OKLAHOMA CITY— Seminole is Oklahoma’s “No. 1 City!”

The central Oklahoma community known for its “pride” placed first here Wednesday night in the State Community Achievement Contest, sponsored by the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce.

Over 100 Seminole citizens - one of the largest delegations of any city present for the awards banquet at this Skirvin Plaza ballroom - erupted into a standing, clapping, cheering “mob” when Seminole’s name was announced as this year’s “No. 1 City” honoree in its population division.

It was a smiling and high-stepping Seminole Mayor Melvin Moran and Chamber President Bob Robertson who accepted the large steel “No. 1 City” plaque honoring Seminole from Gov. David Boren, who also calls Seminole his home.

The governor was obviously proud of his hometown, as were the other Seminole citizens present. Table napkins flew into the air as Seminole cheered its city, and delegations from other state cities also applauded.

“It’s a good feeling to know our community is working like it has been working” making it possible for us to win such a high honor, a proud Seminole Chamber Manager Bob Jones said this morning.

After Seminole was announced as winner, one citizen yelled above the roar of the crowd, “you’ve done it again Jones!”

This show of emotion was in reference to Seminole having also placed first in the contest in 1971.

Since entering the annual contest in 1960, Seminole has placed as one of the top three cities the past four years.

Seminole placed first in the 1971 contest, third in the 1972 and 1973 contests and second last year. “But, we’re first this year,” Jones said today. “First in the 1975 contest.”

The city competed in the division of cities with populations ranging from 4,000 to 7,999. Sulphur placed second and Elk City and Weatherford were co-winners for third place.

In announcing Seminole as winner, State Chamber officials said: “Our first place community operates under a comprehensive master plan which is revised regularly. Most impressive is a leadership conference held at one of the state’s lodges to review needs and establish priorities for the coming year. In 1975, seventy-two interested citizens attended this retreat.

“Also, the mayor and city council appointed 18 citizens to function as an advisory committee to review priorities and to determine financial availability to accomplish these priorities.

“An additional onecent sales tax was passed with the money to be used for capital improvements. One of the city’s grade schools destroyed by an explosion will be rebuilt with proceeds from a $525,000 bond issue passed by citizens.

“A few of Seminole’s accomplishments in 1975: organized a Builders Association, sponsored an out-of-state industrial tour initiating 12 prospects. A new industry was located occupying an Industrial Trust facility vacated two years ago. 120 building permits were issued, a beautiful new 10,000 square foot library was occupied through a successful bond issue, a new medical clinic plus a total of 205 new jobs were added in 1975.

“An all-night gospel sing attracted 25,000 persons, a new tennis country club opened and the chamber sponsored a free barbecue and clinic for area cattlemen. Seminole promoted Canadian Valley Days with 7,000 attending and promoted a good-will tour to five surrounding communities with 137 people participating. Fourteen new businesses opened. Operation Pride continued with 17 old building being removed for a total of 122 over the past two and one half years.

“Seminole Junior College added a $250,000 Science and Music Facility and construction was started on a $400,000 fifteen-thousand square foot library. The Chamber raised $9,000 for junior college scholarships.

“This city is well known for its total enthusiastic community involvement,” the State officials said in announcing Seminole as it’s “No. 1 City” winner for 1975.”

The city’s entry in the 1975 contest was prepared by the Community Pride and Achievement Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, chaired by Ted Phillips. Other committee members are Gene Warren, Jim Myers, Donald E. Smith, Bob Robertson, and Phillip Parks. Phillips has chaired the committee the past six years Seminole gained the finals by surviving two preliminary rounds of judging. A delegation presented a program outlining Seminole’s achievements during 1975 to a panel of judges several weeks ago, then a team of judges visited Seminole for a first-hand look at the city’s progress. After the judges toured Seminole, the city was designated as a finalist.

“The contest committee did a great job this year in selling Seminole,” Jones said. “They deserve plenty of praise.” Other cities placing first in their various population divisions were Hinton, Watonga, Edmond, and Enid.

