Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, was the guest speaker of the Kingfisher Rotary Club last Tuesday.

Blackburn, who will retire at the end of the year, said Kingfisher was his fi rst stop of his “farewell tour” across the state.

“And I honestly can’t think of a community I would rather begin with than Kingfisher, because I have so many fond memories of this community and the many great Oklahomans I have known here,” he said.

Blackburn mentioned the late Edna Bowman, Dr. Arthur Buswell and State Sen. Roy Boecher, then some others who were attending the meeting like former State Sen. Mike Johnson, Richard Ruhl of Pioneer Telephone and State Sen. Darcy Jech.

“Kingfisher has always been important to our state, and it remains so today,” Blackburn added.

Blackburn was raised in Oklahoma City. He is the son of Ida Blackburn, who was an early day pioneer on-screen personality of Oklahoma City television, often known as “Ida B.” She hosted a variety of television shows from the 50’s through the 70’s.

Blackburn went on to earn his undergraduate, masters and doctorate degrees from Oklahoma State University.

He joined the Oklahoma Historical Society as editor of The Chronicles of Oklahoma in 1980 and became the executive director in 1999, a position he has held since.

Blackburn also recognized Kingfisher’s Chisholm Trail Museum Director Jason Harris and president of the museum board, Jim Lemon, who were also in attendance.

BlackburnsaidChisholm Trail Museum is now one of only 15 museums still operating in the state. He said there were 41 in the 1970’s.

“But in large part because of the folks here, and those I mentioned earlier, Kingfisher’s museum is doing well and prospering,” Blackburn said.

He noted that Kingfi sher County’s government provides a signifi cant amount of annual dollars to the operation of the museum as well as local donations.

Blackburn said Chisholm Trail Museum was designated as one that stresses the importance to free enterprise and commerce in our state and nation.

“I think it’s very important that if we are to stay a free nation, it’s very vital to teach our children the importance of free enterprise in terms of how it relates to the values and principles that have made us the greatest nation the world has ever seen,” Blackburn said.

“I think if that drive and commitment of the citizens is gone, then the greatness of the nation is gone as well.”

Blackburn was introduced by Jech, a Kingfi sher Rotarian.