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Come share in Camp Rock Creek's illustrious history of
serving God, loving kids, and having tons of fun!!!
In The Beginning:
1955-Ater promoting the idea of a youth camp, by T. Roy Finley, Norman's
University church preacher, a six-man committee from University and
Central Churches of Christ (Norman, Okla.) began looking for land
suitable for a camp. After Vernon Fry, an elder and county agent, found
an old gravel pit area northeast of Norman at N.E. 48 and Rock Creek
Road, the grass lands and timber area of 80 acres were purchased for
$5,000 through Wilbur Smith, Christian & Realtor. The camp was
incorporated as a non-profit organization and has been operated since
l958 by its Board of Directors. The Board is made up of Christian men
from various congregations of the Churches of Christin Central Oklahoma.
The Board meets as a group monthly to oversee the use of the
facilities.
1957 - The big bell in the brick tower was given by family & friends in
memory of Jacky Glenn Sharpe Jr., Edmond, Okla., from the former
Guthrie, Okla.,City Hall.
1958, '59 - First Director of all sessions was T. Roy Finley,Norman's
University, spending summer in a small trailer. Bob Wilkerson, Tulsa's
S. Yale, directed 1 session '58.
1959 - Second Director of all sessions: Keith Wilkerson.
1958-59 - First Resident Manager was Marion and Nancy Hyatt,University,
in their mobile home.
1959-'75 - Resident Manager-Emery & Peggy Danley, in a mobile home.
First Kitchen Managers were Wilbur and Sadie Smith, who continued for
over 10 yrs.
1957 - Boys and girls shower houses were built.
1958 - Tents were used for sleeping; chapel and classes were held
outdoors; the kitchen was a shack.
Board of Directors: 1958 - Cecil Watson - Ponca City; T. Roy Finley,
Ralph Kelly - University; O.L. Harris, Everett Baird, Tom Beam, C. A.
Buchanan - Edmond; James O. Baird - Central Christian College in
Bartlesville; Jim Bills - Chickasha; H.V.Burrough - Ada; Boyce Delong,
Lloyd DuBoise - Midwest City; Vernon Frye - Norman;Eddie Jones - Del
City; Lloyd Jones - OKC; Harlan Moss, Harry Morton, Roy Randolph - OKC;
J.H. Stout, Ray Vaughn Sr.- OKC; later in 50's-A.L.Mason, Wilbur Smith.
1960s: 1960-1966 - Third Director of all sessions was Ralph and Gladys
Burcham. Their family of 4 lived in a small mobile home;
'67 Director: Mickey Gilliland, OKC; '1968 - 1969 - Dick & Jarana
Robey,OKC.
1960-1975 - Resident Manager: Emery & Peggy Danley
Facilities include the director’s cabin, 1500 sq. ft. built in 1965; l2
cabins- six for boy’s & six for girl’s
The Randy Keele Pool provides swimming facilities for the camp. The pool
was donated to Rock Creek in 1963 by Drs. Doman and Marjorie Keele as a
memorial to their son, Randal K.
Handyman, cook, teacher, and counselor for 20 yrs were Bill and Rita
Grieb.
Life Guards: Boys- 1970-1974 - Allen Grieb; Girls - Bonnie Jones
1960s Board of Directors: Bill Grieb, John Pigg, Doman Keele, Ralph
Kelly, Bill Stanczyk.
Churches using CRC: Southwest, Norman’s University and Central.
1970s: Directors of sessions: James & Arletta (sp?)Robinson ('70, 7l);
Gary and Jeanette Canan (‘72-75);
1976: Congregations began directing their own sessions
1970-75: Resident Manager: Emery & Peggy Danley.
1976-79: Resident Manager: B
1975: Director’s cabin winterized.
1976: Kitchen, boys’ and girls’ shower houses winterized.
1977: Built Resident Manager’s house for $40,000. Southwest bought
dishwasher; Norman Central teens planted 400 trees on the western
border.
1978 & 1979: Head cook- Kathi Paine
1979: Lifeguards - Scott Beall and Theresa Parker
Weekly summer session director & church using CRC: Norman’s Westside,
University, and Central; Southwest; Choctaw; Cherokee Hills; Edmond’s
College; Bethany; Ridgecrest; Mayfair; Lakehoma; S. Shields; Hillcrest;
Clinton; Barnes; Bill Blackstone,Steve Bailey-Del City.
