by Rep. John Pfeiffer
The Legislature took time to remember the Oklahoma City bombing in advance of the 30th anniversary. The lives of 168 Oklahomans were taken in what is known as the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in United States history.
We heard from former Gov. Frank Keating about how the Oklahoma Standard emerged from this tragedy. He told of how firefighters came from other states to help in the recovery. How they left the state with the dollars they had in their pockets when they arrived, because Oklahomans wouldn’t let them pay for anything while they were here. We bought their meals and new clothes and whatever else they needed. We didn’t know how else to say thank you for coming and for caring.
We heard from Kari Watkins, the executive director of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, about how she and her staff are planting seedlings from the Survivor Tree at the Memorial at schools in all 77 of Oklahoma’s counties as seedlings of hope for a better future.
We heard from a journalist who recounted being at ground zero the day of the bombing.
Oklahoma Agriculture Secretary Blayne Arthur gave the closing prayer for the joint session. She lost her mom in the bombing. Her voice broke during the prayer as she choked back tears remembering the anguish she and her family experienced.
We must never forget what happens when anger turns to rage. We must find a more peaceful way to move past our divisions. I pray this for myself and my child and for future generations.
I also had the privilege of recognizing the Blackwell High School Wrestling Team, The Maroons won the 2025 Class 3A State Championship, scoring an impressive 190.5 team points – more than double that of the second place team, Salina. Senor Kruz Goff also become Blackwell’s first ever four-time state champ.
I also got to recognize members of the Noble County Farm Bureau who visited the House.
Week before last, Kade Burgess, a junior at Welch High School, paged for me at the Capitol.
Kade is the son of Shane and Heather Burgess. He is an inductee into the National Honor Society, is first in his class, and already taking college classes. He’s a member of FFA, Student Council, Technology Student Association, Star FFA Discovery and Interact.
After high school, Kade plans to attend either Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College or Northern Oklahoma College to earn his associate’s degree, then transfer to Oklahoma State University to study agricultural economics. He hopes eventually to become an agricultural loan officer.
I have quite a bit in common with Kade, coming from similar backgrounds in FFA and agriculture. It was nice to be able to show him a little bit about state government and the legislative process while he was at the Capitol. I wish him the very best in his future.
It’s an honor to serve the folks of House District 38. As always, if you have concerns about bills, or problems I can assist you in solving, please reach out to me at [email protected] or call my office at 405-557-7332.
-John Pfeiffer serves District 38 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Grant County and parts of Garfield, Kay, Logan and Noble counties.
