Comments

Volume 9, Issue 49 - Feature #3185

Man who invented 'Okie' dies in California

I received this reply from Richard Reddick, Ben Reddick's son and thought it might be of interest to you. Lois: Probably truth to all points on the issue...but Dad was credited when, as a young journalist doing features on the Great Depression and the dust bowl emigrants to California's San Joaquin Valley. He was early to discover and point out in his photographic coverage, beginning in mid-1930s all those dust bowl refugees arriving here with Oklahoma license plates were not from Oklahoma, but in passing thru many obtained gasoline and licensing compliments of your state. The news folks and some Oklahomans credited him with creation of the moniker "Okie." My mother being one (Sapulpa born) probably helped or confused things. Dick

Lois Guffy - 2007-12-10 22:28:17

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