Stanley Draper
Stanley Draper | |
|---|---|
 A statue of Stanley Draper in Oklahoma City. | |
| Managing Director of OKC Chamber of Commerce[1] | |
| In office 1930–1960 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Stanley Carlisle Draper November 21, 1889 Lasker,North Carolina |
| Died | January 8, 1976(aged 86) Oklahoma City,Oklahoma |
| Cause of death | Heart failure |
| Resting place | Rose Hill Burial Park,Oklahoma City,Oklahoma |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1914–1919 |
| Rank | First lieutenant |
Stanley Carlisle Draper(November 21, 1889 – January 8, 1976) was an American community leader responsible for the growth ofOklahoma Cityinto a regional power during the mid-20th century. Together withEdward K. Gaylord,and other prominent members of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, he was able to shape the city into its present form. He was instrumental in the creation ofTinker Air Force Base,theFederal Aviation AdministrationCenter,Will Rogers World Airport,Lake Hefner,theNational Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum,and many infrastructure projects key to establishing Oklahoma City as a transportation hub.[2]Lake Stanley Draperholds his namesake after his plan for a reservoir near Tinker Air Force Base came to fruition. He was known for his sometimesutopianand superfluous ideas oncity planning,resulting in massive annexations of the area surrounding the city. One of his failed visions included an attempt to expand the city borders across the state toTulsa, Oklahomacreating anOklahomamegalopolis.This led to Oklahoma City growing to become one of themost extensive citiesin the United States.[3]
Early years
[edit]Draper was born on a farm inLasker, North Carolina.His family was of Scotch-Irish descent and he was one of nine children. He earned a certificate of teaching before attendingShenandoah University.[4]After graduation, he enrolled atThe University of Chicagobefore dropping out to enlist in theUnited States ArmyduringWorld War 1.
Impact on Oklahoma City
[edit]Draper arrived in Oklahoma City after being discharged from the Army in 1919. His arrival in the city was prompted by a job offer to help lead the struggling Chamber of Commerce.[5]One of his first matter of business was relocating the cluttered railroad tracks downtown and securing funds to build a grandUnion Station.This station still stands on the grounds of the modern-dayScissortail Park.He further expanded Oklahoma City's access to other major cities by securing federal funds to build freeways through the city. One such freeway was a route fromEl Paso, TexastoBuffalo, New York,today'sU.S. Route 62,which would become the basis for two future cross-countryinterstate highways.[5]He spent many of his summers living in Washington D.C. lobbying for federal funds and establishing connections with Washington elites.[5]His connections were used to great effect as he nearly singlehandedly convinced the Federal Government to change aviation routes to fly through Oklahoma City's new airport.[5]
AfterWorld War IItheUnited States Air Forcewas deciding betweenWichita, Kansas,and Oklahoma City as the site of a new base. Draper used private and public funds to buy land aroundMidwest Air Depotwhile offering massive incentives to the Air Force.[5]Reports state that he was even responsible for bailing out unruly Air Force officials from prison and ensuring records of their offenses were erased from the public record.[5]Oklahoma City ultimately won the bid to build the new base. Today, Tinker Air Force Base is the largest single-site employer in Oklahoma with over 55,000 jobs that can be attributed to the base.[6]
Draper was known as a master of publicity who would stage public stunts such as the New Land Run which was a demonstration of theLand Rush of 1889to draw in tourism. Such demonstrations were vital in the establishment of Oklahoma City as a convention hub during the mid-20th century. One of his wilder ideas for the city was to make an artificial mountain near downtown that would serve as a focal point for the city's image.[5]He retired from the Chamber of Commerce in 1968 after several decades and positions within the organization. He continued to advocate for the city until his death.
Death and legacy
[edit]Draper died of heart failure on January 8, 1976, at St. Anthony's Hospital in Oklahoma City. His half-century-plus dedication to Oklahoma City was instrumental in the massive growth that the city saw during the middle part of the 20th century. The city nearly quadrupled during his life with much of today's growth being directly attributed to his labor and ruthless dedication to improving the economic opportunities of the city. Many critics accuse Draper of using dictatorial tactics to supersede the state and municipal governments to accomplish his visions. He used his political and media connections to raise funds that government entities couldn't while suppressing any negative discourse about his actions in the papers and radio.[5]His supporters claim these tactics were essential in the creation of a modern metropolitan area and are the sole reason for Oklahoma City's current cultural and economic stature within the United States.
References
[edit]- ^"Stanley Draper The Civic Legend Behind The Scenes".Oklahoma Hall of Fame.Retrieved23 December2023.
- ^"Stanley C. Draper".Oklahoma Hall of Fame.Retrieved23 December2023.
- ^"OKC FACTS AND FIGURES".greateroklahomacity.Greater Oklahoma City.Retrieved23 December2023.
- ^Wilson, Linda."DRAPER, STANLEY CARLISLE (1889–1976)".okhistory.Oklahoma Historical Society.Retrieved23 December2023.
- ^abcdefghAnderson, Sam (2018).Boom Town: The Fantastical Saga of Oklahoma City, Its Chaotic Founding, Its Apocalyptic Weather, Its Purloined Basketball Team, and the Dream of Becoming a World-class Metropolis.New York: Crown.
- ^"TINKER ECONOMIC IMPACT".United States Department of Defense.