Oklahoma Cavalry Chamber Luncheon Is Huge Success

Published on September 4, 2007 under Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)
Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry News Release


LAWTON, OKLA.-- The chamber luncheon sponsored by the Oklahoma Cavalry basketball team Thursday, August 30 turned out a large crowd and allowed the community to see first-hand what the new professional team is all about.

Honorable Mayor John Purcell welcomed the team to Lawton and encouraged everyone in the community to come out and support the Cavalry.

"Everyone is always talking about how there is nothing to do in Lawton," Mayor Purcell said. "Well now there is, the Oklahoma Cavalry basketball team is here and we need to get behind them. We need to fill the seats of the Coliseum, and I encourage all of you to purchase season tickets."

Oklahoma Cavalry President/General Manager Otis Birdsong served as the keynote speaker and presented an empowering and moving speech about the impact of sports in a community. He gave a personal account of how the success of his high school basketball team brought his hometown together in the early 1970s when racial tensions were still running high.

"Sports have a way of transcending gender and race barriers," Birdsong said. "Sports teams have a tremendous impact on the community they're in. When a team is having success, the community has success. People take pride in their team and city, and we hope to do that here in Lawton."

Birdsong also spoke about how the team plans on being involved in the community.

"We didn't just come here with open arms to receive," Birdsong said. "We plan on giving back and being involved in the community events."

Birdsong said the team is already signed up to participate in the Comanche Nation Fair in September, the Comanche County Memorial Hospital's Spirit of Survival Marathon in October and have met with the Crime Stoppers division of the police department. The team also plans on making visits to the hospitals, local schools and distributing gift baskets during the holiday seasons.

The room was filled with community leaders who heard Birdsong's message, and Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce President Dana Davis said he was pleased with the number of people that attended.

"It was a very successful luncheon, and we had a great turnout from the community," Davis said.

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