May/June Surrey 2012

COMPLIMENTARYCOMPLIMENTARY

SUMMER 2012 Vol. 4 No. 5 • A Claremore Daily Progress Publication

SurreySurreyTaking You Places Today!

Taking You Places Today!

Coach Ron BradleyCoach Ron Bradley

Diamondin the

Rough

Diamondin the

Rough

CLAREMORE | BARTLESVILLE | PRYORwww.rsu.edu | (918) 343-7777

“I was looking for a university where I would be more than a face in the crowd. At Rogers State University, I’m a member of the Honors Program and the varsity cheerleading squad, all while pursuing my degree in medical/molecular biology. I don’t know for sure where I’ll be ten years from now but I do know I’ll be working in the medical �eld and my education will have prepared me to be successful. RSU has given me so many opportunities that I would not have gotten at other schools. For that, I’ll always be grateful.”

KYLIE DENTPryor, OK | Medical/Molecular Biology | Cheerleader | Honors Student

Learning about a community

only requires getting to know

its people and understanding

the places. Rogers County has a

wealth of places to go and enjoy

Oklahoma culture. Likewise, there

are many distinct people who after

having a brief conversation anyone

will discover the great nature of

Rogers County.

In this issue of Surrey, readers

can discover some of the people

who have shaped and continue to

shape our community.

A commemora-

tive book about

Rogers County’s

native son Clem

McSpadden has

been recently pub-

lished. It chroni-

cles his life

growing up in

Bushyhead and

becoming a politi-

cal leader in Oklahoma.

The book is a labor of love about

McSpadden. Rebecca Hattaway

visited with McSpadden’s widow,

Donna, and gives readers a special

look into their lives.

Another Rogers County charac-

ter is John Wooley, who has been

recently recognized by the Okla-

homa Historical Society. Wooley is

an award-winning author. Tom Fink

spoke with Wooley and shares his

story about writing.

Coach Ron Bradley is king of

Rogers State University sports.

Seven years ago, he help build

RSU’s baseball team. This year, the

Hillcats were runners-up at the Di-

vision 1 NAIA World Series. Tim Rit-

ter writes an in-depth story about

Bradley and his commitment to

faith, family and the Hillcats.

Summer is the time to enjoy the

outdoors. Claremore has a variety

of indoor and outdoor recreation

options. Salesha Wilken provides

an overview of the outdoor venues,

include the Claremore Skate Park,

Sports Complex, Powers Park and

the Super Rec Center.

Take some time this summer to

enjoy the outdoors and learn more

about Rogers County through its

people and places.

SUMMER 2012 Surrey 3

People and Places

RANDY COWLING

SurreySurrey

4 SUMMER 2012 Surrey

SurreyTaking you places today!

Surrey©2012All rights reserved.

Published Bi-monthly by The Daily Progress

PUBLISHERBailey Dabney

EDITOR/DESIGNERRandy Cowling

CONTRIBUTORSRebecca Hattaway

Tom FinkTim Ritter

Salesha Wilken

ADVERTISINGMisti Grannemann

Kim McCoolMelissa Ring

Cinda Vaughan

SEND COMMENTS TO:The SURREY @

The Daily Progress315 W. Will Rogers Boulevard

Claremore, OK 74017 P.O. Box 248 Claremore, OK 74018

E-mail — [email protected]

ADVERTISING INFORMATION:918-341-1101

[email protected]

All copy and advertising in the Surrey are copyrighted and cannot be reproduced. Some photos used by permission of source.

Taking You Places Today!Taking You Places Today!

6

9

18

24

Vol. 4 No.5 n SUMMER 2012

RememberingClem McSpaddenClem McSpadden was anicon of Rogers County. Acommemorative book abouthis life has been published

At The MoviesJohn Wooley is a masterwriter and has recently beenhonored by the OklahomaHistorical Society

At The MoviesJohn Wooley is a masterwriter and has recently beenhonored by the OklahomaHistorical Society

Claremore Loves ParksThe City of Claremore offers a varietyof indoor and outdoor recreation op-tions, Take a look at the variety ofvenues that are utilized by citizens.

Claremore Loves ParksThe City of Claremore offers a varietyof indoor and outdoor recreation op-tions, Take a look at the variety ofvenues that are utilized by citizens.

Diamond in the RoughCoach Ron Bradley has led theRogers State University baseballteam for seven years. This year theHillcats were runners up at the Di-vision 1 NAIA World Series.

Diamond in the RoughCoach Ron Bradley has led theRogers State University baseballteam for seven years. This year theHillcats were runners up at the Di-vision 1 NAIA World Series.

RememberingClem McSpaddenClem McSpadden was anicon of Rogers County. Acommemorative book abouthis life has been published


Remembering

ClemMcSpadden


By Rebecca Hattaway

Nearly four years after his passing, a

book has been written about the life

and legacy of Rogers County’s Clem Mc-

Spadden.

