
January 9, 2023
Elk City Chamber of Commerce Press Release
The Elk City Leadership Hall of Fame 2023 Inductees are David Bank, MD and Rick Muncrief. They will officially be inducted Tuesday January 17, 2023 between the Elkettes and Elks Basketball Games at the Pioneer Center along with a reception honoring them 5-6 pm also at the Pioneer Center downstairs in the hospitality room. Family and Friends are welcome to come and congratulate them. Qualifications for honorees include…have been a resident or have worked in Elk City and ideally have attended Elk City Schools at some point. They must have brought positive pride and recognition to Elk City for exemplary leadership in their chosen occupation leading to city/state and/or national achievement.
David Bank, MD was Born in Chicago, Illinois on November 3, 1945 and then raised in Enid, Oklahoma. After Graduating from Northwestern Oklahoma State college, Alva, Oklahoma in 1967, he met the love of his life Kristine Johnson of Elk City, and they married November 8th, 1969.
Furthering his education, Dr. Bank graduated from Oklahoma University School of Medicine in 1971. They then moved to Santa Monica, California to complete a 3-year Family Practice Residency. After finishing his residency in 1974, he served 2 years Active Duty in the United States Air Force at USAF in Colorado Springs.
In June of 1976 Dr. Bank and Kristine moved to Elk City to open his Private Solo Family Practice. While working in his Family Practice he Delivered 2000 Babies between 1976 and 1993.
Dr. Bank has served in many local areas during the years which includes, Chief of Staff at Great Plains Regional Medical Center – 3 times; Volunteer Team Physician for the Elk City High School for 15 years – 1985 through 2000 and past Member of the Education Foundation.
He is presently serving as Medical Director for the Elk City Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, Family Choice Home Health, Comforting Hands Hospice and Traditions Hospice.
Rick Muncrief was appointed to the board of directors and elected president and chief executive officer of the company in January 2021 following Devon’s merger with WPX Energy. Muncrief previously served as chief executive officer and chairman of the board of WPX Energy.
Rick’s 40 plus year career started in the Elk City area as a 17 yr. old teenager working on a pipe inspection crew and later as a roughneck. During his career, he had worked predominately for El Paso Exploration, Burlington Resources, Conoco Phillips, and Continental Resources before joining WPX.
Muncrief holds a Bachelor of Science in petroleum engineering technology from Oklahoma State University, where he has also been recognized as a distinguished alumnus and is a member of the College of Engineering, Architecture & Technology Hall of Fame.
Along with Devon Energy, he also currently serves on the board of directors of Williams Companies in Tulsa. Rick serves on the board of directors and the executive committee of the American Petroleum Institute and is a past chairman and currently serves on the board of directors and the executive committee of the American Exploration & Production Council. In addition, he also serves on the national advisory board of the Gilcrease Museum, National Western Heritage & Cowboy Museum board of directors, Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation board of directors, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, and United Way of Central Oklahoma board of directors.
Rick is married to Elk City native, Gail Webb Muncrief and they have two grown children and two grandsons. They have lived and worked in Elk City; Amarillo, Texas; Billings, Montana; Denver, Colorado and Farmington, New Mexico before moving back to Oklahoma in 2008.
Copyright 2023 Paragon Communications. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.

🎸 Wild Plum Jam Music Fest 2025 – July 19 in Sayre, OK
Get ready, Western Oklahoma — Wild Plum Jam Music Fest 2025 is back and it might get a little Western! 🤠 Join us on Saturday, July 19 at Sayre City Park for a full day of music,

Wellington Man Sentenced to Probation for Felony Family Violence Case
Memphis, TX — A Wellington man has been sentenced to probation following a felony plea in Hall County’s 100th Judicial District Court. Jacob Arron Florez, 27, pleaded guilty on Monday to assault family violence by strangulation, a third-degree

Search Warrant Executed in Elk City Drug Investigation
Elk City, OK – On Tuesday, June 24, the Elk City Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence on 9th Street as part of an ongoing drug investigation. The operation is tied to efforts aimed

OSIDA to Weigh Aerospace Expansion and STEM Grant at June 27 Meeting
Oklahoma City, OK — The Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA) will consider multiple action items at its upcoming meeting on Friday, June 27, potentially advancing both economic development and education in Western Oklahoma. A key agenda

Beutler Wins Literary Award
By Landry Brewer Amarillo, TX – Randy is dandy at writing great books. Former Southwestern Oklahoma State University President Randy Beutler recently won the Finalist Award in Contemporary Non-Fiction for his book “Impresarios of the Rodeo Arena:

SWOSU Signs International Agreement at Paris Air Show
SWOSU Press Release Paris, France – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) in Weatherford is expanding its global reach with a new educational agreement signed at one of the world’s largest international trade shows. SWOSU President Dr. Diana

Fatal Wreck South of Shattuck Claims Life of Perryton Man
Shattuck, OK — A collision that occurred earlier this month on U.S. Highway 60 has resulted in a fatality, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The crash happened at 7:14 a.m. on Wednesday, June 4, roughly 9

