Andy Rieger, The Norman Transcript Journalist Profile

Articles

RIEGER: Retired educators gathering Jefferson School’s history

2 weeks ago | normantranscript.com | Andy Rieger

My personal transition from Catholic grade school to public school was not as seamless as the good nuns projected. The year was 1968 and the Catholic school at St. Joseph’s closed, sending four of my six family members to nearby Jefferson Elementary. After breaking the habits of standing when called upon and addressing my teacher, Mrs. Rubottom, as Sister Rubottom, and the principal Mr. Risenhoover as Father Risenhoover, I settled in for a year of change.
Maybe it’s time to rethink closing Griffin Hospital

1 month ago | normantranscript.com | Andy Rieger

Projected cost overruns of more than $125 million are stalling efforts to build and open a new 200,000-square foot state mental health center west of the Oklahoma State fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. The facility would replace most of what is left of Griffin Memorial Hospital in Norman. Media reports say the state broke ground and has spent more than $6 million. Lawmakers were asked for an additional $125 million on top of the $150 million initial cost estimate.
Summer Scout camp memories never go away

1 month ago | normantranscript.com | Andy Rieger

The spring issue of Boy's Life magazine gets folks excited about summer camp and the options Boy Scouts have now. It hasn't always been that way. I had the pleasure of camping with a local troop at Slippery Falls Scout Ranch new Tishomingo with my own son for a few days one recent summer. I wandered about and noticed a dining hall, showers and toilets. kAm(96? E96 42>A @A6?65 :? `hef[ $4@FED 4@@<65 E96:C @H? >62=D[ 2E6 @FE @7 >6DD <:ED 2?5 5F8 =2EC:?6D]k^Am kAms@H?
Norman’s early faith community was strong in numbers

1 month ago | normantranscript.com | Andy Rieger

This past week’s column featured several early Norman denominations. Today, we feature a few more. Within a few years of the 1889 land run, there were seven churches in downtown Norman. Norman’s First Christian Church was one of the strongest early denominations in the frontier town. By the turn of the century, the church had more than 200 members. kAm%96 62C=J u:CDE r9C:DE:2? 4@?8C682E:@? 7:CDE >6E :? E96 9@>6 @7 |C] 2?5 |CD] uC2?< tDD6I :? `gh_[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 62C=J ?6HD C6A@CED] %96 9@>6 H2D :?
Boren remembered as passionate servant leader

2 months ago | normantranscript.com | Andy Rieger

Former OU President David L. Boren was remembered as a passionate visionary who cared deeply about public education, racial and social justice and the inherent value of public service. Boren, who died Feb 20 at age 83, was an elected or appointed leader serving Oklahoma for more than 50 years. He was interred in Maple Grove Cemetery in Seminole at a family graveside service on Feb. 24. kAm$6G6C2= 9F?5C65 42>6 E@ 9@?@C q@C6? 2E $2EFC52J’D AF3=:4 >6>@C:2= D6CG:46 2E $E] {F<6’D |6E9@5:DE r9FC49 :?
A hospital for the greater good, not the greater profit

2 months ago | normantranscript.com | Andy Rieger

There was a brief period in Norman’s history that there was no hospital here to serve the community. An American Legion Hospital opened in 1925 and closed during the war years. A hundred years ago this year that hospital’s board asked Norman City Commissioners to help them meet bond indebtedness. They asked the commissioners to pay off a bond, cover some other debts and repay $12,850 to Norman citizens who had bought stock in the $50,000 hospital. It was completed in April of 1925.
It’s official: Skateland not coming back

2 months ago | normantranscript.com | Andy Rieger

It’s official: Skateland not coming backFor months now, many of us held out hope that the remodeling project at the large building on west Lindsey Street was the rebirth of Skateland. The iconic Norman roller rink first opened in 1963 and closed in 2021. But the new sign went up this past week. It’s appropriate that the cavernous building will become an automobile body shop. How many bumps, bruises and dings did kids suffer in roller skate crashes? kAm$<2E6=2?5 H2D @?6 @7 E9@D6 :4@?:4 }@C>2?
OU should show the Duck Pond some love

2 months ago | normantranscript.com | Andy Rieger

Some OU fraternities used to have a rite of passage when a member got engaged. It involved kidnapping the member and tossing him into OU’s Brandt Park Duck Pond. Cooler heads have prevailed in modern times as the water appears toxic, even before the most recent spill of diesel fuel into the pond. The dirty ducks rescued and being cleaned and tested at Wildcare are the lucky ones.
Spring storm season is already here

Mar 8, 2025 | normantranscript.com | Andy Rieger

Spring storm season came early with this past week’s overnight tornado watch. It reminded me it was indeed time to clean out the garage storm shelter. It seems like we last took refuge there in October. A brother, visiting from New York, got the full Oklahoma tourist experience. Fortunately, Cleveland County missed the storms that hit other parts of the state. We haven’t always been that lucky.
RIEGER: Borens transformed the campus and our community

Feb 23, 2025 | normantranscript.com | Andy Rieger

My occasional civic club speaking engagements on Norman’s storied history are built around the top ten seminal events that transformed us from a railroad stop on the prairie to a thriving city with a world-class university. My list has always including the hiring of former Governor and U.S. Senator David L. Boren as the OU’s 13th president in 1994. Along with his wife, Molly Shi Boren, the couple touched off both a campus and community renaissance that continued throughout the next several decades.