Guthrie High School, Guthrie, OK, Class of 1961

Guthrie Centennial Celebration

Eye-Witness Report of Centennial Event from our own Judith
Chappell-Balsiger. Pics Below!

warriors and war mothers and also included Indian songs and prayers. The "Sunset " ceremony was
The celebration continued the next morning, "Statehood Day" with the re-enactment announcing that
Militia and carriages filled with dignitaries and children to the Carnegie Library for the historical
An estimated crowd of 60,000 gathered in Guthrie to see the historic parade which included 250 entries
and 5,000 participants.The Centennial parade began at 11:30 with 4 jets zooming overhead. The
Guthrie High School marching band and color guard were then followed by 14 school marching bands
including University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, University of Central Oklahoma and
Langston University and Oklahoma's 45th Division marching band.
Native Americans marched proudly in native dress. Children carried flags for the 39 tribes that call
Oklahoma home. Members of the Choctaw Nation sat on a float with the Choctaw nations children's
choir as drummers pounded the drum and the choir sang in the native language.

We watched the Budweiser Clydesdales, miniature horses, a team of draft mules, floats, motorcycles,
antique cars, tractors, cowboys on horses and square dancers. People stood for the American flag and
military veterans. There was even a group of nuns in this parade. There was an antique bicycle ridden
all over town by Mickey Kalman of Guthrie dressed in period dress. It has no brakes and no kickstand.
The rider called it a bone-shaker. The Oklahoma Centennial band brought the parade to a close.

The parade ended at Mineral Wells Park, with the public following the parade for a picnic of a slice of
beef on bread, a pickle and coffee or lemonade. That was the same meal that was served 100 years
ago. Several University bands entertained.

The day ended with the showing of the Centennial Spectacular, which was performed at the Ford
Center in OKC and broadcast live in downtown Guthrie on the 6 jumbo trons placed around town.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, OKLAHOMA ! ! !
Judith

from the Post Office, where Pike's
store used to be. The clock was
covered until the unveiling ceremony.

(ABOVE) The unveiled
Centennial Clock.

(ABOVE) Don & Phyliss Odom at
the Clock ceremony.

(BELOW) Centennial Train Arrival. Waiting on the tracks
for the train bringing dignitaries.

(ABOVE) Mickey Kalman, riding a period bicycle
(with no brakes) meets the Centennial train with

(ABOVE) Governor Brad Henry & Lt. Gov. Jerri Askins leaving the train to join
the festivities.

(BELOW) Centennial Train arrives in Guthrie.

Sunset Ceremony at
the Masonic Temple

(ABOVE) Children singing at the Sunset
Ceremony

(ABOVE) Drummer at ceremony

(ABOVE) Native American Tribal Flags

(LEFT & ABOVE) Crowd gathers to hear the announcement that Oklahoma
Territory has become a state. Location: Publishing Museum

(BELOW) Crowd gathers at the Carnegie Library for
Oklahoma statehood.

(ABOVE) CENTENNIAL PARADE Our own Class of 1961 was represented by Sherry
Canning on front row. 2nd Row: Jan Case, Dwaina Mallett, Judith Balsiger. 3rd Row: Short
Johnson and Dick Burst Top: Nancy Chappell Simpson