OKC the Big Friendly??
With ‘easy,' ‘apple' taken, city seeks ‘Big Friendly'
By Steve Lackmeyer
Business Writer
Appearing before a gathering hosted by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, Centennial Commission director Blake Wade said Thursday his office has applied for a trademark for "the Big Friendly” just in case Oklahoma City might want it as a catchphrase.
"I really like to think of that ‘Big Friendly' as an opportunity our fathers might want to look at — is Oklahoma City a friendly city?” Wade said. "And I think absolutely it is.”
Wade presented a slideshow of Centennial-sponsored projects completed since the commission was formed in 1999. In Oklahoma City alone, they include the Capitol dome, the Oklahoma History Center, the United Way fountain and plaza in Lower Bricktown, clocks throughout the metro area and several downtown murals. Coming up: the American Indian Cultural Center, Jim Thorpe sports hall of fame, completion of the Land Run Monument, and the Oklahoma Heritage Association's new museum in the Mid-Continent Life Insurance building.
"Between public, private, federal, grant funds and sponsorships, we've seen more than $90 million (impact),” Wade said. "The economic impact of all these projects in the future will be unbelievable for Oklahoma City and Oklahoma.”
Wade said his mission, launched with an appointment by then Gov. Frank Keating, had an unremarkable start with a presentation on the dome to a crowd in Fairview. The audience walked out, Wade said, reflecting an estimated 49 percent of the population against completing the Capitol dome at that time.
Now, Wade says, it's difficult to find anyone not proud of the new state landmark. Wade said his staff had to work hard to place projects across the state, but concluded that task has been accomplished. While working with smaller towns, Wade learned residents were scared to come to the Capitol, with its lead-in being a Lincoln Boulevard blighted with old motels, dilapidated buildings and seedy businesses.
That fear led to Lincoln Renaissance, a redevelopment of the stretch that included removal of blighted businesses and creation of tree-lined boulevard leading to and from the Capitol.
"I've heard from all over the state of how one of the most beautiful views is coming into the Capitol from the north or south,” Wade said.
Wade said upcoming events will be a boom to the city, including the Oklahoma Centennial Expo, the Oklahoma Centennial Parade and "The Spectacular,” a concert scheduled for Oct. 14 that he promises will feature some of Oklahoma's best-known performers.
Wade said the only barrier to capturing another $16 million in private funding is whether the required matching money will be provided in the closing weeks of the legislative session.
"We have the $16 million in these small communities, and we desperately need the matching dollars to complete the overall mission for the Oklahoma Centennial,” Wade said.
Among those listening to Wade's pitch was veteran Oklahoma City ad man and civic booster Ray Ackerman, who applauded the possibility of trademarking "the Big Friendly” — an idea thought up by fellow civic booster Lee Allan Smith.
"I wish it were my idea — it's Lee Allan Smith's idea,” Ackerman said. "I can't think of anything better for Oklahoma City. The people who don't think it's so good say ‘Everybody thinks they're friendly.' Well that's what makes it so good for us to get it trademarked.”
Originally Posted by MadMonk
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