Devon Energy's Larry Nichols named Oklahoman of the Year

“I was absolutely stunned by this award,” Nichols said. “If you look at the list of people that have received this award, it is a very impressive list of past honorees.”

Nichols received the award largely because of his efforts to improve downtown Oklahoma City through the new Devon Energy Center and his efforts to use increased tax revenue in the area to improve the Myriad Gardens and downtown Oklahoma City streets, Oklahoma Today Editor Steffie Corcoran said. “He has made such an investment in our community and state, we felt like he should be acknowledged for that.”

The magazine was especially impressed that Devon's restaurants, coffee shops and other spaces are open to the public, Corcoran said.

“We did not want Devon to be walled off from the community,” Nichols said. “We wanted it to be a part of the city and embrace the city as much as it could.”

Adam Wilmoth, Energy Editor