Spring Will Come shares personal stories and

pictures detailing McSpadden’s life from growing

up on his family’s ranch in Bushy-

head, to serving in Congress, to

working as General Manager of

the National Finals Rodeo, to

being inducted into the PRCA Hall

of Fame.

“People always asked Clem,

‘Why don’t you write a book,’”

said his widow, Donna McSpad-

den. “He would always say, ‘Aw,

I’m not the book-writin’ kind.’”

So two years ago, Frank Rob-

son took up the cause. Robson, a

member of the Oklahoma Heritage Association

Committee, presented Clem’s name for their

Oklahoma Trackmakers Series.

“He’s the first country boy that’s been se-

lected (for a book in the series of biographies),”

Donna said. “It’s kind of neat for a guy from

Bushyhead, Chelsea and Rogers County to be in-

cluded.”

Authors Bob Burke and Joan Rhine conducted

40 interviews in two years of Clem’s friends and

family from Canada to Louisiana to Texas to his

home in Rogers County.

“I think that is why it’s so well put together,”

Donna said. “It’s in our friends’ words — it’s the

real them, just like it was the real Clem.”

Donna used her vast collection of keepsakes

compiled over the years to make sure no impor-

tant detail was overlooked.

“Clem had memory-retention — he remem-

bered everything but my birthday and our an-

niversary,” she smiled. “I didn’t ever throw

anything away because I never

knew when he might ask me to

find something. That was always

my job. I just started framing all

the photos, keeping all the clip-

pings.”

His decades in the rodeo and

political arenas fill 35 scrap-

books.

“I have six file cabinets and

from the time this (work on the

book) started until today, I have

pulled every piece of paper, pic-

ture, political sign and pocketbook to make this

honestly a book about Clem’s life,” Donna said.

“Nothing was in front of or below his God and his

family and friends.”

Those priorities defined his life from start to

finish.

“He never quit being Clem. Everything he

made, he probably gave half of it away or loaned

it to someone and never got it back,” Donna said.

“He was very generous — and it was a quiet gen-

erosity. All of a sudden a little child with end up

with a horse. He thought every child should have

ownership of a baby calf. Back then it was not

Cowboy, legislator and rodeo enthusiast


McSpadden. . .about how much you had, but how much you shared.”

When it came to himself, however, Clem was much more

strict about spending money.

“He appreciated quality but he would never buy himself a

new vehicle,” Donna said. “He would say, ‘What would a new

one do that this one won’t?’ He asked for very little.”

Clem remained true to his country roots and appreciated

the simple things in life. To him there was no place like home.

“Home was his favorite place. You could just see when he

walked in the door, the relief,” Donna said. “No matter where

he was he always wanted to come home after a rodeo instead

of spending the night on the road. He would call collect from a

payphone wherever he was at — that was in the pre-cell phone

days — and say, ‘Ma’am, about 3:30 could you have the

sausage and eggs ready for a veteran?’ So I’d set the alarm

and have the coffee made and meal waiting for him. Of

course, I’d have to get back up a few hours later and go to

work.”

She gladly adjusted her life so the number one priority from

the time they married in 1962 was Clem. His world was her

world. His business was her business. And she worked tire-

Continue on page 12

“Clem’s Cowpokes” went to Washington D.C. in 1972 to attend McSpadden’s swear-ing-in.

“Clem’s Cowpokes” went to Washington D.C. in 1972 toattend McSpadden’s swearing-in.

At the 1979 National Finals Rodeo, with no money in the budgetfor an opening program, General Manager Clem McSpaddenwas in charge of creating one. “Clem used these two kids as a‘prop’ and talked to them about what makes a great man, soyoung people would have those same attributes,” Donna said.The children were Jami Massey-Radacy and the McSpaddens’son, Bart.


When it comes to winning awards, John Woo-

ley is hardly a stranger. Among the Okla-

homa author’s honors are his 2003

induction into the Oklahoma Music Hall of

Fame and his 2009 inductions into the Jazz Hall of

Fame and the Oklahoma Cartoonists Hall of Fame.

Last April, Wooley added another distinction to his

growing list of accolades, as winner of the Oklahoma

Historical Society’s “Outstanding Book on Oklahoma

History” for his tome “Shot in Oklahoma: A Century of

Sooner State Cinema.”

For this most recent laurel, the Sooner scribe drew a

line in the red dirt in 1985, with an obscure, made-in-

Oklahoma movie, called — of all things — “Blood Cult.”

“Blood Cult?”

“Oh, yes — ‘Blood Cult’,” laughs Wooley, nodding

gamely. “That was a horror movie shot in Tulsa in 1985

about a dog-worshiping cult called ‘The Cult of Cani-

nus’, made for roughly $30,000,. Needless to say, it

wasn’t exactly what you’d call a major release or even a

‘B’ movie, more like a ‘Z’ movie, but believe it or not, it

was changed the playing field (for movies).”

