Annexation and Lake Thunderbird

Annexation and Lake Thunderbird. The 1960s. Annexing hundreds of acres of east side farm and ranch and to build a reservoir and protect itself from Oklahoma City's encroachment, Norman grew to 184 square miles by the mid-1960s. By area, it was the nation's 10th-largest incorporated city. , Nearly 3,000 state residents submitted entries to name what was commonly referred to as the Little River Reservoir. The winning suggestion – Lake Thunderbird – was submitted by Mrs. Louie L. McKenzie of Oklahoma City. , Norman and much of central Oklahoma was excited about the lake which was dedicated Oct. 1, 1965 and water soon began to fill behind the 7,220-foot-long dam. The $17 million reservoir was needed as Norman added thousands of homes, apartments and university dormitories in this decade. By the mid-1960s, the population topped 45,000 with about 15,000 additional University of Oklahoma students. Norman had more than 15 public and private schools and in excess of 50 churches. A central kitchen was built at Norman High School to cook and ship food to all public schools in insulated carts transported in panel trucks. , Voters approved an $850,000 bond issue to buy and clear two blocks of land along Gray and Tonhawa Streets to build a much-needed new library, city hall and police station. Mayor Bill Morgan pulled together many city departments that were spread out in old Navy barracks and buildings along Gray Street. , In 1960, a new post office was constructed on West Gray Street. To the northwest a community park with an 18-hole golf course and swimming pool was built and named Westwood Park. It would join Reaves Park and Andrews Park as one of the city's community parks. , The University of Oklahoma's outreach program expanded with the construction of the Forum Building and Kellogg Center. A new engineering center, the Fred Jones Museum of Art and botany-microbiology building were among many campus structures built in the 1960s. The U.S. Weather Bureau's National Severe Storm Laboratory opened on the North Base campus near Max Westheimer Field. In the latter part of the decade, Dr. George and Barbara Henderson became the first African-American family to purchase a home in Norman. Longtime OU president George L. Cross retired in 1968 and began a career in banking. His scholarly and calming influence and that of his wife, Cleo, had a tremendous impact on the entire community. , Hundreds of Norman men were serving in the Guard and Reserve and keeping an eye on happenings in South Vietnam. The 45th National Guard Division had four unit headquarters and the state maintenance shop located in Norman. , Residents were waiting for construction to begin on State Highway 9 on the city's southern edge, with an interchange planned at Interstate 35. Customers had $50 million on deposit in Norman's five banks in 1965. Savings and loan had another $7 million. , – Essays by Andy Rieger