City Of Lawton Prepares For City’s 114th Birthday
From the City of Lawton:
(Lawton, OK) Events honoring the past, present, and future of the City of Lawton and its citizens will be held during the city’s birthday week beginning Saturday, August 1 and run through Saturday, August 8. These events are sponsored by the Lawton Rangers, the Pioneer Women’s Club of Lawton, Lawton Heritage Association and the City of Lawton.
Saturday, August 1 kick starts the week with the annual Lawton Rangers Breakfast starting at 6am in the L.O. Ranch House located at 2004 SE 60th St. Cost is $5.00 per person for a hearty all you can eat morning of community fun! All Veterans receive a Complimentary Breakfast. Then at 10am, the Pioneer Women’s Club of Lawton will host the annual Pioneer Woman’s Memorial at the Ritter-Gray Funeral Chapel located at 632 SW C Avenue to honor all pioneers.
The Mayor of Lawton, Fred Fitch is pleased to invite the public to Lawton’s Birthday Reception and Ceremony to be held in the Banquet Hall in City Hall located at 212 SW 9th Street, Tuesday, August 4 at 5:30pm. During the ceremony there will be three very important recognitions. Both the Lawton Rangers and the Pioneer Women’s Club will be recognized for 77 years of service. The Lawton Award in Excellence will recognize the contributions of Dr. Charles S. Graybill. This very special award is presented by the Mayor to an individual who exemplifies outstanding excellence in service to community, state, and nation.
Thursday, August 6, from noon to 3pm, tour the historic Mattie Beal Home’s 14-room mansion for free. The Mattie Beal Home is owned and maintained by the Lawton Heritage Association and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Mattie Beal was an attractive 22-year old telephone operator in Wichita, Kansas, who decided to register for the land lottery in the Lawton area in 1901. Mattie Beal’s name was the second one drawn and her life changed. Now “land rich”, she received hundreds of marriage proposals but married Lawton businessman, Charles Payne. Together they built a mansion in 1907-1909 that became the social center and architectural highlight of the young city of Lawton.
The week gears up for the Lawton Rangers PRCA Rodeo August 5-8 at the L.O. Ranch Arena located at 2004 SE 60th Street. The rodeo is one of the top 50 rodeos in the U.S. Over 400 of the most skilled cowboys and cowgirls in the country will compete in tie-down roping, team roping, steer wrestling, bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding and barrel racing. Grab your cowboy hat and head out to the Lawton Rangers PRCA Rodeo each night to watch edge-of-your-seat rodeo action, as well as live entertainment. Admire the well-groomed horses, the high-spirited bulls and the participants who will showcase their abilities. In addition, there will be a drawing for a Henry Golden Boy Rifle. Raffle tickets are available for a $5.00 donation (must be 18 years & older/pass background check) from Frogs Pawn Shop or any Rodeo Queen Contestant. The drawing will be held Saturday night at the rodeo.
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The L.O. Ranch Arena and Rodeo Grounds are located three miles east of Lawton, off I-44, on Highway 7, and ½ mile south on SE 60th Street. The facility is ADA compliant and can accommodate tour groups with bus/motor coach parking. Please no pets; service animals only! Advanced tickets can be purchased online at the website www.lawtonrangers.com and from any of the queen contestants. In addition, ticket outlets are EZ Go, Crutcher’s Western Wear, Ruben’s Shoe Services, Atwood’s Ranch & Home, and Ft. Sill Adventure Travel.
This year's rodeo is dedicated to Jack Stuckey. Gates open at 6:30pm with the Grand Entry starting at 7:30pm nightly with presentation of the flags on horseback, demonstration by Ft. Sill's historic Half Section, and edge-of-your-seat rodeo action. There will be food, sales, and display vendors and activities for the children on the grounds. Special ticket prices are available on Wednesday and Thursday nights at the gate with Wednesday’s “Family Night”, $5 a car, Thursday’s, “2 for 1” where two can get in for one price. Children 5 years and under are free. Children 6-12 years are $6.00. Friday night is Military recognition night and “Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night” with $1 from each ticket sold (to those wearing pink only) going to a local cancer center. So come wearing pink on Friday night to help fight cancer in our community!
Friday and Saturday nights - immediately following the rodeo the annual Rodeo Dance will feature live music. Stay and dance or listen or just watch! Tickets are $5.00 per person. Friday Aug 7, The Luke Robinson Band will perform and Saturday, August 8, Tyler Steel will close out the celebration.
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Lawton Rangers’ Rodeo Parade!
Saturday, August 8, 10am Downtown Lawton
The public is invited to join the Lawton Rangers as they bring their Lawton Rangers Rodeo Parade to downtown Lawton. The Parade Marshal will be Col Glenn Waters, Fort Sill Garrison Commander.
At 9:30am, there will be a Children’s Costume Contest for ages ten and under in front of the reviewing stand located at D Avenue between 5th Street & 6thStreet. The categories are best-dressed cowboy, cowgirl, and clown. Awards will be given in each division.
At 10am, the parade begins at the intersection of 5th Street and C Avenue. It will go west to 9th Street, then south to D Avenue. It will turn east on D Avenue and return to Central Mall after passing the reviewing stand between 5th and 6th Streets on D Avenue. Before the parade arrives at the reviewing stand, the Marlow Gunfighters are scheduled to perform. To enter the parade, contact Wayne Bales at w.bales@dishmail.net or call 580-585-0830.