Directed by Chris Lincoln, familiar to some as the

sports anchor of KTUL-TV’s Channel 8, “Blood Cult” was

filmed primarily in Tulsa over a period of ten days, fea-

turing an all-unkown cast of ..well, still unknowns.

John Wooley honored byOklahoma Historical Society

MOVIESAT THEBY TOM FINK

JOHN WOOLEY

Continue on page 10


But why does such an under-the-

radar movie like “Blood Cult” rate

as a “game-changer” in Wooley’s

figurative and literal book?

“For the purposes of my book,

‘Blood Cult’ was the cut-off point —

everything I considered to be true

cinema made in Oklahoma pre-

ceded it’s 1985 release,” Wooley

said, more game to converse about

his personal love of movies than

his awards received for writing

about them. “This was a time in

history when the home video mar-

ket was just getting started, before

this, movies made were made for

the big screen, unless they were

made-for-TV movies, but primarily,

when you thought ‘movie’, you

thought of going to an actual the-

ater to see it.

“With ‘Blood Cult’ however,

things changed as it was the very

first movie shot specifically for re-

lease on home video,” he contin-

ued. “It’s an unlikely kind of movie

to be a game-changer, but really, it

launched the home video revolu-

tion, and it was filmed right here in

Oklahoma.”

But “Blood Cult” is hardly the

bulk of Wooley’s book, as he cov-

ers state cinema dating back more

than 100 years ago.

“Back in 1904, Thomas Edison

brought a crew to Oklahoma’s 101

Ranch, near Ponca City

to shoot some footage,”

Wooley said. “It’s fairly

safe to say that would

be the first movie shot

in the state, but hardly

the last.”

Indeed.

Wooley estimated be-

tween 100 and 200 movies were

shot, either in part or in full, in

Oklahoma before 1985, with the

Oklahoma-made films “exploding”

thereafter.

“You have to keep in mind, it

was about this time (1985) that

the technology to make movies just

exploded — things became more

high-tech and as they did, they also

became more affordable, enabling

more people to make ‘movies’ that

ever before,” he said. “Shortly after

this, a little thing called the Inter-

net came along, followed by

YouTube, so then you get into the

issue of ‘What is a movie?’”

Wooley should know.

As a longtime writer for the Tulsa

World (now retired), various ‘zines

and magazines, he spent decades

covering cinema and reviewing

movies, as well as researching

movies and the history of cinema

for innumerable articles.

He’s even had a hand in a cou-

ple of small movies of his own —

“Cafe Purgatory” in 199, starring

Wooley. . .

Marc Singer, and the recent docu-

mentary “Bill Boyce: Money Actor,”

the former of which was shown at a

film festival, and the latter of which

played to a small audience at the

Circle Cinema in Tulsa.

But does Wooley consider these

to be movies?

“To talk about a movie made in

Oklahoma like ‘The Outsiders’ which

everyone’s familiar with and to look

at something like ‘Cafe Purgatory’,

you’d really be having two different

conversations, I think,” he said.

“To me, just because something

is ‘out there’ — whether it’s in lim-

ited release, straight to video or

now, DVD, or on the Internet,

doesn’t ‘make’ it a ‘movie’. Just be-

cause something can be made

doesn’t mean it should.”

In addition to recognition for


Continue on page 15


lessly.

“I was his scheduler, laundress, cook and

housekeeper, but we were husband and wife;

we were partners. His life was a little hard to

understand and accept at times. I knew who

Clem was and how he operated. He marched

to his own drummer,” she said. “There were

times I could absolutely choke him. By choice

he never learned to run a washing machine,

never knew how to use the Mr. Coffee or

Keurig.

“His time with his family was definitely lim-

ited because of politics, rodeo and ranching.

He had two jobs that owned him — politics and

rodeo require 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,

if you do them right.”

Clem worked hard, but he also lived well.

“The time (son) Bart and I had with Clem

sometimes seemed not enough, but the qual-

ity provided the reassurance to us that he

knew we were capable of making it work as a

family,” Donna said. “Even though he could

absolutely work me to death, he also allowed

me to have space to do the things I wanted to

do as a volunteer.”

That included getting a public library for the

town of Chelsea, helping create the Chelsea

School Foundation, and establishing the first

Head Start program in Rogers County at Foyil

Schools.

“When the National Finals Rodeo came into

McSpadden. . .

The walls of the McSpadden office in downtown Chelsea are covered with memorabilia from Clem’s decades in rodeo and politics.


Oklahoma City in the late ‘60s, the

people were there for two weeks

and there was nothing socially for

the women,” Donna said. So she

and several friends started the NFR

Ladies Day, a style show and lunch-

eon that attracted hundreds of

women.

