Vol 30 Issue 1,535 July 2, 2026

Charlie Dry was a test pilot for NASA in Houston Texas. I remember one time him telling me he could fly anything with wings. After we had been friends for a few years, he told me he was moving back to Tishomingo. After years of fighting traffic 2 hours to get to work and 2 hours to get home, he said no more, tired of the rat race. He moved back to Tish. I had a newspaper clipping of him at one time where he was on the front page of The Daily Oklahoman newspaper IN COLOR, but I can’t find it right now. In that Oklahoman picture he was wearing his astronaut suit giving a show and tell at a school to some OKC kids. Charlie was married to the famous singer Anita Bryant (one of her most popular songs was Paper Roses ). Charlie died in 2024 in Tishomingo after a battle with cancer. Charlie was a near genius in my books, I miss him and our talks. Charlie and Anita are buried in the Tishomingo City Cemetery.

Charlie Dry’s obituary

Anita Bryant’s obituary

Most people know the name Alfred P. Murrah. But I bet most couldn’t tell you who he was. His story didn’t begin in a courtroom. It began with heartbreak.

Murrah was born near a now extinct community called Earl, near present day Tishomingo in the Chickasaw Nation, I.T. in 1904. After losing both of his parents at a young age, he was on his own. He rode freight trains looking for work, washed dishes, sold newspapers, and picked up whatever odd jobs he could find just to make it another day. At one point, he even rode beneath heavy machinery on a freight train just trying to get back to Oklahoma.

He wasn’t born with opportunity. He created it.

After settling in Tuttle, he worked in exchange for a place to live, graduated as valedictorian of his high school class, earned a law degree from the University of Oklahoma, and by the age of 32 had been appointed a federal judge by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Just three years later, he was elevated to the United States Court of Appeals, where he became one of the nation’s most respected jurists.

Years later, the federal building in Oklahoma City was named in his honor, long before the tragic bombing made the Murrah name known around the world.

It’s a pretty incredible journey for a young man whose life started with so many obstacles.

The next time you hear the name Alfred P. Murrah, don’t just think about a building. Think about a kid born near present day Tishomingo who refused to let life write his future for him.

Pretty amazing story, isn’t it? -City of Tishomingo

The building was officially named and dedicated as the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in 1977. Construction on the downtown Oklahoma City complex began in 1974, and it first opened to the public on March 2, 1977. It was named in honor of prominent Oklahoma native and federal judge Alfred P. Murrah (October 27, 1904 – October 30, 1975). The building’s formal dedication ceremony took place later that year on October 14, 1977

I worked at Michelin a little over 2 years after my retirement (2015) from Carter County Government as IT manager. Loved working at Michelin, learned so much and had so many friends. I don’t think there is one spot on the floor plan below that I did not WALK to (4 miles a day), working on their 1,200 computers and 900 laptops.

Dana Pruitt Boyd sent in several photos of her kin from bygone years. The one below is of Louise Byrd Pruitt who lived NE of Ardmore on Gene Autry Road. I ran it through AI and it turned out so beautiful.

From This Weeks Mailbag

I can get our son Josh to enlarge it. His business is in the old Cooks laundry on East Main, next door to my business, the Courtyard 118 Event Center, 118 East Main Street is my address. Josh prints and installs the gigantic pictures that are hanging on buildings in the Depot District. -Dana Pruitt Boyd

I taught at Dickson 25 years. Retired in 2001 then I taught for Texas 5 years. One of the schools that consolidated with Dickson was Pruitt School No 9. I am attaching the photograph. The school and cemetery were located on Gene Autry Road. After the school closed the student desk, teacher desk and grand piano were sold at auction. The Pruitt Cemetery still is there. Pruitt School was built on the old Norris Chapel School location when it burned. My Great Grandfather Moses Byrd Pruitt and Great Aunt Louise Byrd Pruitt were on the school board and were instrumental in building Pruitt School. -Dana Pruitt Boyd

Below is a old picture Dana sent in of the Pruitt School. AI enhanced.

Q. Anyone know if the time capsule I made for Michelin in 2020 is still at the plant?

A. “I see it every morning.” -Robert Parker

Everyone have a safe and fun 4th of July holiday!

Don’t interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties. -Abraham Lincoln

See everyone next week!

Butch and Jill Bridges

Ardmore Oklahoma

580-490-6823

https://oklahomahistory.net

Vol 30 Issue 1,535 July 2, 2026

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