Woodward, Oklahoma sits in the western part of the state and is home to 12,000 residents. This mid-sized city has lived through the various economic developments of America.
During its 122 years of history, the town first experienced growth thanks to the booming railroad industry. Then came the famous cattle drives that brought animals and people to the town. In the 20th century, Woodward experienced the Oklahoma oil boom...and the oil bust that eventually followed.
These days, Woodward hopes to be part of the renewable energy industry. With the famous Oklahoma wind blowing through it, Woodward is perfectly situated for wind power. As the town's website proudly proclaims:
"Woodward is rapidly becoming the state’s hub for sustainable energy as 38,000 megawatts of wind generation is currently being developed in the rolling grasslands of Northwest Oklahoma. With a 345 kV transmission line under construction by OG&E that will link these facilities to Oklahoma City, and an additional 765 kV transmission project proposed to bring even more capacity online across the Oklahoma panhandle and Kansas, these new ventures will help power America’s future with clean, renewable energy."
Whether it was to honor the town's proud past or its promising future, a distinguished visitor decided to spend the 4th of July in Woodward--the 43rd president of the United States, George W. Bush:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/local/stories/DN-bushokla_06met.ART.State.Edition2.4ba6641.html
Bush spoke to the crowd and thanked them for the spirit of community that was on display throughout the town.
"At its core," he said, "patriotism is defined by answering the call to serve a cause greater than yourself."
The crowd loved the message, perhaps because the town lives the message. Thousands came out to join together and reflect on America's independence.
As the article notes:
"Odalee Craighead, a 66-year-old teacher and wife of Woodward County Commissioner Ted Craighead, said she thought Bush was sending a signal to the heartland.
"'Why not come to a small community to tell America, 'I'm still here and I care about you'?'"
Interestingly, while Woodward tries to shift from oil to wind, the economy in that town is struggling. Jobs have been lost; people are going without. Yet most folks seem to content to fight it out in Woodward and make the best of it.
This is the same spirit that helped the town overcome a tornado a few years back. Rather than give up, the town built up again. And this 4th of July that spirit was on display as brass bands played in front of red, white and blue bunting and little kids watched the turtle races.
Maybe one trip from a former president can't turn around Woodward's economy overnight. But it was a nice tribute to a neat town.
And maybe the town is right when it says on its website that it is "building on the past and moving forward into a bright future!"
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