She also started H.A.N.D.S. (Help-

ing a Needy Diva Survive), an organ-

ization that provides financial help

and practical care to rodeo or ranch-

ing families dealing with health is-

sues or tough economic times.

Donna still goes to work every day

at the McSpadden office in down-

town Chelsea.

“Since we lost Clem, I probably

haven’t

missed

more than

two

weeks,”

she said.

“There’s al-

ways some-

thing to

do.”

It’s in that place that Clem’s

memory is alive and well — in each

room, on each wall.

“I walk in and it’s like he’s giving

me a big hug,” she said.

The recently published biography

ensures Clem’s legacy will continue

to be kept alive for future genera-

tions.

Donna said that’s important be-

cause “they might not know men

like him.”

“We’ve been broke, we’ve had

losses, illness, and family deaths,

but Clem was always so positive. I

might be in tears about what was

going on; he would pat my hand and

say ‘spring will come’ — and it al-

ways did.”


“Shot in Oklahoma,” Wooley also

was featured as part of the “Okla-

homa @ the Movies” exhibit at the

Oklahoma History Center in Okla-

homa City, focusing on the works

of cinematic pioneers, writers, di-

rectors, and actors from Okla-

homa. But for all the kudos and

the “atta-boys,” Wooley takes them

in stride and maintains his per-

spective.

“When I left the (Tulsa) World in

2006, I honestly didn’t know if I’d

ever sell a dime’s worth of books,”

he said.

“I’ve always striven towards a

balance between scholarly and

breezy in my writing — to have

been able to be not only a modest

success at it but to have been rec-

ognized for my work was quite a

surprise and an honor.”

John Wooley’s “Shot in Okla-

homa: A Century of Sooner State

Cinema” is available from Univer-

sity of Oklahoma Press, local book-

stores and retailers in Tulsa and

around the state, and on Amazon.

Who is John Wooley?

Rogers County resident John

Wooley is the author, co-author, or

editor of more than 25 books, in-

cluding his newest, “Shot in Okla-

homa, a history of

made-in-Oklahoma movies” and a

biography of horror-movie director

“Wes Craven, The Man and His

Nightmares.”

Wooley’s other works include his

novel “Ghost Band; The Miracle

Squad,” a graphic novel reprinting

the comic-book series he did with

artist and fellow Rogers Countian

Terry Tidwell in the 1980s; “Forgot-

ten Horrors Vol. 5: The Atom Age

and Forgotten Horrors Comics &

Stories,” the latest volumes in his

ongoing series with co-authors

Michael H. Price and Jan Alan Hen-

derson; “The Home Ranch,” writ-

ten with Osage rancher John

Hughes; and “From the Blue Devils

to Red Dirt: The Colors of Okla-

homa Music,” one of only three

books commissioned by the Okla-

homa Centennial Commission and

a finalist for the 2007 Oklahoma

Book Award.

Wooley’s current projects in-

clude a history of the Cain’s Ball-

Wooley. . .

Continue on page 16

room , and the play “Time Changes

Everything,” a story of two imagi-

nary meetings between Oklahoma

music icons Bob Wills and Woody

Guthrie.

He currently serves as guest cu-

rator for the Oklahoma History

Center exhibit Oklahoma@the

Movies, which opened in May

2012.

His duties included writing and

narrating a short documentary for

the exhibit that tells the story of

drive-in style movies through the

career of Tulsa actor John Ashley.

Wooley also penned the script

for the made-for-TV movie “Dan

Turner, Hollywood Detective,” the

award-winning independent film

“Cafe Purgatory,” and the docu-

mentary “Bill Boyce – Money

Actor,” along with writing comic

books, trading cards, and an incal-

culable number of magazine and

newspaper stories for the Tulsa

World, where he worked from

1983 through most of 2006.

Oh, and Wooley also wrote more

than 100 pieces for the horror-

movie magazine “Fangoria,” is a

contributing editor and columnist

for Oklahoma Magazine and a lec-

turer in the American Studies Pro-

gram at Oklahoma State

University’s Tulsa campus, where

he has taught classes on horror

movies, Oklahoma music and

films, and rock ‘n’ roll history.

Furthermore, Wooley produces

and hosts Swing on This, Tulsa’s

only western-swing radio program,

heard Saturday nights on NPR affil-

iate KWGS (89.5 FM).

He was chosen to write Roy

Clark’s coffee-table-style tour book,

celebrating his 60 years in show

business, and to emcee the Will

Rogers Rotary Club’s “Good Ride,

Cowboy” event, honoring Garth

Brooks, where Brooks told the

crowd, “you might not know it, but

John Wooley is a star.”

In 2003, Wooley became the

first writer to be inducted into the

Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.

In 2009, he was also an in-

ductee into both the Oklahoma

Jazz Hall of Fame and the Okla-

homa Cartoonists Hall of Fame,

the latter for his comic-book writ-

ing.

