Edmond Outlook JANUARY09

JAN

201

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Vol.

6 N

o. 1

13431 N Broadway EXT, STE 104Oklahoma City, OK 73114

Building Trust One Seatbelt at a Time

Under the Radar The Life of a Private Investigator

Inside ParkourThe Art of Fluid Movement

Forgetfulness? Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s

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Publisher Dave Miller

Operations Manager Stacy Brasher

Production Manager Joshua Hatfield

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Design Joshua Hatfield

Production Design Krystal Harlow Joshua Hatfield

Managing Editor Rebecca Wulff

Photography Randall Green

Writers Rachel Dattolo Radina Gigova Louise Tucker Jones Kathryn Spurgeon Donna Walker Raquel Haggard Lindsay Whelchel Nathan Winfrey Danielle Walker Rebecca Wulff

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departments6 ENTERTAINMENT & ART Eden Sharmaine

8 LETTERS FROM LOUISE A Happy and Thankful New Year

10 SPORTS Parkour: The Fluidity of Movement

12 Tennis: A Sport for Life

14 BEST OF EDMOND Great Choice Audio Video & Big O Tires

16 DINING GUIDE Goldie’s Patio Grill

20 HOME & GARDEN Trends in Countertops

22 Outdoor Living

28 HEALTH & FITNESS Forgetfulness... or Something Else?

39 AROUND TOWN

features30 DAVID THOMAS The Emmy Award-Winning Illusionist

34 HOMETOWN HERO Creating Happiness

38 BUCKLE UP with Beams Industries

40 AGENT YOUNG FBI Turned Private Investigator

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JANUARY 2010


Independent progressive rock band, Eden Shar-maine, is constantly experimenting. First they added a saxophone, then a violin. Now, they’re blending metal breakdowns into folk songs and

tinkering with other genres in unexpected ways. Something must be working, because on

December 14th, exactly one year after their first concert at a tiny Oklahoma City venue, Eden Shar-maine opened for national electro rock band 3OH!3 at the Coca-Cola Bricktown Events Center.

“We put a lot of soul into the music we play,” singer and guitarist Evan Crowley says. “I think our ability to stay true to our initial feelings about our music has really helped us make an impact on audi-ences and anyone who is willing to listen to what we have to say.” Crowley has been playing locally since he was 15 years old.

“Most of our lyrics come from personal observa-tions,” Crowley says. “This is the greatest time ever to be alive. Interesting things are happening with our economy and our nation and in my life and all of those things piece together a very broad variety of themes that go into our songs.”

Eden Sharmaine is comprised of many seasoned local musicians. Crowley; drummer, Ryan McGuire;

bassist, Adam Myrick; guitarist and singer, Jonathan King and saxophonist Josh Simpson have a string of memorable and influential bands to their credit. However, the experience is fresh for violinist Cassie Neahring, who spent years on the opposite side of the curtain.

While a UCO student, Neahring planned concerts for the university, then she interned at a booking agency for a year, where it was her job to organize concerts for the same venues at which she now plays.

“It’s different, but exciting, to be on the other side, performing,” Neahring says. “Putting the shows on is exciting, too, but it’s a very different thing to be able to be onstage and perform things we’ve worked so hard on.” Although she has orchestral experience, Eden Sharmaine is Neahring’s first rock band.

Eden Sharmaine earned the right to open for 3OH!3 by winning the highly-competitive UCO Battle of the Bands in August. The win came as a welcome surprise to the band.

“They called our name and we were just like, ‘What? You know that there are other bands playing and you picked us?’” Simpson says. “They had to call us twice, and we were just sitting there looking at each other like, ‘Is this for real?’”

Simpson, a former UCO student, has been playing saxophone for seven years. He also played guitar in punk bands before joining Eden Sharmaine, and he never expected to see the level of success they’ve enjoyed. “I never thought that we’d get that far at all, playing a big venue like that, opening for national bands,” he says.

“I think that if you completely just do what you like, things kind of just fall into place,” King says. He is a UCO student and has been playing guitar for 10 years. “Eden Sharmaine has a unique, completely thrown-together style of music. It’s big band, hardcore, rock, pop, folk and more.”

Eden Sharmaine was born out of jam sessions in Myrick’s Edmond living room. As new members were added, the band slowly became the eclectic six-piece it is today.

“We all do it for fun, to get a chance to rock out once in awhile,” Myrick says.

The band was also picked to share the stage with beloved local acts The Uglysuit and The Non at Opening Night, downtown Oklahoma City’s New Year celebration.

“Any show we play, we want to have a lot of fun. I think people can see it when they watch us. We love playing music,” McGuire says. “We write songs that we think are going to be fun to play. We take what we like and put it all together. We don’t stick to just one sound.”

Eden Sharmaine have recorded three songs and plans to release them on a disc soon, and then release a full CD by summer. In the meantime, the goal is to keep booking shows. “We hope to play with a lot of the local and regional bands that we like, and just make music and share it with as many people as possible,” Neahring says.

“For now, I hope that we can continue what we’ve been doing, which is writing songs we feel happy with and songs that maybe make people think about some things,” Crowley says.

For more information about Eden Sharmaine, check out www.myspace.com/edensharmaine.

ntertainment & Art

Eden by Nathan Winfrey



Nothing beats an “interruption” in life to shake us up and give us a new perspec-tive. And what better time to happen than around the New Year, overshad-

owing those time worn resolutions to lose weight, exercise and eat healthy. Oh, there’s nothing wrong with those goals. In fact, we should make them part of our daily routine. But when a sudden, unexpected event puts your life on hold then brings you back again, something wonderful takes place. It’s called “thankfulness.”

Last month, my husband suddenly found himself in the emergency unit of the Edmond hospital with a radiologist and ER doctor scratching their heads over an anomaly in the CT scan. A couple of days later, Carl was wheeled into surgery, not knowing exactly what the surgeon might find. There was a possibility that a temporary colostomy might have to be done. But of far greater concern was the probability of a tumor in the colon that had somehow telescoped over itself, requiring removal of a portion of the colon then a resection.

Just minutes before going into surgery, a minister from our church prayed over Carl while surgical nurses gathered around his bed. People across the nation were also praying—friends, family and people we didn’t even know. Two hours after going into surgery, the surgeon stepped into the waiting area to give me the report. The colon resection was complete—no colostomy needed. Praise the Lord!

Yes, they did find and remove a golf ball-size tumor but it appeared benign on visual inspection. Three days later, pathology reports proved the surgeon’s theory true. Benign! Everything benign! Sweet words. Wonderful words. Healing words. Another “praise the Lord” found its way to Heaven.

In less than a week our lives had catapulted from what we called “normal” to a life-threatening emergency and a sea of emotions—surprise, shock, fear, faith and thankfulness. Thankful for a young ER doctor and radiologist who identified the condi-tion. Thankful for an excellent surgeon and surgical team of doctors and nurses. Thankful for consulting doctors and skilled nurses who tended to my husband during his weeklong hospital stay. And most of all, thankful to God for a good outcome.

