WORK ETHIC:
BUILDING ON A LEGACY
A
house
for Tony
B
Y
M
ICHAEL
O
VERALL
World Staff Writer
A few weeks after finding out that
he had cancer of the esophagus,
Tony Harris and his wife had lunch
at the offices of Concept Builders,
where he had worked for 20 years.
After eating, some company offi-
cials asked them to step outside to
talk for a minute.
“That’s when we found out they
were going to build the ‘Tony
House,’ ” said Kim Harris, Tony’s
wife. “We were absolutely left
breathless and speechless by these
loving, kind, generous people.”
Now nearly finished, the brand-
new 1,500-square-foot home sits in a
quiet Sand Springs subdivision,
where it should sell this spring for
about $158,700. The proceeds will
pay off medical bills and debts for
the Harris family.
Tony Harris died in December,
just months after discovering the
cancer, and just weeks before
ground was broken for the Tony
House at 5307 S. Barr Drive.
But his death only increased the
generosity from donors, said Gerald
Dorsey, a friend of Harris’ who will
market the house for Concept Build-
ers.
Several contractors worked for
free. Some craftsmen refused to take
their usual fees. And several suppli-
ers contributed materials at cost, or
even for no cost.
“All of these people knew Tony
and knew what kind of guy he was,”
Dorsey said. “They were stepping
over each other to help out.”
With extra touches of luxury, from
stone accents to stainless steel appli-
ances, the house embodies Harris’
own work ethic, Dorsey said.
As a job supervisor who worked
on hundreds of homes across the
Tulsa area, it was Harris’ responsibil-
ity to make sure a house was built
right.
“We had repeat customers who
wouldn’t buy a home if it wasn’t one
of his,” Dorsey said. “They knew it
would be done right because he
didn’t do it any other way.”
Born 51 years ago in Missouri,
Harris moved to Ketchum at the age
of 4 and graduated from high school
there.
An avid fisherman, he lived on
Grand Lake for much of his adult
life, commuting 80 miles a day to
work in Tulsa. In 2005, his work
schedule finally led him to move to
Sand Springs, where he and his wife
hoped to build their own dream
house someday.
“We didn’t expect Tony to have to
leave us so soon,” Kim Harris said.
“He was a warm, wonderful, gener-
ous, caring man. It seemed like ev-
erybody loved him, or we wouldn’t
have the Tony House.”
For more information about the
house, call Dorsey at 693-4003.
Michael Overall 581-8383
michael.overall@tulsaworld.com
Changes
Tulsa World readers are no-
ticing changes in the daily
newspaper.
The popular “Datelines”
wrap-up of national and interna-
tional news can now be found
on page A-6 of the paper.
“Only in Oklahoma,” the his-
torical look at Oklahoma’s first
century, can be found on page
A-4 today.
Now featured on A-2, in our
“Where You Turn” offering, is a
four-day look at events people
are talking about, topical com-
munity stories and a column
on what’s new on www.
tulsaworld.com.
We continue to look for op-
portunities to highlight local
news of people, events and is-
sues. We hope you like our
changes.
Operation Faith
Known for taking part in the “Extreme
Makeover” TV show last year, an Owasso
construction company will take only four
days to build an all-new house for the
family of an 8-year-old with cancer.
Simmons Homes will begin working on
the “Operation Faith” home at 6 a.m.
Thursday in the Lake Valley subdivision,
near 108th Street North and 145th East
Avenue in Owasso.
After Jordan Duncan was diagnosed
with an inoperable brain tumor in Septem-
ber, his family sacrificed its home to pay
medical bills, said Greg Simmons, the
founder of Simmons Homes. The new
house will be ready for the family to
move into it next week.
“This hard-working family has done ev-
erything within their power to cope with
this situation,” Simmons said, “and have
expected nothing in return.”
Simmons was the builder for the 2006
“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” project
in Dewey.
Today at
tulsaworld.com
New online
Freedmen descendants and supporters
gathered recently at the Bureau of Indian
Affairs office in Muskogee to demand that
the federal agency uphold their treaty
rights.
Staff photographer Mike Simons shot
video of the protest and interviewed those
upset about the results of the March 3
election by the Cherokee Nation in which
their citizenship rights were removed by
tribal voters.
www.tulsaworld.com/freedmenprotest
Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor released a
short video Tuesday about her first year
in office.
www.tulsaworld.com/mayorvideo
Featured videos and slide shows
The 2006 Teacher of the Year:
Staff photographer Robert S. Cross
followed Muskogee’s Linda Hasler-Reid
after she was named Oklahoma Teacher
of the Year. The slide show includes
photos of her trip back to her classroom
and audio of what she had to say to her
students.
The faces of victory: To remember
the 60th anniversary of the United States
victory in World War II, staff photographer
Kelly Kerr invited 60 veterans to sit or
stand for portraits.
www.tulsaworld.com/webextra
From the blogs
Sports senior columnist John Klein:
I don’t have a Baseball Hall of Fame
vote. And, unless I become a Major
League Baseball writer in a Major League
Baseball city, it isn’t going to happen.
However, if I had one, Mark McGwire
would get my vote.
And, unlike some goofballs that do
have hall of fame votes, I would have
voted for Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken. It
is amazing to me that baseball media
folks, who allegedly know quite a bit
about the sport, could leave Gwynn and
Ripken off their ballots.
www.tulsaworld.com/kleinblog
The Picker:
When a coach or an athlete gets testy,
there’s a reason: Bad news is coming.
Tiger Woods stomps off the course
Saturday night, refuses to talk to the
press. Loses.
Speaking of golf, color announcer Nick
Foldo did a horrible job and should be put
on probation. He couldn’t beat Tiger
one-on-one, so now he takes the field and
delights in Woods getting beat. Nick
Foldo kept saying, with what sounded like
glee, that he had a feeling it wasn’t
Tiger’s week. One guy beat Woods, for
heaven’s sake.
