January 3, 2024 Issue, Page 1 of 8

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Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 Slim Pickins, pictured are Chris Gathings, Hosie Moss, Ken Collins, Shane Hicks, and Charles Eddy. Courtesy photo. Rod Fauver and Joe McConnell.; Sprint Cars available for Rent. By Sheryl Ponce experienced one. He now has a sprint car that seats two that al- Slim Pickins lows one person to ride in the car, without driving it. This is an Rod Eauver and Joe McConnell have officially opened an Elk City Motorsports headquarters as well as a storefront and shop. ‘They call it the Race Shop, the Track Office, and the Merch Store. exciting venture for people who love racing, love watching racing, but do not want to invest in a car to become a part of the racing Attracts community. Fauver has the knowledge and experience to teach Their new location is “The Blue Building” at 3520 W. 3rd St. There they offer racing gifts, shirts, hoodies, caps, and beanies. The idea has been to have a central location that will offer them a racing, which includes his driving school. ‘The racing banquet was postponed from Dec. 16th to Jan. 20th. The banquet will be at the Canyon Conference Center, just New Talent multitude of options. This seemed to fit the bill. outside of Elk City, 3.3 miles south of I-40 on Hwy 6. Tickets are By Sheryl Ponce ‘The hours are not set yet, but watch the EC Motorsport Park $25 per person if purchased early or $30 per person at the door. Western Oklahoma band, Slim Pickins, has had a reputa- Facebook page for updates, specials, and hours. Lately they have ‘The ticket includes admission, a spread of grilled and buffet food, tion of being one of the best dance bands in the area. Three of been offering free hotdogs and drinks. Fauver will be operating soft drinks and beer. It will be BYOB for anything else. Discount- the original members are Hosie Moss on drums and vocals, his trucking business in the back, as well, especially since the in- ed tickets are available at https://dirtdoggear.com/collect.../elk- Charles Eddy is lead guitar, and Chris Gathings who is the dustry has slowed down. city-motorsports-park. All infield sponsors will receive two com- vocals and harmony of the group. Joining them are Shane “We moved down to this shop area, trying to reorganize. plimentary tickets. Hicks from Altus and Ken Collins out of Oklahoma City. The We're trying to do some big things out at the racetrack for next ‘The new 2024 schedule has been posted, which will run pri- newest members of the band round out the group of talent year, and now is the time to get organized,” Fauver said. marily on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. The first that brings country cover songs, along with other popular ‘They want to have 500 to 600 spectators in the stands, which classics, to venues throughout the area. race will be March 30th and end Oct. 12th. They will be running Hicks has a resume of touring with musicians such as takes planning and a community of race enthusiasts. They will Dirt Dog Sprint Series, Sooner B & Ltd. Mod Series, ECMP Facto- have a flea market set up once a month, as well as getting the go Keith Urban, Restless Heart, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson's cart track running. ry Stocks, and USRA Tuners. They remain in discussion about the High Mileage Road Show in 1999 that included Brad Paisley, Modifieds class of cars, which was taken off the regular schedule. Jamie O'Neal, Sara Evans, Clint Daniels, Andy Griggs, and Fauver Racing is also operational. This entity gives people an Chad Brock. He was also on tour with Steve Wariner, Tracy See Motorsports page 8. option to rent a car or drive a car for someone who has never Lawrence, Peter Hofmann in Europe, Pam Tillis, and Jimmy Griffin of Bread and The Remingtons. He plays bass, keys, and background vocals. Elk City Leadership His formal career was in Nashville but moved to Altus to help his wife’s (Dana Milton Hicks) parents. Before moving back to Oklahoma, Hicks was in the wine business in North- ern California. He produced wine from the dirt to the bottle, Hall of Fame Inductees Announced where he moved 15,000 cars of wine to the market. Hicks is also a member of Biscuit Heads, a local classic rock band. They can be heard playing in area venues includ- ing the Country Palace. As a musician, Hicks is able to change s0 eloquently spoken by Larry genres and adapt to both types of music. He said that be- Wade, Bill’s employer and life- cause of the quality of talent associated with both bands, long friend. they produce quality music for the area, Bill Khourie...born Wil- “Slim Pickins plays music that honors the cowboy. The liam “Billy” Khourie January 6, band plays good, clean and wholesome music. I have been 1950, in Memphis, Tennessee. with them two years, but we remain popular and together ‘As a young child, Bill moved because we are a bunch of guys hanging out with the same with his parents to Elk City, lifestyle,” Hicks said. OK., where he attended school. ‘The same sentiment came from pedal steel guitar player, Collins. His resume is as impressive as Hicks’, with producing During his high school days Bill television shows for the Jude and Jody Show in Oklahoma set numerous school records City. He was able to play