THAT is John Wooley


Wooley. . .


To most Rogers State University baseball

fans, Ron Bradley is known as “Coach.”

But the veteran skipper is more than just

that to his family.

He’s Jill’s husband and the father of Ryan and

Kayla (Bradley) McGinty.

For every time he’s been called ‘Coach’ ... Ron

Bradley has also been called ‘Dad’ or most re-

cently, ‘Grandpa’ when it comes to his proud

grandson, Baron Bradley.

His love for family and baseball are what

makes this man a ‘Diamond in the Rough’ here

in Claremore.

Whether he’s teaching his Hillcats the proper

fundamentals in order to reach those small-town

dreams of playing for a NAIA Division I National

Championship or helping Jill raise two quality

adults, Ron Bradley has his bases covered.

“Dad is very passionate about what he does,”

Ryan said. “His priorities are well-balanced with

faith and family always being first followed by

baseball.”

Since the birth of Ryan’s son, Baron, Ron has

shown a softer side.

“He’s one proud grandpa,” Ryan added.

Diamondin the Rough

Diamondin the Rough


Born with a bat and glove in his hand, Baron is

already destined for greatness on the ball dia-

mond.

Much like his father, Ryan, who played for

Grandpa Ron at Claremore High School and has

spent many long hours traveling around the coun-

try watching ‘America’s Favorite Pastime’, Baron

has already gotten a taste of the College World Se-

ries.

•••

Seven years ago, Ron Bradley took on a big chal-

lenge with the start of the RSU baseball program.

The Hillcats were just a club team back in the

glory days, practicing on the sandlot behind At-

woods and playing in pick-up tournaments around

Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas.

“We were a club team for 2 years and only prac-

ticed twice a week,” Ron said. “Our first year, we

played four games in a tournament in Siloam

Springs (Ark) and that was our season.”

Those first two years were rough. RSU didn’t

have athletics on campus and Ron’s first team did-

n’t have a field to play on.

“The hardest part was trying to convince players

to come to Claremore,” Ron said. “It was like sell-

ing ocean front property in the middle of Okla-

homa.”

Throughout the struggles, though, Ron and the

Hillcats played their first official college baseball

game on Feb. 11, 2006, losing a three-game se-

ries with Missouri Valley.

His team competed hard in that series, scoring

10 total runs, and showed a sign of greater things

to come. Days later, on Feb. 13, 2006, the first win

for RSU baseball took place with the Hillcats de-

feating Bacone College, 5-3.

Coach Ron Bradley is committed to family values and treasures time being with them.

Ron Bradley passionate about what he does


It was a gratifying moment for

Ron, according to Ryan, and the

springboard for many victories to fol-

low in the coming years.

RSU finished their first full season

with a 12-24 record.

“The best part of that season was

seeing kids have the opportunity to

play,” Ron said.

In 2007, the Hillcats doubled their

win total and finished 28-23.

In 2008, the Hillcats capped their

season with a 35-16 record.

Then, in 2009, the Hillcats fell

backwards a little bit with a 29-21

record.

Each year, leading up to the 2011

and 2012 seasons, Ron kept build-

ing a champion-like atmosphere on

the Hill and coaching his players to

win with integrity, heart and determi-

nation.

After going 30-21 in 2010, the

Hillcats baseball program put to-

gether back-to-back NAIA Tourna-

ment seasons winning 45 games in

2011 and 49 in 2012.

The culmination of all the hard

work that Ron has poured into build-

ing the RSU baseball program

reached a milestone earlier this

month with the Hillcats reaching the

NAIA Division I World Series in Lewis-

ton, Idaho.

“It was a dream come true,” Ryan

said of his father’s leadership, pas-

sion for RSU baseball and his career.

“200 NAIA teams start the season in

hopes of making the World Series,

and to be one of the 10 and then the

final two says a lot for how far dad

has taken RSU baseball.”

•••

The road to Idaho taught the Hill-

cats a lot about handling adversity

and never giving up. On Nov. 12, the

Bradley. . .

RSU baseball program was dealt a huge

tragedy with the death of Tyler Brown, a up-

and-coming pitcher that was destined for an

All-Sooner Athletic Conference season on the

mound in his sophomore year.

Brown, who finished 6-0 in his first year out

of Berryhill High School, died in a car wreck the

weekend of RSU Homecoming.

“Anytime you lose a teammate, it’s a painful

experience,” Ron said. “He had a promising fu-

ture at RSU and was going to be a major part

of our rotation this year.”

Reflecting on the night, Ron said losing Tyler

Brown and having to tell his players as well as

dealing with the grief was one of the toughest

decisions in his coaching career.

“Tyler was a happy, go lucky kind of guy,”

Ron said. “Always had a smile on his face that

captured your heart. The team and many oth-

ers on our campus drew to him.”

