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MUNICIPAL COURT

Terri Jean Fletcher, El Reno, dog at large, $145.

Cristy Marie Ford, El Reno, speeding, $165.

Joni Simone Curtis, El Reno, failure to stop at stop sign, $165.

Jacob Randall Taylor, Healdton, speeding, $245.

Brooke Anne Sanchez, Rialto, Calif., failure to wear seat restraint, $20.

Evan Garrett Riddle, El Reno, speeding, $175.

Kevin Theodore McMillan, El Reno, operating ATV without permit and operating vehicle in restricted area, $390.

Eliaz Limpy, El Reno, dog at large, $145.

After months of research, fundraising, construction and preparation, Memorial Stadium’s updated Gold Star Plaza was unveiled to applause, tears and gratitude. 

The three new monuments are dedicated to those from El Reno who lost their lives in either World War I, Korea or Vietnam. The 61 added veterans, including 18 more names related to service in World War II, join the original 44 WWII vets first honored in 2019.

Brian Rukes said he knew the minute the original WWII Gold Star Plaza was dedicated, the journey was not over. 

World War I Monument

Pvt. Grover Benjamin Bannister, U.S. Army

Pvt. Frank Welker Coit, U.S. Army

PFC Dick Dulaney, U.S. Army Med. Corps

Appr. Seaman Sidney McKillop Empey, USNR

1st Sgt. Clyde Osborne Hoffman, U.S. Army

S2c Ulysses Simpson Houser, U.S. Navy

Pfc. Ernest Moore, U.S. Army

Sgt. Michael Hugh O’Connor, U.S. Army

Pvt. Charles A. Penwright, USMC

PFC James Lincoln Reynolds, U.S. Army

Cpl. Stephen Robert “Bob” Shaw, U.S. Army

Pvt. Laurence L. Sheckler, U.S. Army

2nd Lt. Billy Jack Evans
U.S. Army Air Forces
Born June 11, 1922. Died May 16, 1943

Note: One of the 44 young men we are honoring had ties to the former Evans Cleaners in downtown El Reno. He worked there, and his father started the business.

Tech. Sgt. James Alfred Hinds (Class of 1938)
U.S. Army Air Forces
Born June 14, 1918. Died June 28, 1943 (Wyoming)

Served as an engineer/top turret gunner on a Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress heavy bomber.

Melvin W. Jacks
U.S. Army
Born September 23, 1924. Died April 19, 1945

Technician 4th Grade Melvin W. “Rookie” Jacks, one of four brothers who served in World War II, was a radio operator with the B-573rd Signal Air Warning battalion.

▶ Nov. 11, 1918, was largely considered the end of the “war to end all wars,” even though the Treaty of Versailles, which officially ended World War I, was signed June 28, 1919.

▶ While Veterans Day is an American holiday, Canada, Great Britain, Australia and France also honor the veterans of World War I and World War II on or near Nov. 11. Canada celebrates Remembrance Day, while Britain observes Remembrance Sunday each year on the second Sunday of November.

▶ Data from the Department of Veterans Affairs says there are around 19 million U.S. veterans as of 2021.

2nd Lt. Luther Hendrix “Buddy” Smith Jr.
U.S. Army Air Forces
Born January 4, 1924. Died May 20, 1944

Known as a particularly bright young man, Luther H. “Buddy” Smith Jr. was a graduate of El Reno High School Class of 1941.

George Wesley Tomlins
U.S. Army
Born October 14, 1893. Died February 5, 1918

George Wesley Tomlins was born in Rush Springs in the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma.  

S/Sgt. Thomas Gordon Jackson (Class of 1928)
U.S. Army Air Forces
Born May 16, 1908. Died October 20, 1945

Thomas Gordon Jackson was a graduate of EHS, a member of the Class of 1928.