Yet during all this chaos and care another scene was taking place away from the hospital. Outside of being a wife, mother, grandmother, writer and speaker, I am a full-time caregiver for our 33-year-old son with special needs. Because of his compromised

L etters from Louise

by Louise Tucker Jones

“As the New Year begins, I challenge you to count your blessings instead of resolutions.”

A HAPPY AND THANKFUL

NEW YEAR


about the authorLouise Tucker Jones is an award-winning author and inspirational speaker.Author and co-author of three books, her work has been featured in numerouspublications. Mother of four and grandmother of three, Louise resides inEdmond with her husband, Carl and son, Jay. Contact her at: [email protected] or www.LouiseTuckerJones.com.

immune system and severe heart disease, Jay does not work outside the home. He and I spend 24 hours a day together. And though I try to find part-time help, it often proves difficult, and at this particular time I had no one helping me at home.

Nothing to do but put out emergency phone calls and e-mails to friends and family, asking for help. A hard thing to do. I am more than willing to help someone in need, but being that “needy” person is not my choice. Most of us want to be strong and self-sufficient. We don’t want to ask for help. But with emergencies, it becomes inevitable.

Our oldest son, Aaron, came from Arkansas and spent three days with his brother, taking him to his church Christmas party, redecorating his room with new WWE Smackdown posters and going wherever Jay directed to get a daily Coke, not to mention fixing meals and keeping Jay on his daily schedule. Brotherly bonding during an emergency event with Mom at the hospital taking care of Dad. Thankful! So very thankful that Aaron was able to step into this emergency situation and become his brother’s keeper.

After Aaron left, my 93-year-old mother came to spend a week. Not only did she keep my dishes washed and my laundry folded, but she also provided a “constant” in Jay’s daily routine as friends came to sit with him while I was at the hospital or even doing grocery shopping. Again, thankful! Thankful that friends took time out of their own busy schedules to care for my son, bring snacks and even clean my house. Thankful for the many prayers for our family and thankful for my mother’s presence and devoted care. We never outgrow our mama’s love.

So as the New Year begins, I challenge you to count your blessings instead of resolutions. Acknowledge all the good things in your life and offer a prayer of thanksgiving. Make a habit of telling friends and family how much you love and appreciate them. If you do this, I think you will be well on your way to having a very happy and thankful New Year!

Martha Garzon, D.M.D., M.S.609 S. Kelly Ave., Ste. C-1 • Edmond

www.marthagarzondmd.com

Diplomate of the Board of Pediatric Dentistry

“As the New Year begins, I challenge you to count your blessings instead of resolutions.”


Most people would be discouraged by a high wall or drainage ditch in their path, but such things are welcome obstacles for practitioners of a

French martial art called parkour. It’s been around for decades, but it wasn’t until James Bond chased discipline co-founder Sébastien Foucan through a Madagascar construction site in Casino Royale that the practice hit mainstream.

The Oklahoma Parkour Association was founded in 2007 by Jordan Nelson, Chris Stevenson and Cody Green. “We get the right information out there so people don’t operate on rumors or preconceived notions of what the discipline is. We make sure they know what we do and why we do it,” Nelson says.

“The biggest misconception is that it’s just kids jumping off of things,” he says. “People see parkour in movies and commercials and think it’s just people taking reckless risks and trespassing. That isn’t what it is at all. It’s a very rigorous discipline. We train for hours and hours every week and every day so that our bodies can move in the most fluid way possible.”

Parkour is designed to enable a practitioner, called a traceur, to travel from one location to another as safely, fluidly and efficiently as possible. A female parkour artist is called a traceuse.

Nelson says a normal person would walk back and forth through a zig-zagging path of wheelchair railings, but a traceur would vault over and go under them in a fluid way. “We practice for hours so we can do it so fluidly that it looks like we’re floating through the bars,” he says.

An offshoot of parkour, called free running, adds flare to parkour’s fast and efficient movements. Jona-than Dewberry has been free running for three or four years. “You throw some flips into it and make it look fancy,” he says. “Free running is more appealing to the eye than parkour.”

Some traceurs maintain that there is no distinc-tion between free running and parkour, and the definition of what constitutes each remains contro-versial. Initially called l’art du déplacement, the term “parkour” was coined by pioneers David Belle and Hubert Koundé.

“The cool thing about free running and parkour is you don’t need equipment, all you need is a good pair of cross-trainers and an obstacle, and

S ports

FLUIDITY of

MOVEMENTThe

by Nathan Winfrey


that’s why it’s growing in popularity so quickly,” Dewberry says.

Although traceurs practice vaults, wall-runs and controlled falls without protective gear, Nelson and Dewberry say injuries are rare.

“The risks are really no more than your typical sports like soccer or football,” Nelson says. “Obvi-ously, if a football player went out there without pads and started running around without stretching, he would get injured. If you’re training properly, you shouldn’t have any injuries, and that surprises a lot of people. I’ve been doing this for years and I’ve never had any injuries.”

Dewberry admits the discipline can be dan-gerous, but says traceurs still don’t wear pads because it would inhibit their movement, which would defeat one of the key aspects of the art form.

“One time I took a drop that was too big for me and I bruised both of my heels and I wasn’t able to walk right for a week. It was horrible,” Dewberry says. The injury came after he jumped off a rail 16 feet in the air. “We’ve all suffered sprained ankles and things like that. If you land wrong, it’s pretty easy to sprain an ankle.”

“If you’re training correctly, you shouldn’t be putting any more strain on your body than it should take,” Nelson says. “A lot of traceurs train barefoot because that helps you feel if you’re training correctly.”

Nelson says parkour is quickly catching on. “It is definitely growing. With it being an emerging discipline, conservatively, I’d say there are about 100 traceurs in Oklahoma.”

“With any new sport that people have not heard of, there’s a lot of suspicion,” Nelson says. “When people see us training, they automatically wonder why we’re there.”

Nelson doesn’t want parkour to go the way of skateboarding, which was labeled rebellious and caused “no skateboarding” signs to appear every-where. “Parkour is the complete opposite,” he says. “We are very respectful and we don’t tres-pass. If authorities still have a problem with it, we respectfully move on and find another public place we can train at.”

“It’s an excellent workout and it’s a lot of fun,” Nelson says.For more information, visit www.freewebs.com/oklahomaparkour.

“We train for hours and hours every week and every day so that our bodies can move in the most fluid way possible.”

Chris Stevenson, The Oklahoma Parkour Association


S ports

Each born in a foreign country with early careers that began before the age of 10 - the three new Kickingbird Tennis Center instructors seem to have a lot in common.

