OHOF’S STORY THROUGH ITS PEOPLE NEW RELEASES DONOR SPOTLIGHT BY HALSEY B. MUSSELMAN OKLAHOMA HALL OF FAME PUBLISHING The Cameron Family and American Fidelity Assurance Company: The First 60 Years By Max Nichols and Bob Burke $28.95 Shyla Woody Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Shyla Woody is an outstanding leader not only through her involvement in school clubs and sports, including Student Council and varsity cheer, but also through her active service on the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Teen Board. As The compelling story of the Cameron family and the Cameron Group of companies began the incoming Alumni Relations Chair, Shyla will in a small Oklahoma town. After decades of selling insurance for other companies, the work to connect former Teen Board members father-son duo of C. W. and C. B. Cameron took a risk and formed their own company. with the current board. Shyla noted, “I joined American Fidelity Assurance Company, the flagship of the Cameron companies, began the Teen Board because I was searching for operating in Oklahoma in 1960. Rated A+ (Superior) by A. M. Best since 1982, American new opportunities to get active in the state. Fidelity Assurance Company achieved success as one of the nation’s largest private, family- This seemed perfect because I would be able owned life and health insurance companies. American Fidelity Assurance Company is a to network with other teenagers and make a supplemental benefits provider serving more than 1 million policyholders across 49 states positive impact at the same time.” with a focus on offering a different opinion for customers in the education, public sector, In a year when many Oklahomans were automotive and healthcare industries. affected by the global health crisis, Shyla stayed true to her word, singlehandedly raising more than $2,300, making her the Teen Board’s top fundraiser. Funds she raised I S B E €y loe for Beaers Bend began as a child when LL and amazing food and colorful small businesses we isited my grandfather who worked at the state A that line Highway 259 make the area so unique, so ark.ND directly support educational opportunities authentic, and oh so busy these days. BJERRY ISBELL AND BOB BURKE ‚AƒI‚ PAYNE „Tƒ Channel … Meteorolo†itU MATT PINNELLRK Explosion of Prosperity: Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma The beauty of the local nature was breathtaking, E for students across the state including the and we truly felt like we had entered a different The Hochatown and Broken Bow area are an world. imortant and integral art of the ast, resent, A History of Broken Bow Lake, and future of the hoctaw ation of klahoma.‚ TY ‚ƒORACE Oklahoma Hall of Fame’s Free Field Trip AC an€ EPN ‡ort Analˆt CHIEF GARY ATTON Chota Nation of OklahomaThere is no lace like Beaers Bend and Broken Bow ƒake where you can forget all the burdens Beavers Bend State Park The magic of Beaers Bend still eists if you sto of life and totally rela and en„oy the slendor of program and its virtual component, OHOF nature. long enough to watch, and listen, and introduce EXP yourself. lease tell it that imberly sends her loe.‰ARI AIN Former Lieutenant Governor of OklahomaL and Hochatown IMERLY NORRIG ERREROO S Adventures. “The Free Field Trip program is Atre an€ E€uator…rowing u on the lains of the klahoma I anhandle, going to southeast klahoma was like ON OF PR a tri to a lush aradise. †f you’e been, you will loe the history and hotograhy. †f you hae not isited, this book will draw you to this unique and sentimental to me because I know what it’s like magical lace hidden dee in klahoma’s history O and geograhy.SPEREXPLOSION By Jerry Isbell and Bob Burke MICHAEL RO„NI Former n€er eretarˆ of Homelan€ euritˆT to attend a school with limited resources. Our Y $24.99 OF PROSPERITY fundraiser directly impacts the youth and gives $24.95 A Hitorˆ of roken o LakeŠ them a memorable experience that may not eaver en€ tate Park an€ Hohaton 1400 Classen Drive Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73106 405.235.4458The shimmering waters of Broken Bow have been financially possible.” www.OklahomaHoF.comLake. Courtesy Randy Sander.Printed in Canada In her second year on the Teen Board, Old Hochatown, once a sleepy Choctaw Indian village, became an isolated haven for Shyla is looking forward to being able to meet white settlers in the 20th century. Nearby on the Mountain Fork River, Beavers Bend State with her peers in person and furthering her Park was built by a government make-work program during the Great Depression and statewide impact. Meeting people from across came online as the crown jewel of Oklahoma’s state parks in 1936. the state is one of her favorite things about Old Hochatown was moved from its location in the Mountain Fork River Valley in the Teen Board because according to Shyla the 1960s to make way for Broken Bow Lake. Tourism grew from a small business to “everyone is different, from the types of schools an enormous enterprise as people from Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas discovered its we attend to what we do in our free time.” splendor. For more information on the Oklahoma This book captures the bold and exciting history of the area, chronicles the lives of Hall of Fame Teen Board, please contact characters who pioneered life in Hochatown, and explains and highlights the phenomenal Development Coordinator Halsey B. growth of tourism and accommodations around new Hochatown and Broken Bow Lake. Musselman at [email protected]. 61 35
June 2021 Oklahoma Hall of Fame Magazine Page 62 Page 64