Oklahoma is located in the South Central region of the United States. In 2007, according to Wikipedia, Oklahoma, had a population of around 3,617,316 residents, and a land area of 68,667 square miles, which is 177, 847 km2. Oklahoma is also the 20th largest state, and the 28th most populated. The name Oklahoma is derived from the Choctaw words okla and humma, meaning “red people”, and is informally known by The Sooner State, its nickname. On November 16, 1907, Oklahoma was the 46th state to enter the union. Oklahoma was formed from Indian Territory. The state’s citizens are known as Oklahomans, and its capital and largest city is Oklahoma City. Oklahoma has one of the fastest growing economies in the nation. It also ranks among the top states in per capita income growth and gross domestic growth. Nearly 60% of Oklahoma is living in their metropolitan statistical areas. Both Tulsa and Oklahoma City serve as the state’s primary economic anchors.
Oklahoma has small mountain ranges, prairie, and eastern forests, most of the state of Oklahoma lies in the Great Plains and the Unites States Interior Highlands–a region prone to severe weather. More than 25 Native American languages are spoken in the state, with a prevalence of German, Irish, English, the most of any state. Historically, the state has served as a route for cattle drives, and part of the bible belt, widespread belief in evangelic Christianity, making it one of the most politically conservative states. Oklahoma has more voters registered in the Democratic Party than any other state.
There are many famous people who were born in Oklahoma. This is just a few of those born or raised in Oklahoma.
Reba McEntire
Born on March 28, 1955, in McAlester, Oklahoma. Reba Nell McEntire is a success singer and actress. She has been active in the music industry since 1974. She has also been signed to the following music labels in her successful career, Mercury, MCA, Nashville, and the Valory Music Group. Her comedy tv series titled Reba, lasted from 2001-2007. She has been largely successful as a female recording artist in country music. She has achieved more than 23 number one hits and released five gold albums, six platinum albums, two double-platinum, four triple-platinum, a quadruple-platinum album. and a quintuple-platinum album, for certified album sales of 33.5 million over her 2o-year reign in music. Her father was a cattle rancher and a rodeo performer, while her mother was a teacher. Reba grew up near Chockie, Oklahoma, where she learned to ride in rodeos, sing, and play music with Oklahoma native Cadillac Jack. Reba was raised on a 7,000 acre ranch and they traveled as a family to rodeos where her parents and siblings competed. Her father, Clark McEntire was named World Champion Steer Roper three times. Reba’s mother had aspired to be a singer, but never pursed the dream. Reba and her brother and sister formed a singing group as children, and were known as The Singing McEntires. Her sister, Susie Luchsinger, is a successful singer in Christian music. Her brother Pake, had a successful career as a country music artist in the 1980s. Older sister Alice was not in the group. Reba also became a barrel racer, which at the time was the only event that was open to women.
He was named Troyal Garth Brooks, on February 7, 1962. Garth was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was a major player and hitter in the music industry tearing up the music charts from 1989-2001, and again from 2005-to present day. He is both a singer and songwriter. His first album was released in 1989 and it reached #2 in the US country charts, and #13 on the Billboard 200 pop album chart. He combined rock elements into his recording and live performances and it made him very popular. He dominated the country single and country album charts and just like that he crossed over into mainstream pop. He has gained one of the most successful careers in popular music history. He has broke records for both sales and concernt attendance through the 90s. He is now married to Trisha Yearwood.
Ron Howard Duncan
He was born March 1, 1954, in Duncan, Oklahoma. He won an Academy Award as an actor, director, and producer. He first came into the public eye as Opie Taylor, on The Andy Griffith Show, which was created by Ronny Howard. Later he played The Fonz’s best friend, Richie Cunningham, on Happy Days, he played the role from 1975-1980. After that he retired from acting and became a director. He directed movies like Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, Frost/Nixon, and the sequel to The Da Vinci Code titled Angels and Demons. He is the son of Jean Speegle Howard, who is an actress, and Rance Howard, who is a director, actor, and a writer. His younger brother is Clint Howard, who is also a well-known actor. Ron is also co-chairman, of Imagine Entertainment, which has produced projects like 8 Mile, Inside My throat, the tv series 24, Felicity, and Friday Night Lights. Ron married his high-school sweetheart in 1975. His wife Cheryl, is a writer witha degree in geriatric psychology. Together they have four children (two of them are twins), including Bryce Dallas, Jocelyn Carlyle, Paige Carlyle, and son Reed Cross. Paige and Bryce are both actresses. The family lives in Greenwich, Conneticut.
Mickey Mantle
Baseball Legend.