All three were enticed to Oklahoma by local univer-sities with sports scholarships and each landed the perfect job at the same facility, as though their desti-nies were practically entwined.

Javier Easton, David Kepka and Juraj Sekera all started playing tennis at a young age. As junior

tennis pros in countries without sports scholarships, they’ve all ended up in Oklahoma where they could play tennis and study at the same time.

The three champion tennis players attended three different Oklahoma universities. They have since graduated and teamed up at Kickingbird Tennis Center, where they now teach the sport they play so well.

Kickingbird Tennis Center is a public facility managed by native Oklahoman, Winnie Bushey. She’s

been with Kickingbird for over 10 years and says she loves tennis because it’s a “lifetime sport that can be played by people of all ages.”

Javier Easton, the head pro at Kickingbird Tennis Center, also considers tennis a “sport for life.” Origi-nally from Chile, Easton started playing tennis at age seven, when he began taking lessons alongside his dad. Soon, he was competing in tournaments and nationals and finished third in the nation as a junior pro. As he got older, he quickly discovered the chal-lenge of trying to play and study at the same time.

Looking at other options, Easton headed to the United States to continue his education on a tennis scholarship. In 2004, he transferred to the University of Central Oklahoma, starring as an All Conference player for two out of his three years there and he even went to nationals twice.

Now he resides in Edmond and enjoys teaching tennis full time at Kickingbird. “I didn’t realize how important tennis was to me until I started teaching others,” he says, adding that working with children is his favorite part.

“I like watching the kids improve and seeing how they do in tournaments,” says Easton. “They develop as persons as well. Tennis teaches you organization and responsibility.”

It’s the individualism of the sport that also appeals to David Kepka, who won his first tour-nament when he was 10. “I love the speed and

Juraj SekeraDavid Kepka Javier Easton

A SPORT FOR LIFE by Rachel Dattolo


intensity, and the fact that you’re out there on your own – if you mess up, you can only blame yourself,” he says.

Originally born in the Czech Republic, Kepka grew up in Canada, where he was number one in the nation as a junior pro. “You have to eat, drink and sleep tennis if you want to be good at it,” says Kepka, adding that quick footwork is crucial. “You can have the best strokes in the world, but if you can’t get to the ball, it’s no good.”

According to Kepka, the most challenging part of competitive tennis is returning serves when they’re coming at you at 140 miles per hour.

Like the others, Kepka came to Oklahoma on a tennis scholarship when he began attending Okla-homa City University in 2001. His other accomplish-ments include playing in the French and Australian Open and winning the National Championship at NAIA.

“Canada has no athletic scholarships, like America,” Kepka explains. “I wanted to study and play at the same time.” He began teaching lessons part-time at Kickingbird while he was still in school, and then went on to work there full time once he graduated.

“I love introducing people to a sport and watching them end up pursuing it,” he says.

Juraj Sekera was born in Slovakia and first came to Oklahoma in 2003 when he was offered a scholar-

ship to play tennis for Oklahoma Christian. He went on to lead his team in winning the NAIA National Championship that same year.

“During tennis matches you learn a lot about yourself, your own abilities,” Sekera says. “The challenge pushes you to get better.” An NAIA All-American in 2004 and 2006, Sekera graduated in 2007 and went to work for Kickingbird.

“I enjoy teaching mostly because I like to help people and I like to see them making progress,” Sekera says. “I like when I see a seven-year-old girl hit a serve for the first time …or a 45 year old adult finally beat his or her long time tennis rival

… it is rewarding when you see your students do good and know you might have something to do with it.”

Kickingbird Tennis Center is located at the corner of Bryant and Danforth in Edmond. The complex contains 11 indoor courts, three outdoor courts, and offers both competitive and recreational lessons, as well as tournaments and summer camps. Visit www.kickingbirdtennis.com for more information.

EQUAL HOUSINGLENDER

David Kepka, Kickingbird Tennis Center


Wired Upby Rebecca Wulff

For those who have considered turning their hobby into a business, take a look at Steve Brown and David Truitt, of Great Choice Audio Video. “We have the greatest job in

the world, which is making a living at our favorite hobby,” says Brown.

“We felt there was a need for a personalized custom design, dealer, and installation team here in the Edmond area,” says Truitt. “Selecting the correct products, setting them up, and programming them to operate properly aren’t the easiest tasks for the average consumer. Our goal is to make the entire system operate seamlessly.”

The pair has been in the AV business since 1984 and they’ve learned all about equipment options and have gained knowledge in consumer needs. They felt the timing was right to open a business because consumer’s options are currently limited.

According to Brown, high-volume ‘box stores’ can treat customers like a number, with a lack of personal customer service. However, he feels high-end

specialty stores are so pricey, they only cater to a small percentage of the population.

Brown advises against online shopping when it comes to electronics because some manufacturers may not honor warranties on Internet purchases. The equipment can also be difficult to set up and operate properly without professional help. Brown says, “Customers are better off when they leave the design and instal-lation to a professional. They’ll get much more enjoy-ment out of their equipment.”

“We have the flexibility we need in order to be able to take care of our clients. We love to give them the personal attention they deserve,” says Truitt.

“We’ve seen other companies fail, due to them forgetting why they started their business in the first place,” says Truitt. The duo strives to keep this from happening to their business by making customer

service a top priority. Brown and Truitt give their clients their personal phone numbers so they can be reached at any time.

The business partners often run into former clients in public, eager to say thanks. “They’re always happy to see us. Being a small company, we have the uncanny ability to recall their name, the job we did, their kids’ names, you name it,” says Brown. “It’s really a fun-filled relationship we have with our clients!”

To learn more about Great Choice Audio and Video and to view completed projects, visit www.greatchoiceav.com.

Best of Edmond

David Truitt and Steve Brown, Great Choice Audio Video

Edmond’s best kept secret.....Edmond’s best kept secret.....

Northeast corner of Covell Rd. and Kelley Ave. in Edmond

775 West Covell Rd. Suite 110Northeast corner of Covell Rd. and Kelley Ave. in Edmond

775 West Covell Rd. Suite 110

Outstanding selection of wines and spiritsFriendly, Helpful Staff, Unique, Great Pricing


Local Spin

Ronnie and Ashlea Peacock, Big O Tires

When climbing your way to the top, you generally start at the bottom, working your way up one rung at a time.

Ronnie Peacock is no exception. Peacock began his career in the tire and auto-

motive industry over 30 years ago. He joined Big O Tires back in 1985 as a tire installer and worked his way up to General Manager over 11 stores in three states. When the franchise owner decided to retire in 2006, Peacock and his wife, Ashlea, purchased the Edmond location, near 9th St. and Broadway.

“Our business is somewhat unique in that we are Edmond owned and operated, but part of a national chain that allows warranty coverage virtually coast to coast,” Peacock said.

