George Jones asked that question in 1985 about country music legends, the ones who blazed the trail, set the standard, and left the stage a little better than they found it. Lately, that old song has been stuck in my head for a different reason. Chickasha has been losing some of its giants. This past week, we said goodbye to one of them: John Grote. And it’s got me thinking a lot about leadership, legacy, and the people whose names don’t always make the current headlines, but whose fingerprints are all over the community we enjoy today. John moved to Chickasha in the 1970s with a big job and an even bigger task: opening Delta Faucet here. That wasn’t just a business decision; it was a community-changing moment. Jobs. Families. Growth. Stability. Confidence. Those things don’t just happen because a company hangs a sign on a building. They happen because there’s someone willing to shoulder the responsibility, make the tough calls, and believe in a town enough to invest their time and talent in it. That was John. He could have simply done his job and gone home. Instead, he chose to put down roots. He didn’t just work in Chickasha; he became part of Chickasha. Over time, that commitment led him to serve first the voluntary position of Chamber Chairman, then later as the full time position of President of the Chamber of Commerce, where his focus shifted from one company to the entire business community. He championed the idea that when Chickasha’s businesses do well, Chickasha’s families do well. Leaders like John didn’t see their roles as temporary assignments. They saw them as responsibilities: to employees, to neighbors, to the next generation. They were builders in every sense of the word: building factories, building organizations, building trust. I was blessed a couple of years ago to have coffee with John. I got to ask questions and hear stories of events back in the 80’s and 90’s. I got to hear how our Community faced challenges and then overcame them. He was a wealth of information and a joy to listen to about his time leading the Chamber. That brings me back to George Jones’ question: “Who’s gonna fill their shoes?” Not just who will sit in their offices or hold their titles, but, who will show up early and stay late when no one’s watching? Who will say yes to serving on the board, chairing the fundraiser, or mentoring the next wave of leaders? Who will look at Chickasha not as a place they live for a while, but as a place they’re willing to invest in for a lifetime? We talk a lot about the future…about growth, opportunity, and potential. But the future doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built on the hard work, determination, and quiet sacrifices of people like John Grote and so many others who came before us. Thank you John for fillin’ those shoes decades ago, because of people like you, today we get to enjoy #TheGoodStuff!

Now that school is out and Summer is here, what is there to do in Chickasha? I hear this a lot and certainly see it a lot on social media. “There’s nothing to do” or there’s nothing for kids to do.” That may have been the case in the past, but not in Chickasha 2026. Let’s start with kids. Now there’s not just the pool at Shannon Spring Park, but there is another one open to the public at Drover Hills Golf Course. Sure there’s a small fee to swim, but that pretty much goes to the high school students that are hired to be life guards. With the Thunder in the NBA playoffs, don’t forget about the Thunder Court at Washita Valley Park. It just got a new paint job last summer and like all our City parks it’s free to enjoy. Going back to Drover Hills, there are also basketball, tennis and pickleball courts there too. Drover Hills is very focused on helping youth learn the game and they just built the new Orville Moody practice facility. Give them a call for hours and special offer for youths. Jungle Ice offers all kinds of fun for kids, from put-put to video games and incredible snow cones, they have it all. Also don’t miss the library’s special summer programs, especially the ones showcasing America 250! So what can the adults do this summer in Chickasha. First of all go to visitchickasha.com for a listing of events, with so many to choose from, there really is something for everyone. Legends Pubhouse always has an incredible line up of live music. What a great venue to catch a touring national artist right here in our Community! The Chief Drive In offers a slice of Americana that makes us the envy of most other towns in Oklahoma. They are one of the few places in the entire state that offer the drive in movie experience. There are so many special events coming up this summer in our town, it’s amazing to see all the activities. The City of Chickasha will be providing free family fun with the Wings and Wheels Airshow on June 6th. The Chickasha Area Arts Council is adding a downtown arts festival that day to give the over 5,000 visitors who attend the Air show something to do in the afternoon that day. The Chickasha Community Theater will showcase some incredible kids during the performance of “The Lion King Jr” later on in June. There will also be a list of patriotic events during the Chamber’s Festival of Freedom that will run through July 4th weekend. You can check all that out on the Chamber’s website or social media pages. There is no doubt that I have accidently missed mentioning some stuff. That also makes my point of all that is going on. Our town is growing with new residents, new businesses but also a new level of excitement when it comes to things to do. It’s going to be a GREAT summer in Chickasha, get out and enjoy all #TheGoodStuff!