force in 1951. He and his late wife, Joan, had two sons. Frank Barry is a teacher in the Norman public school system and Bob Barry Jr. is sports director at KFOR TV in Oklahoma City.

Is this just the tip? OU Foundation may face possible ethics probe for unreported gifts

From Today OU Daily 

OU Foundation may face possible ethics 

probe for unreported gifts

Nicholas Harrison/The Daily

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

The OU Foundation may be under investigation by the Oklahoma State Ethics Commission for failing to report gifts to university officers and employees.

The Daily submitted a complaint to the commission Dec. 13 stemming from the OU Foundation’s denial of an open records request first reported Dec. 7.

Although the foundation invoked a statute that allows them to keep donor information confidential, the state attorney general’s office had issued an opinion in 2002 that indicated it must still comply with all applicable state ethics laws.

In his 2002 opinion, Attorney General Drew Edmondson wrote, “The authority of a public body to keep donors’ identities confidential is tempered by the rules of the commission.”

Edmondson noted state officials and employees are required to be independent and impartial and to exercise their powers and prerogatives without prejudice or favoritism.

Anyone who does business with a state entity is required to report any gift to a state officer or employee with a cost of more than $50, according to state statutes.

 

On its official website, the foundation’s audit report indicates it has several contracts with the university and provided $21,644,682 in salary supplements in 2010 and $28,824,589 in 2009. However, when The Daily contacted the commission, no reports were filed by the foundation.

At its regular meeting Dec. 21, the commission acted on two complaints, voting unanimously “there was a reasonable basis to believe that a violation of constitutional ethics rules had occurred.”

Immediately after the meeting, Marilyn Hughes, executive director for the commission, confirmed an investigation had been opened on the OU Foundation. 

 However, when contacted by The Daily on Tuesday, Hughes said she could neither confirm nor deny the investigation.

All information regarding ongoing investigations is kept confidential in accordance with state law. After a complaint is submitted it is presented to the commission by the executive director during a closed executive session, said Rebecca Adams, general counsel to the commission.

If the commission determines rules have been violated, there is no guarantee the findings will be available to the public.

At its discretion, the commission may resolve a possible rules violation by issuing a private reprimand which remains confidential. They may also issue a public reprimand, reach a settlement or bring a lawsuit to court, Adams said.

A the time this story was written, OU Foundation President Guy Patton and OU Press Secretary Chris Shilling said they had not been contacted by the commission. They were not aware the foundation was the subject of an investigation and could provide no comments.

Breaking: OSU DUSTS FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWCASE

You`d think T. Boone would `spring` for a few trophies...
Boomer Sooner!

OSU DUSTS FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWCASE

Top Attraction At The OSU Football Museum
THE FOOTBALL TROPHY CASE!

November 29, 2010
Stillwater, OK 

OSU's T. Boone Pickens Memorial Football Museum officials completed their annual ceremonial dusting of the OSU Football Championship Trophy Case late Monday afternoon. 

The ritual, performed by janatorial employee Wanda Wyna Feumor, was accomplished with two squirts of Windex and a terry cloth rag reportedly once used to wipe the sweating brow of Barry Sanders.  

The ceremony was observed by one OSU band-member wearing the Pistol Pete costume and a sophomore from the OSU newspaper, who promptly filed the front page story.

"Since there's nothing in the case, it's an easy job; but very necessary", said Mrs. Feumor, a 1974 OSU graduate.  "It gives the students, the team, the coaches and our fans a real sense of hope".

The light bulb was also replaced during the ceremony.

Boomer Sooner

Medieval Fair of Norman is just one week away!!!!!!

Admission is free!

Order of Merriment

Opening Ceremony & Grand Procession
10:00 - Friday only – begins at

SCA Compound and ends at Royal Pavilion

Jousting Tournament – Jousting Field
11:00 & 3:00 each day

Human Chess Game – Camelot Stage
1:00 & 5:00 each day

Wedding – Minstrel Circle
2:00 -Saturday & Sunday – public invited!

Costume Contest – Camelot Stage
2:30 – Saturday & Sunday only

Royal Procession
4:00 -Saturday & Sunday – begins at Royal Pavilion

Last Huzzah
Gryphon Stage – 6:15 -Sunday only

Held annually since 1976, this event relives the Middle Ages with arts and crafts, food, games, jousting tournaments, human chess games, costume contests, and more.

Entertainment for the whole family includes minstrels, dancing, theater and reenactments, jugglers, magicians, knights jousting on horseback and human chess games. Brightly costumed characters include King Arthur, mermaids, and the fair's king and queen.

The Medieval Fair of Norman is the state's largest weekend event and the third largest event in Oklahoma, and was selected by Events Media Network as one of the top 100 events in the nation.

Merriment abounds with jugglers, minstrels, dancing, human chess games and knights jousting on horseback.

