By Richard Mize
Published: February 7, 2009
My first view of Lawton was from a high horse.
Blame Texans. They skewed my vision from Wichita Falls, 50 miles south on Interstate 44, where I lived 1989-1999.
Texans are a little high on themselves in the first place, you know — and I know because I lived amongst ’em for 10 years. Married one, in fact, some Texans bein’ likeable.
Then there was the Air Force-Army thing. Wichita Falls is an Air Force town, with Sheppard Air Force Base. Lawton is an Army town, with Fort Sill.
Besides that, two cities so close and so close in size, around 100,000, naturally compete for employers.
So, some of the fine folks of Wichita Falls, justifiably proud of the kids learning to fly at Sheppard, looked down their Texan noses a little at Fort Sill and its field artillery.
What did I know? I fell fast for Wichita Falls and its independent oil and big-ranch heritage and orientation. But eventually, Lawton hooked me with its history — the Army post dating to 1869, Indian reservations, Geronimo, free-range cattle.
The present’s not bad, either. And its future, with another 8,700 soldiers and others being relocated to Fort Sill by 2012, is so bright it needs shades.
Even so, when Lawton developer Steve Barnes told me that BusinessWeek named Lawton as one of the "Best Places to Raise Your Kids” for 2009, I was mildly surprised — but only because of lingering misperceptions those dang Texans foisted on me 20 years ago.
Let Barnes brag.
"I’m a fourth-generation Oklahoman. I’ve lived in Texas, California and Florida and all are great places to live. I just find the people here very easy to get along with,” he said. "Cost of living and quality of life are very good.
"I may have to drive to Oklahoma City or Norman to see various events, but it is faster and cheaper than when I lived in those other states. Families are able to educate their children in a safe environment. Housing costs are an issue.”
He meant Lawton’s affordable housing costs are an issue — a positive one.
"I’ve built some of the Goodyear plant managers’ homes,” he said, and it comes up "when they have the president of Goodyear in their homes discussing the great quality and prices compared to the rest of their plant locations.
"The same goes for the many military buyers I have in my new homes.”
With so many newcomers yet to arrive at Fort Sill, and so many of them buying affordable houses likely to hold their value through the recession, the chorus singing Lawton’s praises is sure to grow.
Maybe loud enough to drown out any noise coming from Texas.