FLETC to Host Advanced Use of Force Training in Elk City
Elk City, OK – The Elk City Police Department is set to host a specialized Use of Force Training presented by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) from September 23rd through 26th, 2025. This advanced course

Birdsong Family Makes Major Gift to SWOSU Football
SWOSU Press Release Weatherford, OK – Shylan and Carl Birdsong of Amarillo, Texas have made a generous gift to the Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Football Legacy Fund. The SWOSU Football Legacy Fund exists to provide financial

SWODA Receives $30,000 Grant to Launch Mileage Reimbursement Polit Program in Southwest Oklahoma
SWODA Press Release Burns Flat, OK – The South Western Oklahoma Development Authority (SWODA) and the Southwest Oklahoma Regional Transportation Planning Organization (SORTPO) are pleased to announce the grant award of $30,000 from the Carolyn Watson Rural

Relay for Life at SWOSU Raises More Than $20,000 for American Cancer Society
SWOSU Press Release Weatherford, OK – Weatherford community members and SWOSU students joined together to raise more than $20,000 for the American Cancer Society during Relay for Life of Beckham and Custer County. The event brought together

Beckham County Sheriff's Office Named as “5-Star Model Agency” In OLETS Audit
BCSO Press Release Sayre, OK – A recent triennial audit cycle by the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (OLETS) resulted in an outstanding rating of the Beckham County Sheriff’s Office Communications Division. OLETS is a division of

Oklahoma Wheat Harvest Stalled by Rain, Now 30 Percent Complete
The Oklahoma wheat harvest gained some ground last week, but widespread rains across the state have since brought fieldwork to a crawl, according to Paragon Ag News Director Jimmy Clark. Producers and custom harvesters are still entering

Multi-Agency Sting in Elk City Nets Six Arrests on Drug and Felony Charges
Elk City, OK — A coordinated law enforcement operation led by the Elk City Police Department has resulted in multiple arrests tied to serious criminal offenses, following the execution of several search warrants. The effort, carried out

Elk City High School Graduate Named OCU A.D.
Oklahoma City, OK – Elk City native Sadiaa Jones was recently hired as the new Oklahoma City University Athletics Director. The 1995 Elk City High School graduate has been Executive Athletic Director for Dallas College since 2021.

SWOSU, Community Leaders Visit Fort Sill with Oklahoma Army National Guard
SWOSU Press Release Weatherford, OK – Representatives from Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) and the City of Weatherford recently joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard for a visit to Fort Sill that highlighted the Guard’s military capabilities

SWOSU and OSIDA Partner to Expand Workforce Opportunities
SWOSU Press Release Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) and the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Monday, June 9, during a ceremony at SWOSU’s Weatherford campus. The

Alumni Weekend Raises Over $40,000 for SWOSU Football Program
Weatherford, OK – Dozens of Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) alumni and friends spent a stellar weekend celebrating SWOSU Football Legacy weekend June 6 and 7, in Weatherford. Over $40,000 was raised to support the SWOSU football

Concrete Truck Overturns at 20th and Pioneer in Elk City
Elk City, OK – A concrete truck overturned Thursday morning just after 10 a.m. at the intersection of 20th Street and Pioneer in Elk City. According to Elk City Police Chief Eddie Holland, the truck tipped over

Great Plains Regional Medical Center: Helping save lives, decrease Opioids impact
SWODA Press Release Beckham County – SWODA is proud to announce a significant partnership with Great Plains Regional Medical Center. The partnership placed a Naloxone vending machine at the Emergency Room entrance of the hospital, providing 24-hour,

Clinton Utility Customers Urged to Pay Early Ahead of Software Transition
Clinton, OK – The City of Clinton has announced a temporary disruption in utility payment services due to a scheduled software transition. From Tuesday evening, June 17, 2025, through Thursday, June 19, 2025, there will be no

Rick Koch Announces Candidacy for State Senate District 26
Weatherford, OK – Rick Koch, a conservative businessman and community leader, has officially entered the race for Oklahoma State Senate District 26. The announcement came in a press release provided by Koch’s campaign, highlighting a platform centered

Oklahoma Drought-Free for First Time in Nearly Six Years
Oklahoma is officially drought-free—for the first time since June 25, 2019. The U.S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday, June 12, 2025, shows no signs of drought across the entire state. Not even the typical “Abnormally Dry” (D0)

OSIDA Announces Historic Partnership with Dawn Aerospace to Bring Spaceflight to Oklahoma
OSIDA Press Release Burns Flat, OK – The Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA) is proud to announce an innovative partnership with Dawn Aerospace that will bring the company’s revolutionary Aurora spaceplane to the Oklahoma Air and

Route 66 Fest Returns to Elk City for Father's Day Weekend Fun
Elk City, OK — The Route 66 Fest is rolling back into Elk City for a weekend packed with entertainment, food, and community celebration just in time for Father’s Day. Hosted at Ackley Park on Friday and