Six Stages with continuous performances!

Games & rides for all ages!

King Arthur and Sir Lancelot!

Face painting and wax hands!

Fighting demonstrations!

New suprises each year!

Browse through the medieval village of over 200 art and craft booths offering unique and handcrafted wares. Offerings include pottery, wood crafts, stained glass, armor, costumes, fairy wings, jewelry, leather crafts, hair garlands, and much more.

Experience the Middle Ages with food fit for a king, Feast on a smoked turkey leg, roasted corn or handcrafted root beer.

Admission is free!

Admission is free!

The Medieval Fair is located at:
Reaves Park
2501 South Jenkins Avenue
Norman, Oklahoma 73072

Norman is located in central Oklahoma, just 17 miles south of Oklahoma City on Interstate 35. See state map below.

Reaves Park is located on Jenkins Avenue between Lindsey St. and HWY 9 East. From I-35 take HWY 9 East to Jenkins Avenue. Turn north (left). See Norman street map below.

Admission is free!

Norman street map
Click on image for larger view

Admission is free!

Admission is free!

34th Annual Medieval Fair of Norman

Admission is free!

Held annually since 1976, this event relives the Middle Ages with arts and crafts, food, games, jousting tournaments, human chess games, costume contests, and more.

Entertainment for the whole family includes minstrels, dancing, theater and reenactments, jugglers, magicians, knights jousting on horseback and human chess games. Brightly costumed characters include King Arthur, mermaids, and the fair's king and queen.

The Medieval Fair of Norman is the state's largest weekend event and the third largest event in Oklahoma, and was selected by Events Media Network as one of the top 100 events in the nation.

Merriment abounds with jugglers, minstrels, dancing, human chess games and knights jousting on horseback.

Six Stages with continuous performances!

Games & rides for all ages!

King Arthur and Sir Lancelot!

Face painting and wax hands!

Fighting demonstrations!

New suprises each year!

Browse through the medieval village of over 200 art and craft booths offering unique and handcrafted wares. Offerings include pottery, wood crafts, stained glass, armor, costumes, fairy wings, jewelry, leather crafts, hair garlands, and much more.

Experience the Middle Ages with food fit for a king, Feast on a smoked turkey leg, roasted corn or handcrafted root beer.

Admission is free!

Admission is free!

The Medieval Fair is located at:
Reaves Park
2501 South Jenkins Avenue
Norman, Oklahoma 73072

Norman is located in central Oklahoma, just 17 miles south of Oklahoma City on Interstate 35. See state map below.

Reaves Park is located on Jenkins Avenue between Lindsey St. and HWY 9 East. From I-35 take HWY 9 East to Jenkins Avenue. Turn north (left). See Norman street map below.

Free parking is available one block from the park at Lloyd Noble Center, located just north of HWY 9 East on Jenkins Avenue. (Handicapped parking is available on the park grounds.)

Admission is free!

Norman street map
Click on image for larger view

Admission is free!

Admission is free!

U2 to play Norman on October 19

U2 announced today they will to play in Norman on Monday, October 19 at the Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

The band released a schedule of their 360 tour dates on their website through September 24 and also included Norman on October 19. The tour will include 14 European cities followed by a North American tour.

There will be about 10,000 tickets for each show being priced at only $30, according to a press release.

According to the site: “Long-time U2 Show Director Willie Williams has worked again with architect Mark Fisher (ZooTV, PopMart, Elevation and Vertigo), to create an innovative 360˚ design which affords an unobstructed view for the audience. U2 360° also marks the first time a band has toured in stadiums with such a unique and original structure.”

2009 Oklahoma Football Schedule

2009 Oklahoma Football Schedule

Sept. 5: Brigham Young
at Arlington, Texas
Sept. 12: Idaho State
Sept. 19: Tulsa
Oct. 3: at Miami (Fla.)
Oct. 10: Baylor
Oct. 17: Texas at Dallas, Texas
Oct. 24: at Kansas
Oct. 31: Kansas State
Nov. 7: at Nebraska
Nov. 14: Texas A&M
Nov 21: at Texas Tech
Nov. 28: Oklahoma State
* Dec. 5: Big 12 Championship
at Arlington, Texas
* If Sooners win Big 12 South Division

Obama Predicts a Florida Victory tonight - WTF !!!!

Obama Predicts a Florida Victory

By JOHN HARWOOD

In the realm of athletics, President-elect Barack Obama has become most closely identified with basketball. But he plainly loves sports of all kinds — and follows the action closely.

In an interview yesterday, Mr. Obama predicted that Florida would defeat Oklahoma in tonight’s BCS championship game, especially if its speedy running back Percy Harvin is healthy. But he reiterated his support for a college football playoff system and noted that other schools beyond Florida and Oklahoma can lay claim to being number one no matter who wins tonight.

