A tale of two stories

When I found out that I had won two first-place awards in the 2021 Oklahoma Press Association Better Newspaper Contest, I could not help but think of the contrast between the two winning articles.

There was the feature story of Katey Jo Gordon, a local rancher who competed on the TV reality show, “Ultimate Cowboy Showdown”. Next was the sports story of Gracee Miller, a Comanche basketball player who switched her jersey number in memory of her cousin killed in an auto accident.

One was a story of excitement and wonder, while the other was a story of heartbreak and healing.

Just the process of getting to talk to them was a contrast. In order to talk to Katey Jo, I had to go through the Inspiration Network public relations department. I had to set up a time for a telephone interview and the phone call was routed through the PR department, meaning they were listening in as I did the interview.

I have to admit, it was a little frustrating because Katey Jo was literally a few miles down the road from where I was and we couldn’t meet personally, but I also know why they did it that way. I understood that they wanted to make sure nothing was asked or spoken about the results since the competition was already over and had not debuted on TV, yet. For good reason, too, since Katey Jo won the competition.

I’m always cautious when it comes to talking to students about traumatic or emotional subjects, so when I found out that Gracee was switching her number, I thought it deserved more than a passing mention in a game story, but I also didn’t want to push it. 

When I saw her mother Brooke at a basketball scrimmage before the season just a couple of weeks after the fatal accident that claimed Britny, I sat down beside her in the stands and asked her about her thoughts on doing the story.

“I know it’s a sensitive subject right now, so I didn’t know if it would be a good idea,” I said to Brooke.

She looked at me with tears in her eyes and with her voice cracking, she said, “Todd, it’s always going to be a sensitive subject no matter when it is.”

Having her cousin Britny remembered and have her story told of the special bond she had with Gracee was the most important thing to the family.

I was asked if I could email questions instead of doing a personal interview, which I was willing to do. I can understand not wanting to break down in front of someone you don’t really know.

I get it. If being in the business for this long has taught me anything, it is to know your place, especially when it comes to students.

There are times of the year when it seems like I see Gracee more than my own children. But, as I said, I know my place. I’m just a newspaper guy old enough to be a parent or, in some cases, grandparent to students. At my last newspaper job, it took about three years for students to address me by name. I was simply called “newspaper guy” before that.

I will say with 100 percent certainty I would have not won these awards if it had not been for Katey Jo and Gracee being so willing to open up and tell me their stories.

I have two goals when I write an article on someone. First, don’t screw up the writing. Second, get out of the way, listen and let the subject tell their story. I don’t always succeed, but I do try.

These two young women did just that and I am grateful they allowed me to have a small part in telling their story. They, along with the people I won second and third place awards with this year, had just as much a part in the awards as I did.