For Ryan Bradley, in his first year as the RSU

athletic director, the passing of Tyler Brown

brought a somber feeling to Homecoming.

“It’s never a good time when you lose some-


Coach Ron Bradley led the Rogers State University Hillcats to a 2nd place finish at the Division I NAIA baseballchampionship in Lewiston, Idaho.

Bradley has guided the Hillcats during the past seven seasons.

A Season to Remember

Continue on page 22

one that’s a part of your family,”

Ryan said. “It wasn’t just the base-

ball players grieving, I saw the ath-

letes dealing with it. We’re a

tight-knit extended family here at

RSU and Tyler Brown touched so

many lives.”

With Tyler Brown’s passing, the

2012 Hillcats dedicated their sea-

son to his memory and played

every pitch and every out for No.

23. They stitched his initials ‘T.B.

#23’ on their baseball caps, and

one player in particular — pitcher

Kyle Duncan — even had Tyler

Brown’s signature tattooed on his

arm.

“We had the pieces to make a

run,” Ron said. “Losing TB, as a

coach, you wondered how we

would fill the gap on the baseball

level. You knew we would never be

able to fill the gap on a personal

level.”

The Hillcats not only filled the

gap, they went beyond the call of

duty of honoring TB on a consis-

tent basis, Ron added.

“Every team takes on a theme.

Ours was ‘T.B. #23’,” Ron said.

“We started the season saying ‘T.B.

#23’ and ended the season after

our loss in the national champi-

onship game giving respect and

honor with an emotional ‘T.B.

#23’.”

From the passing of Tyler Brown

to the start of the season and won-

dering where the Hillcats would

play their opener — with the con-

struction of the new baseball/soft-

ball facility under way — it didn’t

take long for RSU to make ‘Leg-

endary Legion Field’ their home

away from home.

“Claremore High School went

out of their way to accommodate

our needs and work with our

schedule,” Ron said. “Not only was

it a thrill for me to go back and

coach at Legion Field, but it gave

our fans another venue to come

watch and support Hillcat base-

ball.”

After playing the first few weeks

on the road in Dallas, the Hillcats

finally opened their season at Le-

gion Field against NCAA Division II

Pittsburg State, which is now

coached by former Claremore

Zebra standout Matt Murray.

“Pitt State was a good draw for

the local fans,” Ron said. “We were

able to take the game to people

and make them realize what we

have here in Claremore. Claremore


Bradley. . .


has proven to be a community that

loves and support baseball.”

The Hillcats were able to get off

to a great start and posted a pair

of wins of Pitt State, beating the

Gorillas, 4-1 and 11-3. RSU went

on a tear, winning its first 12 non-

conference games before falling to

Baker University, 4-2.

A record of 14-1 going into the

ever-so-tough Sooner Athletic Con-

ference season proved to Ron that

his club had the making of putting

together a pretty special season.

“Competing in the SAC definitely

gives you a chance to win a na-

tional championship,” Ron said.

The Hillcats swept Wayland Bap-

tist in the conference opener, and

took a game from a traditional-

power Lubbock Christian Univer-

sity. From there, it was a tug-of-war

leading into the SAC Tournament,

where the Hillcats battled tooth-

and-nail, going 1-2 with a 4-3 loss

to Science & Arts, followed by a 9-7

win over St. Gregory’s and a 7-2

setback to Oklahoma Baptist Uni-

versity.

Needing an at-large bid into the

NAIA Regionals was next on the list

for the Hillcats. RSU received the

bid and continued their quest to-

ward Lewiston, playing with the

‘Heart of Champions’.

After beating Judson (Ill.) 9-5 in

the regional opener at Hutchinson,

Kan., RSU had to ride a little luck

in a 5-4 extra-inning affair to beat

Oklahoma Baptist University and

advance to the regional finals.

Luck was definitely on their side

down the stretch of the season, as

the Hillcats won 9 in a row to get to

the SAC Tournament, earn the at-

large bid and then roll past Tabor

College, 7-3 in the regional finals.

“Our goal or dream when we

started this program was to get to

the World Series,” Ron said. “It’s

not a dream anymore, it’s a real-

ity.”

•••

Hillcats going to Lewiston ... what

an ‘Awesome’ feeling for the

Bradley family.

“Lewiston is such a tough place

to get too,” Ron said. “We went

there with a purpose, approaching

the World Series with a little bit of

chip on our shoulder.”

Ron’s message to his Hillcats

was set in tone: “Win games and

make an impact.”

Not only did his team do that,

they pretty much became the talk

of the town and earned a new

identity, “Comeback ‘Cats”.

RSU made the 26-hour, 1,800-

plus mile journey to Lewiston with

one goal in mind, ‘Win The Last

Game’.

The series opener showed the

‘Heart’ of Hillcat baseball as RSU

rallied from behind with 3-2 win

over South Carolina Beaufort. One

night later, junior southpaw Bran-

don Bargas — a former Owasso

Rams standout pitcher — tossed

the game of his life, beating No. 1

LSU Shreveport with an 18-strike-

out performance in a 2-1 win.