1970s Board of Directors: Bill Blackstone, Lynn Stephens-DelCity; Lewis
Hale, Gary Canan-Southwest; Joe McCormack; Arless Murray Jr; DickRobey;
Ron Hess; John Hill; Louis Kasbaum
Hugo McCord (June 24, 1911 - May 14, 2004) "For many years great
spiritual good has been accomplished among precious young people during
the summer sessions at Camp Rock Creek. The bodies of young people
belong to God (Ps. 24:1), and they can not be healthy without exercise
(1 Tim. 4:8, and at CRC athletics are practiced. God does not want young
people to be "loners" (Pr. 18:1); at CRC joyous fellowship with the
finest of young people is enjoyed. Animals are nourished by physical
food alone, but human beings do not live by bread alone; they need
spiritual food that can only be supplied by biblical teaching (Mt 4:4);
at CRC, there is no lack of Bible classes, plus meaningful worship
services. You ought to visit a summer session of Camp Rock Creek and see
what is done, and what more could be done if you would contribute to
that worthy undertaking. Your checks are tax deductible, and will make
the world better, and heaven richer, as the lives of young people are
transformed to be more like Christ
1980s: ResidentManager: Bob and Kathi Paine; Barry & Lorinda Heath;
Del City winterized one boys’ and one girls’ cabins; Choctaw and Nicoma
Park made new ampitheatre.
1985: New dining hall, kitchen, and cook’s quarters builtdown the hill
from swimming pool.
Life Guards: Boys - Joe Gilmore,
Weekly summer session director & churches: Lewis Hale & Gary Canan-Southwest;
Ben Glover-Del City; Mark Hale-Oakcrest; Bill Conkling-Bristow; Mike
McKee-Norman's Alameda; Louis Thompson-Choctaw; Roger Thompson, all
churches Day Camp-Choctaw; Northwest; Nicoma Park; Mayfair;Bethany;
Moore Central.
Booster Clubs at Southwest, Choctaw, Eastside, and Del City began fund
raisers of pancake breakfast, garage sale, dinner, auction,
1990s: Resident Managers: Ty and Marilyn Adcock;
1998 - 2003 Joe and Heather Gilmore.
Lifeguard: Girls-Michelle Meeks;
1990: New girls shower house built.
1996: New boys shower house built; one girls’ cabin built.
1999: Two old Coca-Cola refrigerators replaced by new walk-in
refrigerator.
Weekly summer session director & church using CRC: Barry & Lewis
Hale-Southwest; Northwest; Ben Glover, Rick Odell-Del City; Choctaw;
Eastside; Arpoika Daniels-Ridgecrest; Philip Treat-Bartlesville’s Adams
Blvd; Shawnee’s Lakeview; Greg Clark-Tulsa’sYale; Alameda; Moore Central
& also Day Camp for all churches.
Board of Directors: Tim Hempel, Rick Shimp, Dick Judd, Jim McWhirter,
Gary Pistole, Lynn Stephens-Del City; Arpoika Daniels-Ridgecrest; Randy
Harris, Barry & Lewis Hale, Gary Canan-Southwest;Louis Thompson-Choctaw;
Mark Livingston-Alameda; Mark Hamm, Russell Wade, Ken Keeler-Moore
Central; Fred Lowry; Gary Perry; Clifford White; Dennis Broderson;Bill
Conkling; David Gramling.
2000-2003: Resident Managers: Joe and Heather Gilmore.
2001 A-frame chapel built in 1960 replace by larger open air chapel
2004 - present: Resident Manager Greg Jensen Weekly summer session
director & church using CRC: John Ricketts-Del City; Barry & Lewis
Hale-Southwest; Regan Walters-Moore Central; Ben Glover-Shawnee's
Lakeview;
The Future is in YourHands:
Sources for information: Bill & Rita Grieb; T. Toy & JoAnn Finley; Ralph
& Gladys Burcham; Gary & Jeanette Canan; and Lewis & Ruth Hale, as given
to Della Scott, 1999-2001.
If you have any other information that is not included in what has been
collected please e-mail us with the information and we will update the
site with the new information.
Current Camp Rock Creek Board
Kyle Parker, Del City Church of Christ, President
Kent Brown, Northwest Church of Christ, Vice-President
Rick Shimp, Del City Church of Christ, Treasurer
Eddie Skelton, Northwest Church of Christ, Secretary
Greg Jensen, Westside Church of Christ, Camp Manager
Tim Hempel, Del City Church of Christ
Richard Judd, Del City Church of Christ
Ken Keeler, Moore Central Church of Christ
Patrick Robinson, Lakeview Church of Christ
Jeff Ecker, Bethany Church of Christ
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