“I think Utah has a pretty good claim. They’re undefeated,” he said. “I think USC, which had a great Rose Bowl, beat Penn State pretty badly. They’ve got a pretty good claim to being number one. Florida and Oklahoma, I think, both have a claim. Texas, at this point, has got to feel like, ‘Well, we did OK, too.’ I think–I think a football playoff system makes sense. I’ve spoken about this quite a bit, and I think if you look at knowledgeable sports fans, they agree with me.”

Mr. Obama said he’d have his hands full attempting to rescue the American economy. But he has gotten in a little practice in bowling lately on the Nintendo Wii his daughters received for Christmas. Mr. Obama, who famously struggled in bowling during last year’s Democratic primaries, said he performs better in the video game.

Poor saxeT

Boren found $13M for expansion of OU art museum ?

University of Oklahoma regents this week will consider approving a $13 million budget for a proposed expansion of the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art.

According to the agenda for Tuesday's meeting in Norman, posted on the university's Web site, OU President David Boren has recommended approval of the design development phase for a gallery addition to the museum, along with the budget for the project.

Regents approved the project during a meeting in May as part of the comprehensive master plan of capital projects for OU's main campus in Norman.

According to the agenda, as part of the project, space will created for what will be known as the Eugene B. Adkins Gallery, as well as an archive storage area to display, store and curate works of art included in the Adkins Collection.

The collection includes Southwest- and American Indian-themed items.

The museum's current rooftop sculpture garden will be enclosed to create a new third-floor gallery and a staircase from the lower galleries to the third-floor gallery will be built.

The agenda item notes the university also plans "to pursue the acquisition of another important collection of art works," so the new addition will be sized to include a new mezzanine level with 4,000 square feet of space "to display newly acquired art." The item does not mention what the potential art acquisition might be.

Of the project's $13 million budget, the agenda item notes that $6 million will come from the university's discretionary reserves and $7 million will come from private sources. Construction should begin early in 2009.

Boren Try to KICK Dr. David Deming out of OU

He is a geophysicist and an associate professor of arts and sciences at the University of Oklahoma who has published numerous peer-reviewed research articles.

Dr. Deming’s Senate December 6, 2006 testimony is available here. University President Boren is a “staunch supporter of Obama”. One Fascist supports another, I guess...


Press release from Dr. David Deming [profdeming@earthlink.net] below.

For ten years or more, professor David Deming has taught a course in environmental geology at the University of Oklahoma. In October 2008, he was informed that the “general education” certification for his course was being revoked. Under the University of Oklahoma system, this means that student enrollment in the course is likely to drop by two-thirds.

This is a course which receives outstanding student evaluations. Professor Deming is well-known to be a global-warming skeptic. In 2006, he testified before the US Senate that media coverage of global warming had descended into “irrational hysteria.”
See here

Professor Deming is unaware of any other case in the history of the University of Oklahoma where the “gen ed” certification for a course has been revoked. It would appear possible that professor Deming’s position on global warming was a motivating factor. But in this case, the tragedy is that the people being punished are the students, not the professor. Those who wish to express their concern can do so by writing or calling University of Oklahoma President David Boren.

David Boren, President
University of Oklahoma
110 Evans Hall
Norman, OK 73019
telephone: 405-325-3916
email: dboren@ou.edu

See saxeT vs Oklahoma on the Big Screen !

On Saturday, October 11th, come to the Moore Warren to watch the big game. Admission is free... seating starts at 10:00am for customers who purchase our Tailgate Lunch for $12.

The Tailgate Lunch includes hot dogs, chips, cole slaw and a desert.

You do not have to purchase the Tailgate Lunch to watch the game. Seating starts at 10:45am for customers who do not purchase the Tailgate Lunch.

David Boren to hike Tuition 10%

Tuition hikes of nearly 10% will be considered this week for students at the University of Oklahoma, Rogers State University in Claremore and Cameron University in Lawton.

OU regents govern all three schools and will begin their annual retreat in Ardmore tomorrow. They will consider business items from Rogers State and Cameron tomorrow, with OU business set for Wednesday.

Regents will consider raising rates for OU's tuition and mandatory fees by 9.9%. Rogers State students also could face a 9.9% hike, while Cameron officials have requested a 9.4% tuition and fee increase.

Other items on the agenda include potential raises for OU athletic director Joe Castiglione, football coach Bob Stoops, men's basketball coach Jeff Capel, women's basketball coach Sherri Coale, baseball coach Sunny Golloway and softball coach Patty Gasso.

OU President David Boren also is set to receive his annual performance review, during which he could be offered a raise.

