A Norman mystery

[stratosphere]

Havent spent much time in Norman lately, but is Calvin still around selling newspapers??

last time i was at the Vista he was there, also at Mr Bills too!

[MikeOKC]

I didn't know Mike had died. He sometimes went way off the rocker, but what really angered OU officials was his always talking about David Boren being gay, which most people know but just don't talk about. People around Boren have gone to great lengths to hide this for years. Anybody who has ever been around Oklahoma politics knows that David Boren is gay. So what? I've always wondered why he hasn't come out and it be over with. Somebody once told me the reason was because Boren had to go through all that swearing on the Bible stuff back in the 70's swearing to God that he wasn't homosexual. After that, he was pretty much stuck to his "I'm straight" story, especially being from Oklahoma. But really, today it's just not a big deal. But that truly was the only thing that got under the OU admin's skin. That, and Boren's always touting figures of Academic excellence that don't include AAU schools. Mike was always pointing that out to anybody that would listen.

Mike was troubled emotionally, I think he would have admitted that, and was way off base on a lot of things, but he was also a kind man who was right about a lot of things that didn't sit well with some at OU. RIP, Michael.

[USG '60]

I didn't know Mike had died. He sometimes went way off the rocker, but what really angered OU officials was his always talking about David Boren being gay, which most people know but just don't talk about. People around Boren have gone to great lengths to hide this for years. Anybody who has ever been around Oklahoma politics knows that David Boren is gay. So what? I've always wondered why he hasn't come out and it be over with. Somebody once told me the reason was because Boren had to go through all that swearing on the Bible stuff back in the 70's swearing to God that he wasn't homosexual. After that, he was pretty much stuck to his "I'm straight" story, especially being from Oklahoma. But really, today it's just not a big deal. But that truly was the only thing that got under the OU admin's skin. That, and Boren's always touting figures of Academic excellence that don't include AAU schools. Mike was always pointing that out to anybody that would listen.

Mike was troubled emotionally, I think he would have admitted that, and was way off base on a lot of things, but he was also a kind man who was right about a lot of things that didn't sit well with some at OU. RIP, Michael.

Well said.

[Andrew4OU]

Havent spent much time in Norman lately, but is Calvin still around selling newspapers??

Yep. I just saw him last week asking a group of freshmen-looking girls if they wanted a copy of yesterday's paper. They had horrified looks on their faces.

[kevinpate]

Shame on them. Nothing horrifying about Calvin.

[MikeOKC]

Calvin's a friendly guy. One of the papers, (maybe the Gazette?), had a nice story about him a few years back. The guy works HARD. Never one to complain and loves what he does.

[nik4411]

Can someone give me some background on this guy? I live in Norman, but am not from here and see him occasionally.

[nik4411]

Calvin that is

[bluedogok]

Shame on them. Nothing horrifying about Calvin.

I've heard some good and not so good things, some of it is I think some people don't know how to react to him and at times he can get aggressive. Overall he is pretty harmless from what I have known of him.

nik - Here's a YouTube video about him interviewing local business people.

[kevinpate]

Only time I recall seeing Calvin aggressive is when someone decides to pull his chain.

He's a guy, so yeah, that means he's as capable of a short fuse moment as anyone.

Flip side is I know lots of folks who would be far more mellow if they had a lil' more Calvin and a lot less tude in their blood.

[nik4411]

thanks blue.

[Andrew4OU]

Shame on them. Nothing horrifying about Calvin.

They were definitely the sorority/suburban/Southlake, TX type of girls. That should explain why they acted the way they did.

[nik4411]

well to be honest, and not to be hateful, if some cat wearing a football helmet pulling a wagon was hassling me to buy newspapers, and i knew nothing about him, i might be a little weary as well.

[stratosphere]

Mike was troubled emotionally, I think he would have admitted that, and was way off base on a lot of things, but he was also a kind man who was right about a lot of things that didn't sit well with some at OU. RIP, Michael.

I just saw his picture and he does look somewhat familiar, not sure if i knew him at some point or not? Anyway it is sad that he passed and i hope he has found peace and happiness now.

[silvergrove]

I remember seeing him on campus but I always thought he was a professor. Too bad, he sounded like an interesting guy.

[kd5ili]

Speaking of characters from Norman...how many of you remember Lanny Lamphere? I actually had a few one on one conversations with him, and even went to his house...once. Only once.

[oneforone]

It should not suprise anyone that Norman has interesting people running around down there. After all... Griffin is with in walking/bicycle distance of campus. I would not be suprised if some of these folks are former patients or people being seen on an outpatient basis.

[Stan Silliman]

I went to Mike Wright's funeral. It was at the UU and was conducted by Charlie, his brother. Charlie did a great job of recounting their childhood and the influences which shaped Mike's interests.

Charlie had a few stories of his Jackson and Grant days and Mike's empathy for the working class. Both Charlie and Prof Dick Hilbert also recounted Mike's time as pres of the SDS and the nine months in prison he served from being part of the Tinker Twelve. Bill Crozier also chimbed in.

About 90 people attended the funeral, many from mike's generation like myself but also many of his music friends and fans plus also many young friends who enjoyed gabbing with Mike at Cafe Plaid.

[Puppet]

I used to work at the Hyde's Drug on Main street while I was in school and the 1st summer I lived in Norman I learned about the dozens of folks the hospital used to let out on Friday evening because half of them would stop by Hydes on their way to whereever. Back then we hand Mr. Gloves, Chief (a la "chief" in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, Mr. Hands and then one guy who sometimes slept in our dumpster. I think Norman has always had a number of colorful folks that have nothing to do with the University.

Well... Hyde's Drug goes back a few years....

[stratosphere]

I went to Mike Wright's funeral. It was at the UU and was conducted by Charlie, his brother. Charlie did a great job of recounting their childhood and the influences which shaped Mike's interests.

Charlie had a few stories of his Jackson and Grant days and Mike's empathy for the working class. Both Charlie and Prof Dick Hilbert also recounted Mike's time as pres of the SDS and the nine months in prison he served from being part of the Tinker Twelve. Bill Crozier also chimbed in.

About 90 people attended the funeral, many from mike's generation like myself but also many of his music friends and fans plus also many young friends who enjoyed gabbing with Mike at Cafe Plaid.

what is the Tinker Twelve? i tried googling it and didnt really come up with anything...

[Stan Silliman]

what is the Tinker Twelve? i tried googling it and didnt really come up with anything...

During the Vietnam war a group of local protesters, mostly OU students attempted to protest on the base. That was at a time when it was legal for civilians to enter the base. The Twelve were prevented from entering and some tried to climb the fence and were subsequently arrested.

It was understood that laws were passed prohibiting protests on federal property just a few days prior to this protests.

The story goes that the General at TAFB met with the arrested protesters and offered to let them off if they would say they were sorry. I'm not sure how many accepted his offer but Mike was not one of them. Wright served 9 months in a federal prison in Texas.

Say what you want but Mike had his integrity. He fought for what he believed in and he never sold out.