Teamwork, shared vision on long road to centennial

Let me toss three facts your way linked to the Oklahoma Centennial.

Fact: Leaders from the next two states to have centennials — New Mexico and Arizona — have visited Oklahoma because they can't believe the effort put forth by this state to commemorate its 100th birthday.

Fact: The Oklahoma Centennial Commission booked the Ford Center for the two weeks leading up to Nov. 16 before it was called the Ford Center, even before construction was finished. Now we're just days from the Centennial Spectacular at that very arena.

Fact: The two men who provided me these facts, J. Blake Wade, executive director of the Oklahoma Centennial Commission, and Lee Allan Smith, chairman of projects and events, have talked with each other on the phone every day for the last five years — yes, weekends too.

And think about all the days they've been at events together.

But fortunately I found just a bit of time when each was in his own office. And that's the way I needed it because I wanted them to talk about each other openly.

They did.

"Lee Allan has been preparing for this centennial his whole life,” Wade said. "The Diamond Jubilee celebrating 75 years, the U.S. Olympic Festival and the Civic Center and the Capitol dome to start this off, all of these monstrous events in Oklahoma history, Lee Allan has been a part of.”

Less than 24 hours later I was sitting in Smith's office.

"Statewide, Blake has done just one remarkable job,” Smith said.

Now why focus on Wade and Smith as a duo rather than solo acts?

First, both will say that no one person has made this centennial a success but instead it's been a sweat-on-the-brow, smile-on-the-face effort of volunteers, corporate and individual sponsors, famous sons and daughters of the state, and others all across and some outside Oklahoma that has made the commemoration a mighty success.

Second, when you look at Wade and Smith's experience individually, it's very impressive. But when you focus on it as a whole, it's astounding.

So we'll go with astounding.

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When you start talking about what these two men bring to the table, you better make sure the table is clear because you'll need all the room you can get.

For example, the same Wade who earned two Bronze Stars, three Vietnam Service medals and retired with the rank of Army major and pushed for pari-mutuel horse racing as president of the Central Oklahoma Racing Association and Gold Valley Thoroughbred Corp.

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