“B.B.’s numbers speak for them-

selves,” Ron said. “His perform-

ance against a No. 1 team that lost

four games all season long by one

run captured the heart of Lewis-

ton.”

With a 2-0 record in the World

Series, the Hillcats dropped a

heartbreaker to Tennessee Wes-

leyan, 8-6, meaning RSU had to

Continue on page 27

Our goal or dream... was to getto the World Series

Our goal or dream... was to getto the World Series

—Coach Ron Bradley


Summer night baseball games, springtime at

the soccer fields, winter workouts at the

recreation center and a walks at the lake in

early fall bring to mind just a few things to

love about Claremore Parks and Recreation Depart-

ment.

Chances are at one time another if you live near

the city of Claremore you have visited one of the cities

many parks.

The Claremore Parks and Recreations Department

was formed in the early seventies by the Claremore

City Council. Since the beginning the focus has been

on serving the citizens of Claremore and adding a

special “quality of life” to the city.

The park system has changed in the past 40 plus

years and today’s parks have something to offer

everyone, according to Director Joe Kays.

The system consists of five sports complexes, Pow-

ers Park, Claremore Soccer Complex, Pecan Park,

American Legion Park and Walnut Park.

Each of the complexes has something different to

offer.

Powers Park is the home of Rogers County Youth

Baseball, which serves more than 1,000 kids each

year. Powers Park has seen many changes, as it was

one of the original parks in the city. Recently the park

received a major renovation including new lighting

poles, an irrigation system, re-grading, sod, bleachers,

backstops, a new playground and much more. The

project totaled more than $1.4 million and was

funded through a one-cent temporary sales tax.

The parks are not supported by tax dollars alone as

community groups volunteer to help keep the parks

clean, organize ball games and run concessions.

Claremore loves ParksClaremore loves ParksClaremore Skate Park

By SALESHA WILKEN


In addition to the volunteers, commu-

nity business and grants play a role in

supporting the parks. Pelco Structural

recently donated light poles to Powers

Park and a grant recently assisted in

construction of the soccer park and lake

trails.

The Claremore Soccer Complex con-

sists of 16 game fields of which two are

lighted for night games. This park serves

more than 500 participants annually.

Pecan Park is home to the Claremore

Girl’s Softball Association and serves

approximately 300 participants annu-

ally. The park features four 200’ lighted

softball fields, concession stand with

rooms for the umpires, commissioners

and tournament director.

Walnut Park is where the big kids,

otherwise known as adults go to play. It

plays host to adult softball leagues and

was opened in the late 80’s.

If a ballgame is not your scene, do not

worry as the park system has something

for everyone.

New Playground at Powers Park

Baseball Fields at Powers Park

Claremore Soccer Complex


Claremore Lake Park is the

“jewel in the park system. Featur-

ing two community parks, trails

meandering through the park, disc

golf, heated fishing dock, four pic-

nic shelters, numerous picnic ta-

bles and a scenic view it is

destination for all ages.

The yearly 4th of July fireworks

display and kids fishing tourna-

ment provide an extra boom of ex-

citement for guests. Claremore

Lake Park continues to grow as a

splash pad and construction is

scheduled to begin in 2012.

On any given Sunday afternoon

you will find families enjoying a pic-

nic and children feeding the ducks

in the park.

Will Rogers Park is a beautiful

five-acre park with mature trees at

the base of Rogers State Univer-

sity. This park’s nature setting and

beautiful blooming trees is a de-

light form many in the spring.

In addition to the wooded parks

a number of neighborhood parks

are sprinkled thought out the city.

Lion’s Kiddie Park, Loshbaugh

Park, Redbud Park, Dogwood Park

and Leaning Elms Park have color-

ful playgrounds.

Gazebo Park is another favorite

spot for gatherings and hosts nu-

merous weddings and other events

throughout the year. During the

summer months the park hosts

Claremore Civic Band Concerts

and features a beautiful new foun-

tain. From music to crafts the Com-

munity Center is home to a variety

of activities, functions, camps, clin-

ics and other community events.

BLAST Afterschool Program

through the Rogers County Volun-

teers for Youth provides a safe su-

pervised opportunity for 6th thru

8th graders after school at the

center.

Youth Sports and Activities Coor-

dinator Ron Paris organizes camps

and clinics for area children every

year at the center. The clinics are

free to the public and summer

camps are provided at a minimal

cost. The center will host 26 differ-

ent weeklong camps this year

alone and serves more than 300

kids each summer.

The 80,000 square foot facility

features an indoor swimming pool,

tennis courts, racquetball, walk-

ing/running track, batting cages,

basketball/volleyball courts and

weight room. Outside the center of-

fers an outdoor walking track and

a skate park. The skate park

opened in 2009 and contains

7,000 square feet of ramps, jumps

and grinding rails. This park has

been kept very busy as it offers

something for beginning riders to

experts.