To stay competitive, Peacock shops his competitor’s websites on a weekly basis and posts their lowest prices on his sales counter for customers to see. “Low price guarantee is a

popular catch phrase these days, but our competi-tors almost always have to come down to match our prices.”

Peacock also works hard to keep the store clean and comfortable with a nicely decorated waiting area and restrooms. “We’ve had several ladies ask if we could come decorate their restroom at home,” he said.

According to Peacock, the hardest challenge his business has faced is the struggling economy. Fortunately, tires are a necessity driven business and Peacock says he tries to make it as painless as possible by offering something for everyone, from the lowest possible price, to the highest quality and value.

No matter how tough the economy gets, Peacock enjoys many of the perks being a business owner has to offer, like the ability to give back to the community. “Over our three years of ownership, we have donated and sponsored thousands of dollars to Edmond and Deer Creek schools, local charities and non-profit organizations,” he said.

“We also enjoy having ‘family members’ rather than employees,” he says. “We celebrate birthdays with Ashlea cooking their favorite meal, and have a big Christmas party every year to show our love and appreciation for the people who work so hard for us.”

Peacock started at the bottom of the tire industry and worked his way up through the ranks. He truly enjoys what he does and it’s apparent in all his business dealings.

Call Big O Tires at 348-2440 or visit them at 904 S. Broadway in Edmond.

by Rebecca Wulff


ining Guide

by Donna Walker

Oklahoman’s have enjoyed the old-fash-ioned flavors and down-home goodness that Goldie’s Patio Grill has offered since Melvin and Goldie Crow opened

their first location in Tulsa back in 1962. This Okla-homa legendary eatery first came to Edmond over 20 years ago when it opened at 9th and Broadway.

Over the years it has become a favorite dining spot for Robert and Rita Garrett. In fact, the Garrett’s loved it so much that when given the opportunity to purchase the local franchise in May 2008, they jumped on it.

“Being able to keep it open in Edmond was a major factor in our decision to purchase the franchise,” said Rita Garrett. “Goldie’s still has customers that have been eating here for over 20 years - besides us!”

When the Garretts first purchased the restaurant, they relocated to its current location at Danforth and Kelly. The new Goldie’s location brought with it new employees including a new manager, Jimmy Carlton.

Although the move brought many changes, the food that has earned so many faithful fans remains the same. In fact, Garrett says customers tell her regularly that they can always count on consistent great food.

The Goldie’s Burger is the house favorite. This juicy concoction is a specially seasoned charbroiled hamburger that’s cooked to order and served on a sesame seed bun. Other favorites include a wide variety of specialty hamburgers such as the Mush-room and Swiss burger and the Angel Fire burger.

Goldie’s also serves up a variety of chicken sand-wiches as well as many fresh salads and tempting appetizers. You’ll find daily specials Monday through Friday such as beans and cornbread on Monday, ribeye steak on Tuesday, and a giant one-pound chicken fried steak on Thursday. While waiting on your fresh-cooked order, you can enjoy Goldie’s famous pickle and pepper bar.

Quality is always on the menu here. Not only is each burger cooked to order, but Goldie’s only uses fresh ground beef and french fries. Their chocolate cream and coconut cream pies are made daily.

While visitors enjoy the vintage, state and local memorabilia that adorn the walls, it’s the specially-seasoned charbroiled burgers, bowls of delicious pickles and friendly service that keep the regulars coming back for more. And it’s a good reason to stop by Goldie’s if you haven’t been in awhile.

“Quality is always on the menu here. Not only is each burger cooked to order, but Goldie’s only

uses fresh ground beef.”

Goldie’s Patio GrillRobert and Rita Garrett,Goldies’s Patio Grill

5$ Off


Scott C. SiglerOphthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon


Habaneros offers traditional Mexican cuisine, a full bar and extensive selection of imported and domestic beer. All the food is made fresh daily, including the guacamole. Menu favorites include the chile rellenos and fajita enchiladas, made with high quality meat. Stop in to take part in their Giant Burrito Chal-lenge. Visit Habaneros Mexican Restaurant at 6833 N. Broadway or view their menu online at www.habanerosok.com.

Habaneros

Ron’s Hamburgers new Italian burger is overflowing with flavor and yummy ingredients. It’s a blend of Italian sausage and beef topped with grilled onions, mushrooms and green peppers, smothered in a blend of Italian cheeses and cooked the way only Ron’s can. If you love burgers, you simply must bite into this juicy taste of Italy. Be sure to visit them at 216 S. Santa Fe Avenue and try any one of their daily specials.

Ron’s Hamburgers & Chili

Dining Guide


Take home one of Super Suppers signature dishes, like Parmesan chicken with a creamy sage sauce – their most popular entrée. Or, grab a healthy Take -n-Bake entree from their Grab N Go freezer, filled with some items that boast less than three grams of fat for every 100 calories. Their healthy menu items feature Bruschetta Chicken Bake, Tilapia Pockets, Pork Marsala and more. Super Suppers is a member of healthydiningfinder.com, which follows strict nutrition criteria. Pick up dinner tonight at 1333 N. Santa Fe Avenue, Ste. 102 or call 330-9156.

Super Suppers


H ome & Garden

It’s a household item you probably take for granted. Maybe you never even thought about it before and you’ve certainly never realized its limitless potential. That is, until you’ve made

the leap into remodeling or building your dream home and opened your eyes to the progressive world of countertops.

As an integral and highly utilized design element, a home’s countertops can be both beautiful and functional. Not surprisingly, much has changed over time regarding countertop fashion. One thing is for sure; unique styles are in, while replicated, factory produced style is out.

One trend consistently on the rise is granite, a natural stone of varying color and design. Denise Kerstine began the Edmond-based company Marble Designs almost 10 years ago, and she knows firsthand the power stone has in home design.

“Each piece is totally unique. You’re not ever going to walk into someone else’s kitchen and see your countertops. Each one is a piece of mother nature’s artwork,” says Kerstine.

Within the granite option, trends are emerging. Honed or matte finishes are becoming more popular these days. A honed finish is achieved by completing the finishing process prior to buffing, which results in a smooth surface without reflection.

Beyond choosing a material for their new coun-tertops, homeowners must decide on a particular look and feel for their design. That’s where Kerst-ine’s company may differ from other granite options. Before this particular business venture, she worked as an interior designer. “What we bring to the table is a design background,” says Kerstine. “We kind of approach it a little bit differently than everyone else.”

This is something you realize when you walk into Marble Designs. You’re met with kindness and placed into the capable hands of Kerstine and her talented team. Their one acre site includes a yard full of massive granite slabs that each hold immeasurable possibility, a bustling workshop where the granite is cut and polished, and a dazzling showroom that can give potential buyers an idea of the finished product.

To help them get there, Kerstine even goes out to her client’s homes. “Especially when it comes to remodels, I go out and give them suggestions for the

by Lindsay Whelchel


colors of stone that would work with what they’ve already got; to tie it all together, to make it look like it was planned and not an afterthought.”