Judging was based on community planning, broadening of the economic base, business and trade development, improvement of living conditions and the environment and improvement of cultural facilities. Seminole citizens traveled to the contest banquet in two large buses and by private cars. -oOo The “glow” hadn’t worn off in Seminole this morning, hours after the announcement in Oklahoma City that Seminole was, indeed, the state’s “No. 1 city.”

Civic leaders here had known that all along, of course, but as one man remarked today “it’s nice to be recognized by outsiders.”

Seminole Mayor Melvin Moran today hailed the announcement, which came at the annual Community Pride and Achievement banquet at the Skirvin Plaza in Oklahoma City Wednesday night as a “very proud moment for all of Seminole.” “Receiving this award,” the mayor told the Producer today, “was the result of total community effort. The main ingredients were cooperation from all segments of the city’s population, and community pride.”

One-hundred-three Seminole boosters made the trek to Oklahoma City Wednesday night in hopes of seeing their home town capture the first place award for the first time in five years. And they weren’t disappointed.

“This was the fifth straight year Seminole had the largest delegation there.” Mayor Moran said. “I think this is an indication of the community pride we have here.”

Chamber of Commerce Manager Bob Jones, who was credited by many persons with doing much of the actual work in putting together Seminole’s winning entry in the state Chamber of Commerce annual Community Pride and Achievement contest said this morning he is “elated” at the first place designation.

“I had my hopes up last year, but this year winning just makes us feel great,” Jones said.

“We couldn’t do it, though, without the cooperation of the people who did the work during the year,” the chamber manager said. “It takes work from people who head the various committees and other groups, and by the people who work on these projects.”

City Manager Don Best was equally thrilled at the announcement.

“You can’t ignore the sweat, blood and tears that are produced in trying to determine who’s No. 1.” Best said from his office. ”These “people worked hard, and the evidence is here. The judges had to see it.” “Having been in Seminole only a year, I have been extremely impressed with the progress and growth which has taken place here,” Best said. “I had a feeling before we went that we were going to win first place.”

Ward 4 City Councilman Phillip Parks, who was among the Seminole delegation and captured the significant event on film, said today he also is “elated, happy and feeling great” about the triumph.

“I’m not too surprised we won because we had so much on the ball,” Parks said. “You go up there to win, but actually doing it makes us all real happy.”

Ted Phillips, Seminole Producer publisher and chairman of the chamber committee which put together the city’s entry into the contest, said today the first place award is very gratifying. “We knew all along that Seminole is the No. 1 city, but having outsiders tell us it is makes us feel good,” Phillips said.

The plaque designating Seminole as No. 1 in the Division 3 of the contest will be displayed at the Chamber of Commerce office for all citizens to view. It will suggest to anyone who doesn’t already know it that Seminole really is “No. 1.” -oOo OKLAHOMA CITY - A bus load of Seminole- people, bound for home after Wednesday night’s Community Achievement Banquet in Oklahoma City, were unexpectedly and pleasantly surprised with an invitation to stop by for coffee - at the Governor’s Mansion The 60 people, tired but happy after Seminole’s first-place divisional win, were waiting for their chartered bus to arrive outside the Skirvin Plaza Hotel when a large, black car pulled up to the curb and Gov. David Boren leaned out the window and extended the invitation.

He radioed ahead to “put the coffee pot on,” and the Governor’s crew swung into action.

By the time the group arrived, after a detour through the parking lot in the capitol complex due to a wrong turn, coffee and cookies were waiting.

They were greeted at the door by Gov. Boren and five-year-old Carrie.

The governor’s little girl, clad in bedtime attire of robe and slippers, solemnly shook hands with each of the guests as they entered, and conducted many of them on a tour of the executive mansion. All were invited by Gov. Boren to inspect each of the three floors of the historic home, viewing the many artifacts on display.

One of the Seminole visitors was heard to say, “I’ve lived in Oklahoma all my life, and this is the first time I’ve seen the Governor’s Mansion.”

“I wouldn’t have missed this night for anything,” another said.