The Gayly celebrates its columnists

National Columnists Day recognizes the importance and value of newspaper columnists and is celebrated on June 23.

The National Society of Newspaper Columnists created the holiday. It was established on April 18th, in memory of the day columnist Ernie Pyle was killed in World War II.

Pyle, also known as Ernie, was a Pulitzer Prize winner who reported from both the European and Pacific theaters during the Second World War.

He died while reporting in Okinawa.

Listed here are The Gayly’s monthly columnists. We very much appreciate the work they do. A special thanks to “Vick,” who writes our movie reviews each month (he is not pictured here).

Mary Turner has been an educator for more than 30 years and is currently the Learning Support Specialist at Oklahoma City Community College. She has a bachelor’s degree in English education from OU and a master’s degree in educational psychology, also from OU & has worked for Oklahoma City Community College for 20 years.  One of her duties at OCCC is to provide health information for students where she also publishes a monthly newsletter called Healthy Matters.

Allison Andrea is a transgender woman who is living life to the fullest. She has been part of the LGBTQ community and always looking for ways to help spread knowledge about the transgender community as well as fighting for rights of equality for all.

Professor Bruce Hartley teaches at Rogers State University, Claremore, OK in the Communications Department. He has a long career in PR & Marketing and is an ordained minister.

Jex Druerie is an artist, writer, and photographer living in Oklahoma City. 

Rob Howard has, from a political standpoint, been a conservative (supported Goldwater in ’64); a liberal (supported Humphrey in ’68); an independent (supported neither party in 72); a Democrat, a moderate Republican, and most recently (since 1982), back to being a very liberal Democrat. He has been an LGBT activist since coming out in 1984, and a senior activist since 2004. Organizations he has been a board member or officer for include Prime Timers Worldwide and it’s Central Oklahoma chapter, Cimarron Alliance Foundation, DBA Metro Business Association, and the Respect Diversity Foundation.

Mahkesha Hogg  is a great ally to the LGBTQIA community. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Health from the University of Central Oklahoma. In her spare time, she is writing her book and applying to Graduate Counseling Programs.

Native born Oklahoman who calls Yukon his hometown received both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from OU in political science that currently resides in New Jersey.

Chris Robrahn is an independent financial advisor and registered representative in Wichita, KS. He has been an exercise enthusiast for 20 years and is the host of the weekly web radio series, “Spirit of Fitness”, currently in its fourth season of broadcast on the CBE (Church Broadcast Entity). To listen to the programs, the show is heard at 8 p.m. CDT each day at www.the-cbe.org. Podcasts of the 77 shows of seasons 1-3 can be heard by going to:  www.the-cbe.org/Spirit-of-Fitness.html.  

Ray Freer is a retired military officer.  His journalism experience includes graduating from the Defense Information Officers School and serving as a Public Affairs Officer for the Air Force. He lives in happy retirement with his partner of 23 years, and has passions for travel and the arts.

Josh Rutledge's purpose as an intuitive reader is to help guide, enlighten and empower individuals. He does in person readings on Thursday's and Saturday's at Tulsa's Spiritual Rose. You may also find him at his Etsy shop, YouTube and Instagram as Joshua Intuitive Fire. Take 15% off when you use The Gayly code GAYLYREADER15.

Copyright The Gayly. June 22, 2018. 9:55 a.m. CST.