OU's leftward tilt points up the need for choice

hat tip to Brandon Dutcher @ http://okschoolchoice.blogspot.com

OU's leftward tilt
points up the need for choice

It's no secret that there's a left-wing bias at most of our nation's universities, including my alma mater in Norman. Thus, "it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that academics give more money to Democrats than Republicans," Professor Jay P. Greene writes. "But when you actually examine the political donations data, it is shocking to see just how uniformly one-sided the contributions are."

Dr. Greene (Ph.D., Harvard University), the endowed professor of education reform at the University of Arkansas, went to the Open Secrets website last week and searched for the political contributions made during the 2008 election cycle. He discovered that at the University of Oklahoma (whose president recently endorsed Barack Obama), a full 93 percent of all dollars contributed by employees go to Democrats.

Greene’s analysis calls to mind something that happened back in 1999 when my friend Kyle Harper (then an OU student and OCPA intern, now an OU classics professor) was editor of The Fountainhead, an alternative (in the good way) student newspaper. Kyle went down to the Cleveland County election board and checked the voter registrations of professors in 19 departments (mostly in Arts and Sciences: economics, history, political science, etc.). He discovered 208 Democrats and 36 Republicans.

Universities pride themselves on their "diversity," yet the most important kind of diversity—intellectual diversity—is sorely lacking.

As I've said before, it's time for state legislators to fund students, not institutions. College students should be given a voucher redeemable not only at Oklahoma's public colleges and universities, but at nonpublic ones as well. After all, why should policymakers discriminate against education obtained at private institutions? Why should Oklahoma's (overwhelmingly conservative) taxpayers subsidize tuition at bastions of secular liberalism, but not at, say, institutions which seek to honor Christ?

As the late Milton Friedman argued, restricting higher ed subsidies "to schooling obtained at a state-administered institution cannot be justified on any grounds. Any subsidy should be granted to individuals to be spent at institutions of their own choosing."

Medieval Fair this weekend !!!!!

The Medieval Fair is the 4th largest event in the state and the state's largest weekend event. It was selected by Events Media Network as one of the top one hundred events in the nation.

The 32nd annual Medieval Fair is scheduled for April 4, 5 and 6 at Reaves Park in Norman. The park is on Jenkins Avenue, just north of Highway 9 East. Event hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. This living history fair features over 200 art and craft booths, food concessions, games, educational exhibits, craft demonstrations and a vast array of entertainment.
Brightly costumed performers entertaining in the true style of the Middle Ages include minstrels, jugglers, dancers, and armored knights in combat. Entertainment includes Istanpitta, The Merry Sisters, Arabesque, Harmless T Jester, Brother Donald the Storyteller, Queen's Gambit, Emerald Flame, Redland Rogues, traditional dancing, Norman Singers and The Bilge Pumps. Highlights of the Fair are jousting tournaments presented by the Arthurian Order of Avalon with knights on horseback, scheduled 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day, and human chess games scheduled for 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. each day. Performances are continuous on six stages. Weddings are scheduled at 2 and 4 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Held at Minstrel Circle, the ceremonies and wedding attire will be authentic for the Middle Ages. Cody Clark will officiate the 2 weddings, and Drs. Tom and Barbara Boyd will officiate the 4 wedding.
Games for all ages include camel and elephant rides, a hand-cranked medieval swing carousel, wax hands and face-painting. Craft demonstrations of brass rubbing, blacksmithing, chainmaille making, soap making, woodworking, and armor-making will be presented. Educational exhibits and presentations about life in the Middle Ages will be offered. The Fair's Royal Court will greet visitors along with other street characters such as the Feather Man, King's Toy, King Arthur, mermaids and strolling minstrels. Demonstrations and activities will be presented by the Society for Creative Anachronism, the University of Central Oklahoma Medieval Society, St. Gregory's University and the School of Stage Combat.
The public is invited to enter the costume contest scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the Camelot Stage. Prizes will be awarded to the best costumes in men's, women's and children's categories.
Food concessions offer homemade fruit and chicken salad crepes, Bodacious Burritos, Scottish baked goods, gyros, Indian tacos, funnel cakes, strudel, cinnamon roasted almonds, roasted corn and smoked turkey legs. Handcrafted root beer, sarsaparilla and cream soda will also be available.
Free fair parking is available on the east side Lloyd Noble Center on Jenkins Avenue, located one block south of Reaves Park. Visitors coming from outside Norman are advised to take I-35 to Highway 9 East, then north on Jenkins Ave. Due to federal regulations, shuttle service will not be available this year. Parking for vehicles with handicap permits will be available on the park grounds. Dogs are allowed but owners should be advised that leash and waste removal regulations will be enforced on the park grounds.

Journey to an age of kings, queens and knights in shining armor at the Medieval Fair, one of Oklahoma's most unique family events. Admission is free. For more information call the Norman Convention and Visitors Bureau at 366-8095 or 1-800-767-7260. You may also visit the Fair's Web site at www.medievalfair.org.