Tom Hays
ENID — As local artist H. Holden continues to recover from lung transplant surgery, a fundraiser is set for Oct. 16 to help with medical expenses. Holden recently the lung transplant in July after being diagnosed with ideopathic pulmonary fibrosis several years ago. “He’s doing remarkably well,” said his wife, Edna Mae Holden.
The fundraiser will begin with an art show, sale and silent auction at 6:30 p.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church. Following the art show will be a concert at 7:30 p.m. featuring musicians Rich O’Brien and R.W. Hampton. There will be a meet-and-greet reception following the concert.
Tickets to the event are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. All proceeds will go toward H. Holden’s medical expenses. Holden was born in Enid and has lived in the area his whole life. “He’s a third-generation resident of the area,” Edna Mae said.
Holden’s lung transplant was performed in Oklahoma City, and he and Edna Mae had to live in Oklahoma City for more than a month following the operation. Now, the Holdens are back at their home in Kremlin and although he has to take about 45 pills each day, Holden is recovering well. “We’ve had a lot of support from our friends and our church and our family,” Edna Mae said. “We’re going to have some challenges down the road.” The main challenge is to keep Holden’s body from rejecting the donor lung, she said.
Although Holden lost about 50 pounds following his operation, he has regained strength and is beginning to work on his art again. “He’s working on a couple of monuments now,” Edna Mae said. She said he also is excited about a show he has coming up in Oklahoma City.
Tickets to the fundraiser can be purchased at Way Out West, Soapweeds and Cactus, Emmanuel Baptist Church and Simpson’s Old Time Museum. Tickets also may be purchased by calling R.W. Hampton at (800) 392-0822. Donations may be mailed to: H. Holden Medical Account, NBC Oklahoma, 3202 W. Garriott, Enid, OK 73703. For information, call 233-2379 between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Don't know what happened to the good old Blue uniforms of our day...
This is what happened when there was a touchdown.
Don't think we had any of these when we were in school.....
EHS Cheerleaders. The pretty girl on the left is my granddaughter, the only senior on the cheerleading squad.
The Gateway Enid project would renovate Enid’s downtown but also make it visible and appealing to people driving by on Garriott. (In the top right you can see the Broadway Tower and also on the right - middle - you can see the ballpark downtown)ENID — A few weeks ago H. Holden, well-known Kremlin artist, was so sick from lung disease he thought he might die.
July 2, he had lung transplant surgery and six days later was released from the hospital.
“He was off the ventilator the next day, in intensive care for three days and regular care three days,” said his wife, Edna Mae Holden. “We are staying in the city and have to have it checked every couple of weeks to make sure it isn’t being rejected.”
While sitting around, Holden has been sketching and plans a retrospective show to display examples of all of his work from his early days to the present. Titled “The Cowboy Way,” it will be held in the Gaylord-Pickens Museum in Oklahoma City. The show opens Aug. 6 at Oklahoma Heritage Association in Oklahoma City and will conclude at the end of November. Western singer R. W. Hampton will sing at the show Aug. 26.
There will be 30 bronzes and 15 paintings from his career on display, Edna Mae said.
“He is borrowing back some pieces to show the evolution of his career,” she said. “This is the first time there has ever been a show like this. All of his work, he is the only one in the show.”
Holden is well-known for his attention to detail and expert craftsmanship. When healthy, he spent much of his free time roping and staying close to the cowboy way of life, according to a prepared release by the museum.
There will be examples of 40 years of Holden’s painting, sculpting and drawing, some from very early in his career. A micro studio has been set up in the Holdens’ Oklahoma City residence, and he is attempting to start drawing again. Edna Mae Holden said it probably will take another month or two before he can work on larger items.
“He is working on some local things,” she said. “It’s been a while since he has been able to work, and he is weak and unsteady, but now he is sketching to get back in it.”
Even when Holden was ill he could sketch on his lap. She said there are thousands of photos and material from his more than 40 years as an artist. A half-size statue of Boomer, which commemorates the 1893 Cherokee Strip Land Run, will be in the show as well.
An opening reception will be 5-7 p.m. Aug. 26 at the museum. The reception is free to museum members and free with paid admission to non-members. Reservations must be made with Core Baker at (405) 523-3212 or clb@okalhomaheritage.com.
Plainsmen Field is getting a turf replacement costing $870,650 as part of the $100 million bond issue passed by Enid voters early in the year.
The project is expected to be completed in six to eight weeks and should be done by the beginning of pre-season football practice in August.
Pictures courtesy Tommy Parker.
This is free and each classmate can add a post or a comment if they want to. I will try to add all the things I had on the other website if I can.
