FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        October 11, 2007

REGENT BELVA HOWARD VISITS BELVA, OKLAHOMA

            Regional University System of Oklahoma Regent Belva Howard recently was the special guest of members of the Waynoka Historical Society during a visit to the site of the former town of Belva, southwest of Waynoka.

Carol King (left) and Sandie Olson of the Waynoka Historical Society present a copy of the “Warbonnet” magazine to Regional University System of Oklahoma Regent Belva Howard during a visit to the former town of Belva.

            When Howard was at Northwestern Oklahoma State University for a monthly meeting of the Board of Regents of the Regional University System of Oklahoma, Regent Richard Ryerson of Alva thought Howard, who is from Tulsa, might be interested in seeing the location of the former town that bore her name. She was, and a visit was arranged with Carol King and Sandie Olson of Waynoka.

            Belva was established in 1887 when the Santa Fe Railroad was built across the Cherokee Outlet as a place for steam engines to take on water. A town grew up around the watering site when the Outlet was opened for settlement in 1893.

            Olson said all remnants of the town are gone now, only the Belva railroad bridge is still in use.

            “The beautiful Belva bluffs tower above the old townsite and provide great opportunities for photographs,” Olson said.

            King and Olson presented Howard with the latest issue of the “Warbonnet,” a magazine published by the Santa Fe Railway Modeling and Historical Society. It is so named because of a Santa Fe Railroad locomotive paint scheme.

            The issue contains a story about the steep grade between Waynoka and Curtis written by Keel Middleton, a BNSF engineer who regularly travels through Alva and Waynoka.

            “We were thrilled when Mr. Ryerson mentioned Belva Howard and the possibility of showing her the townsite of Belva,” Olson said. We had a memorable time.”

-NW-

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