Aside from the inspiring array of colors one might find in granite, another quality granite possess is that it doesn’t scratch. It upholds its brand new look for years.

Granite also retains its temperature. It is for this reason Kerstine’s company sells smaller slabs of granite to be used as serving or cutting boards. “You can put it in the freezer to chill so you can use it for

wine and cheese, or you can put it in the oven and heat it up and use as a casserole warmer,” she says.

If granite is not where you’re headed, take a look at a new product called Shirestone. Jacob Masters discovered it at a builders show in Orlando in 2007 and his Edmond business CounterStone is one of a limited number of dealers that are authorized to sell this product.

Shirestone is a textured cement countertop, poured on site by Masters’ team of workers and

textured by hand. “Your neighbor’s countertop, if they want the same colors, is going to be different,” says Masters. “Colors are limitless. I even had a lady that wanted a plum color and she loved it.”

According to Masters, Shirestone is nonporous and almost entirely maintenance free. It can also be poured right onto an already existing countertop. This allows customers to add their own special touch to the design. “It’s a custom product, if you wanted to inlay a leaf or shell or if you had a family crest, you could do that as well,” Masters says.

With all of these countertop possibilities, we all may start looking a little harder at our kitchens.

To contact Denise Kerstine at Marble Designs, visit www.marbledesignsokc.com or to contact Jacob Masters’ Shirestone, visit www.shirestone.net.

“It’s a custom product, if you wanted to inlay a leaf or shell or if you had a family crest, you could do that as well.”

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Whether you create a complete outdoor living space or simply desire a chiminea to keep you warm, your family and guests can enjoy a unique experience.

A recent trend in outdoor living is custom-built kitchens, usually featuring gas which is more convenient and safer than wood, says Rick Jackson with House of Fire because, “The wind might blow wood chips and scatter sparks after you think its out.”

Outdoor cooking areas are often built into new home construction and House of Fire is working with many landscapers and builders to meet this need. “We custom build fireplaces and sell pre-manufactured ones. Our best-selling grills are Fire Magic and American Outdoor Grills.”

House of Fire has been in business for 33 years, 12 years at its current location on Britton, west of Broadway Exten-sion. “We started out with eight different fireplaces and now offer more than 245. There are different sizes, styles and designs in either electric, gas or wood.” The outdoor living industry is continually changing. “Before you buy, find out if there is something better out there.”

All House of Fire employees are National Fireplace Insti-tute (NFI) certified—trained and specialized in burning gas and wood products. “Safety is the most important

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thing. Having someone trained in the safety aspects is vital when planning.”

The oldest fireplace accessory store in Oklahoma City is Bachles Fireplace Furnishings and Outdoor Living. They’ve been around since 1906 and focus on two areas; patio furnish-ings and hearth products, such as glass door firescreens, vented gas logs and fireplace tools.

Kandi Isenbart, owner of Bachles, can help you select hearth products while Linda Acosta, patio designer, can coordinate your area to create outdoor coziness. They craft comfort and style whether it’s from the popular Telescope Causal Furniture Collection or a Woodard outdoor wrought iron table.

A versatile fire pit can be used as an ice reservoir during the summer months. The newest look for your fireplace is fire-balls which come in various sizes. Designed for wood-burning and gas fireplaces, they are individually stacked and grey in color, but become more metallic with each use.

Another popular item is low-maintenance fireglass which is offered in over 30 different colors, all hand-crafted. You can mix and match the colors and even create designs in your fire with the colored glass.

For those who like a touch of romance and history, an oak bellow may be the tool to help get your wood fire started. A cast iron fireback can improve a fireplace’s performance by radiating heat back from the fire. Bachles also supplies wood carriers for the naturalist who likes to gather their own wood. Weather-resistant outdoor art pieces are also available.

Outside living is great, so go ahead and roast those hotdogs or grill that prime rib. Sit back and enjoy an evening outdoors.

House of Fire is located on 333 West Britton Road. To learn more about Bachles by the Fire, visit www.Bachlesbythefire.com.

“There are different sizes, styles and designs in either electric, gas or wood. The outdoor living industry is continually changing.”

Continued on page 24


Continued from page 23

• When planning your outdoor cooking area, ask yourself questions such as: What do you cook? How many people do you cook for? Will there be future changes?

• Propane or gas patio heaters may be used. Some will even heat up to a 12’ area outside.

• Some products that look like stainless steel may not be. If it is not stainless steel it will rust in two to three years. However, stainless steel will last a lifetime. If a magnet sticks to it, it’s not stainless steel.

• One of the biggest issues in outdoor living is gas lines. Make sure you have the right size gas line running to your fire pit. It should be at least a ¾” to 1” pipe to have the best volume.

• Check the drainage in a fire pit. It should have seep holes so the pit won’t fill up with water, which can back up into the gas line.

• Each city is different, so be sure to follow local codes. Some codes can restrict you from putting a fire pit under a covered porch. A fireplace is okay under some codes, but not a fire pit.

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• Asking others to repeat• Hearing but not understanding clearly

• Thinking others are mumbling• Avoiding conversation in noisy areas


H ealth & Fitness

Laura Castleberry of Edmond began to notice something wasn’t quite right with her mother, Carolyn Crawley, in 2005.

“Mom started showing signs of real forgetfulness,” Castleberry said. “Not necessarily ‘Where are my car keys?’ but ‘I have these things in my hand, and I don’t know what they’re used for.’”

Crawley and her husband of more than 50 years, Mike, lived in Tulsa at the time - far enough away that Castleberry didn’t see the warning signs of dementia, a cluster of illnesses that manifests in cognitive dysfunction.

“To be honest, my dad didn’t tell me a lot of what was going on,” Castleberry said. “He was trying to hide it from me. So I started visiting more frequently.”

What Castleberry began to see was a different version of the mother she knew. Crawley got lost while driving and began to wander. Housekeeping began to go by the wayside. Crawley, who was a home economics major in school and was known for her wonderful cooking, had stopped cooking altogether.

Signs like these are what Marge Coalman, EdD, counsels adult children and other caregivers to look for if they suspect a person is experiencing some form of age-related dementia. Coalman is Vice President of Wellness and Programs for the Edmond retirement facility, Touchmark at Coffee Creek and a specialist in exercise and physiology of aging.

A number of signs indicate an older person may be experiencing some form of age-related dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

“They are isolating themselves, because they are aware they can’t remember people’s names,” Coalman says. “They aren’t paying their bills. There may be no good food in the refrigerator. They forget to shop; they forget to eat. They have unopened mail. Even if these signs aren’t there, and you know your loved one pretty well, it’s clear that something’s not right, because they just aren’t the same person.”

