Senator Hall Celebrates Guthrie Day at the Capitol, Recognizes Legacy of Guthrie Veteran

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, on Thursday celebrated Guthrie Day at the state Capitol and recognized the extraordinary life and legacy of a renowned local veteran.

The second annual Guthrie Day at the Capitol brought city officials, chamber of commerce leaders and dozens of local business owners to Oklahoma City.

From the Senate floor, Hall, along with Reps. Collin Duel, R-Guthrie, and John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando, welcomed and recognized Mayor Adam Ropp, City Manager Eddie Faulkner, Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Brittany Timmons, and other Guthrie residents at the Capitol for the festivities. A formal citation celebrating Guthrie Day was also read.

“Guthrie has it going on,” Hall said. “Established during the Land Run and known as Oklahoma’s first capital, this community still has that same pioneering spirit. Today, it’s a hub for thriving small businesses and Oklahoma’s growing film industry. But most importantly, Guthrie is home to some of the finest people I’ve ever met.”

The Senate also passed Senate Resolution 33 from Hall recognizing the distinguished military career and decades of public service of former Guthrie resident Oscar J. Upham. The resolution also celebrates the naming of the U.S. post office in Guthrie in his honor. Upham’s great-granddaughter, Kathy Hayes, and her son, Cooper, were invited onto the Senate floor for the reading of the resolution.

“Oscar J. Upham was a pillar of the Guthrie community,” Hall said. “This resolution recognizes his extraordinary life, his commitment to public service and his devotion to our country. I am so pleased that the legacy of this distinguished veteran and dedicated public servant will now be a permanent fixture at the local post office.”

Upham was born in Ohio to a family of Irish immigrants. In search of greater opportunity, the family staked a claim in Guthrie during the historic Land Run of 1889, when he was 16 years old. The resolution credits Upham with firing the very first shot during the Spanish-American War. He was also bestowed the Congressional Medal of Honor for his courage under enemy fire while serving as a security officer for a multinational delegation during the Boxer Rebellion in China.

Upham, who died in 1949, was the first honoree inducted into the Guthrie Military Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame.