Cecil Powell combined education, business knowledge to support Lawton

Cecil Powell wasn’t content to live a life of retirement when he ended three decades in public education.

In his later years he was able to successfully combine his background in the classroom, his knowledge on the sports field, his appreciation for the military and small businesses, and his love of community — first as a member of the Lawton Board of Education then as two-term mayor of Lawton.

Powell, who died last week, spent the last 12 of his 30 years in public education in Lawton Public Schools, teaching and coaching at Eisenhower High. He didn’t leave students and staff behind when he retired. Instead, he returned to public education when he was elected to the Lawton Public Schools Board of Education, representing southwest Lawton as well as serving as board president.

When he ran for school board in 1994, Powell said he had two main objectives: ensuring schools were safe, positive behavioral atmospheres where teachers could teach and children could learn; and finding out exactly what the school board and superintendent wanted to accomplish. Powell said he had “28,978 reasons” he was running for the board: 18,601 students, 1,270 educators, 1,107 support personnel and 8,000 registered voters in his area. Voters apparently liked what they saw; he was elected to his first term by a 73 percent majority.

Left seat on school board

As much as he loved maintaining that connection to Lawton Public Schools, Powell ceded the position in 1998 after he won the first of his two terms as mayor.

When he announced his run for mayor in 1997, Powell admitted it would be difficult to leave the board, but felt it was vitally important to have a voice in decisions being made in the city. He wanted to bring his own priorities to the office, including a strong economic focus and strong support for local businesses, drawing on his experiences as long-time owner/operator of Pappy’s Corner.

Patty Neuwirth, a longtime member of the LPS Board of Education who served with Powell, said she remembers his strong affinity for students.

“I remember Cecil as being very much about the kids. He really cared about the students and especially about our student athletes,” Neuwirth said. “He was a dedicated board member and left us to become mayor, where he continued his mission to improve athletics for kids.”

Taught current mayor to drive

Mayor Stan Booker said he was one of those students whose life was improved by Powell, explaining he first knew Powell as “Coach Powell” in the early 1970s at Eisenhower High School. Booker said Powell was the educator whose involvement with students included the classroom, athletic fields and courts, and the streets as a driver’s education teacher.

“Not only did he teach me how to drive, he taught countless others the importance of believing in themselves, and the value of giving back,” Booker said in a statement. “It’s those attributes that led him to make our hometown a better place during his time as mayor.”

His years as mayor ranged from decisions on vital infrastructure upgrades and economic development, and duties that included a broad range of activities as Lawton celebrated its 100th birthday in August 2001 — duties that always brought a broad smile to his face.

Instrumental in sewer rehab program

Public Utilities Director Rusty Whisenhunt, then a member of the Public Works Department staff, said Powell was mayor when Public Works crafted the idea for what became the sewer rehab program.

“He was instrumental in getting it passed by the council,” Whisenhunt said of a program that essentially created an in-house construction firm focused on a two-decade program to systematically rebuild Lawton’s deteriorating sewer system.

Whisenhunt said the net result was a program that saved taxpayers millions of dollars and one that drew national attention because of its uniqueness.

“He was a strong supporter,” he said, of a mayor he remembers being keenly involved in city activities and programs.

Ward 8 Councilman Randy Warren, serving an earlier term on the council, said when Powell arrived in the mayor’s office, he brought his strong love of youth athletics with him.

“Mayor Powell was very focused on making sure that the city and LPS worked together for the benefit of the youth in Lawton,” Warren said, explaining it was at Powell’s prompting that the City of Lawton took over some sports programs from Lawton Public Schools.

Link between Lawton, Fort Sill

Powell also worked to strengthen the link between Lawton and Fort Sill.

“Cecil simply never missed an event at Fort Sill of any kind to which he was invited,” said retired Maj. Gen. Leo Baxter, Fort Sill commanding general while Powell was mayor. “Always gracious, always fun, loved soldiers and the interaction between Fort Sill and Lawton. A team player, yet a leader in every sense of the word.”

Among the issues that Powell coordinated was action to annex Fort Sill into the City of Lawton, formally creating what supporters said they already called the community. Baxter said he was approached by Powell and Dr. Gib Gibson, then Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, about the Army’s willingness to change the city’s name to Lawton-Fort Sill.

“Surprisingly, and with few conditions, the Army approved this re-designation, which the Mayor proudly announced. This remained in effect for a number of years until a threat to legally challenge the re-naming,” Baxter said, adding while the name was dropped, the project illustrates just how committed Powell was to linking Lawton and Fort Sill.

Baxter said he also found that Powell was good to talk to when there was an issue between the city and post. He remembers quietly going to Pappy’s Corner early in the morning, where he and Powell would discuss the issue without staffs or fanfare.

“I really trusted him, and he me, and our relationship was just wonderful,” Baxter said, calling Powell an iconic Lawtonian.