Hey Foldo, tell Tiger in person what
you’re telling us.
www.tulsaworld.com/pickerblog
Tuesday’s most popular stories
The top story is an interview with
former Arkansas basketball coach Nolan
Richardson about the problems the school
has had to nab a new coach. He told the
World’s Bill Haisten, “None of this
surprises me.”
1. Ex-coach bothered by vacancy
2. Sutton could be candidate for WSU job
3. OSU’s big-game hunt
4. OU defense rusty, making adjustments
5. Meat seller gets prison, probation
6. 45th may go to Iraq
7. Is Scott Sutton ready for next step?
8. Plymouth unearthed already, some
claim
9. Union’s Lewis might not go to Texas
A&M
10. OSU Notebook: Orange-White format
Hometown honor for Guthrie, 3 others
B
Y
M
ATT
E
LLIOTT
World Scene Writer
The late folk singer Woody Guthrie will
be one of four natives of Okemah to be in-
ducted into its Hall of Fame during a cere-
mony April 27.
Guthrie, a highly influential and prolific
American folk musician noted for his iden-
tification with the common man, is best
known for his song “This Land Is Your
Land,” and for his influence on such artists
as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Billy
Bragg.
He is the father of another folk musi-
cian, Arlo Guthrie, and a grandfather of Sa-
rah Lee Guthrie.
Although he initially was the subject of
much controversy for his populist views —
including in his hometown — the town
now has a statue honoring Guthrie in Me-
morial Park on Main Street.
In addition, Okemah is the home of the
Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, a summer
celebration of his legacy.
Donald Moore, the secretary of the Oke-
mah Chamber of Commerce, said induct-
ees normally are not admitted posthumous-
ly into the Hall of Fame, which was
founded in 1977. Moore said the chamber
board made an exception for the Dust
Bowl folk singer, who died in October
1967 in New York’s Queens borough.
“They just thought it was time, particu-
larly since this last year he was inducted
into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame,” Moore
said.
Also to be inducted are Joe Edgar Cheat-
wood, a local volunteer; Mark Smyth, a
natural gas analyst; and Ray Holman, a vo-
cational agricultural teacher.
The four will be honored at 6:30 p.m.
April 27 during the Okemah Hall of Fame
banquet at the Okemah High School com-
mons. The banquet is part of the Pioneer
Day weekend festivities. Admission is $15,
Moore said.
Matt Elliott 581-8366
matt.elliott@tulsaworld.com
CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World
Proceeds from this house in Sand Springs will go to the family of Tony Harris, who was a job supervisor for Concept
Builders Inc. before his death in December. Potential home buyers Ronald Johnson (right) and Justin Cole viewed the
home on Thursday.
Joe Worley Executive editor
581-8373
Susan Ellerbach Managing editor 581-8329
David Averill Editorial Pages editor 581-8330
Debbie Jackson Sunday editor 581-8374
Bill Harper Operations editor
581-8476
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To m Gilbert Chief Photographer 581-8350
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Mark Brown Design editor
581-8343
David Housh Graphics editor
581-8324
Rita Sherrow Television editor 581-8360
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On tap
For a full list of community events,
and to submit your event, go to
www.tulsaworld.com/calendar
WEDNESDAY
Food for thought
Donna Cannon and Betty Muratet,
the Sposato Sisters, teach a cook-
ing class at the Stock Pot, 7223 E.
41st St., that’s as much about family
stories and fun as it is about Mediter-
ranean food.
The class, which takes place from
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. includes samples of all
of the foods prepared, plus recipes to
take home. The cost is $40 per person.
627-1146
THURSDAY
Sesame Street Live
“Elmo Makes Music” features all
the gang from the children’s TV show,
including Big Bird, Ber t and Ernie,
Cookie Monster, Zoe and more. The
gang makes a new friend in this 27th
touring show when music teacher
Jenny comes to town, and the gang
makes music out of ordinary objects
like spoons, cookie jars and bottles.
“Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes
Music” kicks off with a 7 p.m. show
Thursday and continues through
Sunday. Thursday’s tickets are $11
(excludes Gold Circle).
Mabee Center, 495-6000
FRIDAY
Fiddler
Hall of
Fame
The inaugural gala of the National
Fiddler Hall of Fame at 7 p.m. at
Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N. Main St., will
offer 19 per for ming fi ddlers, includ-
ing “Hee Haw” regular Jana Jae and
Guthrie’s Byron Berline, a collabora-
tor with such artists as the Rolling
Stones and Bob Dylan. A special
guest will be Curly Lewis, one of the
few remaining Texas Playboys alums.
Tickets must be purchased in ad-
vance and are $130, available at Cain’s
Ballroom. Proceeds will benefi t the
Hall of Fame.
Cain’s Ballroom, 584-2306
SATURDAY
Porgy and Bess
George Gershwin’s opera “Porgy
and Bess” focuses on the natural
disasters and man-made crimes that
make the love between the beggar
Porgy and the good-time girl Bess all
the more poignant.
T ulsa Opera debuts Gershwin’s
masterpiece at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at
the T ulsa Perfor ming Ar ts Center.
Subsequent perfor mances are 7:30
p.m. April 20 and 2:30 p.m. April 22.
Tickets are $15-$90.
Performing Arts Center, 596-7111
www.MyTicketOffice.com
WHAT SHE SAID
‘(Life would be better if there were) someone other than
my mom to call when I have good news.’
CARRIE UNDERWOOD Oklahoma’s “American Idol.” read it in SCENE.
Page 2
Where you turn.
A2
Tulsa World
Wednesday, Apr il 11, 2007