Coalman notes it’s also important to have a watchful eye when people come to visit you, because you can notice a decline in the health of a well spouse every time, as they attempt to care for a spouse who is aging. “The well spouse is trying to do everything, and the individual may not realize how much he/she is doing for the other person,” she said.

To help ease the burden on her father, Castle-berry suggested her parents move closer to her in the Oklahoma City area. The Crawleys moved into the independent living area of Touchmark at Coffee Creek three years ago. However, Laura soon began to

think moving her mother to a program that offered memory care was necessary.

“She began losing a bit of her speech patterns and began exhibiting bizarre behavior,” Castleberry said. “She’d put on four pairs of pants at a time. She got stuck in the elevator and couldn’t figure out how to get out. She started becoming aggressive toward dad. It got to the point that he couldn’t take care of her anymore.”

Carolyn Crawley was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in 2007. The following month her daughter moved her to another center. She’ll move back to Touchmark at Coffee Creek once the community’s new Memory Care building is complete.

“The fact that my parents will be at the same community is huge,” said Castleberry. “Making a decision to place a loved one somewhere is very taxing and emotionally draining. My mother has no idea who I am anymore, and that has been hard. It’s comforting to know that she’ll be right there. “

The Touchmark Memory Care program offers specialized care in an environment specifically designed for people experiencing Alzheimer’s disease or age-related dementia.

“It’s important to note that dementia is not a normal part of aging,” Coalman said. “We all get forgetful. But dementia is abnormal.”

by Danielle Walker

Forgetfulness... or something else?

Mike and Carolyn Crawleyat their daughter’s wedding in 2007. Carolyn was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, a progressive brain disease a month before, after beginning to exhibit signs of a dementia illness.


Family holiday gatherings or other special occasions can offer great insight to adult children, friends and other family members as to how the aging process — and especially dementia — affects their loved ones’ ability

to live independently.

The following signs indicate an older person may be experiencing some form of age-related dementia or Alzheimer’s disease:

• Unpaid bills. Some utilities, subscriptions, and even the garbage service may have been cut off.

• Declining health of not only the individual, but also the spouse or primary caregiver.

• Weight loss or other evidence of malnourishment. People with age-related dementia forget to shop, cook and eat.

• New dents and or other problems with the family vehicle.

• A distinct absence of friends who used to call or come by regularly.

• Exaggerated stress over the demands of the holiday.

• A change in regular habits and routines. They may not go to church, the book club or the neighborhood block party they’ve always attended in the past. They can’t remember or just can’t navigate the social demands of the various settings.

• Unopened mail and/or packages.

• A difference in sleep patterns as their circadian rhythm is greatly disrupted.

• Complete bewilderment at a meal out or a trip to the mall.

• Clutter - and a lot of it. Conversely, they are throwing and/or giving away valuables and even family treasures.

• Not recognize family members who are visiting. At this stage, it is more than time for a move to a protective environment.

It is important to remember that some (or all) of these may be present or not. People with dementia are great actors and can usually rise to the occasion for a brief visit. With assistance and support, family members can look deeper and longer for the telltale signs of Alzheimer’s disease or age-related dementia.

SOURCE: Marge Coalman, EdD, vice president of wellness and programs, Touchmark.

Signs to look for in elderly parents

Touchmark at Coffee Creek will host a half-day community workshop on February 3rd on the topic of dementia. This event will be offered to the public at no cost and will present information specifically related to memory care.

“We hope to bring help to families and those who are living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia illnesses,” said Jamie Ham, Executive Director, Touch-mark at Coffee Creek. “Our goal is to be a resource for family members.”

For more information, call 340-1975 or visit www.edmondmemorycare.com.


Stage lights illuminate a man on a high table, 14 feet above the stage. He’s bound with shackles, struggling against his chains. Above him, rows of 18-inch, solid steel

spikes point downward. He has seconds to free himself before they drop. The audience waits in silent expectation. The spikes fall and crash onto an empty table. Emmy award-winning illusionist David Thomas has escaped again.

The “Table of Death” is one of many illusions mastered by the Edmond resident. “It’s very tongue-in-cheek,” Thomas says. “Magic is really one of the few shows that cuts across all ages – children to grandparents.”

Thomas began his career in a small, one-man show at Frontier City in the 1970s. These days, he performs

magic all over the world, and his larger gigs boast a team of 30 people. Last year, Toyota invited him to unveil a new car by making it appear out of thin air at the Citadel, an ancient castle in Cairo, Egypt. He also made a Lockheed Martin jet appear in Las Vegas.

At one Caesar’s Palace show, Thomas asked for 12 volunteers from the audience. The volunteers were each given flashlights and told to search every inch of the stage for anything suspicious. He then instructed them to form a circle and hold hands, blindfolded. A cloth was raised in the center of the circle, and then dropped seconds later to reveal a NASCAR automo-bile sitting in their midst.

“I believe in very high-impact visual illusions that are done machine-gun style. There’s constantly some-thing going on to take your breath away,” he says.

by Nathan Winfrey


“One of my favorites is ‘Metamorphosis,’ created by Houdini in the 1900s, where you and your assistant instantly trade places.”

Another classic illusion adopted by Thomas is the Selbit Sawing. “It’s the original sawing-a-woman-in-half illusion, performed exactly as it was in the 1920s by P.T. Selbit. It’s completely different from the modern version,” he says.

In the version Thomas replicates, a woman is strapped to a table and apparently sawed in half, while the straps are held by volunteers the entire time. “Visually, it’s different from anything you’ve ever seen,” he says. “We do it with updated music and updated choreography, but the meat of the illusion is very, very classical.”

Thomas leased a theatre in Branson for five years. He also coproduced the “World’s Greatest Magic Show” at the Sahara Las Vegas Hotel and Casino with Dick Feeney, who owns the famous “Flying Elvi” parachuting Elvis Presley impersonators. These days, Thomas focuses on corporate entertainment, which takes him all over the world. “We don’t do a lot of work here in Oklahoma, but we would love to.”

“I gave up the Branson market and all that stuff because I enjoy the challenge of one-nighters, but I enjoy being home, too,” he says. Many people in his team have families, and they live all over the country. “We just meet up and do our show and then go home and enjoy our lives.”


In addition to performances at corporate events, Thomas produces all of the entertainment at the theme park where he got his start. “What’s great about Frontier City is that it allows me a place to perform when I’m in town and keep in practice. You’ve got to practice every day when you do what I do,” Thomas says.

“Magic is like comedy. It’s either funny or its not. It’s either really good or it’s really bad. There’s no middle


ground,” Thomas says. “It’s a live show, and no show is ever perfect. The key is that when things do go wrong, to have the experience to know how to handle it.”

Once, in front of 3,000 people in Detroit, Michigan, Thomas made a woman disappear. She was supposed to return seconds later, but she didn’t. After he made it clear to the audience that he wasn’t concerned and she wasn’t lost in some netherworld between dimensions, it drew them into the illusion even more.