He was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma on December 18, 1963. He is the son of Jane Etta Hillhouse, a high school counselor, and William Alvin Pitt, the owner of a truck company. He has two siblings, Doug and Julie Neal. Though born in Oklahoma, he grew up in Springfield, Missouri. The family moved to Springfield after he was born. He was raised as a Southern Baptist, and even sang in the church choir. He was enrolled at Kickapoo High School and excelled in school. He was many teams including golf, tennis, swimming teams, and was also in the Key adn Forensics clubs. He was a member of school musicals adn school debates. After graduation he attended the University of Missouri in 1982, where he was in the Sigma Chi fraternity. His major was in journalism, with a focus of advertising. Two weeks before graduation he left the university and moved to Los Angeles. In California he took various jobs such as being a delivery man, sold cigarettes, he chauffered, did work as an assistant to a soap opera writer, and to pay for his acting classes he dressed like El Pollo Loco the chicken.
Will Rogers
He was born in Oologhan, Indian Territory, which is now Oklahoma, on November 4, 1879. He was born on the Dog Iron Ranch near present day Oologah. The family home had been built in 1875 and was known as the “White House on the Verdigris River.” Both of Roy’s parents were part of Cherokee heritage. Roy was the youngest of eight children. Only three of his siblings survived into adulthood. He passed on August 15, 1935, at 55 years of age. he died in Point Barrow, Alaska Territory. His occupations list many things like entertainer, humorist, columnist, radio personality, actor, and comic. His was the father os Will Rogers, Jr., the United States Congressman and World War II Veteran. Will Rogers was a Cherokee-American cowboy, who also was a vaudeville performer. he was even listed in the Guiness Book of World records for throwing three roped as once, as he learned to ride horses and use a lariat. He wrote more than 4,000 newspaper columns, and he became a world-famous figure.
This American Idol winner was born Carrie Marie underwood, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, on March 10, 1983. She grew up in Checotah, Oklahoma, raised on her parent’s farm. She has two sisters Shanna and Stephanie, who are both older than her. Her father worked in a paper mill and her mother was an elementary school teacher. In her childhood she had performed at Talent Shows and the Babtist Church she attended. She graduated in 2001 and was the salutatorian. After graduation she attended college in Tahlequah. She graduated magna cum laude in 2006, with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and an emphasis in journalism. She was also a member of the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority. She also competed in many beauty pageants. She is a singer-songwriter and today is very successful as a country and pop music singer. She also sings, plays guitar and piano. She broke out in the music industry in 2005, after winning the 4th season of American Idol. Since then she has become a multi-platinum recording artist. Some Hearts, her debut album was certified seven times platinum and is the fastest selling debut country album, according to Neilson SoundScan history. Her debut album also made her the best-selling solo female in country music history. You can find more about this Oklahomian at her official website www.carriedunderwoodofficial.com .
Bill Tilghman
He was called “The greatest of us all,” by Bat Masterson. Mr. Tilghman was a gunfighter with a badge who rode throughout the Indian Territory in the 1890’s as one of the “Three Guardsmen.” He had previously arrested dozens of hardened criminals during his life and had been in many gunfights. After he had retired from law enforcement, he was talked into wearing his law badge one more time in 1924, at the age of 70. He rode through the wild oil boom town of Cromwell, Oklahoma where a young drunk man shot and killed him without provocation.
Belle Star
The famous outlaw of 1846-1889, was called the “Queen of Outlaws”, and was also called the female Jesse James.
There are so many people listed as having been born or raised in Oklahoma. Notables include many people with a large spectrum of various career paths from sports, movie, print, radio, politics, music, business, and the arts (painters and poets).
Oklahoma also had notables in the art field, such as Marcello Angelini, the ballet dancer; Ted Berrigan, the poet; John Brainard, painter; P.S. Gordon, the painter; Ron Padgett, the poet, Josh Mars, who was a painter, composer, sculptor, performance, artist, filmmaker; and Kelie Myers, the painter.
Oklahoma also raised people in the music industry like Elvis Bishop, Garth Brooks, Anita Byant, J.J. Cale, Rodney Carrington, Roy Clark, David Cook, Joe Diffie, Phil Driscoll, Ronnie Dunn, Rocky Frisco, The Gap Band, Hanson, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, David Gates (Bread), Tosca Kramer, Fredell Lack, Leon McAuliffe (Steel Guitarist), Jamie Oldaker (drummer for Eric Clapton, Bob Seger), Patti Page, Leon Russell, Steve Ripley (guitarist for Bob Dylan), Ryan Tedder (singer of OneRepublic), Bob Wills, Johnny Lee Wills, and Jelly Roll (the hip-hop producer).
Sources Cited:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reba_McEntire
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Howard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_pitt
http://www.wikipedia.org
