Stan Geiger

BatesLine on Downtown Tulsa

What has happened to downtown Tulsa over the past few decades is shameful. I remember, from my days as a young boy, building after building being demolished in the name of "urban renewal." I was, of course, too young to understand the impact. But now I can see the damage that was done.

Those old buildings are gone. The character they brought to downtown is gone---and cannot be replaced. Worse yet, though the old buildings were destroyed, "urban renewal" never came. The Williams Center was built, but that was about it. Even that stands as a great glass-box yawner. Nobody cares.

Unfortunately, the destruction that began years ago has never stopped. Just recently the Lortons, owners of the Tulsa World, tore down an historic downtown building. They turned it into an asphalt parking lot. The World supports every tax increase that comes up the pike. It screams for downtown revitalization. Yet it wrecked an old building because, the owners said, it would be too expensive to renovate. Ironic, don't you think?

There is a bright spot or two. The Mayo Hotel is back in business. And my old high school, Central, closed in 1976, was saved. It was gutted on the inside, and it currently houses those PSO demons, but at least the facade still stands.

Both of those buildings are special places to me. My senior prom was held at the Mayo. And I attended old Central for 3 years, where I formed friendships that exist to this day.

I graduated in '76. I don't know if the tradition lives, but there used to be a thing called "King Daze." I was voted king. I was also a president, having been elected to the top spot in the student council.

How many people do you know that have served as both a president and a king at the same time? I mean really. I was so freakin' special they closed the school when I left!

(I hear that laughing! Just hush, and leave a man to his delusions!)

My senior year in high school might well have been the single most enjoyable year of my life. That's kind of a sad comment, coming from a guy that just turned 50. But facts is facts. It was a year of great friends, great times---and Gloria Mae Moseby. She was my girlfriend. She was a cheerleader and our football queen. She was gorgeous beyond belief, and about a hundred pounds of sweetheart.

We stayed together through my freshman year in college. Then she showed enough sense to split with me and marry another guy. I have never married. If I were to psychoanalyze myself, I might find the reason I've never married is I've never found a girl that could match her.

But I digress. The reason I wanted to write this piece was to alert you to a series Michael Bates is doing. Drawing from a number of old sources, he is writing on what used to be on selected downtown blocks---complete with pictures.

I'm a little aggravated that I can't really consume it all. My poor old computer and dial-up connection can't handle what Michael is putting forth. But if you are actually equipped for this century, you should have no problem. I encourage you to take a look.

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