When it worked on the second try, they gave him a standing ovation. “When something goes wrong, you handle it. Having confidence in your team behind the scenes is what really makes what I do work,” he says. “We’re there to entertain, to make an audience’s night memorable.”

For more information about David Thomas, visit www.theworldofmagic.com.


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“Some pursue happiness, and others create it.” That’s what Army Sergeant Tom McShane tells the teens in his church youth groups. “He says it all

the time,” says girlfriend Mallory Thurman. “It’s what he models his life after.”

This life motto has taken him from the safety and security of Edmond’s city limits, across the world to the line of duty in Iraq, and thankfully, back home again. Although he will still serve through the year 2012, he is firmly back on American soil, for now. Without a second to waste, he is using every minute of his time back to continue his mission of providing for others.

McShane graduated from Edmond Memo-rial in 1994 and three months after graduating from UCO in 2005, he joined the army. “I’d always

wanted to,” he says of enlisting. “I wanted to serve my country.”

McShane had devoted the past several years to volunteering with church youth prior to his tour of duty in Iraq. His friends and family were a bit nervous when he joined the military. John Devito has known Tom since third grade. “It was a surprise, but I was glad he found something he wanted to do,” says Devito. “Tom is a good guy. He likes to give back.”

“When he entered the service we were praying for him,” says Sister Barbara Joseph of Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church. “We had long conversa-tions about him joining the military, but he follows his heart. He is a servant. Here in church and for his country.”

Some people join the military to become heroes, but some people were heroes long before they joined.

While McShane was in Iraq for the past year, he and Thurman’s fourth grade students at St. Eugene Catholic School became pen-pals. His youth groups also sent care packages and letters. For Veteran’s Day, Thurman’s students made cards. “They’re so excited to actually know someone who has been to Iraq,” says Thurman.

“We’re all real proud of him,” says Sister Barbara. “We have a plaque on the wall in his honor. And he’s really kept the connection by coming to visit us when he’s home.”

McShane views youth groups as essential to building a religious base for teens. “Church provides a spiritual foundation. They’re building strong friendships and positive influences and if they don’t learn that now they aren’t set up for adulthood,” he said. “Parents aren’t around when they get to

by Raquel Haggard


college, so it’s important they get that foundation set now.”

“Everyone is so focused on activities and getting into a good school,” McShane says. “I just hope more Edmond kids and families realize the importance of God and church and making that a focal point instead of sports and activities.”

McShane grew up in the youth group at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church. “He didn’t break the rules,” says Becky Coyle, who knew him as a young boy. “But you always wondered ‘Where’s Tommy? What’s he up to now?’ He was ornery. But now that

he’s matured, he identifies with those kids and he can connect with them.”

“I’m a kid at heart,” McShane says. “So I can connect on their level. I’m honest with them and they relate to that.”

Sister Barbara, who has known him long enough to call him “Tommy”, agrees. “The kids learn honesty and how to be who they are from Tommy,” she says. “He doesn’t put on airs. He truly is himself. He just tells you what he thinks and doesn’t just go along with the norm.”

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“He realized how important youth group was for him and now he wants to share that with kids,” says Sister Barbara. McShane also volunteers with a youth group in Kansas, now that he’s stationed at Fort Riley.

McShane’s easy nature endears him to people wher-ever he goes and he easily becomes part of his commu-nity. “To Tom, everyone is equally important,” says Sister Barbara. “He is truly living our gospel message.”

“He’s very interactive,” says Coyle. “He understands where the kids are at but can also keep boundaries. He’s a good role model but also enthusiastic and always ready to do something different and get the kids excited. Wher-ever the kids are going, he’s ready to go too.”

Nick Dorety met McShane in youth group over five years ago. “I was trying to meet new people and feel comfortable in the youth group, when he came up and introduced himself,” Dorety says. “He was just a welcoming figure and he made it more enjoyable to come every week. I was sad that he left us and the youth group to go to fight for our country, but I respect him even more for doing what he felt was right.”

If some pursue happiness, and others create it, Sgt. McShane is certainly one who creates it. Unsure what life holds for him after the Army, he is quite clear youth ministry will be part of it, because it’s a part of him.




It started in 1951 with a gas station owned by Tom and Ada Beam. In 1953, they sold and installed seat covers and by 1955 they manu-factured and sold seatbelts as an aftermarket

safety device. Today the 60 employees of Beam’s Industries

create 850,000 seatbelts per year for amusement park rides, construction and agricultural equipment, fire trucks, ambulances and car restoration.

How does a seatbelt company stay in business for 59 years? It starts with a mission statement: Honor God by serving employees. “The mission statement provides direction for decision making,” says Edmond resident and Beam’s President, Mike Bosley.

Beam’s has twice been named one of the “Best Places to Work in Oklahoma. We’ve always been a company that cares about its employees. That was started by Mr. Beam,” says Chief Financial Officer, Frank Smith. “Our employees feel comfortable coming to us about personal issues and asking for help. We feel good about that.”

Sales Manager, Ed Pope has worked at Beams for over seven years. “This company puts Christian values out there and works to fulfill them. It’s the most respectful and caring organization I’ve ever worked for,” he says.

“The culture here is intentional,” says Neil Ferguson, director of manufacturing. “And there’s a list of people before us who started it. We create systems now that don’t let that die out.”

One notable change in 2002 was Open Book Management. Smith got the idea from Jack Stack, who developed ‘The Great Game of Business.’ Smith says, “I liked the culture of it. I wanted to make sure work was a place employees wanted to come to each day. I think God made us to work, but it shouldn’t

be drudgery. Part of building that type of culture is building trust in ownership.”

Smith, who’s been with Beam’s for over 17 years, sees Open Book Management as a way to win at busi-ness. “It’s the single biggest thing to build trust,” says Smith. All financial data is shared with everyone in the company and each employee sees the same data. The only thing not shared is individual’s salaries. “We try to teach basic accounting to all employees,” says Bosley.

“Showing the numbers shows employees why you make the decisions you make,” says Smith. “Having the financial knowledge helps them assist customers better. They know, without coming back to ask, whether a deal can be done or not. You can’t be afraid to talk through financial decisions. Explain the deci-sions you make and commit to culture change.”

It’s not just the financial records that are open at Beam’s. Even the office layout is open. The president and CFO sit behind glass walls. An open room of cubicles houses directors, managers, administrative assistants and engineers. Windows look into the production area which is an open warehouse.

There is also no special treatment for managers. “Management is on rotation for break room and bath-room cleaning just like everyone else,” says Bosley.

Beam’s builds trust by building relationships with employees. In 2008, four employee-led “experience teams” were established. The teams include Commu-nication, Community Involvement, Fun and the Spir-itual, Personal and Professional Development Team.

