Swingin’ a rope. What’s that about? It started out as a tool of the livestock business, and Will Rogers turned it into entertainment, doing tricks that made people smile. Pure fun for its own sake. Can’t we all use that in our lives?
At least five days a week, Will Rogers students walk into a work of art, a building adorned inside and out with design elements and decorations that somebody cared enough to make perfect. They can’t help noticing the carved-stone images of Will, the multi-faceted Renaissance man. In one panel making movies. In others, talking on the radio, flying, cowboying. Usually wearing that sly sideways grin that says, “life is good.”
Does it matter? Of course it does. Anybody who gets such a big dose of such a big man is going to be touched by him. He reminds us to stay young at heart and keep a ready sense of humor. We teaches us to be patriotic and keep a skeptic’s eye on our government. Will was Oklahoma personified, of European and Native American ancestry. He dined with world leaders, and still showed us how to be true to our roots. Our minds are emblazoned with jeans-and-boots Will, standing on the common red clay of Oklahoma, with horses, cattle, and everyday folks, his favorite kind. Does that affect how we think about race, community, tolerance, and brotherhood? You bet.
A lot of other schools don’t have as much to talk about. They may be named for one-dimensional heroes, or not for heroes at all. Who else has a comedian for a role model? They may not talk about their namesakes as much, because whose namesakes fits every situation the way ours does? If you’re talking about world travel, embracing technology, the arts, journalism, friendship... almost any topic, there’s a Will Rogers story or quote. No wonder Will Rogers students hear so much about him. He fits everywhere.
There may be no greater launching pad than to grow up in the middle of America. Where people learn to stand tall in the middle of pancake prairies. Where people are formed out of dust, oil, architecture, show business, world leadership, and service to humanity. Where education sends people out to change the world for the better.
Of course it matters. We’re walking in the boot steps of Will Rogers.
Joe Johnston
Class of 1966