Last but not least the park sys-

tem is home to 130 acres of land

located north and east of Clare-

more. Happy Lake provides a rustic

setting for church youth outings,

family reunions, scouting activities

and those interested in shooting

sports. A mountain bike/ cross-

country trail has been designed

and roughed in on the north side

of Happy Lake. The Parks and

Recreation Department provides

venues for far too many community

events to count. It might be Boo

Bash at the Expo Pavilion in Octo-

ber, the June Bug Jog at the lake or

a movie in the park; the park sys-

tem is a treasure.

“The people of Claremore are

fortunate to have these facilities

and have always been willing to

support them,” Kays said.

Kays has been working for the

city of Claremore for more than 20

years and continues to plan for the

future. In 2008 the City of Clare-

more published the Claremore

Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

The plan is a roadmap to help de-

velop the parks inside the city.

The Parks and Recreation De-

partment is proving to be more

than a way to play or relax, it is

paving the way for the city develop-

ment.

It provides a “quality of life” and

is quickly becoming a key compo-

nent of the city’s livability, identity,

and economic sustainability. Claremore Super Rec Center

Arbor Day at Claremore Lake


move through the loser’s

bracket in order to reach the

national championship.

“These kids never gave up,”

RSU assistant coach Robert

Brown said. “They wanted it so

bad, to be able to honor Tyler

Brown and play for a champi-

onship.”

Knowing the task at hand

and facing elimination as well

as the season

being over, the

Hillcats lived an-

other day with a

gutsy 8-6 win

over Point Park

(Pa.). Then, they

followed that up

with a 7-5 come-

from-behind win

over No. 2 Lee

University, mean-

ing RSU had finally reached

their defining moment.

•••

27 outs from away

from a National Title

It was a surreal moment for

the Hillcats in the dugout, but-

terflies and nerves churning in

the stomachs of players,

coaches, administrators and

fans.

The moment everyone had

been waiting for was taking

place in the history of RSU

baseball.

The Hillcats clung to a 6-5

lead going into the bottom of

the 8th inning against a very

explosive Tennessee Wesleyan

offense. Tennessee Wesleyan

took the 7-6 with two outs,

and then belted a three-run

homer to set the tone for an-

other potential ‘comeback’ by

the Hillcats.

“We were so close, only four

outs away from history,”

Robert Brown said. “One pitch

changed the outcome of that

game.”

A one-out single by senior

catcher and Chicago Cubs

draft pick Lance Rymel gave

the Hillcats hope in the ninth.

But, Tennessee

Wesleyan re-

tired the next

two batters in

order to win the

championship.

“The whole

World Series ex-

perience was

everything I

dreamed of and

better,” Ron

said. “It was a total team ef-

fort with different players com-

ing through in different

situations. I said going into

season, let’s win 50 games.

We had a chance to get that

50th win, had we won in the fi-

nals. For a group of guys that

faced tremendous amounts of

adversity throughout this sea-

son, I couldn’t be more

proud.”

•••

Building the Foundation

Wherever Ron Bradley goes

in the game of baseball, he al-

ways finds a way to building a

winning program.

He took a small-town team

in West Fork (Ark.) and pro-

duced the school’s only state

championship in baseball to

date. From there, he has won

Bradley. . .


state champi-

onships at Claremore twice and Jenks.

Every state championship team holds a special

place in Ron’s heart, but none like the one he won in

1999 at Claremore with his son, Ryan.

Ryan recalls that Claremore’s state title in 1999

was quite similar to the opportunity that the Zebras

had this year.

“We played Carl Albert at Oral Roberts University

for the championship,” Ryan

said.

Ron, who coached Ryan for

three seasons at Claremore

High School, said his son wasn’t

a guy that flashed ego, but had

the ability to contribute and

start on a state championship

and state runner-up team. Base-

ball, in all accounts, has been

the cornerstone of Ron and

Ryan’s relationship. The father-

son duo has spent many hours inside the dugout and

between the lines competing for another victory.

They both love the St. Louis Cardinals and Ryan

even had dreams as a 10-year-old replacing former

Cardinals Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith. Ryan

has been Ron’s bat boy inside the Claremore and

Jenks dugout, and to this day, will always be in Ron’s

All-Star lineup.

“Dad is a guy that shapes his career around in-

tegrity, hard work, treating play-

ers right and being respectful,”

Ryan said. “He’ll go to battle for

his players.”

But the thing Ryan values the

most in his dad’s ability to lead

by example is he’s always hum-

ble.

“He’s sacrificial, always serv-

ing others first,” Ryan said. “But

at the end of the day, he’s a win-

ner.”

Bradley. . .

May/June Surrey 2012

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