with so many different musicians for his outstanding skills as a because of the show. He even was invited to go on the road running back. He held records with a lot of the stars that he played with there. A couple of for the most carries in a sin- names that came to mind were Conway Twitty and Mel Tillis. gle game and the most carries Collins explained that the pedal steel guitar lends itself Bill Ansley Danny McClure in a single season for Big Elk to traditional country music. He said that Sim Pickins and Football. Bill graduated from music is not credited to one person because it is not an indi- Elk City High school in May of vidual effort. Elk City - The Elk City Leadership Hall of Fame 2023 Inductees First Baptist Church and was 1968. He continued his educa- “I'm just a contributing member to what we try to put out campaign director for the de- as a team. It’s kind of like a basketball team or football team. are Bill Ansley, Bill Khourie and Danny McClure. They will offi- tion at the University of Okla~ Each person has a designated part to play. And so basically, velopment of the new church cially be inducted Tuesday, January 9, 2024, between the Elkettes facility. homa where he received his that's what I do is just that country steel guitar. It lands a and Elks Basketball Games at the Pioneer Center along with a re- April 25, 1941, Bill mar- bachelor’s degree in psycholo- little bit more of a country flavor to the music,” he said. ception honoring them 5-6 pm, also at the Pioneer Center down- ried his wife, Lou and served gy. He later received his cli Playing by ear, Collins is able to pick up just about any stairs in the hospitality room. Family and Friends are welcome in the US. Navy from Feb- cal psychology master’s degree song that is put before him. He added that Slim Pickins is a to attend. Qualifications for honorees include...have been a resi- from Murray State University fun group to play with because they play with a mission. They dent or have worked in Elk City and ideally have attended Elk City ruary 7, 1942, through Sep- in Murray, Kentucky. After re- play music that people recognize and play it like the original Schools at some point. They must have brought positive pride tember 1945. They had one ceiving his degree, he obtained song. and recognition to Elk City for exemplary leadership in their cho- daughter, Sharon and later a employment in Wichita Falls, Lead singer, Gathings, agreed with Collins’ impression of grandson Carter. Bill and Lou Tx as a clinical psychologist. their style of music. His favorite music to sing is tradition- sen occupation leading to city/state and/or national achievement. Bill Ansley...born William H. “Bill” Ansley on September 23, owned Ansley-Thornton Fur- Because of Bill’s love of al type of country music. The band is promoted as a dance niture from 1968-1994. He band, and he said that is what he believes they do the best. 1919, was a nationally known motivational speaker, civic leader airplanes as a young boy, he “I think there’s so many bands out there that come to was a resident of Elk City from and the advertising manager of the Elk City Daily News for nearly began pursuing a career in play music and they do a good job, but we are a band that 1919-2000 when he and his plays music you can recognize. We are band of musicians 56 years and retired in 1995. Bill was a graduate of Elk City High aeronautics. Throughout his School and was drum major of the ECHS marching band when the wife moved to Oklahoma City years he flew commercially, who are good enough that we can learn a song, and it is going band got its first set of uniforms. After graduation he attended to be near their daughter, Sha- privately, and owned his own to sound like the record. I can play it like the record most of Oklahoma Baptist University coming back on weekends to work ron Wallace and grandson Car- plane flying for business and the time, or be very close,” Gathings said. ter Wallace. Mr. Ansley passed pleasure all throughout the ‘The group has musicians that can be given a song without at the newspaper. Bill took his enthusiasm and zest in the form a rehearsal and pull it off without missing a beat. He contin- away in February 2006 and United States. Bill’s pursuit of of public speaking and talked at numerous state press association will always be remembered ued to say, “That is what impresses me about this band. You groups and many Chamber of Commerce banquets and events having an unbounding enthu- as flying was the driving force in are going to be able to get dance music and hear stuff that along with receiving many prestigious awards. He was master of many of his accomplishment’s you recognize.” ceremonies for the Miss Elk City down through the years and was siasm for the Elk City com- including finding and restor- Gathings works at Great Plains Regional Medical Center munity, people in general and ing the first DC-3 to carry one of the founders for the Miss Elk City-Miss Queen of the West Pageant and was the announcer for the more than 20 years for the tasks he undertook and See Grad page 2. the Big Elk Football. Bill was a lifelong member of the Elk City indeed for life itself which was See Leadership page 2 WIM), 8 i 13151 9 Ses tomorrow Vol. 120, No.1 75 cents, 8 pgs. Mail delivery 580.225.3000 View online elkcityoknews.com