Besides serving employees and building trust, Beams manufactures a quality product they believe in. “We make a product that saves lives,” says employee Mi Young Mangin.

With the launch of seatbeltplanet.com Beam’s is now able to supply seatbelts to the public. “It’s the first time seatbelts have been offered directly to the public,” says Bosley. Beam’s can install new webbing on old seatbelts. Through their site bucklebag.com, they sell a line of bags made out of seatbelt webbing

Beams is as strong and durable as the products it makes. Their mission to serve God by serving employees, open management style and innovative products makes Beam’s a dynamic company.

“Experience teams were designed to get everyone involved and let employees have ownership.”

BUCKLE UPWITH BEAMS INDUSTRIES by Raquel Haggard


Mike Bosley and his crew at Beams Industries

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BE AWAREAddressing the high rate of incarcerated Oklahoma women, Oklahoma Christian University and the George Kaiser Family Foundation will host a Women Incarcerated Summit on Jan. 26 at 11:30 a.m. For more informa-tion or to RSVP, contact Brian Bush with OCU Academy of Leadership and Liberty at [email protected] or visit www.oc.edu/academy.

FOOD CHALLENGE: WILL YOU ACCEPT?Habaneros on Waterloo and Broadway is challenging its customers to devour a giant three pound burrito stuffed with beans, rice, chorizo, beef, pork, a mixture of peppers and topped with chili sauce. The burrito comes with a platter of rice and beans and you have to eat all the food on both plates in 30 minutes without leaving the table. Winners get a picture on the wall of flame, a t-shirt and your meal is free. Call 359-3319 for more details.

STAY EDUCATEDCheck out “Darwin at the Museum” and “Drawing the Motmot: An Artist’s View of Tropical Nature” at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History through Jan. 18. See field sketches, paintings and commentary of nature artist Deborah Kaspari and a complete set of first-editions of Darwin’s work. Visit snomnh.ou.edu for more information.

CURRICULUM FAIR Mount St. Mary’s Catholic High School is holding a curriculum fair for prospective students and their parents to come learn more about the school’s programs. Stop by 2801 S. Shartel in Oklahoma City on Jan. 17 at 1:00 p.m. or call 631-8865 for more details.

WE’VE MOVED!Smith Medical has recently moved their store front location at 171 East 33rd. They’re open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Call 285-9888 for more information.

DEMENTIA PUBLIC AWARENESS WORKSHOPTouchmark at Coffee Creek will host a half-day community workshop on Feb. 3 from 12:30-4:30 p.m. on the topic of dementia. This event will be offered to the public at no cost and will present information specifically related to memory care. To register go to www.edmondmemorycare.com or call 340-1975.

40TH ANNIVERSARY Heritage Hall is celebrating 40 years of excellence with three curriculum events at 6 :00 p.m. on Jan. 15 for the upper school, Jan. 22 for the middle school and Feb. 10 for the lower school. The school is located at 1800 NW 122nd St. Call 749-3002 or visit www.heritagehall.com.


When one hears the name Federal Bureau of Investigation, secret files, wire-tapped conversations, complicated investigations and

even the image of the symbolic Hoover Building in Washington, DC come to mind. A number of movie scenes and famous characters might pop up as well. The boundaries between reality and fiction in stories about the FBI are blurry because everything is top secret.

It is a sunny November afternoon and I am sitting at an Edmond coffee shop. In front of me stands a tall, energetic man in his fifties, wearing glasses, dark jacket and a light-blue shirt. His name is Stan Young and yes, he is an FBI agent.

“I enjoy investigations and talking to people. There are a lot of interesting people in this world and you never know who you’re going to come across.”

Young retired from the FBI last June after working as an agent for 28 years. He started his

own private investigation company, Young and Associates, LLC.

He investigates insurance and mortgage frauds, conducts background investigations and provides surveillance as needed. Young stays in touch with former colleagues and works together with private investigators from across the country.

“If I need information, say, in Washington, DC, I know people I can call. It’s like working for the FBI, except since we are retired now, we work for ourselves. We network and help each other out.”

Last spring Young received a call from a former agent in Nashville, who is a security director for a famous country singer. The previous night someone with an Oklahoma license plate tried to break into the travel bus and the security director asked Young to track that person.

In another case, Young was investigating mort-gage fraud. A lady who went through a tough divorce lost her job and home. “You see both sides - people

who have bad luck and people who actually misrep-resent the facts.”

“A lot of the criminals I’ve met, if they work as honest citizens they can make a lot more money instead of doing what they do, but it’s just that chal-lenge of beating the system.”

While in high school, Young worked at a drug-store to pay for his flying lessons. He later graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s in Pharmacy.

While Young was a pharmacist at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, a high-school friend who was working at the FBI headquarters came to town. They had lunch together and he convinced Young to apply for a job at the bureau.

“The application goes all the way back almost to conception,” he said. “I think it was a 13-page application. They want to know your educational background, your work experience.” The FBI even ran background checks on his immediate relatives. After a series of tests and interviews Young was accepted and sent to the FBI training academy at Quantico, Virginia.

He was later transferred to New Orleans, where he worked on some of his most interesting cases. Young and his partner embarked on a boat to reach a ship in the Gulf of Mexico and investigate a murder that occurred on-board. “One of the sailors on the ship went crazy one night and cut the throat of the first mate. He was a 6-foot-9 man and weighted 300 pounds. It took about 12 sailors to subdue him,” he said.

A few years later Young was assigned to the FBI’s Special Operations Unit in Chicago. “If foreign intel-ligence agents would come to town, we would keep them under surveillance.”

Young and his colleagues followed an intelligence officer from a former Soviet bloc country as he trav-eled from Chicago to San Diego, Colorado and back. “I remember that he was driving a little Honda Civic, which got 35-40 miles to the gallon. We were driving big old Plymouths and Crown Victorias,” he said. “So he would keep going and we would have to stop and

by Radina Gigova


fill up. And then we’d have to run 100m/h trying to catch up with him.” Then one of the agents got a flat tire. “His jack had rusted and so he couldn’t change his tire. It was about three days before he caught up with us.”

Later Young was sent back to Oklahoma City to work on a drug diversion case. “People were fraudu-lently obtaining pharmaceuticals from various hospi-tals and clinics and then reselling them,” he said. “I would present myself as someone who bought the drugs they had obtained illegally. We had 25 convic-tions on that.”

He also worked on the investigation and the rescue efforts after the Murrah Building bombing. “It was a horrific day, a horrific time,” he remembers.

Young has now settled down in Edmond and plans to stay and grow his business. Although the PI life can be a little slower than life with the FBI, he’s glad to be here. “Edmond is a very good community. I can’t think of any other place I’d like to live.”

“A lot of the criminals I’ve met, if they work as honest citizens they can make a lot more money instead of doing what they do, but it’s just that challenge of beating the system.” Miriam Nosrati, D.D.S.

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