Sanders Mitchell has been well known throughout northeastern Oklahoma for his work in industrial development. Mitchell, who has spent over 30 years as either deputy administrator or the administrator at the MidAmerica Industrial Park in Pryor, may have recently landed his biggest trophy of all.

Published reports indicate that Google will be building in Pryor on MidAmerica Industrial property. While Mitchell is typically mum pointing to confidentially agreements, the reports indicate that Google may be building a number of huge facilities that could ultimately employ a significant number of Oklahoma residents. If built these would be high paying jobs and more importantly provide the state with prestige in the high tech economic development decisions.

The does not happen by accident. Mitchell is a quiet, low-key, hands-on administrator who recently landed a Gatorade facility at the Industrial Park. How does he do it? He will be the first to tell you that it is to surround himself with good people, work hard, keep quiet about prospects and deliver on any promises you make.

Sanders Mitchell who has already had a great career in economic development may now be entering into legendary status. If Google builds, Oklahomans will owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to this East Central University graduate who has done so much for this area. Let’s hope we get to all say thanks for a Google plant.

I-mus apologize

Radio and television talk show host, Don Imus, finally went too far. Imus’ characterization of the Rutgers University women’s basketball team in a gender and racial slur caused him to lose both his radio and television simulcast show. That’s good. It’s good simply because radio has continuously gone downhill in the past few years to the point that the medium had become one that families or those who didn’t enjoy yelling and screaming diatribes couldn’t enjoy.

Imus, who pioneered the “shock-jock” concept, had walked on the edge before. Only a few years earlier he had gone over the edge in front of President and Mrs. Clinton and had been rebuked by a nationally recognized African American syndicated columnist who refused to appear on his show because of his rantings. The problem, however, is that other well-known and reputable politicians and journalists continued to appear on the show to promote their candidacies or books, thus giving Imus legitimacy.

Imus, however, is an indicator of an even greater problem in this country. What used to be civilized public discourse has now gone the way of the black and white television. One only has to look at the political talk shows on cable, where the goal is to see who can out-shout each other, to know that respect for differences of opinions has waned. Its impact has even been felt locally. Radio talk show host, Michael DelGiorno, the juvenile Daily Oklahoman editorial page, and the mean-spirited Tulsa World editorial page have all fallen into the trap.

Let’s hope that the fall of Don Imus will move public discussion, whether in the electronic or print media, back towards the even handed and responsible respect for differences of opinion that once existed. In the meantime, congratulations to the Rutgers Lady Knights for a great basketball season and for a classy response in accepting the apology of Don Imus. We could all learn from them.